LOCAL AND GENERAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23256, 18 July 1945, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dental Treatment.—The income limit for persons eligible for dental treatment, at the Timaru Hospital was increased yesterday by the South Canterbury Hospital Board to £6 a week plus 10 - a wee!- for each child lor married persons and £4 a. week for single persons. National Savings.—During last week the South Canterbury district war savings quota of £1930 was attained but this was made possible only by drawing on the available surplus. All investments made now are repayable on July 1. 1948, with interest at the rate of 3 per cent for any amount up to £lOOO in any one year period. Sales Tax.—Sales tax collected in April totalled £1.150.131. a decrease of £216,711 on the figures for March, but £58,402 above the total for April of last year. For the four months of the current calendar year receipts from this tax amounted to £4,301,189, compared with £4,334,385 in the corresponding period of 1944. Effect of Sales Tax.—lt was stated at a meeting of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce that the average amount of sales tax on the materials for a new house amounted to £3OO. Inquiries made by a returned soldier as to the cost of building a five-room-ed house showed that it would be £l7OO and this, of course, had been well beyond his means. Hare Drives.—Because of a typographical error it was stated in “The Timaru Herald” of Saturday, July 14, that five rounds of ammunition a person with a maximum of 50 persons taking part in each drive would be made available. The advice received by the South Canterbury Primary Production Council was that 25 rounds would be available through application to the Inspector of Stock. Timaru. Young' Workers’ Earnings.—When a youth aged 17 appeared before Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., at Auckland, charged with theft, he stated that his wages were £3 10 - a week. The Magistrate remarked that when he was 17 years aid he was earning only 5/- a week. "For young people who are conscientious ’and saving, these high wages are excellent,” said Mr Luxford. “For those who are spendthrifts, they are a curse.” High Schools Board.—Nominations closed at noon yesterday for parents’ representatives on the Timaru High Schools' Board of Governors and as only the required number were received, Messrs W. Thomas and H. D. Oddie were declared elected. Mr Thomas, a former rector of the Timaru Boys’ High School, replaces Dr. L. S. Talbot, who did not seek reelection. Mr Oddie has been a member of the Board for several years. Fifty Timaru Births.— There had been 50 births in Timaru last month and the maternity ward was again under pressure, said the chairman (Mr E. Macdonald) at a meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday. That, he said, meant 600 a year which was a large figure. In the meantime there was little they could do about extra accommodation until the transfer of the park land was settled. Principal Causes of Death.—According to figures in the monthly Abstract of Statistics, diseases of the heart (139 cases) were the principal causes of death among the European population of the Dominion during April. Next in order were cancer (118 cases) and thrombosis (84), diseases of the coronary arteries and aigina pectoris (64), and tuberculosis of the respiratory system and senile decay (each 20). Deaths as the result of motor vehicle accidents numbered five and other accidental deaths 19.

Reserve Bank Profit.—The Reserve Bank of New Zealand made a net profit last year of £549,686 after paying general charges, including salaries, rent, cost of note issue, and other expenses. The balance-sheet for the year ended March 31 shows that £476,473 was brought forward into the profit and loss account from the previous year, thus making a total of £1,026,159 in that account. From this sum there has been paid into the Consolidated Fund of the Government the sum of £476,473. French Gratitude.— A schoolgirl of Chantilly, near Paris, speaks of the debt of gratitude owed by the French to the Allies, in a letter received by a pupil of the Hamilton High School with whom she corresponded before 1940. “My father and grandmother,” she says, “were arrested by the Germans, and were liberated a month after. I know that many New Zealanders gave their lives to liberate France, and that they have gone to Egypt, to Italy, to Japan. So the whole of France gives you her grateful thanks, and we cannot express in words our I gratitude to you.” Attacked by Kat.—Two young children of Mr and Mrs K. V. Eagle, Alexander Street, Marton Junction, were attacked by a rat last week. They were a baby of 13 months and a boy of three, whose screaming attracted the parents from their fireside. Tire boy had both his ears chewed and the baby had been bitten on one ear, twice on the cheek and on all the fingers of both hands. They were attended by the district nurse. Miss M. Byers. A rat was seen in the room when the light was turned on, and it was believed to have entered by a hole in the bathroom, in which direction it made off when discovered. High School Old Girls.—An informal evening was held recently in the Women’s Community Centre by members of the Timaru High School Old Girls' Association. The president. Mrs M. E. Campbell, welcomed Mrs Noel Hav, a former president, who gave a talk on her life in Nigeria. Miss M. Ronaldson expressed Hie appreciation of listeners. A play was then read, those taking part being Mesdames D. S Kemshed, M. Wright, R. K. Goldsmid and Miss I. Duncan. In making a presentation to Miss Isa Young. Mrs Campbell spoke of her long service m the Association. Miss V. Townsend, speaking on behalf of the school, thanked Miss Young for her unfailing interest and practical assistance in all affairs relating to the school. Supper was served by t’ne committee.