Fees On Tractors.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 306, 25 November 1937, Page 10

Fees On Tractors.

“A concession is being given to farmers in the remission of license fees and heavy traffic, fees on farm tractors ana traction engines and their traders,” said the Minister of transport (Hon. It.' Semple) in an interview yesterday. ‘'Formerly if two or more farmers shared a tractor they had to pay the full fees in respect of its use, said Mr Semple. “The license fee of £5 was also : payable in respect of all traction engines under'the regulations recently gazetted by my department. Farmers can. now use J tractors cooperatively without paying these fees. The license fee on tracaion engines is also remitted.” The Minister added that consideration was being given to amending legislation exempting these vehicles from registration fees.

Railway Siding. Although the inclement weather experienced of late has caused several delays in the progress of laying the five chains of railway siding leading to the Public Works Department’s new buildings in Main Street West and the fitting of the set of points, the project was completed to-day.

Route Over Range. Work on the construction of the new road over the Tararua Range between Ashhurst and Woodville, as an alternative route to the Manawatu Gorge, is almost finished, but plans are not yet ready for the 320 ft long bridge which is to complete the link across the Poliangina River, on the Ashhurst side of which a little road formation lias yet to be undertaken. Reputation and Character. When a witness was being questioned regarding a man’s reputation as distinct from his character in the Hamilton ''Supreme Court, he said: “A man may have a good character, but no one will go out of his way to praise him for it.” “A very wise observation,” was Mr Justice Callan’s comment. “One of us has only to make a slip to be talked about,” he added. Extensions At Arapuni. After months of work the extensive addition to the old Arapuni powerhouse, which has enlarged the structure to twioe its original size, is almost finished. It should now be only a matter of weeks before the entire old and new plants are functioning in unison. When the work is completed there will be four new full-sized turbines in the new portion of the building. Improvements to Highway.

Heavy formation work involved in improving, the four miles of Palmerston North-Shannon (No. 60) highway from the city end is w-ell under way by the Public Works Department, and the corners cut off near Massey College are very noticeable. The big deviation by Keeble’s Corner is well advanced. This is an almost continuous stretch of half a mile of work, requiring three cuttings and three big fillings. Beneficial Rain.

Commencing about mid-day yesterday, an appreciable fall of rain continued throughout the afternoon and night, in the city and district, giving a much needed stimulus to pasture and garden growth. There was a brief lull in the rain last night, and this morning broke fine and sunny, but within a few hours more heavy nain fell and the temperature became much cooler than it has been over the last few days. Maori Axe-Head Found.

During excavation work on a new cutting near Mr R. L. Gregg’s property, in the Tepapakuku distri ct, near Dannevirke, one of the workmen unearthed a Maori greenstone axehead, which had evidently been buried for a considerable period. It is believed that this spot was once a Maori meeting place, as ploughing: in the nearby paddocks has revealed black stony patches which were probably used as “hangis.” The creek, over which ,a new bridge is to be erected, once gave a plentiful supply of shellfish.

Lengthy Conferences. Asserting that too much time was wasted at interprovincial conferences through Members of Parliament, Ministers of the Crown and others being permitted to give addresses, the Makirikiri branch of the Farmers’ Union tabled a remit at a meeting of the Wanganui executive that the number of remits should be restricted to 60, and that discussion should be devoted exclusively to the remits. Several suggestions for curtailing the length of the conferences were made. The meeting decided to forward the remit to the Dominion executive.

Medical Enigma. , The case of a man who had been born with a weak heart, and had been such an. enigma to doctors for many years that he had donated his body after death to the hospital for medical 'research purposes was mentioned diming the hearing of a case before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., in the Gisborne Magistrate’s Court. The case was one in which Cornelius Patterson was charged with bookmaking, to which he pleaded guilty. In pleading for leniency, counsel stated that accused was in straitened circumstances, and then referred to the strange condition of his health. A fine of £25 was imposed. Brighter Buildings. A decision to have its offices in Jervois Quay painted was made by the Wellington Harbour Hoard last night. Mr M. A. Eliott said that the building appeared very drab, and would give overseas visitors an unfavouraole impression of the city. He moved that it should be painted in bright colours, preferably cream, picked out with mail red. Mr R. McKeeri, M.P., seconding the motion, which was carried, said that local bodies should do their utmost to brighten up their buildings, which would mean brightening the appearance of the city generally and the lives of i the people who lived in it. New Title For IM.P. The Chairman of Committees in the House of' Representatives, Mr E. J. Howard, has received from Budapest, Hungary, a letter addressed “His Highness, E. J. Howard, Wellington, New Zealand.” The letter is from a joiner, who, on account of unemployment in his own country, wishes to come to New Zealand. “The undersigned petitioner humbly prays His Highness to be graciously pleased to grant him the visa and abode in New Zealand, and so give him the possibility of working for the great New Zealand,” the letter proceeds. The writer signs himself “With the profoundest veneration, His Highness’ most devoted and obedient servant.”

Making Crossings Safe. Three dangerous railway level crossings will be eliminated by ramps now being constructed on the main highways northwards from Wellington. One at Porirua is well advanced. It will be a major work when finished, but it will eliminate a crossing with particularly bad . visibility. Another crossing near a turn at Paraparaumu will also be made safe. Approaching the Waikawa River from, the south, another will avoid coming upon the line just after rounding a curve. All three will save the motorist distance, as well ns anxiety, because each of them is a short cut taking out curves. The Otaki ramp is now in use and is an example of these points. It cuts off a considerable distance on an easier grade. Protection for Roadside Lawns.

An effort is being made by the Christchurch Beautifying Association to protect roadside, lawns from traffic damage. A reply was received this week from Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Transport, agreeing that these lawns add greatly to the beauty of any town, and expressing sympathy with the idea. “Although I would like to assist your association ns much as I possibly can,” lie wrote, “I feel that this matter is one which could, perhaps, be better dealt with by the local bodies than under the general traffic laws. I have, therefore, taken the matter up with the New Zealand. Municipal Association, and when I have received the comments or suggestions which this association may care to make I shall be pleased to write you later.”