DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1943, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS

PETTY-OFFICER KILLED. WELLINGTON, March. 8. Plunging 200 s feet in his car from a bend in the Onslow Road to the Hutt Road below, a naval pettyofficer received multiple injuries this afternoon and died on the way to the Wellington Hospital. He was PettyOfficer Maxwell Richardson Barlow, of 15 Cockayne Road, Khandallah. He was alone in the car, which apparently failed to take the bend. SALE OF~LIQUOR WELLINGTON, March 9. A month’s hard labour was imposed by Mr Goulding, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, on Donald Campbell. 38, barman, for selling liquor without a license at Auckland on January 13. It was stated that between 7 p.m. and 9.45 p.m. on January 13, 57 taxis arrived at premises in Wellington Street, and Campbell was seen bringing liquor out and supplying the occupants. He said he was selling on commission for another man at 2/6 a bottle. The man mentioned has been sentenced to three months in prison. The police added that Campbell had a bad list. The Magistrate said that Campbell was not perhaps equally guilty with the other man, but a line would not meet the case.

THIEF IMPRISONED WELLINGTON, March 9. A sentence of three years’ reformative detention was. imposed by Chief Justice Myers on Noel 'Derwent Bach, 35, for offences of entering and theft, and one of breaking and entering with intent.

Defending counsel stressed the lifelong stigma that would attach to prisoner, and also prisoner’s remorse, and suggested that in the special circumstances probation might be extended.

Chief Justice Myers pointed out that prisoner had made a habit of offences. If he granted probation to prisoner, it would mean he would be wholly false in his duty to the public. He was conscious of the consequences already realised by the prisoner of offences. However, prisoner had been a servant of the public, and had broken, into premises it was his duty to safeguard. In imposing reformative detention instead of hard labour, Chief Justice Myers said he felt that to some extent the stigma, loss of employment, and other features might be talcen into consideration. ARMY AND RATES WELLINGTON, March 8. The Municipal Association of New Zealand states that during last year the extension of the activities of the Army in New Zealand has resulted in the taking over of a great deal of property, which previously had been bearing its share of local body rates. Because of the prerogative of the Crown it has been exempt from all except the special rates affecting the land prior to its acquisition by the Crown.

In the case of some local bodies the amount of loss of rates has run into a very substantial figure. It is very welcome to local bodies generally, therefore, to learn that the Government has now agreed to pay full rates on all properties occupied by the Army, Navy, and Air Departments, whether taken under powers contained in the Emergency Regulations or by agreement with the owner. The Government has agreed to assume this responsibility lor the rating year 1942-43 and for subsequent years. The departments concerned have been notified with a request that payment be made as soon as practicable. This action of the Government, in recognising the due claims of local bodies, is greatly appreciated by the Municipal Association, the statement concludes.