PETROL AND RACES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25054, 18 November 1944, Page 6

PETROL AND RACES

MOTORISTS WARNED TRIPS TO CUP MEETING (OC-) GREYMOTJTH, Friday A warning that a strict check would be made of all motor traffic passing from tho West Coast to Canterbury on the Arthur's Pass and Lewis Pass routes on November 24, the day before the running of the New Zealand Cup at Riccarton, was issued today by an inspector of the Transport Department at Greymouth He said it had become apparent that many instances had arisen of petrol obtained on licence being used for such trips This was a serious offence at a time when petrol was extremely short. Instructions had been received to take proceedings in all cases of breaches of the regulations, he.said. A check would also bo made in the following week of cars returning to the West Coast. THAMES BOROUGH .FUTURE ADMINISTRATION "CAN MANAGE OWN AFFAIRS" (0.C.) THAMES, Friday "We do not know what attitude the debenture-holders will take, but I feel we have passed to the stage when we can manage our own* affairs," said the Mayor, Mr S. Elisor, at a meeting of the Thames Borough Advisory Committee, when the commissioner, Mr A. L. Burk, advised that he had placed his resignation before the Minister of Internal Affairs in order to take up the position of acting-secretary to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and had asked to lie relieved of his office on December 31. The Mayor said he did not know yet what would happen as far as the future administration of the town was concerned. The matter was still in the air. However, the main thing accomplished during Mr Burk's commissionership was the conversion of the borougli loan to 3 per cent. This had set Thames on tho high road to progress, and was a turning point in the history of the borough. Mr Burk said that his reason for resigning was that lie could not regard commissioner control as permanent. The statute definitely laid down that it would end in 1947. and he had no information yet about future administration. The town was sound and could go ahead. The franchise was restored to voters in 1941 and. if anything went wrong in the future, it would he their fault, and not that of the Mayor and councillors. CALLOUS NEGLIGENCE ROAD ACCIDENT SEQUEL BAN ON RIGHT TO DRIVE (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday For driving a motor-vehicle negligently so as to cause bodily injury, and for failing to stop after an accident, Benjamin McKnight, horse trainer, of Tauherenikau, was fined £IOO and costSj £25, on each chai-ge in the Supreme Court. McKnight, who pleaded guilty to the charges, was prohibited from driving a motor-vehicle for the rest of his life. "There is not a word of justification for what this man did at the time of, or after, the accident." said Mr Justice Finlay. "It was a cold-blooded, callous and completely negligent action on his part." He added that McKnight had taken a truck which did not belong to him, driven it most negligently, and then failed to stop, even when called upon to do so after crashing into a cyclist. His Honop said that depositions made by the prisoner at the Lower Court hearing were "a tissue of lies." Mr L. M.i Moss, counsel for McKnight, said he had to concede that the depositions wore at variance with the later evidence. He contended, however, that McKnight's nervous condition of mind was probably responsible for his behaviour at the time of the accident and after it. Mr Moss pointed out that as a result of what had happened the prisoner had lost his livelihood, and if he was sentenced to imprisonment he would be debarred from again following his present means of occupation. He asked, therefore, that, if possible, some other method of punishment be adopted. "You ran away, in spite of a warning, and the proper penalty for you, is imprisonment," said His Honor in addressing the prisoner. In view of the medical reports submitted as to McKnight's condition, he continued, it might well be that imprisonment would produce a psychological effect that would injure the prisoner. He had, therefore, decided to take the course of making the penalty a fine on each charge, and of depriving McKnight of the right to drive for life. KIT REPLACEMENT AID FOR DOMINION AIRMEN (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Friday About 700 .New Zealand airmen have been assisted in the replacement of uniforms by the U.A.F. organisation known as the Officers' Kit Replacement Committee. Its function is to assist officers who have to replace personal kit lost in circumstances which do not make them eligible for Government compensation. This service embraces all the Empire forces. It is not unusual for garments to be lost or ruined in the course of normal duties and often their replacement is a financial burden. MILITARY HOSPITALS NEGOTIATIONS BY BOARD A sub-committee appointed by the Auckland Hospital Board, comprising Messrs A. J. Moody, chairman of the board. J. Grierson and V. M. Tracey, has been in Wellington this week to discuss with the War Assets Realisation Board matters relating to the proposal that the board should take over the Middlcmore Hospital. The members of the sub-committee have returned to Auckland and Mr Moody stated yesterday that the negotiations had not reached the stfige where he could make any comment, beyond the fact that it appeared they would extend over some weeks. "The whole thing is still up in the air," he added. The proposed transfer to the Hospital Board of the buildings and equipment of the 39th General Hospital in Green Lane was also discussed between the sub-committee and the War Assets Realisation Board. No indication could be given by Mr Moody of the progress made. PUKEKOHE MAORIS NEED FOR ACCOMMODATION (0.C.) PUKEKOHE, Friday Conditions in Pukekohe affecting the Maori population were outlined by the Mayor, Mr M. R. Grierson, to the Minister or Native Affairs, Mr Mason, when he paid a visit to the borough vesterday. Reference was made by Mr Grierson to the lack of suitable living quarters for the Maoris, and the consequent detrimental effect on family life. Many of tho places in which they lived were unhealthy. He suggested that the Government purchase an area of land on which to erect suitable State houses for the Maoris, a native echool, a clinic, picture theatre, a hall and a church. The Maori recruiting and liaison officer, Mr W. P. Clarke, estimated that there were 580 Maoris in and around Pukekohe. He strongly supported Mr Grierson's scheme. The Minister suggested the taking of a survey of the population and the number of houses required. Mr R. Royal, Maori child welfare officer, undertook to do this and report the result to the Minister.