LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

P. & T. Dance. A successful and thoroughly enjoyable dance was held in the Masonic Hall last night by the P. and T. Social Club. There was a good attendance of dancers. Barnes’s Orchestra played the dance music and Mr H. Prout proved to be an able M.C. The supper arrangements were under the direction of Miss Watt. Compassionate Grants. The making of compassionate grants ip widows of members of Parliament who have died on active service was discussed by the Auckland Returned Services’ Association at its quarterly meeting on Thursday. It was considered that this was a breach .of the principle of equality of sacrifice and the action of the executive in recording a protest was endorsed. Women War Workers. Concern at the lack of facilities xor women in the Services was expressed at a recent meeting of the youth committee of the New Zealand Council of Religious Education. Y.M.C.A. personnel were situated in all camps to cater for the men, but no such service was available for women. In view of the increasing number of women entering the Services, it was felt that Y.W.C.A. personnel should be given the opportunity of catering for girls in these abnormal situations. Epicentre of Earthquake. The epicentre of the earthquake which was felt in Masterton last Sunday night has been determined as being in the vicinity of D’Urville Island. It' is stated to have been more deep-seated than usual, and to be part of a normal outbreak of seismic activity which began with the Wairarapa earthquake after a long period of comparative quiescence. The D’Urville Island disturbance did not occur on the same fault line as that which produced the Wairarapa shocks, though a slight earthquake fell in Wellington at 6.40 a.m. yesterday did. Housing Improvement. The Housing Improvement Bill, previously referred to as the Slum Clearance Bill, had not been shelved, said the Minister of Housing, Mr Armstrong, in Christchurch. He added that the Prime Minister had suggested that a small committee of representatives of the department's affected should be set up to go into the provisions of the Bill in order that any defects might be examined. He would consult the Prime Minister on that aspect on his return to Wellington. The Bill might come before the next session of Parliament, though nothing definite was known at this stage. Excess Profits Tax, The Excess Profits Tax Committee, consisting of Messrs W. R. Birnie, P. E. Pattrick and H. M. Christie, has completed its deliberations. The Minister in charge of the Land and Income Tax Department, Mr Nordmeyer, stated last evening that 1705 assessments for excess profits had been made by the Commissioner of Taxes, and in respect of these 112 appeals were lodged. In 18 cases the committee had upheld the Commissioner's assessment, in 39 his assessment was reduced, and in 55 the committee found that no excess profits had been derived. The Minister said that the amount of excess profits tax so far collected was £482,000, and it was expected that some additions to this would accrue before the end of the, financial year.