LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3100, 2 June 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The war profits tax was a subject of discussion at tho annual meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union; when Mr. James Begg expressed his disapproval of the idea. Ho observed that if the actual war profit could be ascertained the policy would invoke wide approbation from all branches of rural activity, but as matters were at tho moment, tho excess profitH tax was inequitable, and tended to stifle enterprise nnd exempt from taxation- the man. who "slacked" and would not oxert himself to procure extra production. Tho full load pf the burden fell on the man who extended himself in tho matter of production, but who at tho Game limesuffered tho confiscation of half his additional produce! (

Tho Otojjo branch of tho New Zealand Society of Accountants hiis, says a Press Association telegram, carried a, resolution Unit taxation required by tlio Government for war purposes should bo in the form< of additional or special tax, graduated on tho samo lines as tho ordinary income tax, exporienco in tho past year liavinT confirmed tho opinion of metribors that Eho system of an excess profits tax is inequitable, and in application to different businesses gives rise to many anomalies and frequent injustice A deputation will wait on Sir Joseph Ward on his return

The victim of the recent tramway fatality in the city is still unknown, 'but the police ntated last night that they expected that the body would be identified to-day, by a man who was on his way to Wellington.

A Press Association lelegram from Auckland stales that Hie rainfall for May, 8.01, in a record for tho month during tho past 63 years, for which tho average is 4.311. The total for tho past twelve- mc-iths was 86.43, an increase of 38.52 on the preceding period, and considerably jnoro than tho total for tho previous 24 months.

■' Men looking more or- less foolish wore to be seen on Lambton Quay yesterday, fumbling with ladies' collars, kettleholdere, ecrub-brushes, babies' .socks, etc., and not knowing exactly what •to do with them. It was "Surprise. Bag ■Day," and every bag sold represented "something," so that men with great deliberation and tho very bpsl intentions, put .themselves out of the way to have a dip into one or other of the big boxes and baskets that littered the sidewalks of tho city. Of course there wero men's things in Gome of the parcels, but tho preponderance of the articles were those usually purchased or made by the ladies. The role,', whilst realising,a lot of solid cash for a good cause, created a good deal of harmless fun. Only warmer weather could have produced better results. The old idea of having to purchase a ticket with which a, bag of something is redeemed was dispensed with yesterday, and tho bags were sold outright at all the street corners.

As daylight is now breaking later in tlie roomings, the hour of reveille in camp has been moved forward to G. 30 a.m. • ;

"Tho Featherston Canip Record," the excellent little booklet that was issued with tho authority of tlie Commandant, descriptive of tho camp and its growth from the beginning, has gone into a second edition of 5000 copies. Tho first edition was one of 10,000 copies.

Men employed on bottle-making machines at works in-Now South Wales who are now on strike were (states tho Molbourne "Argus") being paid an avern»o of £1 18s. lid. a day. Awards of the Arbitration Court and industrial disputes direct attention every now and then to tho high rates of wages paid to sonic classes of workers. During the coal strike last year it was stated that miners earned as much as £1 9s. a day;"a dispute at the Mortlake (New South Wales) Gas Works advertised the fact that coal lumpers were being paid £1 a week; while, in the case of the carpenters who were required for Samarai tho Commonwealth Government offered .£1 a day, and the Society of Carpenters asked for .£1 53. ■ " ■:

■V Echeme for providing returned soldiers with assistance was outlined by Mr. R. J. Entrican at the annual meetin" of the Auckland Terminating Building Society. Mr. Eutrican, who said the society wanted to assist returned soldiers, expressed the opinion that the hoard of directors should open one or two groups in the. society for soldiers, the object being to provide homes or to settle the men on the land. Thousands of people, he said, would contribtue to such a scheme, the benefits of which could not be overestimated.

