NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24411, 24 September 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

'THE National Reserve Battalion continues .to grow satisfactorily, and now numbers 526 officers and men. About 50 recruits were examined by a medical board last night, and about 80 others will be examined on Thursday night. A successful all-day parade was held on Sunday, when 487 men were present. After a church service at 9.15, musketry exercises and company drill were carried out at Forbury Park, at the conclusion of Which the battalion formed up for inspection before marching back to the Kensing ton Drill Hall.'. Petrol for Taxi* . • An increase to 180 gallons a month in the basic ration of motor spirits for double-shift taxis (states the New Zealand Herald) has been approved by the Oil Fuel Controller. This increase will only' be given, however, where it is definielty established that the additional quantity is required. The controller also requires evidence by applicants that their vehicles are operated on the double-shift basis. Women Police Wanted Steps are being taken by the Government to appoint women as members of the New Zealand Police Force. The sum of £I4OO had previously been placed on the Supplementary Estimates for this purpose, and the Commissioner of Police, Mr D. J. Cummings. is now calling for applications for positions. It is stipulated that applicants must be either unmarried or widowed and between the ages of 25 and 40 years. , ■ Producer Gas Plant What is said to be the .first producer gas plant, to make its appearance in Dunedin has been installed in one of the City Council's lorries. This was mentioned at the meeting of the council last night by Cr H. L. Gibson, chairman of the Transport Committee, who said the truck had been employed in carrying' coal between Fairfield and Dunedin, and yesterday was running on producer gas for the first time. The results, he added, were very satisfactory indeeu. The Equinox

Yesterday, September 23, the sun entered the Zodiacal sign Libra, and thus that is the date of the Equinox. Day and night are of equal length all over the world at the time of the Equinox, hence the name. Nothing particular happens in the heavens at the time, but it • is popularly supposed that winds blow with excessive violence, hence the term " equinoctial gales." Cold meteorological statistics, however, do not support this popular belief that it blows harder at the time of the Equinox than at other times of the year. Irresponsible Leadership

"Unfortunately, there are some bodies of organised workers in New Zealand to-day who are allowing themselves to be led by the nose by irresponsible persons who are out to hinder the war effort. They can only be described as friends of the Nazi and Fascist Powers." This statement was made by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr R. M. Maefarlane, M.P.), when opening the new premises of the Welcome Club for servicemen. He referred to the splendid work that had been done by scheme 'l3 workers in converting the building into comfortable surroundings for men of the armed forces. "The work I have seen in this building and elsewhere recently ha* convinced me that the criticism one often hears about these workers is entirely unjustified," Mr Maefarlane said. "Given a job in which they are interested, scheme 13 men can perform outstanding work, and great credit is due to them for the way in which they have co-operated with the contractor. The workers are also to be commended for the large amount of voluntary work which they have performed, both at these premises and at the Union Jack Club. Their efforts are indicative of the yeoman service being rendered by the great body of workers throughout New Zealand."

Open Market Proposal The question of the establishment of an open market in Auckland was further discussed when representatives of the Crusade for Social Justice waited on the Auckland City Council. Speakers suggested that an open market would solve many problems and would be specially beneficial in wartime, when there might be refugees to cater for in addition to the normal population. It was stated that there were open markets in other countries, and that New Zealand stood alone in not having any such provision. The proposal was referred back to the Finance Committee for further consideration.

Fire at Waipori "The fire at Waipori last week, when 60 acres of young trees in the City Council's plantations were lost, was purely accidental, and no blame can be attributed to anyone," said Cr D. C. Cameron, chairman of the Electricity Committee, at the meeting of the council last night. Embers from a nearby tussock tire had been carried into the ulantation when the wind suddenly changed, Cr Cameron said, but an excellent save had been made by the men of the council's staff, who had worked hard for six or seven hours and had managed to protect a section of trees 25 to 30 years old. A full report would be made to the next meeting of the council.

Boeing in New Guinea A Boeing plane which figured in a humorous incident in New Guinea recently—the story was told by our Sydney correspondent in yesterday's issue —was once a fairly familiar sight in Dunedin. It was one of the machines, owned by New Zealand Airways, over which there was considerable controversy about five years ago, and it gave the Dunedin public probably its first glimpe of a night flight when it flew over the city after dark to advertise a Dicture then showing. The machine was eventually sold to Mr Ray Parer, of New Guinea, who still operates it. Ahother of the Boeings formerly owned by New Zealand Airways is now in Victoria.

Sales Tax Yield

Sales tax collected during July for ordinary revenue purposes totalled £313,293. This was a decrease of £14,189 on the June figure, but an increase of £27,763 above the yield in July, 1939. The July, 1940. figure does not include £27.565 credited to the War Expenses Account. The rate of sales tax was increased from 5 per cent, to 10 per cent, as from June 28, the additional amount to be used for war purposes. Collections in any one month, however, are mainly in respect of transactions effected in the previous month, and consequently the amount credited to the War Expenses Account in July would be levied on sales which took place during the period June 28 lo June 30 only.

Repeal of Mileage Tax The repeal of the mileage tax on vehicles driven by producer gas, which was gazetted last week, will affect immediately about 150 vehicles throughout New Zealand, that being the number., equipped for the use of producer gas. There are, however, many other vehicles that pay this tax, notably those with Diesel engines and steam and electric vehicles. The mileage tax was introduced by legislation in the first case so that owners of vehicles propelled by fuel other than petrol would pay to the Consolidated Fund an amount calculated to be equal to that paid by owners of cars propelled by petrol, which is taxed at Is 2d a gallon. The existence of the mileage tax has been little known to the general public and some owners of motor cars were surprised when they found they had to pay it after they had fitted oro'ducers. In the case of producergas cars it worked out at 2s for 100 miles. The lowest amount payable was 6s 8d for 100 miles, but a rebate of 70 per cent, was granted in the case of producer-gas cars. The mileage tax js charged on trucks according to the classification of each truck for heavy traffic fees, and varies, according to the weight of the truck, from 7s to 18s lid for 100 miles. The same 70 per cent, rebate was given when producer gas was used in trucks as in the case oi cars. Truck owners are thus the greatest gainers by the repeal of the mileage tax.

Coffee for breakfast. Order from your grocer a tin of "Bourbon," the coffee of quality Instructions in every tin. Prepared by Dune's, Coffee Specialists. 32 Octagon. Dunedin.— Advt.