NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 124, 28 May 1942, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Snow in the King Country The first fall nf snow this wintrr nn rho Waiouru Plains has been recorded, writes the Star's Rangataua correspondent. It was estimated that the depth nf snow was about six inches. On the level country facing Mount Ruapehu rain has fallen almost continuously since last Friday, both night and dav, with occasional slight falls of snow which, ucklly, melted as it fell. Eoects of New Sales Tax Warehouse firms have found it necessary to arrange for an extra column on Invoice forms since the Increase in the sales tax from 10 per cent to 20 per cent came into force at the beginning of this month. Three price columns are now required, the first for goods exempt from the sales tax. the second for those subject to 10 per cent, and the third, n large group, where 20 per cent Is levied. Resides its other effects, the raising of the tax has increased th£ amount of bookkeeping Involved. Sun Worshippers Summer has gone, but sun bathing was In full swing in Queen Street during the lunch hours yesterday and to-day. Along the pastern kerbside people clustered thickly wherever the sun's warm rays penetrated, and formed a sort of "guard of honour" for those who remained on the move. Sheltered spots on the waterfront, in Albert Park and elsewhere all had their quota of sun worshippers yesterday. After the cold, wet conditions of the lust few days the sun proved a special benlson to those compelled to work In the open. Highest Income Group Five persons in the Dominion had a total assessable income of £20,000 or over during the tax year 1940-41, according to the Abstract of Statistics. Tne amount, excluding proprietary income, was- £1.38,432, and (ho total returnable income £146,830. The taxable balance of the five amounted to £130,681 and the tax assessed to £77,407. With the average assessable income at approximately £27,686, each of the five was assessed for an average of £15,481, or considerably more than half the income.

"Churchill Auctions" Preliminary plans for organising the "Churchill Auctions" campaign In Auckland were made yesterday at a meeting which was addressed by Mr. Pat Lawlor, of Wellington, the honorary Dominion organiser. The Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, attended, and promised the city's full support. Mr. Lawlor emphasised that not only books and pictures of historical interest, but coins, stamps and antique furniture would be acceptable for the auctions; also that funds raised in each district would be handed to the patriotic council in that district. Two committees wore set up, with Mr. J. Barr as convener. Army Inspection "Men," said the sergeant, "when you go on parade to-day 1 want every one of you to be absolutely spick and span. We are to be inspected by ihree colonels." The sergeant went away and the men proceeded to clean rifles, polish buttons and brush boots. At last they were called on parade, and ihe sight they made was well worth the time and energy they had .-.pent on preparing themselves. One or two nlen were taken off the parade ground with dirty buttons, but at iust they were considered to he ready for inspection. Then began long hours of waiting for the inspection party to arrive. A car flashed bv. •Righto, men," sighed the sergeant. "The Inspection's over." Waikato Under Frost

Passengers arriving by thp Limited Express and the trains from the Waikato this morning said the landscape was mantled in white for many miles between Hamilton and Auckland. This was the second sharp frost of the year inland and followed a week of rapidly falling temperatures. On the mountain sections of the Main Trunk line evidence was seen of the recent heavy snowfalls. Dawn came after a clear, calm, cold night, and the sun rose in a cloudless sky. Vegetable gardens which suffered a setback by the earlier frost will probably be brought almost to a standstill in many districts. The suburbs of Auckland, where frosts are unusual until June or July, were unaffected by the inlund freeze.

Magpies Blamed

The magpie Is still causing trouble among our native birds and no sportsman has a good word to say for i#, but till the farmers a Pr e ?' the Minister of Internal Affairs will not remove it from the protected list," said Mr. D. J. Gibbs at the annual meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. Mr Gibbs said one farmer had told him that starlings dealt with the grubs a.% well as do magpies. Other speakers expressed themselves in favour of the protection being lifted from the magpie. "One is sorry to lose the old magpie, but there is the fact that they are doing the damage. They are very vicious, and destroy the lives of small birds," said Mr. W. H. Field.

But Don't Worry, Mr. Censor! The men of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East like nothing better than a snapshot of friends and loved ones at home, and thousands of photographs go overseas by every mail. One soldier's wife in Auckland believes in making her mail as amusing as possible. Recently, with a girl friend, she spent Sunday afternoon in a series of amazing poses. One of these warm, sunny days in Syria a young officer will laugh to see his attractive wife hanging by the neck from a clothes line post, tongue protruding, imitating the famous triumvirate of monkeys in "speak, see and hear no evil," standing on her head, grimacing horribly, imitating the dying swan, the Volga boatman, "Psyche at the Well" (at "the sink," she has titled it!), the Domain statue and "The Thinker." Much Certified Men A man's identity is no small matter in these times of war, and before long everybody will be required to fit themselves with a special container for all their cards, books and other impediments which must be produced on demand. The average man has to possess the following: Birth certificate, proficiency certificate, marriage license, social security coupon book, National Service Emergency certificate, Home Guard or E.P.S. armlet (if in E.P.S., an E.P.S. pass), Home Guard acknowledgment form, car registration, driver's license, warrant of fitness, petrol coupons and ration books. Most of these have to be carried continuously. Among other licenses he has to possess a radio license, to say nothing of dog licenses, licenses to keep fowls, pigs and bees for those who indulge in these extras. No Antagonisms They could not afford to have antagonisms between the various branches of the fighting services, said Lieutenant-General E. Puttick, general officer commanding the New Zealand military forces, at New Plymouth when referring to what he described as stupid jealousies, misunderstandings and rumours. That sort of thing could not be tolerated, he said, for each of the Services was doing its essential part towards overcoming the enemy. He personally always strove to strengthen the bonds between the Services, and that was being helped materially by young men drafted into the army while waiting to enter the air force. He had found them as "keen as mustard" in their army training, even though their ultimate object was the air force. Boarding Up Shop Windows The advisability of the removal of large plate-glass panes from shop windows and display cases has, it is undorstood, been under consideration in official quarters in Welling-1 ton for some time, but no direction or advice has been made known so far. If such action were recommended provision would no doubt have to be made for the safe storage of the glass, amounting to a good many acres when totalled up, probably underground. The proportion of injuries from flying glass was high in Britain and elsewhere in early raids before effective action was taken either to remove glass panes altogether or to screen them so completely as to hold fragments and splinters hurled about by blast. The owner of a Wellington shop said that, although no official advice had been received from the authorities, he understood that it was proposed either to remove the windows and store them or board the windows up. The removal of the wiudows would be costly, but in these days it was better to pay out money than risk serious injury, possibly fatal, to employees and the public. There was the further point that attractive window displays resulted in brisker business, and the replacement of glass by boarding might have an adverse effect on trade.