General News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 4 August 1945, Page 4

General News

Court Interludes Unrestrained laughter broke the habitual decorum of the Supreme Court at Auckland during the crossexamination of a woman witness. She was being questioned on her identity of a spare motor-car wheel of a popular make. Counsel for the accused asked her if spare wheels wer e not like ladies’ silk stockings, much of a likeness. She replied, amid laughter, that she could match heir stockings and recognise them by the darnings. When counsel was about to nut another question, Mr Justice Callan remarked: “I hope you are not going to ask if ladies carry a spare in these.” The outburst of laughter was followed by another when His Honour continued: “I do not think we should probe into these matters.” Small Petrol Licenses In an urgent question in the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr J. N. Massey (Opposition, Frankton) asked the Minister of Supply if he would review the cancellation of petrol licenses of four gallons and under. The cancellation, he said, had placed those who held small licenses for essential purposes at a disadvantage. The Minister, Mr D. G. Sullivan, in reply, said he had already pointed out that where a petrol license was inadequate for essential purposes a motorist could apply to have his case re-considered. Mr Sullivan said part of the new allocation of petrol must be regarded as being fofr essential requirements. He added that no applicant would receive less than one coupon plus his former license, so no one would have less petrol than in recent months.

Children’s Clothing In the House of Representatives yesterday Mr W. M. C. Denham (Government, Invercargill) gave notice to ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce whether in view of the fact that 10 per cent, additional sales tax for war purposes wa®. not imposed on children’s clothing and in view of the vast difference between factory and retail prices of such clothing would the Minister take steps to effect a considerable reduction in the profit allowed to both wholesalers and retailers.

Arbor Day Planting ... f On account o£ the attendance ol school children at the Band's display at Nelson College yesterday, the city schools Aibur Day tree planting operations have been postponed until next week. Coal Ship Aground The Kartigi was tempoiauiy aground at her berthage at the Greymouth wharf on a recent morning during coal loading. The vessel was heavily laden, being scheduled to take over 3000 tons of coal for Auckland, and her berthage contained less water than usual, a patch remaining from the last flood, which slightly shoaled up berthages. Dredging has not been possible because of tire absence of the dredge Mawhera in Wellington lor overhaul. Loading was ceased immediately on the Kartigi. With the change of tide she floated clear and loading was recommenced. She completed loading to-day and sailed on the evening's high tide. Major Advantages Claimed “Even now in its operations, the trust claims that it effects certain major advantages in the conduct of the liquor trade over the system ol private enterprise,” stated Mr Hugh Ritchie, chairman of the Invercargill Licensing Trust, in giving evidence on behalf of the trust at the sitting of the Licensing Commission. “The law, it believes, is strictly observed. “The majority of abuses in licensed districts have been the supply of liquor to persons under 21, the supply of liquor to persons In a state of intoxication and after-hour trading. The sale of liquor to persons under 21 is a very difficult problem, but the trust takes ©very precaution to see that no mistakes are made. The trust is convinced that, as the employees have no financial concern in pushing illicit sales, it maintains the highest standard in New Zealand in this lespect. The same applies to the sale of liquor to persons already in a state of intoxication. It is satisfied that its servants exercise the utmore care in this respect. As regards after-hour trading, the trust is satisfied that it simply does not exist.” Improved Air Service A report is current in commerccial circles in Dunedin that in about two months’ time there will be an expansion of the airways service between Dunedin and Auckland. It is stated that, instead of one trip a day each way as at present, two trips will be made from Auckland and two from Dunedin. The Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association has been urging for some time a better service between Dunedin and Auckland and, although no official announcement has been made, it is confidently predicted that an improved service will shortly be instituted. Public Trust Office Estates to the value of £603,237 were reported and accepted for -administration by the Public Trustee during the month of June, 1945. The total value of estates and funds under administration by the Public Trustee on the 31st March, 1945, was £67,867,006, and the new business for the three months ended 30th June, was £1,714,675. Grants of administration made by the Court in favour of the Public Trustee numbered 223 for the month. During the month 533 new wills appointing the Public Trustee executor were prepared on behalf of testators and lodged for safe custody, and 461 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 130,138. Toe Tickle Saved Boy During a game in a tree with several other children, Barry Bowater, eight-year-old son of Mr L. Bowater, Manawatu Heads, was saved from serious injury by the prompt action of his friends. He apparently felt himself slipping from the tree, and, as an electric wire was the nearest “straw,” he grabbed it and was unable to let go. His friends thought he was having a game, and so began tickling his toes. As a result he slipped and the fall broke his hold on the wire. He is at present suffering from shock and severe burns. Tinned Rabbit In a Sydney departmental store I note imported canned rabbit offered to discriminating customers as “Produce of New Zealand” at 4s 7id per 21b tin, “bone in,” wrote a reader to the “Sydney Morning Herald” recently. What satire on economy of shipping space! One may well ask what is the Division of Import Procurement doing to permit such non-essential goods being freighted all the way from Christchurch? Baby’s 30ft Fall A 14-months-old baby fell about 30 feet from a flat at Manly, Sydney, and escaped with bruises. The child, Jane Stabback, was brought to Manly from Dubbo by her mother for a holiday. They were staying on the top of a block of flats in West Esplanade, Manly, and it is believed that someone in the flat left a back door open leading to a landing. The child somehow got out of the door on to the landing, and before she was noticed, fell over. She bounced on to another landing, and then dropped to the ground. She was taken to the Manly Hospital by ambulance, and though she was admitted for observation, the only injuries a doctor could find were a few bruises and minor lacerations to the face. Tickets in Demand When he advertised two reserved tickets for a concert by Gracie Fields for sale in “The Herald.” an Auckland resident received no fewer than 435 telephone calls in reply, including four toll calls, one of them from Maramarua. His telephone began ringing at 7.30 on Saturday morning and calls continued to come through until 1.30 p.m. on the day of the concert. Most of the people wishing to buy tickets were those who formerly had been living in England, and particularly those from Lancashire. Quick Coal Loading Little time was wasted at Greymouth by the Rata which arrived about 5 o’clock on Wednesday, states the “Evening Star," for by midnight she had loaded her 800 tons of coal for Picton and at 2.45 on Thursday had departed. She is expected back on Monday to take another load.