AROUND THE DOMINION

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 342, 28 August 1933, Page 8

AROUND THE DOMINION

“Kissing the Babies’’

Members of Pai'liiimeiit receive special concessions i'or income tax assessment purposes, said the Commissioner of Taxes, Mr. C. E. Dow Jan cl, in addressing a meeting of Christchurch accountants, reports 1hPress, lie .said members were allowed to deduct £l5O a year from, their income for expenses while in Wellington, and also the cost of “running rouud their electorates kissing the babies.” “This is only a new allowance,”- Sir. Dowland remarked. “I think the department lias become altogether too generous in some respects.”

Library Papers Mutilated “Probably the publication of Ibis prosecution will serve its purpose and draw (he attention of readers to the fact (hat newspapers and periodicals in public libraries must not bo mutilated,” remarked Mr. E. Page, S.M., at Wellington, when fixing a penalty in the case of Ernest Draper, who had pleaded guilty to mutilating the Auckland Weekly News in the Newtown Public Library. The defendant, who is a relief worker, had cut. out a, crossword puzzle l . The magistrate said that on the payment of the costs of the prosecution, amounting to 10s, he would dismiss the charge.

The Difference Pocket knives were produced and locally grown grapefruit and sweet oranges were cheerfully sampled by members of the Tariff Commission at Auckland on Thursday, when '■evidence was tendered on behalf of oiliusfruit growers. Pleasure was expressed by one of the witnesses when the chairman, Dr. G. Craig, said he knew the value of grapefruit, as he sampled them every morning. Asked by Mr. J. P>. Cow, a member of the commission. the difference between grape fruit and poonnau oranges, Mr. G. A Green, one of (he spokesmen, replied; “just (he same difference between a purebred Yorkshire pig and a Captain: Cook. They are both pigs, hut , there is a great difference.”

Considerable Competition

No fewer than eight applications' for continuous goods services over the same route were applied for at the sitting of the No. 7 Transport Lieon,sing Authority at Greymou'th, and in most instances the service was distinctly irregular. “Why not discontinue and concentrate on tin* portion of the route that, does pay?” asked the chairman, Dr. S. A. Gibbs. “None of them pay, but if some drop out, it might pay,” replied applicant. “It will be, a very different story in 12 months time, with these and many other applications where there is l considerable competition,” said the chairman.

Bookmakers’ Taxes “I have a good knowledge of the bookmakers of New Zealand, some, of them. I know personally,” said Mr. G. E. Howland, Commissioner of Taxes in discussing taxation on betting at Christchurch. “They are not a bad lot a.t. all when it comes to paying income tax. They would ■ far sooner pay income tax than he caught dodging it. It has been decided that income from, illegal sources is assessable, and so it should be. It is well established that a bookmaker must pay taxation on his profits. A bookmaker very often endeavours to set off a presumed loss by putting money on the totalise tor. If he loses it on the machine we allow him the loss. If he wins on the totalisator he is .assessable for profit.

Engineering Trade “Prospects for the engineering trade are certainly brighter than; they have been for some tinm past, but it would bo conveying quite an erroneous impression to say that there wore signs of n mdd boom,” stated the manager of a big engineering firm in Dunedin. The new Post Otlioo job would provide work for two years for some lucky foundry, and iii a general sense the subsidising sellomo would be of help to the trade. Any rumours of boom might have bad their origin in the demand there had been during the last 12 months for gold mining material such as fluming, but excitement in this sphere seemed to have died down and there wa snothing really definite to replace it. ‘ !

Girl Escapee A fine of £2O, in default two months’ imprisonment, was imposed by Mr. Page, S.M., at Wellington, on Arthur Walters, who was jointly charged with his wife, Irene Whiteds, with concealing a girl escapee from, the Miramar receiving home. Mrs. 'Walters was convicted and ordered do come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon. The police said it. appeared that the girl escaped from the Rurwood Home and was subsequently located at Mrs. Walters’, where she remained in her employ for some time. She was subsequently removed to the Miramar receiving home, from which she absconded and she was again found at Walters’-