DOMINION NEWS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 26 September 1925, Page 9

DOMINION NEWS.

POLITICAL. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 2o Mr David Jones, the Reform candidate for Ellesmere, opened his campaign lust night. He claimed that the repeal of the farmers’ income taxation was in the best interests of the country. He strongly supported tlie Meat Producers’ Board and the soldier settlement scheme. RANGIORA MYSTERY. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 25. Mr B. Ferguson, the Rangiora farmer who was seized bv a mysterious illness on Wednesday, is now making good progress. An analysis of the milk as awaited by the authorities. HOTEL-KEEPER’S INCOME. . WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. A charge of wilfully furnishing false returns of income tax was preferred against John Quirk, proprietor of the Gretna- Hotel, Taihape. Defendant pleaded guilty to negligence, but denied intent to defraud. It was stated that the informations covered the period from 1919 to 1924. Defendant in 1920 gave his income as £4372, whereas it was £6644. The amount paid in tax was £1174 instead of £2373. It is alleged that the total returns were £lO,373 less than they should have, beefi. The deficiency in tax was £2623. Defendant had admitted the _ correctness of the figures. It was said that defendant had been lucky in betting, which was not income. ■WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. Mr Maunsell, S.M., gave his decision in the above case this morning. He said he doubted whether the falsity of tlie returns was due to wilful negliglence, but in attempting to conduct a large hotel business without the assistance of a- competent book-keeper, he had been guilty of gross negligence. Oil five charges he imposed fines <n £IOO, £SO, £35, £35 and £2O, a total of £240.

COUNTY COUNCIL AND MINISTER

THAMES, Sept. 26. . At a special meeting of the Hauraki Plains Council it received a report from a committee set up to investigate the charges recently made by the Minister for Lands, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, against the council. The committee stated that the charge that the council had been taking twopence in the pound rate .from. Patetonga riding and giving nothing an return was incorrect, the balance-sheet showing that £IOB9 out of £1993 .so collected, had been spent thus. The Minister’s statement that the council should do something for the Patetonga riding was unwarranted. The Minister had promised that the roads would lie metalled by the Government, but this had not been done. The council endorsed the. report and expressed appreciation of the efforts of Messrs Rhodes and Poland for the Plains settlers. PRISONER RECAPTURED. CHRISTCHURCH. Sept. 26. The prisoner, Manuel Valvoi, who escaped from Paparua yesterday, was recaptured this morning in the city. SHOT IN THE SHOULDER, CHRISTCHURCH. Sept. 26. Frank Malloeh. a young: man. a resident of Greymouth. was admitted to hospital with a bullet wound in. his right shoulder. His condition is not serious. It is uncertain how the injury was received. OLD MAN’S END. DUNEDIN, Sept. 26. David Messent. aged 82, was found in his garden at Mosgiel with liis throat cut. His wife was absent in Invercargill. A son went out at 7 o’clock in the evening to post letters, and on ■returning found his father was absent. A search disclosed him dead in the garden.