LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20667, 4 March 1937, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Work Found Placements for the week ending February 27 in Timaru were: Permanent 1 (to date 256), temporary 31 (303), casual 43 (614). The national figure to date is 28,164. Venue of Next Band contest The Mayor of Palmerston North has been advised that the application to have the 1938 New Zealand Band contest in the city has been granted by the Brass Bands’ Association. Judgment by Default Judgment for plaintiff by default was entered by Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the following civil cases in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday: B. Watson v. B. Printz, £32/9/11, and costs £4/16/-; Dominion Motors Ltd. v. J. Clarkson, 13/-, and Costs it)/-. Fire Fighting Service The sixth annual conference of the New Zealand branch of the Institution of Fire Engineers of Great Britain opened at Palmerston North yesterday and will extend over three days. Superintendent W. L. Wilson, of Auckland, presided. The agenda includes papers on various aspects of the fire fighting service. State Luncheon A State luncheon was tendered yesterday to the commanders and officers of the United States destroyers Preston and Smith. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, acted as host on behalf of the Government. A large number of official guests was present. Mr Jones will inspect the defence bases in Auckland and leave for Wellington to-morrow evening. Incidence of Taxation When speaking at Geraldine on Tuesday evening, the Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P., Dominion president of the Labour Party, predicted a change in the incidence of taxation. Mr Carr said that a special committee was at present going into the possibility of doing away with indirect taxation. A steeply graduated income tax was Labour's idea of how revenue for public services should be provided. Dog Gives Warning The barking of his dog gave Mr F. Brewer, of Parnell, sufficient warning to enable him to extinguish a fire that broke out under the dashboard of his car as it stood in the garage. Mr Brewer and his family had been out for the day, and about an hour after they returned the insistent barking of the dog prompted him to go to the front door. He saw smoke issuing from the garage, and wheii he went in he found the front of his touring car ablaze. The fire was soon extinguished, but hot before about £lO worth of damage was done.

A Mystery Cruise When asked yesterday to explain the mystery of the Leith's cruise in the Pacific, the Defence Minister smiliiigly admitted that he knew something ahout the cruise, but the only explanation he would make was “the ship is not under the control of the New Zealand Naval Board; therefore it is not attached to the New Zealand station. The movements of the Leith are directed by the British Admiralty. What takes place between the Admiralty and the commander of the Leith does not concern the New Zealand Government. It would not be right for me to comment on the actions of the Admiralty and their instructions to the commander of the Leith.” Retirement Regretted A Wellington correspondent states that fellowmembers of Mr P. B. Foote (representative of South Canterbury) on the Council of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, have expressed their deep regret that pressure of private business has obliged him to resign. During his long period of service as a councillor, including a term as president, Mr Foote worked solidly and consistently to ensure the maintenance of a high standard of the acountancy profession. He made no effort to be spectacular, but was content to apply himself with unassuming efficient energy to difficult tasks. In the presidential chair he had the happy knack of guiding a debate to a decision with a tact which was as pleasant as it was effective. He will be remembered with very friendly feelings by his associates. Wool and Mutton It was not the intention of the Government to provide guaranteed prices for wool and mutton at present, replied the Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P., to a questioner at Geraldine on Tuesday evening. The questioner had suggested that the Government would benefit if it made a guaranteed price for all produce, so that it would be helped to meet the discount on butter. Mr Carr remarked that when prices were low, farmers were glad of guaranteed prices, but that was not the case when it meant reducing prices. Wool and mutton Could not be guaranteed at their present price levels, and the Government was unlikely to interfere. They did not want to commandeer wool and mutton, but everybody would pay what they could afford. With a steeply graduated tax, the “wool king” would be paying his share of taxation.