Reporter’s Diary (Press, 17 September 1975)

Political candidates in New Zealand are currently facing significant pressure from numerous advocacy groups as they are inundated with questionnaires. Labour candidate Don Johnson, running for Riccarton, has expressed his dissatisfaction with what he perceives as “veiled threats” included in these inquiries. He specifically pointed out a questionnaire from the Campaign for Homosexual Equality that suggested non-response could indicate a lack of concern for moral issues, as well as a similar sentiment from the Women’s Electoral Lobby. Johnson is willing to respond but finds the implications troubling. In a separate matter, the exclusive access that public servants have enjoyed to wines from the Government Viticultural Research Station at Te Kauwhata is coming to an end. The station has announced it will cease bottle sales, opting instead to sell in bulk to commercial winemakers, making the wines less accessible to government employees than before. Innovative energy generation methods are also being explored, particularly an experimental technique harnessing the Gulf Stream's temperature differences. The latest edition of “Search,” a publication from the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science, highlights such technology. New Zealand researchers have already been working on similar projects in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, where temperature variations in the water enable power generation through carbon dioxide circulation in a suspended tube. In the New Hebrides, a motorbike donated by the Belfast Rotary Club is transforming transport for medical professionals, facilitating travel between government hospitals and isolated clinics. The vehicle is stationed on the island Espiritu Santo, a place familiar to many New Zealanders from World War II. In a concerning development, there are reports of scams targeting elderly pensioners. Mrs F. J. Lindon, a 75-year-old widow from Spreydon, was misled by a gardening advertisement which led to her being overcharged $10 for inadequate work. A second gardener had to be called in to properly complete the task, highlighting issues of exploitation against vulnerable groups. Culinary activities have also gained attention at St Barnabas Anglican Church in Fendalton, where church ladies have compiled a recipe book, “Heavenly Fare for Saints and Sinners,” to fundraise for their centenary celebrations. The book features lavish dishes, contrasting sharply with an unassuming recipe for mince pie credited to Canon Bob Lowe, which humorously stands out for its simplicity. In an unusual incident, Mr Hugh Fowler in England found himself unexpectedly on a train headed to London in his pyjamas after a farewell kiss with his wife at Doncaster station. A jammed door prevented his exit, and while he felt embarrassed and feared arrest for his appearance, he was treated kindly by British Rail, who provided him a complimentary breakfast and allowed him to travel home without charge.

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