NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Issue 47, 23 August 1935, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Good Nerves. The ■ attention of scores of persons In the vicinity of Lambton Station this morning was attracted by the performance of two workmen engaged on the construction of the steel framework for the Featherslon Street wing of the new railway station. These two men were perched precariously on the tops of two shafts of steel about thirty feet from the ground manoeuvring a cross section into position. As the crossbeam was hoisted up by a crane the men stood on the flanges at the tops of their pillars and'swung it into place. They appeared to be quite indifferent to their seemingly dangerous position, and as soon 'as the cross-tie was settled they sat astride it and commenced fitting bolls to secure it. Missionaries in Abyssinia. Twelve. New Zealanders are at pre-' sent engaged in the mission ' field .in Abyssinia, said Mr. C. H. Barton, .a member of the Ethiopian branch of ithe Sudan Interior Mission, at. Auckland on Wednesday (reports the "New Zealand Herald"). At least three of this number came from' the Auckland district. Mr. and Mi's. Barton, who also left Auckland for the Abyssinian mission • fleld, are revisiting thenhome on furlough after five and a half years in Abyssinia. Hult Valley Courts. Court sittings are being .held in the Hutt Valley more frequently than used to be the case, and in this connection Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., has arranged to take Court sittings at1 Petone and Lower Hutt on alternate weeks, and not twice monthly as was previously announced. In some months there will be three Court sittings at both centres,, and the first month on which this will occur, will be October.' The Magistrate will sit at Upper Hutt once a month. ' Conversion of Motor-cars. "It must be well over ten years since we first asked the Government to increase the penalty for the theft of a ' motor vehicle," said Mr. W. A. O'Cal- ! laghan, president, at the annual con-1 ference of the North Island (New Zea-. land) Motor Union today.. "Our first I representations were coldly received, but notwithstanding regular rebuffs we continue^ to "urge the necessity of firm measures if this class of crime were to be stamped out. It- is pleasing therefore to be able to record that the Minister of Justice now advises us that it .is hoped that it will be practicable during the forthcoming session of Parliament to introduce the necessary legislation increasing the penally for car stealing." Motor Campers ajid Picnickers. Passing reference to motor camps, motor campers, and picnickers was made by the president (Mr. W. A.1 O'Callaghan) in his report to the: annual conference of the North Island Motor Union at New Plymouth today. "Many motorists,'.' he said, "are most considerate in a/ general' way in the matter of the safety, pleasure, and comfort of other road users, yet probably because of thoughtlessness frequently on vacating a motor camp or picnic ground leave it littered with refuse. A reminder that every thing that cannot be burned. should be buried, so that those who come after may enjoy the open spaces to the full is perhaps timely. Broken glass, discarded tins, paper, etc., should always be disposed of before moving on to the next camp." New Christchurch Station. The building of a new railway station in Christchurch will be the next major work to be considered by tho Government Kailways Board after the .completion, of the station now under construction in Wellington, according to an assurance given to "The Press" on Wednesday evening by the acting chairman of the board. Sir James Gunson, who was telephoned after a meeting of the board at Wellington. Sir James said that it was well recognised that Christchurch badly, needed new facilities but that it was impossible ' for any definite step to be taken until the work in Wellington was finished "Personally I am of the opinion that Christchurch ought to have a new railway station," he said, "but the building of a station has not yet come before the board as a practical issue although the need is well recognised. There is no gainsaying that the facilities are inadequate and that Chrislchurch ought to have had a new station long ago. When the Wellington "Building Is out of the way we will be able to consider building in Christchurch, and this will certainly be the next big railway work."

