MISCELLANEOUS.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 23 August 1920, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

An instance of the ignorance abroad of New Zealand is instanced by Mr Malcolm Fraser, of Wellington, who during his recent trip through America saw in a Los Angeles paper, in the j “Answers to Correspondents” as to where Dunedin was, an explanation that Dunedin was the old name for Edinburgh. * * Racing and gambling were again discussed by the Council of Churches at Christchurch, and the following resolutions were carried: —(1) That the committee be requested to confer with the churches of each important centre, with a view to the formation of church councils, and also with a view to concerted action by all church councils in the country on public questions; that the Council of Churches protests against tlie proposal contained in a private Bill now before Parliament to substantially increase the number of totalisator permits in the Dominion; (3) that the Council urges on the Government the unwisdom of opening further avenues for extravagance and waste, in view of the economic situation. The Council believes, on moral grounds, that the proposal is u retrograde one, and that it "'ill be deeply resented in the country. 1 lie Council suggests that such grievously overi raced . centres-' as Christchurch and I Auckland could profitably supply the J permits to a considerable extent. Fully this year the Japanese Government contemplated sending a military mission on a x-isit to Australia and New Zealand. The mission, it is understood, was to be composed of high .Japanese officers, and it is believed that its objects were- to encourage the development of cordial , relations between the Japanese and A list t alia n and New Zealand Governments. and to remove anything in the nature of misunderstanding that might exist between the iSouih Pacific . Dominions and Japa.n. Correspondence on the subject took place through the Colonial Office with the British Embassy at, Tokio, and it is understood that on account of the . strong protest, lodged by the Austin- ; linn Government, supported by the , New Zealand Government, the projected visit was abandoned.

The training of the Territorial Force during the war was hampered considerably by practically the whole ot the stocks ot r the Dominion’s sctviceable rifles being supplied to the Expeditionary Force. What weapons the Territorials .do possess are old, and

quite useless for anything but drill purposes. Arrangements have been made by the Defence Department, however, to equip all units with new. up-to-date rifles, shipments of which are now beginning to arrive from Home, and the work of replacing the old units will be put in hand without delay.-.

Referring to Governmental business methods, ail Auckland man confided his grievance to a reporter. “Last year.” he said, “when L received my land tax assessment notice, it had, as is customary. a notification that if any of the particulars wore objected to objection must be made in writing before a certain date. I made an objection, and was told in reply that after the assessmeat was once made no alteration could take place. 11 that is so. what is the use of the paragraph with reterenee to objections.’ This year, on receiving my land tax assessment notice. 1 immediately sent a cheque for the amount-stated. In reply. I received an official communication nckm iwledgirtg receipt of the cheque, with the following information: —* Payment of this tax is not yet due. The notice sent you was a notice of assessment, to afford viui an opportunity to make any objections in the event of the particulars shown therein being incomplete or inaccurate. The demand was not a demand for payment. Payment before tindue date is the cause of considerable inconvenience, difficulty of identification ami risk of error. I shall be glad it in future you will defer payment until the due date is furnished.’ Car. vou imagine a business man refusing pavment of an account before the due date.’” he concluded.