NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27389, 15 May 1950, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

World’s Tribute In these days of political franchise, women are seldom singled out for any particular honour by the average male. To him it appears that as the suffragettes have triumphed there is no point in bestowing his patronage on anyone who merely regards him as an equal. He makes an exception, however, for one woman. She is generally termed. “Mother.” Yesterday he was able to offer tangible proof of his attitude for, throughout the world, families celebrated Mother’s Day. To the more cynical the day merely meant an advertising venture on the part of the business world, but there would be few, even of those who bought nothing, who could not bring themselves to say, “ Happy Mother’s Day.” Coates Memorial Church The Coates Memorial Church, at Matakohe, will be opened on May 27. Both the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, and the Opposition Leader, Mr Fraser, will speak. A short service will be conducted by the Bishop of Auckland, the Right Rev. W. J. Simkin, and Mr Holland will unveil the memorial window and plaque. Bounties Removed The Southland Acclimatisation Society is to discontinue the payment of bounties for German owls and hedgehogs. It was decided, however, to continue payments for hawks destroyed. Mr A. H. Tocker said he believed that the bounty for hawks should also be stopped. Hawks were so numerous that their destruction by shooters had hardly any effect on their numbers. “ Throw In The Copper ” A police officer who stood impassively on the side line at Trafalgar Park, Nelson, throughout the British Isles-Combined Rugby football match drew some good-humoured jibes from spectators who complained that their view was blocked. When St. John Ambulance men carried a blanket in front of the crowd appealing for donations they received a shower of silver and coppers. An impatient spectator called out, “ Throw in the copper who’s blocking our view!” Bird Versus Spider A fight between a brown spider about the size of sixpence and a silver bright-eye was seen on the Mount Denby (Northland) golf course. The bird was first noticed on the ground with a spider on its back. One of its wings was sealed to its body by the spider’s web, and the spider had started to pin the other wing. The silver-eye was fluttering its free wing desperately in an effort to escape. The spider was removed from the bird’s back and killed, and the bird, freed of the web, flew away. Income Tax Returns

Returns of income for 1949-50 have to be furnished to the Income Tax Department by June 1. Persons earning £2OO or more a year are required by law to make out a return, and failure to do so renders them liable to prosecution under the penal clauses of the Land and Income Tax Act, 1923. The extension of time to July 31 for the return of social security declarations does not apply to returns of income. In the absence of a return the Commissioner of Taxes has power to make an assessment of the amount on which he considers tax ought to be levied. Sea Libraries

An appeal to the public is being made by the British Sailors’ Society for contributions to its ocean library service. A circular sent out by the society states that the service has been in operation since 1822, when a Seamen’s Library was formed. From a few volumes the library has grown into one of the biggest in the world. In 1948 5516 library units were afloat in 4407 ships belonging to 440 different shipping companies. In that year also, 23,323 books were purchased either for new installations or for restocking the existing libraries. To assist in this maintenance, a token scheme is in operation whereby a contributor of 5s adds another book to the library. A token bearing the donor’s name and address is fixed inside the cover.