Poetic Licens-ing

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 38, 15 February 1949, Page 6

Poetic Licens-ing

In the inquiry of the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority in the application for licenses for road tankers, there were some interesting and amusing sidelights. The following are a few excerpts : ® Mr. Ross to a witness : “In 1946/ 47 your output was 2,957,324 lbs of butter as against 3,305,259 lbs in 1947/48. Doesn’t this show an increase in revenue for your wharfage rates and for the shipping company?” Witness : “No, it doesn’t.” Mr. Ross: “WHAT?” Witness : “Not to the degree you suggest.” ® Mr. Haig to witness : “How do you arrive at this conclusion?” Witness : “By figures taken out.” Mr. Haig : “Can you produce those figures?” Witness : “I haven’t got them with me.” Mr. Haig: “Where are they?” Witness : “There aren’t any worked out.” Mr. Haig : “No wonder you haven’t got them with you.” ® “So with the set-up the way it is,” said the Authority, “We ask for Shell and get Plume. Then we swear our car will run better on one gas than the other.” “This arrangement applies only to the north, sir,” replied the witness. “If it’s done in one place, you can guarantee it’s done in others.” ® When Mr. Gould turned to his brief case for some papers during a crossexamination, the Authority remarked with a smile : “He goes to the little black box that contains so many secrets.” ® “Who asked for 7d differential,” asked Mr. Gould of a witness, “That’s a matter for Scotland Yard." grinned Mr. Haig interpolating. ® When Mr. Nieholls was cross-ex-amining a witness, he went on to elaborate by explanation a point. Mr. Haig objected to this, and told the Authority that Mr. Nieholls was making a statement, and not examining as he should be doing. “I am making a statement of truth,” stated Mr. Nieholls forcefully. “We want questions, not the truth,” said Mi. Haig without thought. AUCKLAND WOOL SALES Resumption of Transport Now that the wool from the January sale is being delivered to the Dumping Stores for shipment the congestion in Brokers’ Stores in Auckland has been relieved. It is now possible to remove the restrictions which have been operating on the transport of wool to Auckland and Onehunga and from Monday j on growers should have no difficulty | in arranging to send their wool for- r ward. It is not expected that there will be any necessity for further res- | triction this season. Catalogues for the fourth sale on 7th March closed on Friday 4th Feb- . ruary and further wools coming to I hand will be offered at the final sale on 28th April.