LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 20051, 17 December 1928, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ry a careful chocking of the card iif has been ascertained (sacs a Press As-* sedation telegram from AYclliiigton) that thirty-two members of the new Parliament are definitely committed to the enactment of a full* hour’s summer time, while between twenty and thirty are not finally committed. If suU iicient of these, can be induced to sup-, port the adoption of the original Rill, it is probable that it will be introduced as a Government measure in the Legislative Council, where its author is now Leader. A Press Association telegram from AA’estport states that under the will of Mr Martin O’Connor, of Westport, the following bequests arc provided ;—■ O’Connor Homo, AVestport, £1,000; Homo for Incurables, Island Ray (Wellington), £400; St. (Janice's School, AVestport, £200; Roman Catholic Seminary, Galway Island,. £401). . At the inquest in Wellington on Joseph O’Neill, the victim of the Tail* Gorge accident, Sergent, the driver of the taxi, said he had not been paid for the journey, but his meter. was registering at least up to the time of' the first accident. Ho could not swear that it was registering after that. Dr Parr, who arrived at the scene of the accH dent, subsequently gave witness a cor, tifleate as to his condition, Tlio do-, ceased was in a very intoxicated condition, Sergeant; ARHolm said that Sergent called at the Lower Hutt polieo to report the accident early in the morning. Sergent was sober when witness saw him, and witness could not find any sign or liquor on him. Later iu the day witness saw Dr Parr, who certified as to the sobriety of Sergent after the accident. The Minister of Defence (Air T. AI. Wilford) stated on Saturday that he had received Air-marshal Sir John Salniond’s report on the question of air defence in New Zealand, It was a very comprehensive document, and went into full details. After ho had mastered its contents and. consulted with all . the responsible officers concerned ho would submit tho report to Cabinet, and it was for Cabinet to decide any question in regard to the publican turn of the details. Judgment in the case of To Hen Hen v. the King, heard in October last, was delivered by the Full Court at Wellington, In dismissing the application, the Acting Chief Justice said; “I agree that the court should decline to exercise its discretionary an, thoiity to interpret the sections in question. Admittedly, the court is not entitled to assume that any mistake has been mads. Tho Legislature must he deemed to have meant what the words convey. The difficulty in the present case is that by the sections in question the Legislature purports to give effect to a certain agreement, whereas it is obvious that it does not. Indeed, tho provisions of the Statute and tho terms of the agreements sirs quite inconsistent. It appears to. me that, in order to obviate the possibility of injustice to cither party bv a forced interpretation, this court should decline to exercise its discretion at the present time as to any declaration as to the meaning of the sections.” The other members of the bench (Air Justine Adams, Air Justice AfacGregor, Air Justice Ostler, and Mr Justice Blair all concurred that the court should refuse to exercise its discretion. No order was made as to .costs. Last Saturday afternoon Court King Edward’s Pride, A.0.F., held a Christmas treat for the children oc members. In addition to between seventy and eighty children, parents to the number of about fifty were present- The officers, under the able supervision of Sister Fraser, had spared no pains In make , this, the initial venture of its land by tho order, nn undoubted success. A very generous response had been made to their appeal for funds. This enabled them to supply the children with sweets, ice cream, fruit, balloons, paper hats and sqcakers. In addition, Father Christmas was m Mteudanco, and gave each child a toy off his Christmas tree. A generous supply of refreshments was handed round to the adults and children. Lm. Scott thanked the members for attending in such large numbers, and stated that it was hoped, to make this an annual affair. Before dispersing three ■hearty cheers were given for, . lie mu• eers responsible for organising dim i Christmas treat.