NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume 32, Issue 32, 6 August 1931, Page 12

NEWS OF THE DAY

Yesterday in the House. Crowded galleiies in tho House of Kcprescntatives las>t night showed Hie degree of public inteiest in the letoption by tho Opposition paities ot the Government's taxation proposals. Only two speeches weie taken, tho House making an eaily adjournment until to-day. The Leader oi the Opposition made a speech ot an hour and a. quaitcr, touching on the main points of the Budgot, and was replied to by the Minister of Lands. The Leader of the Labour Party then moved the adjournment, thus claiming the right to open the lesumed debate to-day. Mr. Coates lost no time in making clear the attitude the Official Opposition will adopt towards the taxation proposals. He reminded the House of the promise made at the beginning of the yeai that Eefoim would seek to help rather than to hinder in the present difficult work of depression adjustment, and announced tliat that policy would be maintained during tho Financial debate. He indicated, however, that when tho taxing Bills come up for;,consideration at a later stage Beform will mako suggestions for avoiding the heavy incidence of the taxing proposa)s by pointing to further opportunities for effecting economies in administration. Mr. Coates said the Reform , Party regarded the increased income tax us very heavy, and he urged tho Prime Minister to do eveiything possible to make tho buiden lighter. An assurance was given by the Minister of Lands that if it was possiblo to balance the Budget and inflict less hardship the Government would be glad to consider any proposals in that direction. Tho income tax increaso was not as heavy as that made in other countries. It might be possible to effect further economies, but not without making a call for further sacrifice and imposing greater hardship. It 'would be for the House to decide whether that 'was justifiable or not. At 'the afternoon sitting the Defence Amendment Bill, providing for the extension of tho Territorial age and for transfers to reserve, and the National Provident -Fund Amendment Bill,-were reaa a second time, and the Reprint of Statutes Bill was passed. Pi ogress was made on the second reading of Mr. Langstono's Bank of NewZealand 'Amendment Bill. Facts,-Not Forecasts. - •' ■ The forecasting of profits in tho issue of company" prospectuses is not approved by; the Now Zealand Society of Accountants. • An executive meeting of the society has decided to take steps to atop this practice, it being 'an established rule that accountants should report on facts only and not deal with estimates of the future. It was 'pointed out that sometimes the .full report of accountants, was notj, published, but only extracts ■.which, w'er,e used to give the impression 'tfie 'proposed company would earn' big .profits., It was emphasised ttiat predictions as to future profits shouloVbV avoided,? as 'investors might bo misled,'particularly when only partial use1 was made' of the opinions of any public accountant. ''He Swore at Mcl" A young married woman, called to give evidence in the Supremo Court I yesterday: in an action for damages arising out of a motor accident, had her own, particular way of telling what she had seen of the t happening. Sho was a jolly witness arid apologetic, too, whenever unable to answer, any question put to her.1 "I am very sorry, I really can't say," she remarked several times. One of the questions she was asked by counsel was how the plaintiff appeared to her to come from behind the back of a tramcar. "Well, you know how you get off" a car and you are in a hurry and you don't think what you are doing," she began, smilingly. . . 1"I think that if the plaintiff had stopped and looked, the accident would have .been avoided. I know how it is when you go round the back of a tram. You are usually hurrying and you don't look. ' I "did it once,-,and a man swore at met" "(Loud 3aughter.) Judge and .Advocate. '~ Eeferenc'e '"to the Arbitration Court using'an "excuse" for a certain line of action, which was made by Mr. E. Kennedy, f general secretary of tho Cooks and, Stewards' Federation, in the Court at Auckland on Monday, drew a rebuke from the President, Mr. Justice Frazer (states the ".New Zealand Herald"). "You are most unfortunate in< your use'of words," said his Honour,, addressing Mr. Kennedy. "You must not use the word 'excuse.' " Mr. Kennedysaid ne was quite prepared to substitute the word "reason." "I prefer 'reason,' " said his Honour, directing Mr. Kennedy to proceed. Meaning of Gargoyles. The origin of gargoyles, with which so many buildings are decorated, appears to have been' lostr, states the Christchurch "Times."- Mr. F. H.| Shurrock told his audience at Christchurch that originally gargoyles had a very definite meaning, but it was'not known now entirely What was meant by them. A great deal of research was being mado into the subject. Weird beasts were to bo found all over Gothic' buildings. There \vas no doubt 'that in | tho later Gothic buildings, although the I uso of gargoyles had been continued, their meaning had been lost, and tho gargoyles had ended up by being just funny. Snow Stops Plough. Travellers on the main road between Balclutha and Milton last week witnessed tho rather unusual spectacle of a farmer shovelling snow from the' giound in order to enable him to proceed with his ploughing. The paddock upon which ho was 'working consisted of an open hilltop, with occasional dark sidlings, upon which the snow still lay in drifts to a depth of from lit to 2ft, offering an effective barrier to the passage of tho plough. Bather than allow his ploughing operations to be completely 'held up by theso drifts until the increasing warmth of the sun had .melted them, the farmer had adopted this method of opening up a passage.for his team and plough. Utility-Only. The new stamps that have been issued for tho purpose., of tho collection of the wages'tax of '3d in tho £ are of plain design, and it is obvious that they are intended for utility rather than beauty. Not being postage stamps, they will not appeal to philatelists: in fact, it is doubtful if they will be welcomed by "anyone except the' Government, which wants the money they ropresent. The outstanding feature of tUoir design is the numeral denoting their value. The name New Zealand is at the i top in prominent letters, and immediately below this in small letters is the value in words. Beneath this is the large figure, and at the bottom "Unemployment Belief." Filigree panels at the side add a little dash of ornamentation. The colour of the stamp that washes out 3d in each & of one's wages is itself a' washedout plum colour.