NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21633, 9 February 1945, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Poultry Producers’ Officers At the annual meeting of the Poverty _ Bay Poultry Producers’ Association the following officers were elected: President. Mr. J. A. Watts: vice-president, Mr. W. C. Nicholls; secretary and treasurer.. Mrs. P. C. Watts; trustees. Mrs. J. Middleton, Mr Rodder: audito v . vr r. 0. Hi"--*;

committee. Mrs. Peel, Messrs. Dunn. Scott. Chapman. Pearce. Rodder and M iddleton.

Architects’ Fees for Hospital Work The hospital boards’ conference in Wellington yesterday expressed the view that as a result of the vorv laree increase in building costs, architects’ fees being charged on a percentage basis were now out of proportion to the services rendered. It was decided that steps be taken to obtain a more equitable scale of architects' fees for hospital work.—P.A. Staffing Hospitals

I The problem of man-power and I staffing of hospitals was discussed at a meeting of hospital board secretaries ' in Wellington on Wednesday night. The director of man-power, Mr. H. L. Brockelt, gave an assurance of the closest co-operation with the hospitals as a No. 1 priority, stated the seereI taries yesterday in a report to \,e hospital boards’ conference. It was I suggested that a survey be made of . the man-power position and of the ! hospitals and the boards should state their present staff position and requirements. The report was adopted. The next conference will be held in , Dunedin. —P.A.

Milk for Human Consumption j A decision to urge the Government to take immediate steps to make it | compulsory for all herds supplying j milk tor human consumption to be i periodically tested for tuberculosis, i "as an essential primary step towards preventing the spread of tnis dread scourge," was made by the conference of the Hospital Boards Association in Wellington yesterday. Dr. T R Ritchie, of the Health Department, said that even if all cows were tuber--1 culin tested pasteurisation and the bottling of milk still would bo reunited because of other diseases conveyed in milk from cows. The department was sympathetic to tuberculin testing, but realised the great amount of work that would have to b? done. —P.A. Farmers ami Excess Profits Tax Fhete appeared to be a misconception about the application of the excess profits tax to farmers who sell then properties and realise on their stock, said Mr. A. P .O’Shea, Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, in Wellington yesterday, So far as farmers were concerned the excess profits tax applied only to income derived during a normal year's trading operations. It. appealed that confusion arose from the fact that where a very low standaid ol values had been adopted the profit computed on the realisation of aisets at clearing sales was assessed lor oidinary taxation and in practice was not regarded as excess profit. This in some cases was Quite a large amount, but it should be realised that the commissioner had discretionary power and if application were made lie would make allowances, varying according to the circumstances in each case, which were deductible from the profit on the sale of stock in winding-up.—P,A.