GENERAL NEWS 205,081 Motor-Cars Licensed hi Dominion

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1947, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS 205,081 Motor-Cars Licensed hi Dominion

There were 337,302 licensed motorvehicles in New Zealand at the end of the 1946-47 licensing year on June 30 last, said the Postmaster-Gen-eral, Mr F. Hackett, in Wellington today. This number was an increase of 16,852, of 5.26 per cent, over the total for the previous year. The number of cars licensed was 205,081, which was 2763 or 1.37 per cent, higher than last year’s figures. Commercial vehicles showed an increase, the figures being 114,004, or an increase of 12,612 or 12.44 per cent. Motor-cycle licenses were 18,217, which was 1477 or 8.82 per cent, more than the previous vear.— (P.A.)

Budget Next Thursday “It can be taken as definite that the Budget will be presented tomorrow week, August 21,”. said the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) in the House of Representatives last evening in reply to a question from the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland).— (P.A.) “Advertising Medium”

The South Island Local Bodies’ Association’s executive, which met in Greymouth yesterday, decided to make a grant of £25 to the South Island Travel Association, which it described as its “advertising medium,” this sum to be further considered at the annual conference. Rangitiki Further Delayed

The departure of the Rangitiki for England has been further delayed and the vessel will not sail till 4 a.m., tomorrow instead of 6 p.m. today as scheduled. the watersiders’ usual stopwork meeting was held this morning work on the vessel will not begin till this afternoon. The New Zealand Rugby League team will travel on the ship. —(P.A.)

Miners’ Ballot The annual ballot for positions on the Grey Miners’ Central Committee will be held at all district coal mines affiliated to the United Mine Workers, next Wednesday or on the nearest working day. There are more than sufficient nominations for the positions of president, and of delegate to the Miners’ National Council, but there was only one nomination for the position of secretary, Mr W. Purdy, of Dobson, being re-elected. Theft Of Gloves

• For sheer impudence the action of an unknown thief, who removed 100 pairs of gloves from a box consigned to a Dunedin firm from London in the ship Taranaki, takes some beating. When the box was opened it was found that gloves valued at £9O had been removed and in their place was a sheet of music—a wellknown number from the “Messiah,” entitled, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” —(P.A.)

Smash-and-grab ' Although nobody in the vicinity appears to have heard the crash of thick plate glass in Moray place, Dunedin, the jewellery firm of Messrs A. J. Holloway Ltd was robbed of wedding and signet rings, valued at £l3O, in a smash-and-grab raid last night. The thieves smashed a hole three feet across in a window. The same premises were entered in July of last year and the intruders were later arrested and dealt with. —(P.A.)

Crowded Court Probably never before was the Westport Courthouse as crowded as it was yesterday afternoon. There was no judge, magistrate, prisonei, counsel or police constable present. No legal argument was heard and no civil claims were made. There was a particularly interesting address, however, but contrary to regular procedure it was not made from the bench or from the barristers table but from the clerks’ sanctum when Mr A. Fyfe gave a very interesting talk on law and court customs to 200 Westport school children, gathered together to start the “Youth Week sponsored by the Westport Rotary Club.

Cotton Mill Site Further steps towards the establishment in Christchurch of a £l,000,000 cotton manufacturing industry have been taken, the Cotton and Textiles Corporation of New Zealand Ltd., having entered into an agreement with Messrs G. R. Hunter, M.L.C., and P. C. Webb to purchase their block of land on Burnside road as a mill site. The area of land which Messrs Hunter and Webb have agreed to sell is 28 acres. It lies between Ham and Greer’s roads. It was purchased by them about 10 years ago as a stud farm and horse training property. Approval of the sale will be sought at the next meeting of the Land Sales Committee. The land is at present classified in the residential area under the town planning scheme. If erected, the cotton mill will be a light industry.

Someone must win the inscribed silver cups for the Monte Carlo at the V.J. Ball this Friday. Will it be you?—Advt.

If it’s fun you’re after, roll along to the V.J. Ball this Friday, Trotting Pavilion. Fun for all young and old, and it’s not rationed.—Advt.

Will you be there? Second V.J. Anniversary Ball, Trotting Pavilion, this Friday. Wonderful supper. No coupons required.—Advt.