NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 228, 26 September 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Progress of Turakina Deviation Two bridges, two station buildings, and the laying of the permanent way remain to be finished before the Tura-lcina-Okoia railway deviation is ready for use. Work on the bridges is in hand and fairly Avell forward, but much has to bo done to the stations. Building in Austrr.ira. A great amount of building is at present going on in Australia, according to Mr. N. Cole, who returned to Auckland by the Monterey this week. Much of the building consisted of the erection of military camps and the construction or extension of factories for producing all manner of war needs from foodstuffs to munitions. House building was also active, but there was a lull in the conduction of office and other commercial buildings in the cities. Taranaki Centenary. The general scheme of tnc celebrations for the Taranaki centenary at New Plymouth at the end of next March has been approved at a meeting of the Taranaki Centennial Committee. The celebrations will extend over three days, Sunday, March 30, Monday, March 31, and Tusday, April 1. Sunday will bo devoted to. religious services. Monday being the actual centenary day will be the day of the principal function. In the morning the actual landing from the William Bryan will be reproduced. Arrangements are to he made for a suitable sailing ship with boats for the landing as well as Maori canoes. “No Litter-bugs.” • ( I am delighted to say that this year there were no litter-bugs, and all the rubbish which was collected could have beeu contained in half a hat-box.” This comment was made by Mr. J. A. McPherson (curator of tho Christchurch Botanical Gardens) when reviewing the behaviour of the people who visited the gardens and park on Sunday for “Daffodil Sunday,” states the press. Mr. McPherson said the city should be proud of its record of cleanliness through preventing tho spread of litter in its reserves. He added that tho behaviour of the extremely largo crowds which visited the gardens left nothing to be desired.

Unusual Request Possibly without similar precedent in New Zealand, 20 settlers in the Huinga district asked the Stratford County Council to purchase a section in the district and to erect a house with the assistance of the State Advances Corporation, tho dwelling to be occupied by a casual labourer who w’ould work in the district. The 20 ratepayers were willing to their being formed into a rating area to enable the county to recover any deficiency between the annual charges under the loan and the rent, should such a deficiency occur. The council w r as not willing to accept the responsibility itself, but suggested that the State Advances Corporation might take over the project. Taxes in Ancient Egypt. How people in Egypt in Cleopatra’s time were taxed in innumerable ways was described by Mr. E. M. Blaiklock, lecturer in classics at Auckland University College, when discussing the problems and difficulties of the ancient Egyptian business man in an address to members of the Auckland Botary Club. Amid laughter he said that people in New Zealand did not know what taxation was, adding that taxation in ancient Egypt started at a man’s birth and ended only at his death. Among other troubles for the business man of those days was a sales tax of 10 per cent. There were quotas, and there was a great deal of Government interference in business. The Motor’s Toll. During the twelve mouths ended July last there were 1161 collisions between two or more motor-vehicles in the Dominion, and there were 2097 collisions between motor-vehicles and pedestrians, trains, trams, lamp-posts or other objects. In addition to these 3258 collisions, there were 493 cases in which motor-vehicles were involved in such accidents as driving off the road. As tho approximate number of motorvehicles on the road during the year was 250,000, these figures indicate that about one motor-vehicle in every 60 was involved in an accident of some sort. As a result of these accidents 204 persons lost their lives, 204 S suffered serious injuries, and 2736 minor injuries.

Centennial Stamps. It had been intended to withdraw the Centennial postage stamps at the end of this year, but in order to conserve stocks of paper and stamps their sale will continue until stocks are exhausted. This will take place in 1941, sooner in some denominations than others, so the reversion to the pictorial set will be gradual. Owing to shipping difficulties caused by the war, supplies of the 8d value were recently delayed, and in some post offices stocks of this denomination ran short. While the shortage continued, tho 8d stamp of the pictorial series, depicting tho tuatara, was reissued temporarily. This gave rise to the rumour that tho 8d Centennial stamp had been withdrawn from circulation which, is not tho case.

A “Back-fiander” in Bags, During a discussion by tho Te Awamutu Farmers’ Union on the new fertiliser cost, by which bags have to be paid for if not returned in good order and condition for use again, members emphatically protested that this was only another way of forcing up the price from £3 16s per ton to £4 2s 6d. It was contended that very few sacks

could be used nioro than twice, so that tho farmer receiving a consignment iu onec-used bags would not be able to return them in the specified condition, however careful he might be. One member said that if the Government had been honest in its treatment of the farmer it would havo fixed the price of fertiliser outright, but this “backhander” with the bags was an effort to hoodwink the public. Another member suggested that all farmers should refuse to use superphosphate until the matter was adjusted. “They want increased product ion,’ * said another member, who ad*i< I, “The Government is going the rigLo way to stifle production.” It was decided to lodge a vigorous protest against the round-about way adopted to raise the price of superphosphate.