VALUE OF E.P.S.

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24868, 14 April 1944, Page 2

VALUE OF E.P.S.

ABOLITION QUESTION LOCAL BODY DISCUSSION Opinions on the question of maintaining the central E.P.S. organisation in Auckland are to be sought from the local authorities constituting the Suburban Local Bodies' Association. This decision was made at a meeting of the association last night, when delegates discussed the present expenditure, estimated at £17,775, of which over £BOOO had to be provided by local bodies. "We should ask for the abolition of the E.P.S., a.s it is an unwarranted financial burden on local bodies," said Mr. J. J. Mulvihill, of Mount Eden. The lessened risk of attack was reflected in the lowering of the war damage premium. In addition, the local bodies were to be saddled with 50 per cent of the cost of maintaining the city tunnels. Mr. J. Guiniven, of Takapuna, said they should not be called on to maintain the tunnels. The chairman, Mr. 1. J. Goldstine, of One Tree Hi!J. suggested that, in the event of an epidemic, communication and transport were two things at least that must'be handled on a metropolitan basis. The Government had indicated in no uncertain terms that the organisation should be maintained. It might he wiser to ask the Minister of Civil Defence for his reasons for that decision. FISHING AT ROTORUA MORE LICENCES SOLD FINE CATCH OF BROWN TROUT (0.C.) ROTORUA, Thursday A surprising feature of the fishing season in the Rotorna district this year was the increased sale of licences compared with the past two years, said the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry. Restrictions on travel, difficulty in obtaining accommodation and the* absence of a large number of fishermen on active service had not the effect on the sale of-fishing licences which might have been expected. Proof had again been given of the popularity of the waters of the Rotorna district for fishing, which undoubtedly was one of the district's main attractions. Three excellent brown trout, one of lOJlb. and the others of 91b., were caught on the fly by Mr. M. C. Currin, of Xgongotalia, this week at the mouth of the Xgongotalia stream. It is reported that more brown trout have been taken in the Ngongotaha and Taupo areas recently than for a long time previously. . FINE OF £IOO IMPOSED FOURTH GAMING OFFENCE (0.C.) WANGANUI, Thursday "Defendant has the distinction of being in a large way of business and has already been fined sums of £25, £3O and £75 for bookmaking," commented Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., when he fined John Joseph McDonald £IOO for keeping a common gaming house. Detective-Sergeant J. K. Robertson said that when defendant's house was visited at 2.10 p.m. last Saturday records of betting transactions were found. Defendant appeared to have taken 24*2 bets totalling £l7B. For defendant. Mr. P. Dickson said that McDonald did not make much out of bookmaking because he offered I better odds than other operators. "1 must, assume that defendant has continued to defy the law. in spite of the previous fines imposed upon him," said the magistrate. FIGHTING TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL BOARDS COMBINE (P.A.) WANGANUI, Thursday The control of the Otaki sanatorium for tuberculosis is to pass to six hospital boards on the west coast of the North Island —Wanganui, Palmerston S North, Taranaki, Pa tea. Hawera and ' Stratford. A meeting of representatives of those boards was held in Wanganui to-day, when it was decided to take over maintenance of the institution, which since 1933 has been administered by the Palmerston North board. The scheme is part of an effort to combat the incidence of tuberculosis and provide improved facilities for treating patients. An effort is to be made to have all arrangements for the new system of control completed by June 30. Mr. .1. A. Nash, Palmerston North, who presided, referred to the growing needs of the area, which would require consideration of building a new institution. The site of such new building would have to be somewhere between Palmerston North and New Plymouth, and when built the old building at Otaki could be used as a "sanatorium for abildrea.