SHORT CHANGE GIVEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24537, 20 March 1943, Page 6

SHORT CHANGE GIVEN

VALUE OF THE DOLLAR TWO OFFENDERS FINED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday Because many complaints had been made to the .Reserve Bank of servicemen not being given the full value of the American dollar, namely, (is Id, the co-operation of the police was sought and to-day the first prosecutions under the Finance Emergency Regulations were brought before Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M. Two employees were each fined £5 and costs and two principals were convicted and ordered to pay costs. The magistrate said if the practice of short-changing continued persons could expect to be fined very heavily and in the case of a second offence they might even be sent to prison. The defendants were a cafe proprietor and his employee and a hotel licensee and a barmaid. The magistrate said that in the present cases the short change was only a penny in each dollar, but most of the cases were the same. If he had been satisfied there had been any deliberate attempt by the defendants to make a profit ho would have imposed a very serious penalty. POLITICAL ACTION FARMERS' INTERESTS AUCKLAND PROPOSAL The question of adopting a farmers' political platform was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union this week and various suggestions were approved. It was reported that the matter would be considered at a special Dominion conference next month. The president, Mr. H. M. Rush worth, said the present constitution of Parliament with what might be termed two city parties was not satisfactory. If the farmers formed a rural party they might be called vote-splitters. They had the power in their own hands to guard their own interests and he doubted whether they would obtain relief by merging with either of the present parties. Mr. J. H. Furniss, who spoke in favour of asking existing party candidates whether they would pledge themselves to support a farmers' platform, said he did not reject the idea of a separate farmers' party. Mr. A. C. A. Sexton said there should be a party to represent rural interests. Minor parties were by no means negligible in politics. Mr. H. O. Mellsop said the time was opportune to do something and if they did not act now it might be a long jtime before they got another chance. A motion was adopted affirming the desirability of taking some political action to be determined by the Dominion executive. It was also agreed to appoint a farmers' electoral committee as a means of initiating political action.

Mr. Alellsop moved that the committee meet the Opposition with a view to getting a rural bloc elected and that candidates in rural electorates be invited to promise general support only to the Opposition, but to give no overriding pledge to any political party, organisation or person that would conflict with the Farmers' Union platform. The motion was adopted. It was further decided that, if bv tho end of Ma y satisfactory arrangements had not been reached, steps be taken toward alternative action in respect to the nomination of candidates subject to confirmation by the Dominion conference. CARRIAGE OF GOODS ROAD SERVICE CHARGES (P.A.) _ _ WELLINGTON, Friday in a joint statement to-night on the goods service charges tribunal emergency regulations, gazetted last night, the Minister of Transport, tho Hon. J. O'Brien, and the Minister in charge of Stabilisation, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, said that hitherto the regulation of road service charges had been decentralised on a regional basis. In future they will be regulated on a national basis by the Goods Service Charges Tribunal, the personnel of which would he announced shortly. The Government, said tho joint statement, realised front the first that its stabilisation policy would not be fully effective unless transport charges were brought within its scope. The annual cost of road goods services was about £9,000,000, which meant that road goods services charges were an important factor in industrial costs. The Ministers added that the problem of stabilising more effectively the costs of road transport operators was under consideration and as soon as a full investigation had been completed a further statement would be made on this question.

INFANTILE PARALYSIS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday Since the first case of infantile paralysis was reported in the Canterbury health district on February 5 there have been 85 cases, live of them fatal. In addition there has been one case at Hokitika. So far this week 11 cases and one suspected case have been notified The schools throughout Canterbury will remain closed until further notice, said the district medical officer of health. Dr. T. Fletcher. Telford, this morning. HOME FOR AIRMEN The need for a home to be used by New Zealand airmen returning from Pacific war theatres to recuperate was mentioned by Mr. T. A. Low, speaking last night at a meeting of the Joint Council of tho Order of St. John and the Now Zealand lied Cross Society. He said that the American Red Cross home, Kia Ora (formerly the Evelyn Firth Home) was proving of great benefit to United States personnel and the time had arrived for the provision of a similar home for use by Dominion airmen. The question was referred to i-ha standing committer