GENERAL NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 August 1950, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

More Shoes in N.Z. Nearly 20 per cent, more women’s shoes are now made in New Zealand than four years ago, according to statistics for the year ended March 31. During the same period the number of children's and adults’ slippers manufactured rose by about 16 per cent. There was an equivalent rise in the production of men’s light boots and shoes.

Cathedral Bells. The six bells which recently arrived from England to complete the peal to be installed in the tower of St. Peter's Cathedral, Hamilton, were dedicated and blessed by the Dean of Hamilton, the Very Rev. C. W. Chandler, at an impressive service. He said it was hoped that the eight bells would be installed by October 21, when it was proposed to hold a special service at which the bells would be peeled by the bell-ringers of Christchurch Cathedral.

Riders in the Sky? The Hon. Cheviot W. D. Bell, of Wairarapa and formerly of Makakaho at the top of the Waitotara Valley, was first of all a cavalry officer during the First World War and later a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps. That might explain things in the Legislative Council last week when he referred to the shock with which the state of the Chief of the Air Staff was received regarding out-of-date equipment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. “It is perfectly obvious that they need to be thoroughly re-equipped and re-horsed," he said.

Ships Delayed by Rain. Two small coastal vessels were delayed by rain at the Town Wharf yesterday. They were the scow Te Aroha and the m.v. Wairau. The Te Aroha arrived early In the morning with cement from Tarakohe and had discharged part of her cargo by noon. Steady rain set in shortly before 1 p.m., however, and work was not resumed. The Wairau arrived at 12.30 p.m. with 1100 sacks of pollard and bran from Picton. Normally, she would have completed discharge in time to sail last night on the return trip to Picton, but because of rain, will not begin unloading until this morning. Permits For Building.

During the year ended on March 31, ISSO, 49,127 building permits were issued in New Zealand, according to the annual report of the Ministry of Works. In the previous year, the total was 49,295. The permits were made up as follow: Private housing, 10,412 (11,878 in 1949); State and other Government housing, 4376 (4652); housing additions, 8313 (8680); works and buildings other than housing, 26,026 (24,085). The value of the permits for housing and housing additions was £26,560,664 and for other buildings and works £14,208,946. The figures for last year were £28,202 603 and £ll,354,619. Tribute to Staff. “It is evident that since the end of the war the Commissioner of Works and his staff have worked under the greatest difficulties in endeavouring to meet the demands placed upon the department during a period of serious manpower and material shortages," stated the Minister of Works (Mr. Goosman) in Parliament yesterday in his annual report on the Ministry of Works. “In spite of this, I consider that the department has coped with its post-war difficulties very successfully. I have been much impressed with the enthusiasm of the officers I have met and with the ability which they show in tackling the many problems connected with the programme of work now under way.”