LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 12 August 1947, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Road Report • Advice received today from Mr. R. Keenan, patrol offieer of the Automobile Association (Wellington) says that the Na'tional Park Road, which was yesterday reported to be doubtful of access, is now open. The Desert Road is still •affected by snow and is negotiable only by experienced drivers. New Zealand Forests In the course of a speech which he made in connection with the Arbor Day ceremony at the Orakei Domain, the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. J. A. Allum, pointed out that the New Zealand forests were urique, in that they cohtained 283 kinds of tree's and shrubs. Mr. Allum added that only 10 of these varieties were to be found in other lands, and that our trees possess'ed a richness and beaut'y comparable with the fines't in the world. False Income Returiis; Fines totalling '£10'9 W6fe imposed on three Wanganui taxi drivets who pleaded ^uiltyl the' 'Wanganui Magistr'ate's" Co'urt to charges of wilfully making false returns of income. The Magistrate, Mr. J. H. Salmon, said that although these were serious offences, he would take into consideration that arrears, in taxation had been paid by defendarts. The fines were based on the deficiency of taxation in each case. Charles Hodson was fined £37, Stanley Alfred Francis £35, and William C&rr £37. Too Much Sugar Used "We in New Zealand eat too much sugar," Mr. Nash told a meeting yesterday afternoor. "There is too much used for beer among other things. But beer is not so strong as it was nor has it the food value it had." Othet things listed by Mr. Nash were lollie's and sugar in the children's mouths. Quoting the 1934-38 figtires, he said Der.-.' mark then used 1221b. of su'gar a head, New Zealand 1131b. 8oz. and China 41b. 2oz. The flgdre for the Dominion was higher now, he said^ Man Lost Overboard Despite a cor tinued police search • no trace has yet been foUnd o'f the body of Eric -Wilson, aged- 18, of Auckland, who fell overboard from the coastal vessel Pukeko oh -Sat- i urday evening while the vessel was leaving Napier breakwater. Wilson was hauling on a rbpe while the vessel was moving away from the wharf when the ship sudderly lurched and the slackening of the. rope caused him t-o topple backwards over the side. He lived at' 14 Watling Street, Mount Albert, Auckland. Tea May Cost 6s 2d lb. "We people in- New Zealand don't want tea at 4s 2d a pound if it mears that other people have to work for Is- a day to- produce it." This statement was made by the' Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash; when addressing the Wellington brangh of the United Nations Association yesterday afternoob.. Continuing he said that in all probability tea would now cost 6s 2d a pound. Against that a friend told him it-was costing 12s a pound in Switzerlard. "Labourers on the tea plantations were getting ls a day," added Mr. Nash. "Today they are getting 5s a day." Pastrycooks in Court Five Wanganui pastrycooks were ordered to pay court costs only on. charges that th'ey sold small cake's i at a price in excess of that per- ' mitted by the Price TfibUnal. The Magistrate, Mr. J. H. Salmon-v expressed surprise that the actions had been brotight because it was, disclosed in evidence that what Was; an offence on May -30 wa's permissible on June 4, fbur days later^ fhfe Rrice - Tribunal having authorised the price charged by defehdants, ls 6d a doz'en. The priCe which the Tfibural had authorised before that was ls 4|-d. Defendants were> Dlistins Ltd., Percy' Albert Pritchard, Barton and BUck Ltd., William Arthur Johnson and M. Ccleman.