DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1937, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

[PJEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON CITY ACCOUNTS WELLINGTON, April 15.

A surplus of £8584 in the city„ accounts for the last financial year was announced by the Mayor (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) at to-night’s meeting of the City Council. It was a result, he said, which the council would receive with satisfaction. Rates had come in extremely well. DUNEDIN CITY LOANS. DUNEDIN, April 15. At a meeting of the City Sinking Fund Commissioners it was reported that during the last year city loans to the extent of £lOO,OOO had been paid off, the City Council contributing £45,788 and the commissioners the remainder. In April a further £77,000 was paid off the conversion loan, malting the total £289,600 paid since the loans were converted in 1934. The remainder of the conversion loan owing is £2,025,100. CAR FITNESS. AUCKLAND, April 16. An intimation that motor-car warrants of fitness will not be rigidly enforced immediately, was contained in a, circular • letter received by the Auckland City Council from the Commissioner of Transport. Stickers are to be supplied 1 by the Department to be issued to all local licensing authorities, and will be attached to windscreens of all vehicles which have passed the tests. This will enable identification of untested cars. It is thought that the distribution of stickers will be followed by definite action against motorists who have not obtained certificates. 1 IMPORTED MAIZE. ' WELLINGTON, April 15. Customs regulations issued to-night suspend the British preferential tariff of 1/6 a cental, and reduce the general tariff of 2/-. a cental to 6d. a cental on maize until July 31. The original duties will be reimposed on August 1. The British preferential duty of 2/a cental and the general tariff of 3/a cental on ground or crushed maize is reduced to 6d a cental, and 1/6 a cental respectively until July 31, after which the original duties, will be reimposed. The regulations are retrospective to March 1. The regulations also prohibit, save with the consent of the Minister for Customs, the export of phormiumJ tenax plants and seeds. This will come into force to-morrow. STORAGE BATTERIES WELLINGTON, April 15. A meeting of the newly-formed association of those engaged in the sale and manufacture of electric storage batteries was held at Wellington, with Mr. T. 11. Duncan presiding. The object of the association, it was stated, was the co-ordination of opinion on matters affecting the industry in New Zealand and to provide a medium through which co-operative action could be taken on matters relating to the conduct of the battery business. A standing committee of seven was appointed. Various problems affecting the industry were referred to this committee for consideration. It was the intention of the association to cooperate with the association now guiding kindred industries to avoid overlapping of interests and to secure an improvement in working conditions.

Mr. H. H. Miller, of Wellington, was appointed secretary.

COMPENSATION CLAIM. WELLINGTON, April 15

Evidence for the Crown occupied the attention of the Compensation Court to-day in the claim by J. E. Bultler, Ltd., against, the Minister for Public Works, for £41,000, as compensation for taking the company’s land and a three-storey building at the corner of Stout a.,nd Ballance streets.

John Gordon Harcourt, a. land agent and valuer, who was the first witness for the Crown, valued the whole Butler property at £18,686. It was accepted almost as a. principle that largo financial institutions seeking property coulld afford to pay more and were made to pay more than the average buyer. Ho estimated that the Butler building had largely outlived its practical life. He estimated its value at £7400. The rest of the £18,686 was. his estimate of the value of the site.

Other evidence about the value of the land was given. The decision was reserved.

A start was made with a similar claim for £17,976 by the Wellesley Club before the Court adjourned.