TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1920, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

(Per Press Association.)

SENTENCED FOR theft. NEW PLYMOUTH Sept. 29.

At the Magistrates Court William Moody a member of the crew of the Port Pirie, was sentenced to three month for. theft of lead, the property oi the captain. The police stated that o: the trip out, about £3,000 worth o', goods were lost from the ship.

RIFLE. CLUB CONTROL. WELLINGTON 1 ,- September 28. The Minister of Defence has informed the New Zealand rifle dulls that they are to remain under the Defewt Department. Up to the present there • has been some ddfilrt about their position, as it is generally recognised that the war has proved that the shootin? of such clubs is not on the lines sliov to l)e necessary in modern warfare anc. there, is apparently a general disposition to cut down the expenditure of. defence to what is absolutely necessary The Minister of Defence however, has stipulated that the expenditure under the heading of rifle clubs must appeal as a separte item in the Defence vote. SUGAR-WORKERS UNION. ' AUCKLAND, September 28. A peculiar position that resulted from the recent strike in the sugar refinin'.' industry was the fact that of seven members of the executive, no less than four were amongst the party alleged to have been victimised. This position was ventilated nt.n meeting of the union, with a result that a new executive was elected, members considerin'.! it. inadvisable to have members on the executive who are not actively engaged in the industry. The election of president took on a. lot of interest, no less th'V sewn candidates coming forward. Mr" J, Ross, who fpriiierly held the position was re-elected. A provisional levy was struck for the purpose of assisting the members f alleged to have been victimised, but those concerned declined the offer with thanks. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT WELLINGTON, Sent. 2'J. The High Commissioner cables under date London, 25th. inst: Meat—English supplies a ire tower. Trade is dull, and prices are sligbtlv easier. Average prices arc:—Beef Is 4d per lh., mutton Is 9ilb., lamb Is 10?-d. Irhported meat -forms 78 per cent of the Smithfield, supplies, a? against 40 per cent. .There is a good demand, but no change in prices. Butter—Free butter, which fe in very small supply, is selling at 442 i

1 6d per cwt. Irish is quoted at 445 s ! to 465 s per cwt for finest. Cheese—The demand for English is very quiet at 176 s to 186 s. The Can- ’ adian spot market is quiet and steady j at: White 160 s. to 162 s per cwt., i coloured 162 sto 1665. Quotations c.i.f. are lower a,t 160 s.

Hemp.— I The Manila market opened steady. The demand improved later, and good business has been done at firm prices. J. grade June-August to ; Jeptember-November shipments sol £69 per ton. Octoher-December shipment is quoted at £69 10s. per ton The New Zealand market is inactive. Sellers have quoted high ‘points on spot at £56, and fair at £54, and £sl respectively.

Wool—The sales continue slow. The demand is confined to bettor sorts, medium and lowclr descriptions being largely withdrawn.

CROCKERY PRICES. DUNEDIN, . September 29.

The purchaser of goods for one of New Zealand’s national institutions remarked the other day that, so far as he could state off-hand, the greatest increase of prices during recent years is in respect to crockery and glassware He was paying for some goods quite four times as much as formerly and could not find any escape from such charges.

A leading indent agent in Dunedin said to-day that the advance was quite as great as that mentioned, and he quoted from several advices of 'ate in support of the statement that price' in ordinary everyday lines have gone up by fully 300 per cent, as compared with the pre-war days. He is inejimto the opinion that present values will not soar much more. . The only lines of crockery coming to New Zealand :.art from the Staffordshire ware, are Japanese-made cups and saucers, and they also are very high in price, this being due to the rate of exchange and to continuous advances in the cost of production. Household erijamelware and glassware are also- up at least 300 per cent., likewise cutlery and chinaware. A big advance is announced -n stainless cutlery.