GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 5 July 1939, Page 6

GENERAL ITEMS

I'rime Minister Back in House In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. J. Savage, who was in his seat for the first time this session, an absence last week on account of an attack of influenza, was sworn in along with Sir Apirana Ngata. The Address-in-Reply debate will be resumed to-night by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Hamilton, who is expected to move a non-confidence amendment. He will be followed by the Prime Min- ' irter.

Farmers Always Grouch ! “New Zealand farmers, so-called the backbone of the country, are men with a continual grouch. They get up with a j grouch, and go to bed with a grouch, j T know. I'm a farmer myself,” said i Sir Apirana Ngata. M.P., amid great ; laughter, at the opening ceremony of •the Napier-Wairoa railway at Wairoa 1 on Saturday. Remittance of Income Overseas An application by an Auckland land agent to remit £l5O. representing income from investments, to a former resident now in England, has been answered by a Reserve Bank permit to send £25. New Zealand currency, instead (states the “Herald”). The client j concerned is a married woman who dei pends partly on a New Zealand income |of about £l5O to £2OO a year. She has ! resided in England for about 10 years. | Circumstances do not permit her to live : in the Dominion. Cycle Riding on Footpaths The way in which footpaths in the j district were being cut up by cyclists I who used them in preference to the ' roads was mentioned in the report of 1 the Engineer (Mr G. Blake) to the j Tahunanui Town Board last evening. | and it was decided to ask the police officer at Port Nelson to endeavour to trace and prosecute the offenders. Faultless Bridge Game The amusing tactics employed by a Javanese sultan in playing bridge were described by Mr R. P. Bower, assistant Canadian trade commissioner, in an address to the Rotary Club at Auckland (reports the “Herald”). Tne table, he said, consisted of five players. One was a native who stood behind the sultan. When the cards were dealt, the sultan would indicate what honours were missing from his hand. The servant would take low cards of the suits from the sultan, seek out the required high cards, and transfer them to the sultan, who invariably won and enjoyed his game. ! Import Regulations : i j The Associated Chambers of Commerce wrote to last evening’s meeting ! °f the Nelson Chamber suggesting that : ! all chambers consider the matter of (altering the present import regulations; and forwarded copies of the Auckland Chamber’s suggestions. In view of the present position, it was resolved that full discussion be deferred till next meeting.

The Wrong Bone “One of the worst features of the Social Security Act is that it encourages the spineless to be more spineless. It is like the action of the rata vine on the forest tree, and ends in the destruction of that to which it clings.” stated Mrs T. R. Barrer, of Masterton. when speaking on this legislation to a meeting of women in Feilding (reports the “Manawatu Standard”). “People to-day have their I wishbone where their backbone ought to be,” declared another speaker, who announced, amid applause, that her mother had borne seventeen children, and her parents had not cried for help. They would have been ashamed to ask for assistance. They just work a little harder. Fur Seals at Stewart Island j Fur seals are said to be plentiful at present about and south of Stewart Island. The crews of the small craft which periodically sail in these waters report the presence of seals in big numbers on Pohowhaitai Island and other small islands nearby. The opinion has been expressed that while the fur seals are plentiful the Government should , allow a few skins to be taken. Sealing. ; once a flourishing industry, has not been carried on for many years. It is i thought that the last time an open sea- ! son was declared was towards the end j of the Great War. Since then a close ;season has been observed.

Taxation on Maintenance Recently a question was asked in the Napier Magistrate’s Court as to Security charges on maintenance received from a husband, and owing to the varying opinions expressed, a Napier solicitor has communicated with the Commissioner of Taxes regarding the position. The “Telegraph” reports that he has received the following reply:—“A wife is not liable to pay the Social Security charge on maintenance paid to her by her husband under a deed of separation or order of the Court. Where a husband and wife living apart under a separation order or deed of separation agree to the crea- ! f i°n of a trust to secure payments to the ! wife, the amount received by the wife is liable to both income tax and the Social Security charge. Alimony paid by a husband to his wife after divorce is liable for income tax and the Social Security charge in the hands of the exwife.”

Money Order Restrictions The severity of the recently-intro-duced restrictions on the issue of money orders is well illustrated by the experience of a local hardware firm (says the “Auckland Star”). Having received a special form of spring from Australia, they applied for a money order for 16s 8d to meet the cost. They were requested to state what other money orders had been issued to them during the month. It turned out that the amount was less than £2. but they were informed that the discharge of thendebt under the new regulations would require to stand over until July. From the open market of a few weeks back, where anyone could procure an order •or £5 once a week, the curtailment of this avenue of meeting foreign obliga- | tions is remarkable.

