TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS

(I>ER PRESS ASSOCIATION.-—COPYRIGHT

COR ON lAL INQUESTS. WANGANUI, Fob. 16

At the inquest on Miss Melville, who fell through the railway bridge, evidence was given as to the deceased’s mental condition. This bad not been normal. A friend with whom she stayed at Bulls, stated Miss Melville was normal when she left on Friday to proceed to Wanganui to transact business. She fully intended to return the same evening. A verdict was returned that deceased met her death by falling from a train while crossing the Aramoho bridge. There was no blame attachable to anyone. John Dale, married, living apart from his wife, aged 59 years, was found yesterday dead in his bedroom, with the gas turned on. At the inquest a verdict of death from gas poisoning, while temporarily insane, was returned.

A MENTAL CASE.

WELLINGTON, February 16.

At the Supreme Court to-day, before Justice E’dwards, Robert Dixon Warden was arraigned on a charge of breaking and entering and stealing jewellery to the value of £lB 17s the property of Mrs Bertha of Somerset avenue,' Wellington; also with having broken into on October 18th., the dwelling of Guiseppa Temulano at Island Bay, and stolen various articles and £ls in money. He was further charged with having stolen property in his possession. The prisoner was undefended.

Dr Harscll, Medical Superintendent Porirua Mental Hospital, gave evidence that the prisoner was committed to Porirua on January 24th and at the present time he was suffering from confusion of thought and absence of memory. He did not think the man would recover. By direction of the Judge, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty oil grounds of insanity. His Honour directed that tho prisoner should be kept in strict custody at the Porirua Mental Hospital until the pleasure of the Minister of Justice was known.

PROFITEERING TRIBUNALS. 1 WELLINGTON, February 1G

The Prime Minister announced ’ today that the Government has decided to establish local tribunals to investigate charges of profiteering under the Board of Trade Act, passed by Parliament last year. Tribunals of the kind proposed are already iii operation in Great Britain, where they had been able to assist the public and clear many doubtful points: Each tribunal would consist of three members. Any person considering himself' or lierself aggrieved by the price „f any commodity or article, would be entitled to place a complaint before the tribunals and produce evidence. The tribunal would consider each Case, examine the facts generally, and decide as to whether or not a prima facie case of profiteering had been established. If it thought there was profiteering it would refer tho case to the Crown Prosecutor in the district.

GAS COY., AWARD. WELLINGTON, February 16

At the resumed hearing by the Conciliation Council of the gas dispute, in which the employers were cited by .the Union, the Gas Company’s manager strongly objected to firemen and stokers coming under the provisions of any award on the ground that they were the direct agents of the company. Tlie Union objected to their exclusion, as they sometimes did stokers’ work. Ultimately the firemen and stokers were excluded subject to their doing the emergency strokers’ work referred to by the Disputes Committee. The parties came to an agreement on the matter of hours, but so far have not agreed on the subject of wages. Tlie company offers for different classes of labour from 15s 3d to 15 9d per shift. The Union stated that the company made a profit of £50,000 last year. The company stated that they had increased stokers’ wages during the war by 38.9 per cent, and labourers’ wages by 45." per cent.