TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

[I’EK I’UEfIS ASSOCIATION. —COPYEIGFIT. ]

SUPPLY OF BOOTS. WELLINGTON, June 9

New Zealand boot manufacturers apparently are still unable to supply the Dominion with the footwear it requires. The importations of hoots and shoes during 'the past live months amount to no fewer than 39,000 dozen pair . Of this number Australia lias sent us 32,000 dozen pairs, not withstanding the heavy import duty that has to lie paid; PRICES FOR STOCK. DUNEDIN, Juno 9.

' Many buyers at the weekly sale at Burnside to-day were of the opinion that stock will show a decline in prices next month. This opinion is based on the announcement that the Government intend to cease purchasing iat stock for export purposes from June 30tli.

AUCKLAND HIDE SALES. AUCKLAND, June 9

This week’s sales were marked by a distinct disinclination on the part of buyers to operate on account of the recent drop in the Australian markets, consequently the bidding was spiritless, and most of the catalogues were passed in, the actual sales beiug very small. Tin? result of the decreased demand was that the few sales made were on a basis of reduced prices. The decline all round averaged 3d per lb.

BUTTER PRICES. AUCKLAND, June 9. The Provincial Executive of tlie Farm ers’ Unions resolved to protest emphatically against the Government placing requisitioned butter on the market at a price considerably less than tlie cost oi production. It was added that this practice, u persisted in, would warrant the forfeit, ure of .the confidence of the farming community in the Government.

SUPREME! COURT. AUCKLAND, June J

The attempted murder 'of a Alaori seaman named Jack Murphy at Durgaville on February 22nd was alleged against two brothers, Walter Ross and Sydney Ross, in. the Supreme Court to-day. There were alternative charges of hav-,„ ing done bodily harm to Murphy and of having caused, such bodily harm to him, that had he died as a result they would have been guilty of man slaughter. It was alleged that Murphy was attacked by the accused and thrown from the wharf into the harbour. The Jury found the accused not guilty of attempted murder, but guilty on the second and" third counts. Both the accused were sent to gaol for two years with hard labour.

PRISON LABOUR NOT A SUCCESS WELLINGTON,’ June 9.

The Government has decided to stop the use of prison labour for tree-plant-ing. The Forestry Department finds that it can do better with ordinary labour, while the Prisons Department recognises that the cost of keeping up small prison camps, for tree-planting is excessive. A double saving will be effected by the new method, and the few prisoners who were engaged in treeplanting will be put to some more useful occupation, either on the prison farms or at various trades.

A QUESTION OF EDUCATION. WELLINGTON, June M

Under the system prevailing in New Zealand some,time ago, delinquent children were herded together in industrial, schools, a system that cfune to bo regarded as not a good one. Two years ago, that system was abandoned, and girls were sent to a receiving home, and boys to a . probationary home. Such' homes exist in all the large centres today. The object was to secure individual attention to each child, with a view of getting them once more unde' suitable authority of a parental nature. Such children under the new system receive their education at the ordinary "public schools, but the system is objected to by some Education boards, School Committees, and teachers in Auckland and to obviate this objection it has now been decided, where complaint has been made, to teach ■mch children in the homes to which they are sent. A housemaster, with special experience, has been appointed to deal with the children that have been the cause of the objection referred to.

A CHURCH MATTER. AUCKLAND, June 10,

The case of the Rev. A. A. Murray, arising' from his views on adult baptism, came before the Presbytery at Auckland on Tuesday night. On a motion being carried to discuss it in committee, Mr Murray and Mr Hay, a member, raised an indignant protest", and walked out. Eventually it was resolved that tbo Presbytery meet on Juno 22nd .to come to a finding in the ease, Mr Murray to be notified by registered letter.

PRISONERS SENTENCED

WELLINGTON, June 10

1 a sentencing two prisoners to-day Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, remarked on the two causes of crime—drink and gambling.

Colin McKenzie, with a dozen other aliases and a record of crime covering all but a period of war service, was sentenced on a number of charges of theft, false pretences, forgery and uttering and horse-stealing to one month’s hard labour on each charge, the terms to be cumulative, and also declared an habitual criminal. The prisoner’s drink ing habits were the cause of crime. James George Tracey, a Customs clerk, had pleaded guilty at Napier to a long series of thefts totalling £4,622 17s Id. Counsel stated the downfall of accused was entirely due to gambling. Ho had handled £12,000 a year and was receiving a salary of £230. In sentencing Tracey to seven years reformative treatment the Judge said it was an enormous sum to go in gambling. “Of course our people,” ho said, do not seem to think gambling is wrong and there is encouragement given to it. I saw that the revenue from the totalisator receipts at Auckland was £93,000 aud the same process is going on elsewhere. Government Departments ought to know who are gambling among its servants. Such things are not permitted in England or America or gamblers 20-” ■