DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegraph—per press association.] MOTOR TAXATION. WELLINGTON. July 19. “ In regard to the heavy traffic bylaws, there is no chance of the principle being altered. The amount of' capital expended on roads is such that it makes it imperative for the Government to take :i definite .stand.” Such was the .statement made by Mr Coates when replying to a deputation from mail contractors which waited on him to-dav ill reference to motor taxation. The deputation submitted that if the tyre tax were based on weight and not on price it would provide an even income. Mr Coates said he did not agree with that view. It was not a sound tax. The petrol tax was the soundest and the only one that correctly recorded: speed, weight and distance. He would not say that the present system was perfect. He wanted to get all the information available, lie thought they would have to modifv the taxes in future. At present they were feeling their way. and in the end he had no doubt hut they would he able to geL a gc«>d system.

OVERPAID INCOME TAX. WELLINGTON, Julv 19

Booth and Co.. London, who have a branch office in Christchurch, have again petitioned Parliament ior a refund of ;!M93(! over paid jn income tax in the years 1918 and lilt!). Tiie error occurred through failure to take into account deductions for overhead charges in respeci to returns from the company’s shipments from. New Zealand to the United Stales. The Commissioner of Taxes, say |>eiitioners. has agreed that the income should have been apportioned between its source :u New Zealand and sources elsewhere, the proportion of commission, income, and property charged to the. New Zealand account being ll) per cent. The company actually paid L'7ot)(i New Zealand income tax, but if the basis indicated had been taken its tax should have been C'2159. The Commissioner of Taxes agrees with these figures, and would have refunded the amount claimed had the statutory period within which a reluiid could he claimed not expired. Petitioners add that for each of tiie three years following 1919 their operations resulted in a loss.

DANCING IN CHURCH HALLS. AUCKLAND, July Hi. A request for guidance whether dancing should be permitted in church halls was received front a suburban church by the Auckland Presbvtcrv last evening. After some discussion it was decided to consider the matter in committee. On resuming, it was almost iinanimuslv decided to reply that- it was not thought desirable that dancing should be permitted in church halls. The opinion of a majority of members appeared to he that dancing would lie detrimental to the spiritual life of n. church, and would tend to lower its general tone. VITAL STATISTICS. WELLINGTON, July 1(1. Births registered in the urban areas in Jum‘ numbered 11111. a decrease of 78 on the previous lilo'ii':. Deaths totalled 511. a decrease of 9(1. Of the deaths. .‘1(12 were of males and 23!) of females. Sixtv-two or ll.lt> of the whole, were children under 5 years, .|9 being under one year.

MATRIMONIAL DUTIF-L WELLINGTON. July 15. During the hearing of a netition for dissolution of marriage in the Supreme Court yesterday, counsel for the wife (respondent) sought, to prove that: petitioner neglected her in that he never took her nut- to any places of entertainment. “She will tell you.” he said, “that petitioner never took her out to any place of entertainment.’' The Chief Justice: That is not part of tln> matrimonial duty. Counsel: They are little kindnesses. Your Honour. His Honour: Ho might have thought that theatres were not good for her. Counsel : But he wenl binisclf. Reference was also made by counsel to i lie fact that petitioner never took respondent out on Sundays. His Honour: Where is it laid down ip law that a man must take his wife out of a Sunday afienioon ! Me arc wasting millions ol oeunds annually on motor-cars and driving instead ol being thrifty people. There was a time in New Zealand when motor-cars and driving were unknown, and the people were happier than they are to-day.

\ REMARKABLE OPERATION. CHIUSTOHUROH, July IS. A remarkable operaliou was perturmecf at the Christchurch Hospital on Thursday, when a portion of a bullet was extricated from the brain o! E. li. Walton, aged 59. lie had been slmL accidentally seven mouths ago and left the hospital with a, blind right eye and limbs partially paralysed, but he returned because of pains in the head and it was then the bullet was extricated. WELLINGTON TRAM-MOTOR WAR WELLINGTON. July 17. The effort, of the newly-introduced motor ’lnis competition i- a reduction from to-ilav in all tram sections over two to three pence for the whole distance. It is estimated Unit this will mean a decrease of 215,00(1 yearly in revenue, hut it will go some way to remove the disinclination to live in the distant suburbs, and make property there more valuable. TOBBACO SELLING. GISBORNE. July 17. At a meeting of Gisborne Libaceonists, a. resolution was passed affirming that the present law does protect legitimate tobacconists trom illicit trading during the hours when tobacconists’ C.mps are hv law required lo remain dosed and Hint legislation smmld bit passed this session providing lor the licensing, on a nominal fee ol the vendors of cigarettes and tobacco with severe penalties lor offences concerning cigarette and tobacco sales.

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION

THE INSURANCES

DUNEDIN. -Tidy 17 Au insurance cover on the V <

lion buildings amounting in all to €BO.OOO. lias been taken out with the following companies: Standard, National. Victoria, New Zealand. South British. Australian, Alliance. Australian Provincial Assurance. Excess, Guardian. Hartford. Northern. Southern Union. Union Assurance State. United. Atlas, and Royal Exchange.

The following are the amounts on tin* separate buildings:—No 1. ltiitisli pavilion £10.600: (2) Machinery pavilion £O.-100; (3) General Exhibits and Provincial Courts. £9500: (4) British Dominions pavilion £10,600: (5) New Zealand Government pavilion £9OOO (0) New Zealand Secondary industries £20.000; (7) Motor pavilion £18.600: (101 Fernery £13.000. The Exhibition authorities have taken over these buildings from the contractors, and a start has been made with the erection of the stands.

WAIT INF. RESUMES FERRY RUN. WELLINGTON. July 17. The M’ahine will resume running in the Lvttelton ferry service on Julv 31, The Wahine and Maori will maintain the service continuously, except when either is being overhauled, when the Mnrnron will relieve.

MURITAI BEACHED. WELLINGTON, July 17. A mishap occurred to the harbour Terry steamer Muritai, when being put into the water from the patent slip : t Evans Bay this morning. The vessel has been tip for overhaul. When com ing oil' the cradle, the tail-shaft became dislodged and water poured 'n through the aperture. The beach being sandy nearby, it was decided to beach the ship.

WELLINGTON CALEDONIANS. WELLINGTON, July \7. Fur twenty years, two rival Scottish societies have existed in Wellington, hut alter two years’ negotiation, the., have decided to amalgamate, and thee next move will be to build a Caledonian Hall on a central site recently seemed.

BODY IDENTIFIED. WELLINGTON. July IP. The body of the mail found dead in the Basin Reserve has been identified as Hugh 'Robert McKay.