General News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 24 June 1943, Page 4

General News

Conversion of Cars The prevalence of the illegal conversion of motor cars is likely to be one of the major topics for discussion at the annual conferences of the North and South Island Motor Unions. This week the South Island Union received a copy of a letter from the Associated Chambers of Commerce to the Minister of Justice seeking severer penalties for the offence. Members referred to the growing seriousness of thefts and illegal conversions of motor cars, largely by youths, and it was decided to consult the North Island Union with a view to urging more stringent action against offenders. Donation to Fire Brigade The Nelson Fire Brigade has received a donation of £5 5s towards its social fund from Messrs S. Kirkpatrick and Co., Ltd.-, in recognition of the service rendered by the brigade during an outbreak of fire in Kirkpatrick’s factory last month. In a letter to the brigade superintendent the manager of the company expressed appreciation of the care taken by brigade members in protecting machinery from damage by water. Credit in Private Banks The Government at some time was going to have to take over private banks and use people’s credit for the people, said the Minister of Transport, Mr J. O’Brien, speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, wires "The Mail’s” Parliamentary reporter. He said that since Labour had taken office there had been an increase in wages of the people and those wages had been gathered in by banks in .'he form of deposits. Overseas Drivers’ Licences A suggestion that the drivers’ licences of overseas servicemen should be endorsed to qualify them to drive in any part of New Zealand was made to the Commissioner of Transport in April, 1241. The South Island Motor Union recently renewed the representations and received the same reply as that two years ago—that the matter would be considered when amendments to the regulations were next discussed. Milllinery Bargain for Friday Shoppers! Smart Styles to suit every type of wearer. Reduced to 6/11, 12/6, 17/6, 25/6, (Coupon Free). McKay's.* Infants’ Clydella Wear! Frocks, Pink, Lemon, Green, 16in. 18in. and 20in., 20/3. Rompers in Attractive Checks. 18in and 18in, 23/3. Tunic Suits in Cream and Blue, 16in and 18in, 21/9. (Two Coupons each). McKay’s.* House Coats and Dressing Gowns in New Winter Weight Woollens. Plain shades and fancy patterns. S.W. W. O.S. From 87/9 (Six Coupons). ’ McKay’s.*

