NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25275, 12 July 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

PARLIAMENTARY candidates serving in the armed forces who are liable for overseas service will be able to remain in New Zealand and conduct their election campaigns, although they maybe on the point of going overseas. It is reported authoritatively that arrangements have been made for candidates whose selection has been officially announced by their parties to be held back for the period of the election campaign if they desire. This arrangement will apply, however, only to candidates who are selected before their embarkation for overseas. No steps will be taken to hold back any candidate'who wishes to go overseas and to allow his party organisation to conduct his campaign in his absence. If a candidate is held back from overseas service, he then applies' for leave without pay to contest the election.

Bicycle is a Vehicle “A bicycle is a vehicle under the Act,” said Senior Sergeant S. King ip the Timaru Magistrate’s Court on Friday, during the hearing of a charge of failure to give way to a vehicle approaching on the right. “ That is quite clear,” observed Mr H. Morgan, S.M., “ but some motorists do not appear to realise it.”

A Privilege Extended Discharged servicemen returning from overseas have been supplied hitherto with free railway tickets oyer the railways and the Lake Wakatipu steamers for a period of 28 days at any time within 12 months of the date of discharge. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, announced last night (says a Press Association telegram) that the Government had now decided to extend this privilege to wives accompanying their husbands. New School Syllabus The Minister of Education, Mr IT. G. R. Mason, in a statement, gives an assurance that headmasters or anyone else with constructive ideas need not fear that these will not be considered in regard to the changes in the secondary school syllabus. He did not suppose for a moment that the present members of the committee embodied all the wisdom in the country, and his impression was that they wqre not n irely • awaited, but would actively seek, the co-operation of experienced teachers. Turfs for Airfields

Good progress was made during the year with the establishment of hardwearing turfs for airfields, stated the annual report of the Plant Research Bureau of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. A special feature of the airfield turf construction programme was the transition of low-load bearing turfs and soil types of high-load bearing. It was difficult to counter the belief that airfield construction should proceed along the lines of general farming practice. A conference on the subject was held at Palmerston North during the year. The Home Guard

The fine spirit of the Home Guard was commented upon on Saturday by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, who said it was clear that the compulsory parade each quarter had been accepted as the minimum training period, though practically all units had' expressed a wish to undertake additional activities. “The Government fully appreciates this spirit on the part of the various Home Guard units,” he said, “ and is prepared to give the efforts all’ possible support, making available the necessary means of carrying out wider and more intensive work than is involved in the quarterly parade.” More Petrol for Summer Months Additional petrol supplies for private motorists during the summer months were requested in representations placed before the Minister of Supply (Mr D. G. Sullivan) and the Minister in Charge of War Expenditure (Mr Adam Hamilton) by the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce last week. At a subsequent meeting of the council of the chamber, the president (Mr J. N. Armour) said ft had been suggested thst during December, January and February, coupons at their face value should be released and motorists allowed to purchase the allowance at any time during that period. Motorists would be able to travel about 240 miles on their holidays if the request were granted. The Ministers had promised to consider the representations.

Income Tax by Instalments “We need a system which will collect income taxes bit by bit as the income is earned, a system that will collect taxes on 1943 income in 1943, and which will, to a large extent, collect it out of each salary cheque or pay envelope,” declared the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce (Mr W. H. Hindle), when advocating a pay-as-you-go system of income tax payment. On his suggestion the matter was referred to the Associated Chambers of Commerce for. investigation. Mr Hindle sad that by adopting this system the Government would lose nothing in the way of receipts. On the other hand, taxpayers would find it much more convenient to pay month by month out of current income than having to scrape and save an unusually large sum for the present taxation payment.

Hinemoa’s Last Days After at least 50 years of active service, the Government steamer Hinemoa is about to end her career. Offered by the Navy Department for breaking up, she has been acquired by a salvage company. The Hinemoa is actually 67 years old, but for a number of years she lay idle at Wellington, and later at Stewart Island. With her clipper bow and raking masts and funnel, she was for many years the pride of those who sailed in her. She arrived in New Zealand in 1876, having been ordered in the previous year under Sir Julius Vogel’s £10,000.000 public works loan.’ Her builders were Scott and Co., Greenock. The ship was intended for special service as a Government and parliamentary yacht. She was of 542 tons gross, and in her prime had an average speed of 11 knots.

Transport for Races “ Transport has again been a difficult problem,” said Mr H. R. Chalmers, president of the Racing Conference, at the annual meeting in Wellington. “ The issuing of petrol licences for horse float users has recently been curtailed, and if petrol is needed for the war effort then we must accept the position in the right spirit and with the thought that, afer all, we are a fortunate country to be racing as much as we are. I would like to pay a eibute to the Railways Department for the services that it has provided both for horses and for the public. We all know that the department has lost many men for the armed forces, that through the demands of the services its rolling stock is overtaxed, and that many of the staff are inexperienced. I think the department has, in the circumstances. provided a wonderful service, and the thanks of racing clubs and the racing oublic are due to it and its officers.” Government’s Silence

The Government has not yet indicated its attitude to the proposal that a “wet” canteen shall be established in Auckland for servicemen. The plan was propounded in April at a conference which included representatives of religious and social organisations. It contemplated a canteen under strict military control for servicemen only and selling beer and non-alcoholic refreshments on week nights from 6 o’clock to 11 o’clock, the profits to be used for the benefit of ex-servicemen. At the request of the conference, the Mayor, Mr J. A. C. Allum, forwarded the proposal to the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, who acknowledged it, and stated that the matter would have to be considered by the Government. In answer to an inquiry, the Mayor said that after more than two months the Prime Minister wrote to him and inquired whether those present at the conference had acted with the full authority of the organisations they represented. In reply, the Mayor forwarded a report of the proceedings prepared by the town clerk. He had had no further communication from the Prime Minister on the subject.