TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1921, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION, INCOME TAX FRAUDS: AUCKLAND, Sept. 30 ' Throe Waikato firms were charged at the police court to-day with haring wilfully made false returns to the Income Tax Department. In the case of House and Daking, of Hamilton, Drapers, Mr Meredith, for the Crown, stated that the method ■ adopted was that of suppressing sales • matte in the business. Large sums, . which should have been shown the , credit of the business as snleS; store __ ■ suppressed, and reintroduced into the* business through the private banking ' account of the main shareholders as ' leans. These were allotted to these • shareholders aiid the alleged Jciilns » were used to pay share money. Bogus purchases frofii Various firms were also ! shown, further reducing on paper the s profits of the firm. The amount of in- , come tax over four years which was not paid approximated to £9,000. . ' , The accused pleaded guilty to four charges. Thev were fined the maxii- mum~of £loo'on>each. Counsel stated n that in preparing the balance sheet is the stock had been placed at a high , figure of replacement values, which o would have shown profit that did not exist. To reduce this to a fair and <l proller figure the firm had entered fictitious purchases. rr 0 R. C. Calvert, of Cambridge, k draper, was fined £IOO on each of three charges, where profits were re„l duced by suppressing sales, and mK _ Hating purchases of goods. _ The mcoire tax amounted to £‘2747. rs Barton and Ross, of Hamilton, furnishers. were fined £IOO on each of ic three charges, involving a total of a- £2BOO income tax. A large amount ie was shown as purchases, when no ig goods were purchased. Counsel submitted that the action i. W as done in error, and Ross believed '' the books were correct. k - MILBURN COMPANY IN REPLY r - v DUNEDIN, Sept. 30. 01 Mr J. H. Stewart, Manager- of the Mil burn Lime and Cement Company, 10 speaking to an ‘‘Otago Daily Times” reporter, with respect to Hie alleged cement combine for controlling the price of cement, stated that his company was equally willing with A\ ilsoti 8 Portland Cement Company to have the fullest investigation into the position. T." M, Masters, he said, had made ser- [.) ions charges, and should have taken *l° the trouble to be accurate in his facts. From; the figures quoted, Mr Masters ' of evidently was speaking of the Golden ' r Bay Cement Company. The highest t Y e price ever charged by the Milburn Company was £7 -Is per ton, which, he said, was entirely due to an increased cost of production and other charges to 1,,, he met since the war. The present output was much below its. maximum.

RURAL MAILSWELLINGTON, Sept. 30. Rural mail delii erics v ere mentioned in tile Mouse to-dav by Mr McLeod (Wairarapa), who inquired whether it was the intention of the PostmasterGeneral to make a charge of £1 or £2, as the case might he on all such deliveries, irrespective of revenue produced hv each delivery. The; Postmaster-General replied in the affirmative. The regulations, ho explained would collie into force into Jan. Ist, and would affect the whole of the rural mail delivery system of New Zealand. Government was anxious extend postal facilities as far afield , possible in the interests of the settlers', " though after all limit imposed by cost had to he considered. By the introduction of the new system, Government would lie laying down a principle on which the people could ask for arural mail delivery. There would be no haphazard work about it and the settlers might ask for a delivery as a right if they had four settlers per mile. On an average of four per- mile in uie proposed group if fifty per eeut of settlers along a road contributed to the rural mail system under the proposals then the Department would establish the service. If a man did not wish to join and pay his share he must go to the nearest post office. The new system would enable tbe present radius to be considerably increased.

i COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. i AUCKLAND Sept. 28. j A young man named Stewart Christie * i loaded not guilty and was committed j for trial on a charge of an offence I against a Id-year-old girl at Powai. i Ti.ree charges rdf offences against a girl between 12 and 16 were prefer ! rt\l against Alfred \\ illiam Ruff Astle, j aged 18. The girl said she told acJ (-used that she would he 17 next birthday and counsel contended that there ' was no case against him. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial. rosniox in duneimn. DUNEDIN. Septemt>er 29. About lot) married men with families. and single men with dependents have now registered their names at the Town Hall, as applicants for work. In addition to the 20 at present employed, another 42 will he provided with work this week on the city reserves. A public appeal for funds will he made by the Mayor in the course of a few days. The men now employed are showing good returns for their labour. RISE IN FREICHTS. WEI.I.jfXGTOX, October I. I The Union Coy announce an increas J in freight of 2s Cd on general cargo ! juiil 3s (id per ton on produce between Muff. Dunedin, Oamaru. Timaru, Lytj tel ton, Wellington, Napier, Gisborne and Auckland. The increases are compulsory owing to the increased cost of ! running steamers i £ j TELEGRAM LEAKAGE. / • THREE OFFICERS DISMISSED. WELLINGTON. October 1. A close inquiry into the matter of ' cable leakage in connection with the cable sent to South Africa hv a press representative travelling with the Springboks, regarding the Maoris has*' boon made by responsible officials of* the Post and Telegraph Department, with the result that three officers on the staff of Napier Telegraph Office ..ave been dismissed and one lias been suspended It has been stated that in all probability the persons alleged to be implicated will be prosecuted for a i grave breach of the regulations govern. I jng the receipt and (tending of teUgrap* hie messages,