Compulsory Training Advocated Compulsory military training was advocated by the vice-president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Mr R. H. Nimmo. addressing the chamber last night. “Unless universal training is introduced.” said Mr Nimmo, “if an emergency arises our young New Zealand manhood will be caught untrained nationally, and taken at a disadvantage compared with the youth of totalitarian States." He said he had seen the trained manhood of Germany, and 't was magnificent. While he advocated compulsory training he suggested that the chamber should assist the Government to hasten voluntary recruiting, though he had grave doubt as to its ultimate success. Mr Martin Luckic said he was as strongly convinced as ever that no relaxation should be made by the chamber in its efforts to secure re-enactment of the compulsory military training Act. Industrial Disputes Information in regard to industrial disturbances was sought in the House of Repres3ntatives yesterday by Mr Holland (Opposition. Christchurch North). He asked that there should be laid before the House a return showing how many of the 189 strikes that occurred between Ist January. 1936. and 31st March. 1939, were illegal, the number of cases in which legal proceedings were taken against the offending parties. and the total amount of fines inflicted and collected. Work of Officers Appreciated. In thanking the members of the No. 11 District Highways Council for bis re-clection to-day to the position of chairman, Mr T. A. Johnston referred in appreciative terms to the arduous work of the secretary Mr J. Hurrell in the preparation of the necessary information for the meeting and in connection with his work throughout the year. He also paid a tribute to the work of the Resident Engineer. Mr L. L. Meadowcroft especially in connection with reconstruction and road scaling activities

Education of Motorists When the question of educating motorists in matters of road safety was being discussed at to-day’s meeting of the No. 11 District Highways Council one member remarked that the best way of educating them was through their pockets by increasing the number of prosecutions for breaches of the regulations. Control of Heavy Traffic Vehicles A more strict control over heavy traffic vehicles was suggested by Mr F. H. Newman at to-day’s meeting of the No. 11 Distric: Highways Council and he moved that the Transport Department’s attention be called to the damage being done to roads under construction by overloaded trucks, and that the suggestion be made that overseers on construction works be given power to exercise control over lorries. The motion was seconded by Mr J. Corder and carried Wangamoa-Wakapuaka Road

The reconstruction of the State Highway between the foot of the Wangainoa Hill (Teal Valley) to the Wakapuaka Post Office is being investigated and a reconstruction survey is now in hand, said the chairman of the No. 11 District Highways Council Mr T. A. Johnston, in answer to a question by Mr J. Corder (Waimea County Council) at to-day’s meeting of the Council. The chairman said it was the definite policy of the Highways Board to reconstruct the road which would result in a further considerable improvement on the NelsonBlenheim road. Driving Licences The number of motor-vehicle driving licences issued in Wellington is growing each year. Up till a month ago. when the office for the issue of such licences was transferred from the concert chamber of the Town Hall to the Traffic Office. 13,500 licences had been issued. With only a month of the new year gone, the number of licences issued has reached 19.000. 2000 ahead of the number issued by this date last year. The total number cf driving licences issued last year was 23.050. but this years figures will be more than that by several thousand Social Security Act Notice of his intention to ask the Acting-Minister of Social Security. Mr Parry, whether it is proposed to amend the Social Security Act to enable persons on unemployment benefit to draw family allowance in addition to unemployment benefit, was given by Mr McKeen (Government. Wellington South) on behalf of Mr Barnard (Government. Napier) in the House of Representatives yesterday. “Under the Act a family with an income up to £5 a week, which includes more than two children under 16 years of age. is entitled to family allowance.” Mr McKeen said. “When the man. who is usually the sole breadwinner, falls out of work and draws in unemployment benefit much less than in wages he is at present deprived of family allowance when it is most needed." An Irish Tinker "We are trying to do our best for your side, but you are looking our gift horses in the mouth.” said the agent for the employers. Mr T. O. Bishop, during the hearing of the dairy dispute in the Conciliation Council at Wellington yesterday. "I have accepted these gift horses before without looking at their mouths.” replied the agent for the workers, Mr J. Roberts, “and I have fallen in. To-day you can regard me as an Irish tinker.”