BRIEF ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 123, 22 February 1928, Page 12

BRIEF ITEMS

FROM FAR AND NEAR Master Builders’ Conference.—The annual conference of the New Zealand Federated Builders opened at Christchurch yesterday morning after an official welcome. The proceedings were taken in committee. —Press Assn. Pan-American Conference Concludes. — Tlie Pan-American Union Conference, at Havana has completed its final session with goodwill speeches by delegates,,in which further mention of intervention failed to appear. —Press Assn. Adelaide Unemployment Story.—The A"ent-General, Mr. Price, has cabled to Mr. Butler, South Australian Premier, inquiring as to the correctness of a statement published in London that unemployment in Adelaide was so acute that the Government was establishing camps, and firms and citizens contributing rations for 400 D unemployed. Press Assn.

Overseas Settlement Act. —The Hon. L S. Amery told a questioner, in the House of Commons that the inclusion of li'ish Free State ex-service ■mtnin the scope of the Overseas Settlement Act was still being discussed with the Dominions. He had not succeeded Jiitxierto in reaching a satisfactory decision —Press Assn.

Knocked Down by Tramcar.— Stanley Clements, a solicitor, of 44 Puru Crescent, was knocked down by a tramcar in Manners Street, shortly after 10 a.m. yesterday. He was conveyed to the Publie Hospital by the Free Ambulance, and. was admitted suffering from injuries to his back. His condition is not regarded, as serious.

Found Dead on Roadside.—At an inquest on Neill Campbell, aged 57, who was found dead on the roadside at Morven, a verdict was returned that death was due to cardiac failure, resulting from degeneration of the muscles of the heart, states a Press Association message from Waimate.

Workman Seriously I njured.—Owing to the sides of a trench in which he was working in Main Boad, Karori, suddenly falling in upon him, J. Lock, a labourer, in tho employ of the City Council engineer’s department, received concussion and a probable fracture of tha skull, shortly after 1.30 p.m. yesterday. Lock, who resides in Wilton. Bead, was removed to the Public Hospital by the Free Ambulance. His condition is serious.

Sudden Death.—Thomas Herbert Bax-< ter, aged 44, of Cashmere, Christchurch* dropped dead yesterday afternoon. Is was an oppressively hot day. . and ha was burning scrub on a farm in Hoon Hay Valley, of which he was a part owner, when he collapsed and expired. There will be no inquest.—Press Assn*

Fractured Collarbone.—As a result of falling from a ladder in the tramway sheds at Kilbirnie, at 8.20 a.m. yesterday, H. Bowe, a labourer, of 10 Constable Street, sustained a fractured collarbone. He was taken to the Public Hospital by the Free Ambulance, and is reported to be making satisfactory progress.

Settler Missing.—Richard Cresswicß Woolhouse, a settler of Evans Creek* South Westland, married, with three children, has been missing since. Sunday morning, states a Press Association message from Hokitika.. , He left Boss on horseback for Hokitika by .beach* His horse was found drowned in the Totara Lagoon on Monday afternoon. A search is proceeding.

Prime Minister’s Opponent.—The Beader of the Opposition (Mr. ,H. E. Holland) announced at Dargaville on Monday night that it was hoped that Mr. J. G. Barclay, a local farmer, would be the official Labour candidate and oppose the Prime Minister for the Kaipara seat at the next election.—Press Assn.

Mr. Holland Issues a Pamphlet.—> Speaking at Dargaville on Monday night, tho Leader of the Opposition (Air. H. E. Holland) gave a brief resume of the Samoan question. He complained, that owing to the attitude of some Press Association papers he had been compelled to issue a pamphlet, whiMi he said, contained the true facts of the case.—Press Assn.

Women in French Diplomatic Service. —Owing to men candidates’ poor showing in the last examinations, the Trencli Cabinet is allowing women to enter the competitive examinations for the diplomatic service. The first successful candidate will be posted to <he Foreign Office. A special Act will be necessary before women can be appointed to Embassies, Legations, and Consulates abroad. —Press Asns.

Street Accident—As the result of slij> niim on the kerb at Konini Road, Hataii“ai." Samuel James Smith a carpenter, living at the Returned Soldiers Ho.tel, The Terrace, sustained a fracture of the lower left leg last night. The Free Ambulance conveyed him to the hospital.

Helping to Extinguish the National Debt—Air. Churchill, Chancellor. of the Exchequer, announces the receipt or fourteen anonymous donations aggregating £238, as additions to the gift ot *£500,000 for the redemption of the National Debt. He. expresses tho Government’s appreciation of the donors patriotism. —A.P.A. and “Sun. ’

Poisonous Tablets.—As a result of recent cases of serious illness or death caused bv the eating of tablets used tor burning in small lamps for warning milk for infants, the Health Department has issued a warning that the tablets, which bear a resemblance to. lollies should not be tasted or left within reach of children.

Land Settlement—The Auckland Civic League Committee has resolved, to forward a letter to the Primo Minister expressing itself confident that, if a workable scheme of close land settlement were developed and effectively financed by t 0 Government, it would materially rebel a unemployment, and be the basis for permanently dealing with unemployment by providing a means for rhe return, to the country of a large proportion ot those who had left it. -Any approved scheme the Government may set on loot «ould have the whole-hearted support of the local bodies interested ami the general public. —Press Assn.

Body Recovered from Sea.—The body of John Chaplin, aged 10, the eldest son of Air. W. R. Chaplin. ,of Devonport, who was drowned when his canoe capsized in deep water off Stanley Bay, Auc..land, on Sunday afternoon, was found floating near the naval oil tanker, Nucula, at 11 o’clock yesterday morning. An inquest will be held. —Special service.

English Visitors Impressed.—Having spent almost a month in New Zealand, a* small party of English tourists, including Misses B. Brander and E. Bestwick. and Alessrs. W. Hogarth and J. S. Harrison, are much impressed with tlie scenic beauties of the country. party, which is beinsr conducted round the world bv Edward Grey World Tours, state that visits to tho Dominion are popular with the people at Home. They will leave Auckland by the Tofua on Saturday.—Special Service.

“Over the Fence.” —Afany of the statistical returns required periodically by the Government from local bodies are considered more or less as necessary evils, but one request that was before the Waimairi Count y Council on Afonday evening was considered to be quite unnecessary. . A circular letter from the Public Works Department asked for various involved figures about the county's transport system. “We ought to protest against' this sort of thing,” said Concillor H. Kitson. “The figures are of no value nt all, and it is only done io provide an extra job for some civil servant. It’s absolutely over the fence.” Mr. C. E. Cross suggested that a conference of clerks of local bodies concerned" should bo called and a strong protest made. A motion to that effect was carried.— Special Service.