LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160724, 10 August 1920, Page 7

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Exports from the Port of Patea foi llio first six months of the current year were valued at £938,009, made up principally of cheese the exports of this commodity being valued at £839,341. The D. W. Murray Co., of Sydney, have secured, by purchase, the interests of Henry Bull and Company, thereby merging the two most important soft goods businesses in the Commonwealth. The purchasing power of a sovereign is now 12s 34d, according to the Government Statistician’s report for July. This figure is based on the Dominion weighted average, taking the worth of the pound in 1914 as 2(Js. According to the Government Statistician's figures, the cost of living, fof the three food groups, groceries, dairy (.reduce and meat, lias increased on a Dominion average by 62.80 per cent Greymcmth and Nelson,, according to the official figures, appear to have suffered least of all, the increase in those places being 62.61 per cent, and 54.36 (ter cent, respectively. Wanganui, on iho ether hand, does not hold a very enviable position, Palmerston North and Gisborne just beating it for top (dace for greatest increase. At Wanganui the stated increase is 70.39 pet cent., at Gisborne 72.83 per cent, and at Palmerston North 74.95 per cent. The Christchurch Sun claims to have received exclusive information that the Government has decided to collect income tax from the racing clubs for as far back as 1916, An Act was passed in 1916 permitting this to be done, but it was not till 1929 that a, test case was taken to wee if it were legal. Mr Justice Chapman ruled that tire Act meant what it said. The Commissioner of Taxes has b-mn apparently sitting on his hands all this time, and has now decided 1o go ahead, or, rather, back. The racing clubs pay seven taxes already. This is the eighth. If the Government perseveres with the idea seme of the clubs will have to pawn fill their assets. Others will have to put up the shutters. Ihe Wanganui Jockey Club gave all its profits during the war to patriotic funds. Will it be taxed on those too? Some impression of the great increase which has taken place in prices of articles other than those dealt with by the Government Statistician in what) is known as the three food groups is gained from figures published in the July issue if the Monthly Abstract. This journal gives the index numbers to wholesale prices for various articles, averaged on the four centres. The base was tire average annual aggregate expenditure, four chief centres, 1.90913, which was equal to 1000. March quarter, 1920, was the last period under review, and by examining the figures for that lime we find that agricultural produce has increased to 2132, flour, bran, pollard and oatmeal to 1609: wool, hides, tallow, butter and cheese to 1636; general merchandise, and crockery to 2160; building material 2190; "leather 2753; chemicals and manures 2164; coal 1867. ’ihe institution of tooth-brush drill in the local schools is now being actively proceeded with under the superintendency of Dr. Elizalseth Gunn, and it is expected that a few months will convince parents end all concerned of tho great benefits derivable from it. Though a certain amount of caution towards the new departure may be expected from those averse to change, there are many and obvious advantages to bo derived from tooth-brush drill and the resultant clean mouths. Even the most conscientious parents know that, however careful they are, childreu frequently rush off to school without cleaning their teeth, and that, even when they do clean them, an ineffective brushing of the front teeth generally satisfies them that they are dean. On the other hand, tooth-brush drill, with a teacher in charge, means that Loth the back and front teeth, and all grinding surfaces, get an, equal share of the brushing In districts where tooth-brush drill has already been instituted teachers have remarked that the first to bring their mugs and tooth-brushes are the doctors’ and dentists’ a fact which surely speaks for itself. Bach child is asked to bring a small toothbrush, tied to the mug with sufficient strino- to allow free movement, each child’s name being plainly marked ou both brush and mug. Tooth-brush drill has been in vogue in. some schools in Dr. Guam’s district for over eighteen months, and teachers and parents who have witnessed the results say th?yhope it will never be. discontinued. Mouths are clean, there is much less throat trouble and fewer enlarged tonsils, and as a result general health is better, and school attendance improved, while it is also stated Ihat children have shewn increased smartness and keenness. If such results follow in Wanganui the adoption of tooth-brush drill ill our schools will more than justify iteslf. ,