GENERAL NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 January 1948, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

Excellent Bowling Greens The excellence of bowling greens in New Zealand was commented upon by the members of the British Columbia touring bowling party which arrived in Wanganui yesterday. They were full of praise for the skill of the greenkeepers, and said the picturesque setting of the majority of greens had impressed them. Increase In Costs.

“The whole school and grounds originally cost £5OOO, so you can see how costs have risen," commented the chairman, Mr. W. B. Tennant, at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Education Board, when reporting that a grant of £3675 had been received for the extension of the school. Mr. Tennant added that the extension consisted of only one room.

Training for Trades. Entry into the Rehabilitation Department’s trade training centres for instruction in the building trades is now open to ex-home servicemen. Subject to their general suitability, men who served in the home forces only are now able to apply for entry into a trade training centre and have every chance of their applications being successful.

Subsidy On Money Raised, Notification of the reintroduction of subsidies of £1 for £1 on money raised by school committees for certain school facilities with a minimum of £lO, was received from the Minister of Education (Mr. McCombs) at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Education Board. “It is very pleasing to learn that the Minister has seen the wisdom of reintroducing the subsidies,” commented Mr. N. Bromiley.

Crews in Training With ideal water conditions prevailing, crews from the three Wanganui rowing clubs—Union, Aramoho and Wanganui—are to be seen nightly on the river in the final stages of their preparation for the Wanganui Rowing Association’s regatta, to be held on the Aramoho course on Saturday afternoon. The regatta will be a prelude to the New Zealand championship regatta to be held at Dunedin on February 14. The Aramoho club will defend Its senior eights title at this fixture.

Rangataua School, “The whole of the carpentering work in connection with the erection of a new school at Rangataua has been completed and plastering, painting, and plumbing works are in hand, reported the architect, Mr. L, S. Barsanti, at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Education Board. “It is anticipated that an early completion of the job will be made.” Mr. W. G. Price congratulated the architect and his staff on the expedient manner in which the woik had been carried out. The old school had been destroyed by fire last July and a rapid job had been done by the board's architect. The meeting deciueu to place on record its appreciation

Health Stamps Sold. ‘Only eight or nine pounds worth of health stamps are now left in the district,” reported Mrs. K. Gould-Fennell yesterday. “Final figures are not yet available, but it is likely that Wanganui will prove to have maintained its place as having sold the second largest number of health stamps per capita of population. Dunedin, it is thought, is still leading. However, the results should be on hand on Wednesday night. “Mrs. Gould-Fennell stressed the point that Wanganui has not been able to sell stamps in bulk to the head offices of large firms, as Dunedin and Wellington centres have been able to do. This makes Wanganui's showing the more meritorious. At the Wanganui C.P.O. counter yesterday only 3d health stamps were available.

Naturalisation of Aliens. Certificates of naturalisation have been granted to 234 aliens in New Zealand, according to the latest copy of the Gazette. Naturalisation has been granted to eight men who served with His Majesty's forces during the recent war. The largest number of new citizens comes from Germany, certificates being granted to 55. There are 30 from Poland, 25 from Yugoslavia, 24 from Austria, 20 from Czechoslovakia, and 15 from Italy. Among nine from Hungary is the name of the famous pianiste, Lili Kraus. Aliens from other countries are: Norway 5, Russia 2, Switzerland 6, Greece 5, Brazil and Java 1, Tstonia 2, U.S.A. 6, China, Palestine, Rumania, France, Argentine, Latvia 1, Sweden 4, Western Samoa 4.

Cement Supplies Scarce “The Melva brought a part-ship-ment of cement to Wanganui on Monday last, but it was not sufficient to meet the demand,” said the manager "of a Wanganui firm yesterday. “Another shipment should arrive on Thursday, however, on the Holmburn. The cement is from Tarakohe, Golden Bay. There are a large number of orders to be filled. The end of the 'free period’ on January 16 has meant that no cement can be sold for unnecessary construction without a special written permit from the building controller. Prohibited uses are: the construction of paving slabs, kerb channelling, paths, terraces, fences, garden walls, swimming baths, fishponds, pre-cast concrete ornaments and garden furniture. For these a permit is necessary. The supplies brought by the Holmburn should ease the position temporarily,” he added. Government Interference “There is nothing more detestable than Government interference in business and its choking effect on industry,” said Mr. S. J. Sullivan, president of the Wanganui Employers’ Association, yesterday. "The country is full of this industrial poison today. It has found many carriers in the voluble sycophants who are a menace to all that aims at freedofn and better goods. The fruits df bureaucracy are seen in the shoddy furniture and general goods on the market today. We must aim at altering this state of affairs before it is too late." Mr. Sullivan said the standard mark had been designed to give buyers confidence but neither discriminating buyers nor manufacturers had confidence in it now. To overcome this, manufacturers would be compelled to guarantee their own goods and to build to a grade and quality that would carry that guar- I antee without fear.