LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23127, 27 August 1938, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Injured Man Unidentified The identity of the man who was admitted to hospital oil Wednesday night suffering from injuries received when ho was knocked down by a motor-car on the waterfront road, had not been established early this morning. The man was admitted with head injuries and concussion. His condition is not serious.

Post Office Improvements Good progress is being made with the reconstruction of the Newmarket Post Ofliee and the renovation of the office at Parnell. Both buildings have plain modernistic exteriors, to which a novel touch of colour has been added by painting the window-sashes a bright copper-green. The business of the Newmarket office is still being carried on in temporary premises, but the Parnell building remains in use during the renovations. Coal Delivery alter Hours Found delivering wood and coal after 1 p.m. on recent Saturdays, in breach of the Factories Act, six Auckland fuel merchants were charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. In each case, the magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean, imposed a fine of £1 and costs, 10s. To one defendant, who pleaded ignorance of the breach, the magistrate said that every person in business should acquaint himself fullj' with the law covering hours.

Air-conditioned Carriages In South Two first-class cars seating six passengers in a coupe compartment and 29 passengers in the main compartment are included in new rolling stock being constructed by the Railway Department at the Addington workshops. These ears are air-conditioned, the grilles for delivering the cleansed and heated air being spaced in a duct running along tho crown of the ceiling. The programmo also provides for the construction of 13 second-class cais, and more than 430 waggons of different types.

Heavy Railway Bookings Accommodation was taxed on tlic expresses to Wellington yesterday, owing partly to tlie arrival of the Rangitauo from London and partly to the usual week-end increase in traffic. The afteinoon express, with a total of 12 cais including extra luggage vans, had few seats to spare, and all accommodation was booked by about 3 p.m. for the limited express. Although the largest number of cars ordinarily permitted is 12, arrangements were made to have an extra carriage attached to the train to relieve the congestion. Conversion of Motor-cars The frequency of cases of conversion of motor vehicles attracted the attention of the president of the North Island Motor Union, Dr. E. E. Porritt, in the union's annual report presented to a conference of delegates at Hawera. "Unfortunately the commission of these offences continues to be as frequent as ever," stated Dr. Porritt, "and consideration of the penalties being imposed leads to the conclusion that magistrates are not exercising sufficiently their power to inflict penalties having the effect of reducing the offences."

Food Sold After Hours "Small stores are a great convenience to many people, but the law says they must not trade in various articles after certain hours," said Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. A shopkeeper in Upper Queen Street, according to evidence, sold tea and sugar to a factory inspector on a recent Saturday afternoon, at a time when such goods should not have been sold. The shopkeeper said she thought a dairy could sell anything at any time, and especially small articles of food necessities. "The law says no," said the magistrate, imposing a line of £l. Increase of Motorists Compared with 1934, tho number of Automobile Association members in the North Island has increased by 98 per cent, stated Dr. E. E. Porritt. president of the North Island Motor Union, in his annual report, presented to a conference of delegates at Hawera yesterday. Membership of associations had almost doubled in the same period, going from 28,320 in 1934, to 56,253 this year. The increase over 1937 was 10,245. Of the individual associations, Auckland's membership was shown easily to exceed all the others, being 27,064 this year, compared, with the 8720 of Wellington, next on the list.

Paying for Superannuation "I was amused," said Mr. 0. 0. Mazengarb, National candidate for Wellington Suburbs, in a recent address, "to hear Mr. Nash say the other day that only half the cost of universal superannuation (which is to start in 1940) is to be obtained from contributions. The other half is to bo provided by 'the whole of the people'—who are the same persons as thoso paying the lirst half. The plain fact is that Mr. Nash proposes to get Is in the £1 by direct taxation and a further Is (5d by indirect taxation. He knows only too well that by indirect taxation you can tax the shirt off a man's back without letting him know that you aro doing it." Milk lor Babies Affirmative replies to a circular asking vendors to signify their willingness to supply special milk for babies, in accordance with new regulations, numbered 90 out of a total of 163, stated a report of the secretary of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council, Mr. N. R. Chapman, presented at the meeting yesterday. Nineteen vendors were not prepared to supply the milk, and 54 vendors and dairymen-vendors had not answered the council's communications. Tho report, which was adopted, suggested that the council consider compelling zoned vendors to supply the special milk, and authorise the secretary to send a list of those willing to do so to tho Plunkot Society, as the council had promised.

Parnell Playing Area Work on the formation of the new bowling greens on the city reserve at the bottom of Gladstone Road, Parnell, lias been so far advanced that the surface is ready for the sowing of the grass seed. The actual formation work on the two greens was completed some tiino ago, but for some weeks the men have been turning over the special topsoil to got it thoroughly free of weeds. Now, however, final levelling and rolling has been done and sowing should bo put in hand shortly. Between these greens and tho northern frontage of the reserve there is room for fivo tennis courts, and tho council workmen are now laying the first drainage course of scoria. This portion of tho layout should proceed quickly, as it is intended to finish these courts with a hard surface.