General News

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22460, 22 July 1938, Page 12

General News

An Inconje Tax Exemption A regulation issued with the Gazette last night exempts from liability to pay income tax in New Zealand,' as non-resident traders, all persons being residents or nationals of Czechoslovakia. The arrangement is a reciprocal one between the Governments of New Zealand and Czechoslovakia'.—Press Association. Savings Bank Records A ruling was given by Mr Justice Callan in the Supreme Court, Auckland, yesterday, that in special circumstances details of customers accounts at the Post Office Savings Bank must be produced "from the witness box. A former employee at the bank, asked in the witness box to produce details of the account of a woman, declined to give the information, stating that the attitude of the bank was that such inquiries could only be satisfied if the bank gave authority. Consulting the statute, his Honour found he had power to demand production of the details, and-ruled that they be so produced. —Press Association. Helping Spanish Refugees The- New Zealand Government will give £2OOO towards the relief of Spanish refugee children, provision for the expenditure of this sum being made in the accounts»of the Department of Internal Affairs for 1938-39. The money will be paid to the International Committee for Refugee Children in Spain, on condition that it is used exclusively for feeding Spanish children who are in need. Prospects for World Peace In the United States of America there is a large body of thought which believes that world peace is nearer attainment to-day than it has been for some time, according to Mr Wayne H. Fisher, a member of the Institute of Pacific Relations of Southern California. "The theory of a rapid and successful aggressive war has been demonstratively disproved an the labora- . Tories of Spain and China," he said yesterday in an interview. Moreover* it was generally recognised by Americans that the, "have-not" : countries, which appeared to be the' aggressors, were those with the most reduced resources at their disposal. " - ■. , ' Thaw Sets In at Pass Earlier this, week the Railway Department had been considering again catering for ski-ing enthusiasts by another excursion to Arthur's, i Pass at the week-end. Until yesterday surf ace * snow was lying in the township, and there had been a-heavy fall on the higher levels. The latest report from the pass yesterday afternoon, however, was that rain was falling and a thaw beginning, which made prospects doubtful. Frosty Moller at Shanghai "'■'• The tug Frosty Moller arrived at Shanghai yesterday morning. Cabled advice to this effect was received by H. L. Tapley. and Company, Dunedin, who acted as agents for the vessel, from Captain E. A. Potter, of the Moller Line, who added that the tug performed more than satisfactorily on the voyage from Thursday Island to Shanghai. The Frosty Moller, after being purchased by the present was refitted at Port Chalmers, and after being forced to return twice through minor defects in the engines, left Dunedin finally on April 16 for Melbourne and Sydney to take in tow two vessels for Shanghai. These were the J,. A. Boyd, a Melbourne tug, and the steamer Moruya, of Queensland. Owing to the heaviness of the tow from Melbourne to Sydney with the J. A. Boyd, the master of the Frosty Moller decided that he would complete the voyage from Brisbane with only one vessel in tow. The J. A. Boyd was to follow with yet another in the convoy—the freighter Ready.— Press Association. Empire Trade Week The organisation of an Empire trade week in 1939 was discussed at a meeting o* the council of the United Kingdom Manufacturers' and New Zealand Representatives' Association in Wellington this week. After some consideration had been given to the proposal, it was decided that further details should be brought before the next meeting of the council. Eight new members in the United Kingdom were elected. The work of the association in the interests of British trade was praised by council members, it being stated that the number of new members joining was a recognition of the value of the association's activities. Future Trouble for Japan That trouble might be expected in Japan when the troops fighting in China return home was the opinion expressed to "The Press" by Mr Wayne H. Fisher, of Los Angeles, who is visiting Christchurch. .Mr Fisher doubted whether the men would be willing to settle down in the old and simple economy of Japanese agriculture after roving over the mainland of Asia, more especially as an already low standard of life would be greatly reduced by the strain of war. Apples for School Children A reply to the suggestion of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association that an apple be given daily to each child attending school in Canterbury was received by the association last evening from Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, Director of the Division of School Hygiene. The letter said that while the value of fruit in maintaining and improving the, health of children, was fully realised, it was regretted that it was not at present possible to agree to such a variation of the milk-hr-schools scheme as was suggested Commenting on the letter, Mr F. W. Sisson said that they should feed apples, to the cows and the children would still get "apples in the schools. (Laughter.) "Modest" Rates in Christchurch "Last Tuesday the City \Council sat until nearly midnight considering how an increase in the city rates could be prevented; but I am afraid the ratepayers will have to put up with a rise," said Cr. E. Parlane at the annual meeting of the Spreydon Library Committee last Evening. Cr. Parlane said the council would like to do more for the suburban libraries, but as soon as there was talk of any increase in rates the ratepayers objected. "The people of Christchurch don't know how well off they are. The rates are very modest in comparison with, the services provided," he added. Early Potatoes The tops of a crop of potatoes in a half-acre section on the farm of Mr N. Mouat, at Punakaiki, on the West Coast, appeared above the ground two weeks ago. The potatoes were planted on' June 10 and are" doing well. The potatoes are growing in the open, without shelter or hedges of any kind, and the area is completely frost-free.—"The Press Special Service. Cost of Self-sufficiency in Greece That Greece was the most extraordinary example he had seen of a country impoverishing itself in its search for national selfsufficiency was. the opinion of Mr Wayne H. Fisher, of Los Angeles.. Mr Fisher, a member of the South Californian Institute of Pacific Relations, is visiting Christchurch. In order to increase the grain crop, olive groves and orchards which had flourished for centuries had been destroyed and the land -ploughed up. Because of the steepness of the hillsides, erosion had set in immediately, and the fertile patches were rapidly losing their soil. By-Products Factory for Apples The question of a by-products factory for the usage of the surplus quantities of apples had been before the Government, and although nothing definite had been so far, the Minister for Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash)-had given some thought to the problem. This was the reply received by the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association last evening from the Director of Internal Marketing (Mr F. R. Picpt) in response to the association's recommendation that the Government open unfermented fruit juice factory for the utilisation of surplus* apples, Mr F. W. Sisson said that it was almost certain that a by-products factory would be opened in Nelson next year. He doubted if big prices could be paid for fruit the first year, as the factory would have to become properly established. ? «