TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

[l*Ett PHEBB ASSOCIATION. —COPYBIGHT.] HOUSE BUILDING. WELLINGTON, May 11. The Prime Minister announces that the Government is making provision to finance the construction of 500 houses during the current financial year. Replying to a question by your correspondent, Mr Massey said that it was intended to utilise as much State timber as possible and extend the policy of importing through Government channels supplies of hardware and other requirements for these dwellings. STRATFORD DYE-ELECTION. FINAL RETURNS. STRATFORD, May 11. The final official figures for the Stratford election are as follows: Robert Masters (Liberal) 3394 Hon Hino (Reform) 3245

Majority for Masters 149 ATTACK ON CHINESE. TIMARU, May 10. On Saturday night, April 17th, the shop windows of three Chinese fruiterers were smashed by, or in tile presence 'of a considerable crowd and much dam-

age done within two of the shops. The action was favoured by darkness, there being no street lights, owing to the electric light plant being out of order.

Four young men and three hoys appeared on several charges arising out of the affair. The men, Antony Howley. Henry Shaw, Kenneth Newlands, anil David Millar were first charged with wilful damage estimated at £66 13s (id, on the shop of Willie Young and Co., With throwing missiles to the danger of the public and with threatening behavious with intent to cause a breach ol the peace. Howley was also charged with assaulting one of the Chinamen. On the application of Counsel for defendants. the charges were taken separately against each defendant, and the case against Howley was first taken. A Chinese interpreter from Wellington assisted the Court. The principal witnesses were two women customers who deposed that Howley started the disturbance by pulling over a bag of onions at the door, and the others then threw the onions at the Chinaman, who went out to pick them up. At the window stones were also thrown, breaking the window. There was no disturbance till the onions were pulled over, someone having tied a string to the bag for the purpose. Howley was committed for trial, bail being fixed at £25. The case against Slmw was dismissed without prejudice on an alibi. The other cases were adjourned till Thursday.

RAILWAY STATION BURNED. GORE, May H. The Mataura Railway Station, con-ir-ting of fire rooms, which was rebuilt seven years ago, was totally destroyed b v five this afternoon. All the papers and fittings were saved. The origin of the fire is a mystery. The midday express for the Smith was delayed here an hour. A bucket brigade and chemical extinguishers, saved the fire from spreading to the outbuildings, and the station master’s residences, which were threatened by a high wind.

THE JOCKEYS’ DISPUTE. CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. The Executive of the New Zealand Related Printing Tracies Association considered the jockeys’ complaints and passed the following resolution: “That this Executive, representative of over 1000 printers, desires to express its sincere sympathy with the members of the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association in their fight for better conditions of employment. It deplores tlie delay which has occurred in bringing the parties to the dispute together, which has been caused by the refusal of the employers to negotiate with the representatives of the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association. The Executive respectfully requests the Minister of Labour to use his best endeavours to compel the owners to meet the representatives of the jockeys at the earliest possible moment. It is further of the opinion that the conditions of employment of jockeys require immediate improvement.”

BONUS TO TEACHERS. WELLINGTON, May 10. The Executive of the Educational Institute has had under consideration the bonus to teachers recently approved iy Cabinet. The bonus is regarded as quite inadequate, even as a relief to the present position and as having no bearing on tlie wider question of reasonable remuneration of a professional body. In an interview to be held next Saturday, with the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Para), the Executive will submit the claims of the profession in regard to the system of control, basis of payment, and scale of salaries. STARVING CHILDREN FUND. DUNEDIN, This Day. At a representative meeting yesterday to raise funds for tlie relief of starving children in Europe, it was decided to transform it into a Dominion appeal, and petition the Legislature to grant a liberal subsidy.

FINE OF £2OO. FEILDING, This Day. Magistrate J. L. Stout this morning, in a written judgment, convicted William Jones of carrying on the business of bookmaking. Jones was fined £2OO being £IOO on each of two charges.