NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25629, 1 September 1944, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

A SCHEME for financing the electrical reticulation of sparselysettled areas may result from a proposal put before the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, and Mr F. T. M. Kissell, chief electrical engineer of the Works Department, by a deputation from the Power Boards Association, headed by Mr J. A. Nash. The proposal is that legislation be enacted authorising a charge on the basis of i per cent, on all sales of electricity, both by the Government and a supply authority. The method proposed for applying the money so provided is for half of a consumer’s guarantee of 15 per cent., required before a loan will be granted, to be met from the fund. That means that any sparsely-settled area, wishing to be reticulated would have to give guarantees to meet per cent, of the capital costs annually, instead of 15 per cent., the other 7£ per cent, to be provided by the Government and supply authorities combined. It is suggested that .the combined payment should continue for 15 years, if necessary.

Building Permits Fifty-two building permits were issued by the City Building Surveyor’s office during the month of August, the total value being £38,466. Permits were issued for 11 new dwellings of a value of £15,849, and for a business building of a value of £12,363. The figures for August, 1943, were 62 permits of a total value of £40,376. Civil Servants and Government

No one questioned the loyalty of the civil servants, but it was obvious to any observer that they had no confidence in the Government, said Mr W. J. Poison (Oppn., Stratford) in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. Their attitude, he added, was largely due to the lack of consideration the Government had given to their remuneration.

The Average Juror “The average juror is a man who understands the motor car, and I assume in all probability he has had some experience in the handling of motor vehicles,” said the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) in the Supreme Court at Auckland when commenting on the jury system of dealing with civil actions for damages. “ That being so, the jury is in the position to test the evidence in the light of practical experience,” he said. His Honor added that most jurbrs were men with common sense and average intelligence, and were not i easily swayed. Aid for Air Raid Victims

A novel but effective means of helping bombed-out British people has been followed for several years by Mr and Mrs H. A. Gladman, of Otahuhu. Not being allowed to send money, they regularly despatch parcels of . cheese and * honey—it was butter and honey before rationing—to a friend in Eastbourne. He, in turn, gives the parcels to the Mayor, Alderman Alice Hudson, who arranges a competition for their disposal. A letter which Mr Gladman has received from Miss Hudson states that for the last parcel, of lib of butter and lib of honey, a sum of £6 7s was received for the Mayor’s air raid distress fund. Houses for Families

“ People leasing houses ought to provide some means by which, if.there are many children, the rent is cheaper,” said Mr Justice Blair during the hearing, of a civil action in Wanganui. Some time ago he had leased a house and had included a provision that if the couple had a child he would reduce the rent by £lO a year. “it would not be a bad idea to put in a few of these provisions in leases, instead of the more usual one that the house would not be let if the people have children,” his Honor added. “ Children are an asset to the country, and I have a great deal of admiration for the man with a large family.” South Island Development

A conference of South Island development committees will probably be held in Timaru on October 11. This was reported by the chairman of the South Island Development Committee of the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association (Mr B. J. Masters) at a meeting of the council of the association; this week. He said thait development committees had now been formed in Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill. A questionnaire on industrial facilities prepared by ’ the Christchurch committee had been approved by the South Island Local Bodies’ Executive, and would be circulated to all local bodies in the South Island.

Alien Doctors \ “That‘the matter of all aliens, particularly doctors, taking up practice or commencing in business be represented to headquarters for’any suitable action,” was the text of a resolution carried by the Executive Committee of the Wanganui Returned Services’ Association. It was stated that strong representations should be made for legislation which would remedy the position. The association held that such doctors should be sent to country districts, where the services of more medical practitioners were required, and that they should not be allowed to take up practice in the more thickiypopiilated areas, where other doctors were already available. Cured by Penicillin

Osteomyelitis was the only crippling disease which could be successfully attacked with the new drug, penicillin, said the president (Dr J. Leslie Will), at the annual meeting of the Canter-bury-Westland branch of the Crippled Children Society. Mr C. S. Hammond asked whether there had been any new development in the treatment of infantile paralysis cases. Infantile paralysis, with 65 male and 55 female cases, headed the society’s register of crippling diseases, said Dr Will. None of the new drugs was of use in remedying the crippling effects of the disease. With osteomyelitis, however, penicillin treatment should reduce the crippling effects to a negligible quantity. For rings, watches, and jewellery, try Peter Dick, jewellers, 59 Princes street. Dunedin.—Advt. • Pix Cafe, 18 Bond street (opp. Express Co.), for delightful luncheons and afternoon teas. The Pix is different.—Advt