DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 November 1943, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

CARS COLLIDE OAMARU, November 17.

Five persons are in Oamaru hospitals as a result of a head-on collision between two motor-cars last evening at Gilchrist’s corner, on the main Oamaru-Ngapara road, about three miles from Oamaru. The injured are Mr. H. R. Kingsland, of D. Kingsland and Sons. Ltd., biscuit manufacturers, Invercargill, slight concussion and abrasions; Mrs. E. N. Kingsland, wife of H. R. Kingsland (Invercargill), cuts and abrasions; Mr. C. H. Russell, of Dunedin, commercial traveller employed by D. Kingsland and Sons, Ltd., injuries to both hands and general abrasions; Mr. W. J. Campbell, farmer, of Clifton Falls, North Otago, cuts and abrasions and' shock; Mrs. Lucy Campbell, wife of Mr. W. J. Campbell, of Clifton Falls, injuries to face and a knee.

AUCKLAND TUNNEL. AUCKLAND, November 17. Representatives of Auckland local bodies in conference ,this morning, viewed with favour the proposal that a traffic tunnel as a new outlet from the city should be constructed under Albert Park, where there is at present an extensive tunnel shelter scheme.

The Mayor (Mr. Allum) submitted a comprehensive report containing four recommendations. Firstly, that the City Council seek Government authority to construct the tunnel as proposed by the City Engineer, at an estimated cost of £276,000. Secondly, that the Council undertake to back fill the side tunnels at an estimated cost of £30,000 without subsidy from the Government or contribution from local authorities. Thirdly, that the Government be requested to contribute the sum of £75,000 towards the cost of the works. Fourthly, that the Government and contributory local bodies be requested to allow the Council to take over without payment all existing plant and equipment and whatever portion of the existing tunnel work which might be of value in constructing the traffic tunnel. The delegates decided to recommend the scheme to their local bodies as reasonable.

TRANSPORT LICENSES AUCKLAND, Nov. 17

A statement that the recent amendment to the transport licensing emergency regulations, empowering licensing authorities to give first preference to applications by returned servicemen lor new road transport licenses, had been introduced primarily for the purpose of assisting in the rehabilitation of discharged men, was made by the Minister of Transport (Mr. O’Brien). “Many returned men have had valuable experience in operating mechanical transport in the armed services, and are now anxious to take the open-air life offered in the road transport industry,” the Minister said. “When considering applications for new licenses, or for the transfer of existing licenses, licensing authorities now have to give definite preference to discharged servicemen. The regulations also give power to licensing authorities to control the selling prices of existing transports businesses,” he continued. “Due to the petrol and tyre restrictions, which have enhanced the values of many services, vendors are asking in some cases exorbitant prices for so-called goodwill.” The Government was determined that those men who had fought for our liberties should not be exploited.

LAND SALES WELLINGTON, November 18. The policy of the Wellington Urban Land Sales Committee regarding depreciation allowance for vacant possession and land agents’ commissions was outlined by the Chairman, Mr C. O. Bell, at a sitting yesterday. “The Committee has gone into the question of depreciation, in connection with timber houses, and is of the opinion that lj per cent, is the minimum depreciation that could be allowed only in houses constructed of the best materials and when maintained in an exceptional state,” said Mr Bell. “It is impossible to fix the amount of depreciation in other cases as the matter depended entirely on the materials with which the dwelling had been constructed and the manner in which it had been maintained; also, as to whether it had been owner-occupied The question of allowing a premium for vacant possession has also been considered, and the Committee is not prepared to make any allowance for this, said Mr Bell. In regard to the question of allowance for a land agent’s commission, stamp duties and costs, the Commitee is not prepared, after consideration of the matter, to make any allowance for these items in respect of the valuation.

CHURCHES AND RECREATION WELLINGTON, November 18. As a result of the anxiety widely felt by members of the Churches concerning the Government’s proposals for physical and recreational activities of the youth of New Zealand, the Interchurch Council on Public Affairs, some time ago appointed a committee to confer with the Minister of Internal Affairs, and to prepare a reoort. A statement issued by the Council says the committee assured the Minister that the churches represented in the Council were in sympathy with the idea of making better provision for physical recreational activities of youth, and that the Churches were willing to co-operate with officers of the Department in this work. The Department’s officers had already placed their services at the disposal of the Inter-Church Youth Groups in some centres, and those services had been gratefully accepted. The Minister, replying,- reassured the committee on the points they raised, and outlined the Department’s aims. The Inter-church Council, which represents all churches throughout the country urges all Church youth organisations to take advantage of the facilities offered, the statement concludes.