TWO MEN AND GIRL HAVE EXCITING TRIP.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 6 August 1931, Page 5

TWO MEN AND GIRL HAVE EXCITING TRIP.

SMALL SAILING BOAT CAPSIZES IN SQUALL. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 5. Reported to the police to-day as missing, two Training College students, Murray A. Fastier, aged twenty-one years, and John M’Cormack, aged twenty, and a girl friend. Miss Joyce Hewitt, returned to Auckland this afternoon to tell an exciting story of how they were wrecked in a tiny boat off Rangitoto Island early this morning. After attending a lecture at Auckland University College last evening the two students decided to go to Judge’s Bay and try out their craft, which they had recently put.in order They took with them Miss Hewitt, who had promised to help them mend a sail. When they had finished work on their 18ft open boat they decided to sail her round from Judge’s Bay to the Mechanic’s Bay boat harbour. Once out of the bay they found such a heavy sea running that they could not get back and were swept down the harbour. The tiny craft was tossed about until it was off Rangitoto Island and, in a particularly bad squall about 1.30 this morning. it capsized. Both the students and Miss Hewitt, after swimming for some distance, managed to scramble ashore. NEWSPAPER REPLIES TO FARMERS’ DEMANDS. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, August 5. Provoked by the demand of Methven farmers for immediate relief from land tax the Wellington “ Post ” gives the following facts in an editorial:— “ Almost a third of the land tax is now paid by urban landowners. Rural landowners pay about £650.000. Urban landowners pay £280,000 land tax and the greater part of £4,000.000 income tax, altogether almost seven times as much as rural landowners pay. Income tax in 1914 was 9.37 per cent of the total tax yield and land tax was 12.97 per cent. For 1929-30 income tax was 18.15 per cent and land tax 7.74 per cent. Last year income tax was greater and land tax less. This year income tax will be much greater still. Land tax will not be increased.” “And what is the land tax burden?” asks the “ Post.” “On rural land it is not much over £650.000 for all New Zealand. In 1928-29 the average tax assessed per return on owners of land ranging from £4OOO to £4999 unimproved value was £8 10s sd. On the biggest class of landowners (£IOOO to £1999 unimproved value) the average per return was £1 18s 4d. Something more convincing is needed before the plea for relief at the expense of income or Customs tax payers can be deemed reasonable.”