DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 January 1933, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

[PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] FARMERS AND RATES. INVERCARGILL, January 13A resolution asking for a substantial rebate on all country rates paid before the end of March next "was carried 1 by the Southland County Council to-day. The members were agreed that some form of assistance to farmers was urgently required, Dut, while some suggested a rebate ot 20 per cent., others claimed that 50 pei cent, would not be too much. The motion finally agreed to stated: “That this Council, realising that owing to restricted income, farmeis this year will have more difficulty than ever in paying their rates, most strongly urge that the Government make a substantial rebate on all rates paid before March 31, 1933; and also that the money required for this purpose be taken out of the petrol taxation that was levied partly to give direct relief to ratepayers and partly to force the road-user to contribute his share of the road maintenance.” ANTARCTIC WHALERS. INVERCARGILL, January 13. Although no official advice has been received as yet, it is understood that the Sir James Clark Ross, factory ship of the Rosshavet Whaling Company’s fleet, will not visit the company’s base at Stewart Island when the season’s whaling is completed, but will procped to Norway, via Capetown. This promises to affect the continuance of the base at Stewart Island, as the non-return of the factory ship to the base would involve sending some 60 or 70 men who at present comprise the crews of the chasers to Norway by passenger vessels if the return to their usual base. It is considered locally that the company would prefer to leave the chasers at Cape Town and convey the men home in the Sir James Clark Ross. As there are indications that the Antarctic waters to the south-west of New Zealand are becoming more popular for whaling, it is thought that the Stewart Island base will not be further required, and may be closed.