Wettest June Since 1918 A further 31 points of rain last night and this morning brought Nelson’s rainfall for the month to date to 6.22 inches. This is already the heaviest June rainfall since 1918, when 7.21 inches were J recorded. | Tobacco Growing for Returned Men Tobacco growing in connection with the rehabilitation of returned men is discussed in the 1941-42 report of the Tobaccco Board. Various aspects of this subject have been considered, states the report, with a view to recommend ing the settlement of- suitable returned men, whose selection it is proposed should be based largely on experience in tobacco-production. It is considered to be of the utmost importance that the land selected for this purpose should be suitably situated and of a type which has proved to be suitable for the commercial production leaf. The board’s opinion is that any rehabilitated men who take up tobacco-growing should be allowed to choose their own land for this purpose. British Justice The consideration which British lav/ shows to accused persons on trial was referred to by Mr Justice Callan when sentencing a prisoner in the Auckland Supreme Court. “British law is very careful, almost chivalrously kind, to accused persons in this matter of prior convictions,” said his Honour. The prosecution was never allowed to try to work on the natural feeling of the jury that if a man had done some bad things before he was more likely to do a bad thing of the same kind or of a different kind. Anything even remotely approaching that kind of thing was forbidden. On the other hand, if a legitimate point of evidence, well founded on the English law basis, was available, it was certainly not the law of England or of New Zealand that the prosecution could not use it merely because in using it some hint or knowledge that the man had been in trouble on another occasion was going to come out. Renewal of Drivers’ Licences The traffic department of the Nelson City Council had, by this morning, renewed 600 motor driving licences since tlie commencement of the re-licensing period on Ist June. An officer of the department stated to-day that this figure showed an improvement on the number of licences renewed during the corresponding period last year. A total of 2,300 licences was issued in Nelson during the whole of last year. In comparison with the corresponding period last year, more licences have also been renewed by the Waimea County Council, which has issued 1,131 licences so far. Last year 2.426 licences were issued in the county. City Canteen Proposal No indication has been given by the Government of its attitude to the plan for a “wet” canteen for servicemen in Auckland city, put forward two months ago at a conference which included representatives of religious and social organisations (states the “Herald”). The proposal was to establish a canteen under military control for servicemen only, and selling beer and non-al-coholic refreshments on week-nights from six o’clock to eleven o’clock, the profits to be used for the welfare of returned servicemen. The Mayor, Mr J. A. C. Allum, said on Monday that he submitted the plan to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, who replied that it would have to be considered by the Government. Harassing the Price Tribunal How individuals sometimes harass the Price Tribunal was illustrated by Mr B. S. Connor, associate member of the Tribunal, in a talk before the Wellington Rotary Club. One day a woman rang up the Tribunal office to complain of the price of a coat she had bought. As the ticket on the coat gave all the information, needed, an inspector was sent out immediately to investigate. He went straight to the firm concerned, went thoroughly into the costs, only to discover that the price was right. On ringing up the complainant to give her the assurance that the price was right, he was staggered at her reaction. “I knew the price was right,” she said sweetly, “but Mrs told me at tea yesterday that she had bought a similar coat for less, and I did not. wish to be imposed upon.” That was the way the Tribunal was sometimes used to settle afternoon tea arguments. Public Trust Office Estates to the value of £564,112 were reported and accepted for administration by the Public Trustee during the month of May, 1943. The total value of estates and funds under administration by the Public Trustee on the 31st March, 1943, was £60,777,793, and the new business for the two months ended 31st May was £914,380. Grants of administration made by the Court in favour of the Public Trustee numbered 213 for the month. During the month 676 new wills appointing the Public Trustee executor were prepared on behalf of testators and lodged for safe custody, and 400 existing wills were revised to provide for changes desired by testators. The total number of wills now held in the Public Trust Office on behalf of living persons is 121,832. Hothouse Grape Season The Auckland season of hothouse grapes, which usually extends until July, will finish this week, the wet weather being responsible for growers sending all remaining supplies to the markets (states the “Herald”). The only variety offering at present is the Gros Colman, and these, grown at Otahuhu, are realising high prices. At the beginning of the season, early in March, the wholesale values ranged from 2s 6d to 3s lOd per lb. and at the City Markets this week they brought from 3s to 7s 6d per lb. The maximum price was reached last week when the fruit made up to 8s lOd per lb. at the City Markets. When the season finishend last year Gros Colman grapes were bringing up to 5s lid per lb., while in 1941 they were on sale until the end of August at 2s to 4s 3d. Flow of Regulations “Control appears to be the general order of the authorities, and regulations continue to flow in from day to day. In most cases it is found that they create increased cost and restriction,” said the retiring president, Mr W. McLay, at the annual meeting of the Wellington Employers’ Association. “Notwithstanding all the difficulties that do arise as the result of war conditions and the imposition of regulations and restrictions, one and all appear to be doing their utmost to assist in the general interests of the Empire,” he added. “1 impress on you the need for unity, as there has never been, in the history of the employers of this Dominion, a time that has called for unity as does the present.” The Atlantic Charter The Atlantic Charter was not an attempt to set out a detailed programme for war and peace, declared the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, when speaking before the National Club in Christchurch (reports “The Press”). Mr Winston Churchill had stated that the time was not yet ripe for that, because the end of the war could not be foreseen. The Charter was only intended to outline some basic principles for “the defence of oUr type of civilisation with which the conquered nations could ally themselves in their fight for regaining their liberty.” It was meant to give hope and assurance to the latter, he added, of victory.