NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25175, 16 March 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

A T the executive meeting of the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association last night serious concern was expressed because of the fact that after three years and a-half of war and as late as January Cabinet had not announced its land policy for the settlement of soldiers returning from overseas. It was reported that the association had made strong representations to the headquarters of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association to make every effort to press this matter, which was of vital importance to all servicemen.

Collision with Veranda Pole Minor damage was done at 11 a.m. yesterday to the veranda of a shop occupied by Ascot Ltd. on the corner of Princes and Rattray streets, when a motor van which attempted to turn into Rattray street collided with two of the supporting poles. The van, which was owned by Messrs Charles Begg and Co., received only slight damage.

Supplies of Bolts Frozen The shortage of bolts for farm implements was mentioned at a meeting of the Geraldine branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. It was said that in some cases it was impossible to obtain bolts for the repair of farm implements, although it was understood that firms were holding these in stock at the present time. It was stated that a “freezing order ” prevented firms from selling these bolts, and it was agreed to take the matter up with the South Canterbury executive. Guilty Knowledge " The stock example of guilty knowledge is the case where a person is trying to sell a house infected with borer,” said Mr Justice Callan in the Supreme Court at Auckland, when counsel was quoting cases of fraud and misrepresentation in a damages claim. His Honor said that in such a case the owner would leave the house before a purchaser arrived or send out an agent to do the business, secure in the thought that he did not know of the existence of the pest. World’s Record Mako Shark The world’s record mako shark, weighing 10001 b, was landed at Mayor Island on Sunday by Leading Aircraftman D. Ross, of Hamilton, fishing from J. Barney’s launch, Renahou. A swordfish was being played at the time, and the mako charged, biting the tail off the fish. Another bait was immediately thrown over, which the mako took. The shark was brought to Tauranga and weighed in the presence of officials of the Big Game Fishing Club and a large crowd. V.A.’s on Overseas Service The importance of voluntary aids being permitted to wear the Red Cross insignia while serving overseas with the fighting forces was emphasised at a meeting of the executive of the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association last night. The association decided to support a resolution which was carried by the South Island V.A.D. Committee last month protesting against the fact that, up to the present, the V.A.’s were allowed -to go overseas Without the safeguard of wearing the Red Cross insignia. The resolution also strongly urged that immediate steps should be taken to remedy the position.

A Government Respontibility General satisfaction was expressed last night by members present at the meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council when the town clerk read a letter from the secretary of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, who stated that for the rating year 1942-43, and subsequent years, the Government had agreed to pay full rates on all properties temporarily occupied during the war by the army, the navy, or the air force. The intimation was particularly gratifying, said the Mayor (Mr N. D. Anderson), when it was considered that the rates due on Forbury Park and Tahuna Park now amounted to £666. The town clerk mentioned that the accounts for the rates on the two parks had been forwarded to the responsible department the day after the letter was received. Operations of Taxis Reports from the north of the association of taxis with sly-grog establishments have apparently created an impression in some quarters that similar conditions apply in Dunedin. Evidence of the existence of this belief is stated to have come prominently before the notice of members of the Otago Taxi Proprietors’ Association, on behalf of which the statement was made yesterday that taxis are being operated in Dunedin strictly in accordance with the regulations recently brought down by the Government. An assurance was also given that Dunedin proprietors are not' associated with any form of illicit activity. It was pointed out that the operations of taxis were under the.supervision of the local Taxi Control Committee, which had had no complaints from the public of inability to obtain cars for work which was classified under the regulations as preferential. Unusual Penalty Imposed Two youths, Desmond Noel Marks, aged 17, grocer’s assistant, and Harold Evan Fawcett, aged 18, timber worker, pleaded guilty before Mr S.L. Paterson, S.M., at Hamilton on Friday to charges of using indecent language and behaving in a disorderly manner in Kent street, Frankton, on the night of December 22. It was stated that the two youths, who were attending a dance at Frankton, left the dance hall at about 10 o’clock. They went to a shed, where they consumed a bottle of beer. The offences occqrred later. The accused were placed on probation for two years on the charge of _ indecent language. Special conditions were that they were not to attend any public dance, were to abstain from intoxicating liquor, were not to enter a billiard saloon, not associate with anyone disapproved of by the probation officer, and to write out lines of the 19th Psalm, including “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight.” Another condition was that they must write out lines of good English at the discretion of the probation officer On the charge of behaving in a disorderly manner, the accused were fined £2 each. Subsidies on Servicemen’s Pay Some doubtful points in regard to the Finance Bill passed by Parliament to define taxation upon allowances paid by employers to employees on active service have been cleared up (states the New Zealand Herald) by an examination of the Bill. Where an allowance does not exceed the amount of wages or other remuneration received by the employee at the time of his calling-up. or 44 a week, whichever is the less, the following conditions obtain: (1) The employer is not required to pay taxation upon the allowance. (2) The recipient is required to pay security taxes upon the allowance, together with income tax. if his, income is not less than the taxable minimum. Where an allowance exceeds the defined limits (1) the employer will be assessed for security taxes and income tax upon the excess, and (2) the recipient will also be assessed for the same taxes. If the employer is a company subject to the maximum rate of income tax and the recipient to the minimum rate the company will be called upon to pay 14s 0 2-3 d in the pound on the amount of the allowance and the recipient 5s lOd, making a total of 19s 10 2-3 din the pound. If the company is subject to excess profits tax, the respective payments will be 18s 6 l-6d and 5s lOd, making £1 4s 4 l-6d in the pound.