Reporter’s Diary (Press, 21 May 1976)

The Imperial Hotel in Christchurch has recently faced challenges due to burglar alarms being triggered by the morning paper being thrown too forcefully. This has occurred three times in a week, prompting hotel management to request that "The Press" inform their delivery personnel to be more gentle to avoid setting off the alarms, which responds to pressure on the plate-glass windows. In a separate transport-related update, three buses operated by the Christchurch Transport Board have been equipped with an electronic device designed to manage bus stop bells more effectively. Similar to measures in Wellington and Auckland, these buses now have a system that silences the bell after the initial ring, activating a sign indicating "Bus Stopping." This provides a visual cue to the driver who might not hear the bell but can see an amber light alerting them that a passenger wishes to disembark. Issues surrounding the rights of transsexuals have also come to light, with one individual reporting that they were barred from using the women’s lavatories at a Christchurch hotel. This person expressed frustration over being prohibited not only from the bathrooms but also from the entire establishment. They argue that they, along with fellow transsexuals, should have the right to use the facilities that align with their gender identity, as current options are limited. A psychiatrist has commented, suggesting that the individual may need to better conform to societal expectations of transsexuality to avoid such issues. In a lighter story, a Labrador dog delivering mail in the Cashmere Hills demonstrated patience with a King Charles Spaniel that persistently barked at him. After being annoyed for long enough, the Labrador retaliated by placing a paw on the little dog’s head to assert dominance, causing the spaniel to retreat yelping while the Labrador continued its delivery round. Miss Colleen Dew, a member of Parliament for Lyttelton, candidly acknowledged at a National Travel Association seminar that her qualifications to speak on tourism are questionable, paralleling her political credentials. She humorously referenced Robert Louis Stevenson’s notion that politics is a profession requiring no formal preparation. In comments from Mr W. H. Hillehdahl of the Bank of Hawaii, he noted that capital punishment can manifest in the form of taxation imposed by the government on citizens, suggesting that the financial burden can be as severe as traditional forms of punishment. Lastly, the Antarctic region has its own unique issue with illegal immigrants, having detected four undesirable insects at Palmer Station. These pests, which include three house flies and one carpet beetle, violated the Antarctic Treaty given the strict prohibition on such species. The insects were promptly dealt with through summary execution, reflecting the serious measures taken to protect the pristine environment of Antarctica.

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