NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 229, 24 June 1944, Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF

Fires in May. During May the Wellingtou Fire Brigade received 71 calls —39 to actual fires and 32 false alarms. Ot the real tires, 17 were property, 13 were gorse, grass or rubbish, and nine were chimney flies. Of the false alarms. 17 were found to be justifiable and 15 were classified as malicious.

Housing in Wellington. The Wellington Rehabilitation Committee has discussed the question of housing for ex-servicemen in the Wellington district, which was reported to be getting progressively worse. It was decided that the chairman should discuss the matter with tne mayor, with a view to exploring the possibility of providing temporary accommodation for the most urgent eases. Hutt Power Board Hates. After a sitting in committee it was announced that the Hutt Valley I’ower Board had appointed a committee, consisting of the chairman. Mr. J. W. Andrews, and Messrs. S. Blackley, I’. Dowse. 11. Green. J. J. Main r and A. Walker, to review t.hc board's balance position and make i’ccoinmendation.s in connexion witli future charges for electricity.

Pay-as-you-Earn Taxation. To ascertain members' views on the pay-as-you-earn system of taxation on incomes, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce proposes to distribute to its members tin explanatory precis of the scheme as it operates in other parts of tlie world, together with a questionnaire. At a meeting of the chamber this week a preliniinary statement on the system was given bv Mr. G. D. Stewart.

Heavy Fall of Snow. An unusually heavy fall of snow was reported at the Hermitage, Mount Cook, yesterday. The manager. Mr. X. Wilde, telegraphed that tlie snow that morning was one foot deep around and on tlie slopes of the grounds of the Hermitage. The Minister in Charge of the Tourist and Publicity Department. Mr. Parry, said last evening that further advice he had received showed that visitors would now be able to enjoy ski-ing almost from the doors of the Hermitage building. Too Good to Last. Xu answer to an advertisement, a Wellington woman recently secured the services of a painter and paperhanger for some much-needed work in her home. The young man who was doing the work proved an excellent tradesman, and his employer was delighted witli the progress he was making. Right in the middle of the job, there came a smart rat-a-tat on tbe door, there was some quick questioning, and, within a few minutes, the tradesman was inarched off under arrest. It turned out that lie was one of the men who had deserted from the American fighting forces.