GENERAL NEWS Mayor Stresses Plight Of Pensioners

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1948, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS Mayor Stresses Plight Of Pensioners

“If we. who pay receive a reduction of income tax, which _is equivalent to a rise ■in wages, then it is only right that all pensioners—age beneficiaries, servicemen, and widows —should receive an increase in their pensions,” said the Mayor of Timaru, Mr A. E. S. Hanan, in a letter which he has sent to the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash. “For six years my duties have brought me into very close touch with pensioners in and you will recall my plea on their behalf in August, 1945,” said Mr Hanan. “The Government agreed to an increase which was greatly appreciated by the recipients and I hope that the Government will agree that the position should be further considered. Mayors and welfare workers are in a position to know how urgent is the need for such an increase,” he concluded.

Costing £l5 a Minute One of counsel appearing before the Local Bodies’ Commission sitting at Christchurch has estimated that it is costing, over all, £l5 a minute. “That makes morning and afternoon teas fairly expensive—£22s a time/’ commented another of the lawyers. Mail For Britain

A surface mail for'letters only for the United Kingdom, Eire and Europe, except the Balkan States and Italy, will close at the Chief Post Office, Greymouth, at noon tomorrow. A parcel mail wih close at 4.30 p.m. on Monday.

Ballantyne’s Fire Claims The time for making claims and commencing proceedings arising out of Ballantyne’s fire is extended by a clause in the Finance Bill to apply as if the fire occured on the date of the passing of the'bill. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday.—(P.A.)

Tax Relief Sought A remit urging that every endeavour be made to have the sales tax removed from plant and materials used by local bodies (other than trading, but especially plant and material used for road, maintenance) by direct representations to the Government (combined with othei - local body associations if thought fit) or by any other legal means whatever the executive may consider advisable,” was adopted by the South Island Bodies’ Association, meeting at Westport. Maruia Springs “The amenities have definitely improved at Maruia Springs,” said Mr A. E. S. Hanan (Mayor of Timaru), at the annual conference of delegates to the South Island Local Bodies’ Association at Westport. “The roof of the bath house has been mended, the hole in the water bucket is no longer ,in existence, and a pumping machine is now in operation.” However, Mr Hanan was appreciative of the possibilities of the springs if developed and he considered that the area could be made one of the best health resorts in this Dominion.

Price of Sugar Notice to ask the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) if the present subsidy of £5 7s 5d a ton on refined sugar for household consumption would be continued was given by Mr E. P. Aderrnan (Opposition, New Plymouth) in the House of Representatives yesterday. He asked if consumers could expect the purchase price to be reduced. Mr Aderman said the general manager of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company had said at Auckland that the landed cost of raw sugar in New Zealand should fall appreciably because of the alteration of the exchange rate. —(P.A.)

Shortage Of Carpets For Years The accumulated shortage of carpets in New Zealand wifi require .12 years to overtake even if imports are continued, at the “considerable” 1947 rate. This opinion was expressed to the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, by a deputation representing New Zealand retail furniture and agents of United Kingdom carpet manufacturers. The deputation onsiedred that there should be a new basis for the issue of licences for 1949 and that firms should be granted licences on the basis of an average year’s imports, calculated on the imports for 1946 and .1947 and licences granted for 1948.

Universal Speed Limit Urging that a universal speed limit of 45 miles an hour be imposed on all motor traffic throughout New Zealand and that it should be operated without prejudice to restrictions in built-up areas and the heavy traffic regulations, a remit sponsored by the Waipara Cotmty was discussed yesterday at the conference of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association in Westport. Mr A. E. Hunt initiated the discussion. He said that excessive speed caused too many road accidents. Other delegates said they thought speed was not the main trouble. They claimed that reckless driving was mare dangerous than speed. The remit was lost. Widow’s Death

At an inquest at Westport into the death of Mrs'Florence Hart, widow, aged 62 years, who was found drowned in Easton’s creek last Sunday, an open verdict was returned. The Coroner found that there was no evidence to show whether deceased entered the creek intentionally or whether it was accidental. Evidence was given by deceased’s daughter, Rita Martha Rea, to the bad health for the past two years, effect that her mother, who had been in bad health for the past two years, had been missed from her home early on the morning of October 10, a search resulting in the discovery of her body in the creek.

Mass will be celebrated on next Sunday at Te Kinga at 8 a.m., and at Kokiri at 10 a.m. —Advt.

There will be good prizes for the novelty dances at the Blackball Soccer Club’s Ball tomorrow night.— Adv I.

The Soccer Club’s Ball will feature a dancers own request session at Blackball tomorrow night.—Advt.

Hundreds of balloons will be let loose during the twilight waltz at Blackball tomorrow night.—Advt.

Soft lights, good music, streamers, confetti, balloons, a lovely supper, and a real nights fun at the soccer ball, Blackball tomorrow night.—Advt.

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