NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1927, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

PETROL TAX SUPPORTED. “ Such a tax is equitable and just, the users of the road should more for the upkeep, and I do not think that the consumption of motor spirit will be greatly reduced.” said the chairman (Mr ii. M. Corbett) at a meeting of tlie Ohinemuri County Council, in moving that the following telegram should he sent to the Prime Minister: »“ Ihe Ohinemuri County Council desires to congratulate you upon the introduction of the petrol tax. and suggests il any alteration is made it should he Gd a gallon. 7 ’ The motion was tarried. One councillor said he had no complaints, and would he glad to say a shilling a gallon for such a tax. Another councillor expressed the opinion that m three years the consumption of motor spirit would he trebled, as the road improvements which would he possible by reason of the tax would result in more cars being bought.

A VAC.'UK ADDRESS. “Post the prospectus <>l our new • Irish History’ to the Otago University,” said a Dublin publisher to his mail clerk. “ Faith, and where is the Otago University*” asked the clerk. •* Sure, and it’s among the savages and diggers away on the bottom oi the world.” answered the publisher. Ihe clerk scratched his head and opened his little atlas, lie found lots of rodcolnurod islands marked “Australasia, but the scores of names printed on them did not include that; ol the Otago University. So he took a lew at random. and posted the prospectus to the following address: ‘‘The Librarian. University of Otago, Christchurch. New South Wales, Australasia.” Fortunately. says an exchange, postal o(h* (inis are hotter acquainted with the geography of iho Antipodes than the Irish mail clerk, for the prospectus has

arrived at its proper destination. ‘ 1 lie wrapper in which it was enclosed adorns Hie wall of the university library. TIT K AM KIUC.VX WAV. An illustration of the graft that prevails in the t niteil Slates of AinetT’ii was {.liven by l)r K. (!. I‘erriday. who was on a visit to Gisborne, on route from New York -to Singapore. He stated that there were numerous traffic police, and on Hie slightest pretr-u officials held up motor ears and charged drivers with speed in;'. It was useless, if the ofliter could not ho induced t i leave the driver alone, to protest one’s

innocence iin court, for the police officer’s word was accepted as correct. Every wise American motorist carried with his driving license a five-dollar •* hill.” The motorist who was stopped for speeding usually denied that he was speeding, the traffic "cop” then asking to see the driving license, and when this was handed over, the fivedollar note was removed by the police officer, the license handed hack, and a warning issued to the " offending ’’ motorist, who was thus saved the inconvenience of a prosecution, and the penally of a fine.