Responding to the request of a deputation to call a public meeting for the discussion of the desirability of promoting legislation to close the hotels at C pni. daily for the duration of the war, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has appointed next Thursday evening in the Town Hall as the time and place for the meeting. • ■ ''■ «

Actual experience of trying to ' le 'P soldiers to help themselves by the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board are interesting, amusing, and annoying by turn. For example, there is the deferred ca=e, which is deferred only because there are certain particulars required which could sometimes be supplied by the applicant. In a recent report to the Minister, the secretary (Mr. S. J. Wills) pointed oat that such cases usually arose where the information contained in the application form was insufficient to enable the board to determine the assistance to which the applicant was entitled. Tho chief omissions arose in connection with income, incorrectly stated, glaring omissions of _ income, errors in expenditure, and omission of such items as income from- business, farms, houses, etc., .during the absence, of the soldier. In such cases the applicant was promptly requested to supply further information, and was informed that the case would be reconsidered on receipt of tho required particulars. Applicants often omitted to mention' the name of the local authority, landlord, insurance company, etc. Many applicants neglected to reply to the board e communication for two or three weeks, burprisingly few applicants could give a clear statement of their liabilities and of the names and addresses of the parties to whom payments should be made, and mentioned many obligations which did not exist. A great deal of confusion arose in connection with the names of insurance companies, mortgagees, etc., and the board's staff was caused a sond deal of unnecessary work m adjusting matters.

An offer lias been made l)y Mr. E. II Vnile, of Broadlands, 'Waiotapu, to provide the fee of .£125, which lias to be paid l>y any youn K man who desires to qualify in aviation, with respect to two men nf the Auckland provincial district. Beins himself beyond the military age, Mr. Vaile has, adopted this plan of rendering assistance to the Empire s cause. The conditions oitnehed are that only la<ls from the provincial district are eligible, and that' they must" be unable to pay the "fee on their own account, and be fit enough' .to pass a stringent examination, must be of good education, and' have a " grounding in mechanics.

The chairman of the Second Welhnßton Militaxy Service Board (Mr. J. W. Poynton) made a public statement recently regarding tho case'' of a. Gieborne farmer who was drawn in n. ballot, had his appeal dismissed, and then did ;not enter camp at the date :fixed by the board. Mr. Poynton' said that the board had not granted any extension of leave, and the fact of the farmer being still out of cainp suggested that he had been able to get leave from some other quarter. Evidently the chairman of the board had not inquired regarding tho facts of the'case. The official Tccords show that the man in question went before a Medical Board after the dismissal of his appeal T>y!' the Military Service. Board and was certified to be suffering from chronic gastritis. He was classihed as unfit, and is at present on leave with-, out pay. • ' Soldiers iu camp who are on week-end leave are invited to assemble in Bunny Street at 2 o'clock oV Sunday afternoon for tho purpose of participating in Umpire Day celebrations. '' .■ Messrs. Baldwin and Rayward. potent attorneys and consulting "engineers, of 215 Lambtbn.Qnay, report that recently they acted- as agents in ; filing tho following applications for letters patent of New Zealand:—A". Ross, Foxton, Hax strippers; C'oe ami Co., Somerville, dyes; L. Dvhrbprs, Ashbiirton, musical instrument; R. Diiigan, Spring Plains, wiro strainer; Hon. Parsons, London, super-heater; Constantinesco.and Hatldon, Alporton, rotary motor; J.. J. Kriißer, Denmark, preserving food; H. B. Miirphy, Waikanae, stripping flax; Diver Co.. Alberta, amalgamator; Shurnnff Co., St. I.ouLs, motor nile; Murfitt and Hosts, Wellington, treating flax; W. ITnddon, Loiulon, reciprocating implements. On Juno 9th and 10th persons producing on request si Crippled Soldiers' Hostel nrt union ticket stamped on tho front "Lloyd, Jeweller," receive a present of jewellery or silver plate; .£25 worth now on view iu Lloyd's wiudow, Lauibton Quay, will be given away.*