NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 80, 3 April 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Car Conversion Penalties In connection with the leading article in yesterday's issue of the "Times" relative to car conversion penalties, a member of the Justices of tho Peace Association advises that the case cited was only an attempted conversion. Had there been an actual conversion the sentence would have been considerably heavier. Beyond Breaking Point" ‘ 1 The effect of taxation is to make the Government by far the greatest dividend-drawing shareholder in the company," said Mr. G. W. Reid when seconding tho motion for the adoption of the report and balance sheet at the annual meeting of shareholders of Messrs. Kemptliorne, Prosser and Co. During the years of winning the war, and no doubt in tho difficult years of construction that would come afterwards, Mr. Reid added, heavy taxation was inevitable, but a danger lay in the possibility of industry and enterprise being hampered by any scheme that would push taxation on the incomes of joint stock companies beyond breaking point. Fire Services.

According to Mr. P. A. Milverton (superintendent of the Palmerston North Fire Brigade), the enrolling of members for the Emergency Fire Service is proceeding satisfactorily. Tho force will consist of 50 men and tho object is to strengthen the present brigade in cases of emergency. Training will commence as early as possible and the men will then be able to work side by side -with the brigade proper. Their services will be most valuable to tho city, for greater protection from fire can be given, and in England this is considered to be in the first lnie of defence. It is confidently felt, judging by the keenness of the men offering for service, that they will give a good account of themselves if called upon. Monkey Recaptured After six weeks’ stolen liberty, the last of the 17 monkeys which escaped from the Newtowm Park Zoo in February was caught on Monday. It was enticed into a trap baited with apple. The monkey had recently returned to the zoo grounds, living in the vicinity of the cage housing its companions. It took nuts and fruit from strangers, but if it caught a glimpse of one of the keepers it was off out of reach in a flash. The zoo curator, Mr. C. J. Cutler, had a box trap prepared and an apple was used as a lure. The monkey eventually ventured in. Mr. Cutler said it was necessary to hurry and hold the trap shut, the monkey having so benefited by its holiday that it was bigger and stronger than before and took quite a lot of management before it could be restored to its cage. 125 Calls in a Year.

The services of the Palmerston North Fire Brigade were called upon on 125 occasions during the 12 months which ended on March 31. Ninety-tw r o of the calls were received between noon and midnight and 33 between midnight and noon. January was the most prolific month, the services of the brigade being required on 26 occasions. July and December were next with 12 calls each. Hedges, grass and rubbish fires accounted for 37 calls, fires in houses 2G, and in chimneys 21. A disturbing feature is that the brigade was called out on 21 occasions by maliciously false alarms. The most serious fire during the past year occurred in the buildings at the Showgrounds on July 19, 1940, when a good deal of damage w r as done. No very heavy losses were sustained, however, and, in the opinion of the superintendent (Mr. P. A. Milverton) this was due to the public generally 'giving the alarm early and enabling the brigade to deal with the outbreaks iu their incipient stages.