Dominion News

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1949, Page 3

Dominion News

£lOO,OOO Estate M'r Peter Lattey, one of the five heirs tp a £lOO,OOO estate iq. England, ip contractor, ynd Jivds Haveldck North. He is married and aged about 40. He has four children. He was reluctant to give any information to the press.—(P.A.)

Students At Anglican College The Anglican. General Synod yesterday decided, on the recommendation of the Primate of New Zealand (Archbishop West-Watson) that if a student should attend the central Anglican college at Canterbury for post-graduate studies, the £5OO a year needed for the purpose should be found by the from which he came. Archbishop West-Watson said he felt unable to ask the General Synod to find the £5OO from its funds. —(P.A.)

Laboratory Fees A common scale of fees which will apply to work done by public hospital laboratories and by recognised private pathologists is provided for in an amendment to the Social Security (Laboratory Diagnotic Services) Regulations, 1946, gazetted last night. Under the new regulations these fees will be payable from the Social Security Fund and no additional charge for such services will be made on the patient by a private pathologist.—(P.A.)

Theft Of Party’s Funds ')Cleve Edmund Alien, former’ sec-retary-organiser of the Palmerston North branch of the National Party, appeared before Mr Justice Hutchison in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North, yesterday, for sentence on a charge of having stolen £792 0s 5d of the party’s funds, and having forged the name of the party’s auditor to a spurious balance-sheet. Oh the first count he was sentenced to two years’ reformative detention, and on the second to 12 months’ reformative detention, the terms to be concurrent. —(P.A.)

Repairs To Rangatica Reports that the inter-island steamer express Rangitira would be going to Britain soon to have new boilers installed were discounted by officers of the Union Company yesterday. Boiler trouble had been experienced by the ship, it was stated, but she definitely was not going to the United Kingdom. Any mechanical defects would be repaired when she had her annual overhaul at Wellington soon. Her withdrawal from the service depends upon when she can be replaced by the Hinemoa, which was being overhauled on the floating dock. — (P.A.)

Investiture At Auckland ' More than 100 Auckland citizens were honoured at an investiture at Government House yesterday—the second this week. Most of the awards were to mark distinguished work in the services. Again the ballroom was crowded with relatives and friends who were received by the Governor-General (Sir Bernard Freyberg) and Lady Freyberg at the conclusion of the ceremony. The list of awards includes the following:— Commander of the Order ©f the British Empire, civil division, Dr W. Gilmour; military division, Brigadier G. Dittmer, D. 5.0., M.C. Distinguished Service Order, Wing-Com-mander J. Dinsdale, D.F.C., Squadron Leader G. Mandeno, D.F.C., Lieutenant-Colonel G. Sanders.— (P.A.). Pakatoa Island Sold

Pakatoa Island,, in the Hauraki Gulf, was bought at public auction in Auckland yesterday for £5BOO. The buyer of the 60-acre property was Mr J. L. Faulkner, of Otahuhu, who said he intended to farm the island, which belonged to the Salvation Army. In 1907 it was known as Bell’s Island. For two years it served as a men’s inebriates’ home, but when a larger establishment was provided on Rotoroa Island, which is nearby, women inebriates were sent to Pakatoa. Since 1943 the island has provided a rest and recreation centre for old persons. The island, which is at the eastern end of Waiheke passage, is mainly grassy, rolling country encircled by small beaches. There is a large homestead of 13 rooms, in the main northern bay, and a jetty to handle stores and passengers from visiting small craft.—(P.A.) Standard Wages Raised

To give effect to the standard wage pronouncement, the Court of Arbitration has amended the New Zealand (except Canterbury and Westland) Storemen and Packers’ award to provide for an increase of 11s 8d per week for adult storemen and packers, and from 3s 6d to 9s 6d weekly for juniors under 16 to under 21. The hourly rate for casual workers is increased by 3Jd an hour. The ordei’ comes into effect on June 1. The court has also made similar amendments to the Oil Stores Employees’ Award; the Wool, Grain, Hide and Manure Stores Employees’ Award, and the Fruit and Produce Stores Employees’ Award. The New Zealand Hospital Boards’ Domestic Workers’ Award has been amended to provide for an increase of Ils 8d weekly for male workers and 10s per week for female workers, to become effective on June I.—(P.A.)

Sales Tax On Soft Drinks “This is probably one of the most outstanding anomalies suffered by any industry in so far as sales tax is concerned,” said the president of the Dominion Association of Carbonated Water and Cordial Manufacturers (Mr W. J. Cowles), referring to the failure of the Minister of Customs (Mr Nash) to meet continued representations for the removal of sales tax on carbonated waters and cordials. “The industry is statutorily obliged to manufacture in strict terms of the food and drug regulations, and its products are classified by the Health Department as a food,” continued Mr Cobles. “However, the Customs Department classifies carbonated waters and cordials solely as a beverage, and continues to impose a 20 per cent, sales tax. Some idea of the anomalous position existing is gained from the fact that the Minister has revoked the sales tax on ice cream.”—-(P.A.)

Ex-Prisoner Of War Sentenced A former member of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force who escaped from a prisoner of war camp and served with Greek guerrillas and Marshal Tito’s forces during the war, was tried before a district court-mar-tial on charges of desertion and losing equipment by neglect. Accused, Private Richard Norman Kelsall, aged 29, who had joined the New Zealand Regiment service section since the war, denied both charges. He was found hot guilty of desertion, but guilty of absence without leave and of losing equipment. Counsel for Kelsall said accused did not intend to leave the service. He was worried about his affairs, and had left on the spur of the moment. Accused was a frank witness and his statements, counsel submitted, cleared him of any

intention to desei’t. Counsel believed Kelsall had made 15 attempts to escape when he was a prisoner of war, Kelsall, who had been under close arrest for 42 (Jays since being apprerhended by the police, was sentenced to 14 days’ detention for absence without leave, and pay amounting to £5 10s was stopped to cover loss of equipment.—(P.A.)