bunyip
Elite Member
Two subjects which makes us feel unique.
1.
There is a largish town on the East Coast of Australia that has two main industries, these are sugar cane and prawns, both are most active at around the same time of the year and the sugar cane is carted out of town about the same time as the prawn trawlers move up and down the river heading for the ocean nearby.
The highway has a lft bridge over the river which is raised when a trawler needs to pass underneath, this bridge is the centre of much congestion both on the raod and on the river which results in a few tempers flaring.
Now one of our erudite politicians comes to the rescue with a simple solution, it seems that the trawlers are about 8-10' too high to pass under the bridge so he proposes that if the river is dredged 12' the problem will be solved.
This was about 20 years ago but what bothers me is that we pay for these geniuses to come up with such simple solutions, if you want him we can forward him to you with no freight costs.
2.
About the same time ago, self funded retirees do not have to pay tax on their pension but a few years ago they did, Judges decided that because of their standing in the community they should be entitled to a much lower tax and it was subsequently put to the taxation department.
The taxation department did not look favourably upon this request and it was denied, the Judges not happy with this matter took it to court.
The legal system is a little different here, the lowest court has Magistrates, the three higher courts have Judges, your Judge Judy of TV fame would be a Magistrate here.
Magistrates do not wear a robe or wig.
1.
There is a largish town on the East Coast of Australia that has two main industries, these are sugar cane and prawns, both are most active at around the same time of the year and the sugar cane is carted out of town about the same time as the prawn trawlers move up and down the river heading for the ocean nearby.
The highway has a lft bridge over the river which is raised when a trawler needs to pass underneath, this bridge is the centre of much congestion both on the raod and on the river which results in a few tempers flaring.
Now one of our erudite politicians comes to the rescue with a simple solution, it seems that the trawlers are about 8-10' too high to pass under the bridge so he proposes that if the river is dredged 12' the problem will be solved.
This was about 20 years ago but what bothers me is that we pay for these geniuses to come up with such simple solutions, if you want him we can forward him to you with no freight costs.
2.
About the same time ago, self funded retirees do not have to pay tax on their pension but a few years ago they did, Judges decided that because of their standing in the community they should be entitled to a much lower tax and it was subsequently put to the taxation department.
The taxation department did not look favourably upon this request and it was denied, the Judges not happy with this matter took it to court.
The legal system is a little different here, the lowest court has Magistrates, the three higher courts have Judges, your Judge Judy of TV fame would be a Magistrate here.
Magistrates do not wear a robe or wig.