LATE NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1389, 25 February 1905, Page 2

LATE NEW ZEALAND.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, last night. The bakers propose to wait on the Minister for Justice urging tho removal of the compulsory stamping of bread and modifications of the restrictions regarding the weight of loaves. The following is the municipal platform drawn up by several Wellington branches of the Political Labor League :—I. No further sale of municipal lands; housing people at reasonable rents. 2. Establishment of abbatoirs and workmen’s houses ; establishment of fruit, fish, vegetable, and meat markets ; establishment of wood and coal depots. 3. Acquisition and extension of works for the manufacture of gas and electricity, and the supply thereof as light j and power. 4. All works to be performed by day labor, and trade union rates of pay and hours to be observed. 5. Closing shops on Saturday for a weekly halfholiday. 6. Free music in public places at suitable times. I A letter in the Post complains of the I treatment meted out to men of the per- I manent force. It is asserted in the first place that payment for the first six months

is 4s 6d per day. He has to pay £ls for his uniform and buy bis oWn food, which usually comes to Is 8d or Is 9d a day, and if he repeats his engagement he is obliged to pay £3 for his disoharge. Next, only a cortain proportion are allowed to marry, the restriction presumably being justified by the fact that tho man's pay is not sufficient to enable bim to keep a wife, and he is not permitted to supplement his income by taking work outside the corps. The Karori Borough Council, with tho view of securing better communication with Wellington, have accepted a scheme for the introduction of tho LombardQuerin system of electric buses. The I scheme, which includes lighting the { borough with electricity and widening the I main roads, is estimated to cost £24,000. I The interest on this amount would be £I2OO per annum, agamst which it is ' estimated there would be a profit of £9OB j from cars and £1525 from electric light- I ing.

Mr R. Bright, a prominent Freemason, and a member of the Licensing Committee of Greytown North, who was kicked in the stomach by a horse a few days ago, has succumbed to the injuries.

Wanganui, last night. A. Ballinger (Petone) won the aggregate at the Rifle Association meeting. Dunedin, last night. Hewitt, the jockey, admits a cross at the races to-day, but denies that it was wilful.

Invercargill, Jast night. A woman charged with stealing £27 worth of jewellery was found not guilty. People in Court applauded. She had gone as housekeeper to informant, but only Btayed two days, alleging that she left because be made improper overtures. She declared he gave her a watch found in her possession.

Masterton, last night. Henry McSted, found guilty of a criminal assault on a girl 4J- years of age, was sentenced to 18 months’ hard labor. Dennis Dee and Thomas Jackson, for assault, were sentenced to 15 months’ hard labor.

H. W. Pownall was acquitted of a charge of not keeping proper accounts,