GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19301, 30 September 1932, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS

An Order-in-Council was gazetted last night containing regulations for the licensing of dealers in gold coins.

A large lorry, laden with drums Of petrol, became embedded in loose shingle on the new railway crossing north of Ghertsey, and canting over at a sharp angle as the rear wheels sank into the shingle, the load was shot cut into an adjoining paddock. A motorist who passed the lorry, stated that the lorry was so firmly wedged in the shingle that the force of a traction engine would be required to move it.

The Rev, @fyde Carr, M.P., for Timaru, has presented a petition in the House from seventy-three tobacconists of Tlmaru and surrounding districts, praying for an amendment to the “Commercial Trusts Aetj .1010.’' The effect of the passing of the amendment Would be to allow wholesalers to fix a price at which their goods should be sold showing a reasonable margin of profit to dealers.

A considerable improvement Ift tile tone of the building trade in Auckland is already noticeable, according to leading city architects, A number of important building contracts are ready to be proceeded with as soon as the general trade situation shows signs of definite and lasting improvement-, and already the feeling Of increased confidence is reflected in the number of structural renovations and improvements at present being carried out.

In reply to the Otago Allied Building Industries’ inquiry from the chairman of the Unemployment Board, Wellington, in respect to the eligibility Of small builders and sub-contractors for the subsidy under the No. 10 scheme, the Dunedin Labour Department has been advised that small contractors employing labour can register as unemployed under the scheme, and that contractors employing labour—being employers—cannot register.

Since the new crossing .was put down over the railway line a few hundred yards north of Chertsey (says the "Guardian”), several motorists who have temporarily forgotten the change have come near to a capsize there. The turn has been steeply banked with shingle, and on a dark night It is difficult to see the roadway till one is close to it. A motorist suggested, after a narrow escape, that the authorities should erect a sign board some distance north of the crossing to warn drivers of its proximity.

It has been ascertained, as a result of an inspection carried out by Messrs A. Tyndall (Main Highways Board Engineer), F. Langbein (chairman of the No. 15 District Council), and A. A. Fooks (engineer to the Ashburton County Council), that about 50 chains of the surface of the new paving on the main road north of • Ashburton is in need of repair as a result of breaking up that has taken place during the winter. It was seen that the foundations of the road were good and that the cost of repairs to the surfacing will not be great.

The operations of the Bank of New Zealand were criticised by the Hon. A. D. McLeod (Ind. C., Wairarapa) In the House of Representatives. The banks of New Zealand, he said, had done yeoman service in helping the people of the country and the primary producers in particular. There was one exception: that of the great bank in which the State had a third share. This bank, which had paid big dividends and made large payments to those associated with it, had not done what its own directors had so often urged, cut down expenses and exercised general economy. The Bank of New Zealand, he declared, deserved the criticism levelled at it.

The Rev. C. Carr, M.P., has given notice to ask the Minister in Charge of State Advances whether the capitalisation of arears on interest by his Department, In terms of Section 19 of the “Finance Act, 1932," necessary involves an extension of the period of the loan, and if so, whether he will make it clear as to why this condition is imposed, and on what authority; further, whether he will make provision im - mediately for the removal of the condition (Note; It would appear that by imposing the condition, the Department is failing to carry out the spirit if not the letter of the law. An extension of the period of the loan involves the payment of a very much greater interest bill in the agregate, with no commensurate advantage to the mortgagor.)

In the House of Representatives, the Rev. C. Carr gave notice to ask the Minister of Justice Whether his attention had been drawn to the publication of comments made by a Magistrate when he was in the act of committing an accused person to the Supreme Court to stand Kls trial on a charge of murder; and whether, in view of the liability of such publication to influence the jury in the higher Court, he will consider the desirability, in fairness to both the accused and the prosecution, of having the law of evidence so amended that the evidence taken and comments made In the lower cOurt, where a person is committed for trial, shall not be published, particularly as no evidence for defence is called in the lower court? (Note: In the case referred to a change of venue was offered, on the above grounds.)

The recently-gazetted regulations concerning the size of the mesh of Seine nets, a matter which concerns fishermen in all parts of New Zealand, Will not be enforced for at least a year, and. possibly not then. A decision on the matter was reached after the fishermen’s side of the question had been placed before the Minister of Marine, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, and the chief inspector of fisheries, Mr A. E. Hefford, by Mr J, Hargest (Invercargill). Mr Hargest explained that the fishermen of Southland and Other parts of the Dominion were being placed In a very awkward position by the proposed alteration, and merchants who supplied nets would be called upon to bear considerable losses because they had stooks of nets with 21in. mesh on hand. If the regulation requiring nets with 4in. mesh was enforced, those stocks would represent a dead loss. Many fishermen were in poor circumstances and could not afford to Buy new nets, said Hr Hargest. The regulation would force them to seek relief labour. Others had bought nets on time-payment, and would never be able to pay for them if they could not fish with them. Fishermen did not agree that a larger mesh would allow the small fish to pass through and escape unharmed. They ' claimed that the fish would be gillnetted in the larger mesh and killed, consequently, it would be useless to return them to the water, in addition, they claimed that the larger mesh would make fishing in weedy bays almost impossible, because with a 21in. tnCsh weeds were caUgllt and could be tipped olit ofl the Shore, But with a 41n. mesh they would thread through the nets and wßuld have to Be picked out by hand. In vieW 61 the representations made, the Minister agreed to postpone the regUlatton ror ayekr It Is postlbld that the whole question Will receive further Careful consideration.