LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 17925, 22 March 1922, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Otago' Committee for European Student Belief met in the Chancellor's room at the Medical School last evening. Professor Pringle presided in the absence of the chairman, the Rev. Dr Cameron. Tt was agreed that, in order to avoid! dashing with other public appeals _ or European relief, the work of the committee nhonia ho confined to appeals lor funds from tho University of Otago, the technical' Colleges, and secondary schools ol Otago and Southland. Tho work thus, involved was divided among three committees, one concerned with -tho University and Training College, another with tho secondary schools of Dunedin, and. bic third with tho secondary schools ol Otago and Southland. A publicity committee was also appointed to draw up circular* and distribute literature and information generally.

The theft of £llO in notes and about £4O worth of wearing apparel and other valuables is reported from a residence nt< Onehnnca. Tho stolen property was not all taken at one time, tho money being missed first, tho other losses taking place a few days after.

The Prime Minister stated at Wellington yesterday that income tax payments' had quite come up to expectations. I hi* ha attributed in a. largo measure to the rebate of 5 per cent, offered for prompt payment, It was tho opinion of all financial exports, added Mr Massey, that but for this inducement the collection ol tho tax Would not have been nearly so successful

At a meeting of shareholders of the Southland Farmers’ Go-oporativo Association hold at Invercargill yesterday it was resolved to increase tho capital_ of the association, to £325,0DD by tho issue of 15,000 £5 deposit preference shares, to be available only to persons having deposits or credits with tho association.

On tho 3rd inst-., stated the f riine Minister yesterday, manures were included in the list oi goods liable to the depreciated currency duty, ns it was considered that merchants abroad were obtaining an advantage to the prejudice of local manufacturers. Through the operation of depreciated currencies it was ■ found that the operation of the list as published in the ‘Gazette,’ combined with the • effects of recent reductions in the selling prices of manures in Now Zealand, might in practice e» operate in some directions as to increase the prices to growers, and at the same time confer no sufficient compensating benefit. On this account the Minister on Friday last decided that the duties on manurca were to bo removed, and the position as regards individual manures is now being carefully gone into, in order to ensure that the best possible will bo done for the producers and for all concerned in the Dominion, where the manufacture of superphosphates especially is rapidly becoming an important and valuable industry.

The frequency of slips which occur in the Otira Gorge has set people on this side of the Alps wondering what will happen when the opening of the Otira tunnel no longer necessitates the constant attention and upkeep which the coach road over the mountain now receives (says the Greymonth correspondent of the Christchurch ‘Sun’). The slip which occurred last week was the largest experienced for some years, and only the quick work of an Expert repair gang prevented more serious delays. The destiny popukrly planned for this historic road is that its usefulness will continue as the only possible route for overland motorists and as a resort for tourists interested in the farfamed beauty of the Gorge; but if rainfalls ns heavy as those recently cause further landslides, will repairs be made, and who will effect them? The Government, unless its financial position is much improved, is not likely to exert itself in iho interests of casual traffic, and there is in any case a rumor that the Public Works Department will transfer the responsibility of the road to a local body. With no incentive offering to clear the debris away quickly and efficiently, it is not altogether improbable that a road choked with shingle will in lime become a broken chain.

The fortnightly meeting of the St. 'Joseph’s branch, H.A.C.8.5., was held in St. Joseph’s Hall last evening, Ero. P. Walsh (president) presiding, Nino candidates were nominated for election to the society. Tho district deputy (Bro. J. J. Marlow) was present, and initiated Dr Whyte (Bishop of Dunedin) as a member of the branch. His lordship was appointed an honorary life member of the society. A committee was appointed to consider tho best means of celebrating the jnbiloo of tho society, which will take place in March, 1923. The Per, Father Marlow and the Bev. Father Fenton were elected as honorary members of tho society. Tho president said ho regretted to (have to announce that the secretary (Bro. J. O’Connor) was at present dangerously ill in tho Dnnedin Hospital. Bro. J. j. Marlow, jun. (vice-president), was elected temporary secretary during the illness of !Bro. O’Connor.

Tho I? 8M.33 Parliamentary Committee (Mr F. F._Hockly, M.P., chairman), which is considering amendments required in the licensing laws if National No-license is nob carried in December, completed the hearing of evidence yesterday afternoon, and commenced its deliberations last night. The witnesses heard included representatives'of the Nelson hop-growers, tho Revs. Jasper Calder and J. Milne, and Mr A. E. Jull (Waipawa). Tho report and tho recommendations of tho committee, it is ‘understood, will not he published before their presentation to Parliament next session.

An agreement has been arrived at between exporters and auctioneers in regard ■to tho collection of tho levy on meat for evport imposed hy tho Government in connection with tho new meat pool system. A deputation representing tho Exporters’ Association of New Zealand waited unon tho Christchurch Woolbrokers’ Association, which includes stock auctioneers, and it was decided, in accordance with tho expressed desire of the producers That they should pay tho levy, to issue the following formal notice by the exporters to the auctioneers; —“Meat export tax: We formally givo you notice that for tho purpose of carrying out tho .order of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Hoard for tho levy of Id per carcase on fat lambs and sheep and 2d on fat cattle, all our bids in auction from this date will bo subject to the amount of tho levy, and the •gross amounts of ail invoices rendered to ua subsequent to sales must have this deduction made from them. We have already instructed our buyers that all purchases made hy private treaty will bo subject to tho amount of this levy.”

At tho meeting of tho New Zealand -Utility Poultry Club it was reported that a White Leghorn in a single pen egg-lay-ing competition had up till Monday laid 319 eggs, thus .creating a fresh Dominion record. The bird, winch is tho property of Mr W. H. West, of Christchurch, will -be kept for a -further twenty days to comiplele the year, k Plana are in course of preparation for a ■Dominion rally of the whole of the Scouts in New Zealand at Christchurch during the next Christmas and New Year holidays. Notice is being given thus early for Various reasons—first that tho troops may jtart to accumulate funds to enable them to take part; secondly, that no other plans may be made which would prevent the troops being represented; and, ‘thirdly, to enable the boys to have something to give them a stimulus for the years work, as it is hoped that every boy will endeavor to obtain his first-class badge before going, and also to enable a , good supply of articles to be manufactured for the exhibition of handicraft work, which will bo one of the features of tho rally. It is anticipated that at least 6CO Scouts of all ranks will, take part, and it is hoped to make tho trip a very cheap one for those going from a distance, jjrst by pooling the cost so that every boy pays the amount, whatever tho distance ho travels, -and secondly by charging tho public for ■ admission to the various competitions and I displays which will be features of the jc#.« ' ' ■