Ngaio Fire Alarm System. A letter was received at the meeting of the Wellington Fire Board today from the Ngaio Progressive Association, stressing the need for an adequate street fire alarm system. Ngaio was badly served in this respect, it was stated, and it was asked that if the board acceded to the suggestion the work-should be proceeded with at an early date. The board decided to refer the matter to the superintendent for report, and it will be-dealt with at its next meeting. Motor Taxation Inquiry. In October last the Transport Coordination Board was appointed by the Government to. inquire into motor laxation, stated the president (Mr. W. A. O'Callaghan) at the annual meeting of the North Island Motor Union today. Evidence comprehensively covering the whole subject was submitted by the union on behalf of th'c automobile associations of New Zealand. To date the finding of the inquiry had not been laid before Parliament or made public. In the meantime motorists continued to remain the most heavily taxed class of people -in the community. Safety of Children. A decisionto issue a comprehensive circular to teachers containing advice to be given to children regarding their, behaviour on the way to and from school was reached at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board on Wednesday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The matter/was raised by a letter from the Mount Eden Borough Council, urging that as a precaution against assaults on children teachers should instruct pupils not to loiter or speak to strangers on the way home from school. The chairman, Mr. T. U. Wells, said he thought they could go further and ask teachers to give pupils full instructions as to behaviour in the streets, and to warn them against stopping to' speak to strangers or accepting lifts or presents. Memorial to College Master. j The memory of the late Mr. E. W. Edwards, a former master at Rongotai College, is to be honoured by the erection of a memorial bell and inscribed plate at the college. Over £80 has been collected for the memorial, and the bell, which will weigh two hundredweight and will sound G sharp, has been ordered from Messrs. Gillett and Johnston, Croydon; England. It will probably arrive in New Zealand in October and an endeavour will be made to hold a suitable ceremony when it is unveiled. The late master will also be remembered by a literature prize, endowed by his mother and sister for perpetual competition among the boys studying in his former class. Tax on Non-trading Concerns. [ "I feel that the unfairness of the I taxation legislation justifies me in directing public attention to,the fact that the'lncome Tax Department is now claiming income tax from such organisations as the automobile associations," said the president (Mr. W. A. O'Callaghan) at:the annual conference of the North Island- Motor Union at New Plymouth today. "Tax is demanded on all income other than subscriptions and scant ■ allowance 'permitted for the cost. of 'earning that income, nor is any regard had to the fact that any such income, is derived from within the circle of our own membership. Even staff provident funds have been assessed, thereby depleting the savings of individual members of he staff which they had been hoping would accumulate for their ultimate retirement. The payment of taxation is never a pleasant operation, but in the case of non-trading concerns I can see: no justification whatever for the rapacity of the taxgalherer." Attracting Tourists. In accordance with its policy of securing visitors to New Zealand the Tourist and Publicity Department has sent Mr. J. W. Clarke,. district manager at Auckland, to Suva, where he will join the party of delegates to the British Medical Association's conference to be held shortly at Melbourne. The,party is expected to arrive at Auckland by. the R.M.S. Aorangi on September 1. Mr. Clarke has taken with him, in addition to adequate supplies of publicity matter covering both islands, copies- of a new booklet which deals specifically with the spa, baths, and other treatments available at Rotorua as well as with the thermal wonders, lakes, etc. This booklet should' prove of great interest to the medical profession. Besides these, a copy of the full-length film "Romantic New Zealand" will be shown during the' voyage from Suva and it is hoped by these means to inculcate a keen' desire in the, delegates to pay an extended visit to the Dominion at the conclusion of the conference. Automobile Associations. ' Data indicating the growth of the automobile association movement in New Zealand were submitted by the president, Mr. W. A. O'Callaghan, of Hawera, in his report to the annual conference of the North' Island (New Zealand) Motor Union in New Plymouth todays Orice again, he said, it was pleasing to be able to record a substantial increase in the membership of affiliated associations. At June 30' last, 31,590 motorists in the North Island were members of the automobile associations, an, increase of 3270 over the previous year. Details of the number of cars registered at June 30, together with the membership of each association; and the percentage of members to car registrations in each association's territory, mentioned in that order, were given ;as follows:— South. Taranaki, 3950 cars.' registered, 2080 members, 52.60 members to cars registered; Wellington, 10.204, 5167, 50.64; Auckland, 37.827, 16,913, 44.71; Taranaki, 3078, 1376, 44.70; Manawatu, 3327,1431, 43.01; Wairarapa.'426s. 1532, 35.92; Wanganui, 5976, ■ 1671,' 27.96; Hawke's Bay, 6756, 1420, 21.01; total number of cars registered, 75.383; total number of A.A. members. 31,590.