DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 August 1936, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS

[PEB PBEBS ASSOCIATION.]

CARRIERS’ CHARGES WELLINGTON, August 7.

The Wellington master carriers yesterday decided, because of .increased costs, brought about by legislation, to revert to the rates and charges in force in 1931. The increase will take effect immediately.

FATALLY SHOT. DUNEDIN, August 7.

A shooting tragedy occurred at Waitahuna on Wednesday, the victim being a storekeeper, Mr.'E. S. Blair, who went out shootipg late in the afternoon. He was found later with a bullet in his head. In getting through a fence he had caught his foot and fallen, the rifle discharging as he fell, i FIRE AT GARAGE. CHRISTCHURCH. August 8. Fire destroyed a repair garage and office in Lavaud Street, Akaroa, yesterday morning. A block of shops at the back of the garage was badly scorched. The property belonged to Mrs. A. G. Bell, who also owned the shops, and was tenanted by Mr. T. McCaughan. A new four-seater saloon car belonging to Mr. George Phillips, of Takamatua, was in the garage and was destroyed. The fire, which was discovered by a telephone exchange clerk, got a hold quickly; but the Akaroa Fire Brigade was able to prevent it from spreading to the Metropole Hotel, a petrol station, and some shops and houses. It was reduced to a smoulder by 7 o’clock. The garage was insured for £2OO ana the stock for £5OO. The shops belonging to Mrs. Beil were insured with the Phoenix Assurance Company,. Ltd., for £BOO and the stock and fittings for £3OO. Mr. Phillips’s car was covered by the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation.

SALES TAX FRAUD. AUCKLAND, August 7. Two charges of evading payment of part of the sales tax on goods sold in May and August, 1935, by altering the amounts shown in the duplicate receipt from £27/10/- to £7/10/-. and from £24 to £4, with intent to defraud the revenue were brought against D. Stern (Furs) Ltd., before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., this morning. “These cases are frauds on the revenue. and cannot be described, as other than deliberate and serious." said Mr. R. Meredith, for the Taxation Department. Mr Towle, for Stern, said that he had made full and frank disclosures when seen by an inspector. The magistrate said it was doubtless a peculiar feature of offences against the revenue that persons otherwise of good character and reputation would endeavour to cheat the revenue or Customs. The only way to deal with such persons was to treat the matter as serious and impose a substantial penalty. Stern was fined £25 with costs.

SOUTHLAND POWER BOARD. INVERCARGILL, August 7. At a meeting of the Southland County Council this afternoon it was resolved to telegraph the following resolution to the Minister for Finance: “That this council is unanimously of opinion that in the interests of Southland tho Southland Electric Po\yer Board loan proposals for redemption should not be approved until such time as a referendum is taken; and the council requests that the Minister pievail upon the board to withold striking a rate until the result of the lefeiendum is known.”

A deputation from the board, consisting of the chairman, Mr. J. T. Carswell, and the secretary, Mr. C. Campbell, left to-day for Wellington to interview the Minister on the terms oi the conversion of the loan, which the board intends applying for on the London market. At the last meeting of the board a discussion was taken in committee on tho holding of a referendum and on tho advisability of the Government acquiring the assets and liabilities of the board, and it was agreed that a referendum should be taken under certain conditions. These conditions will also be discussed with Mr. Nash.