TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 December 1920, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

(Per Press Association.) BETTER MAIN ROADS.

AUCKLAND, Dec. 3,

Replying.to a, deputation. Hon Mr Coates said a Bill dealing with the main roads could not. be, tackled till after the holidays. What was proposed was to appoint Control Boards, elected largely by the local bodies of the different roading districts ; but that remained to be finally decided. A special engineer would, be appointed by the. Department to advise the Control Boards. The whole scheme would be governed by the financial ability to operate. He hoped to build up, to begin with, a fund of half a million, which did not seem much for the whole of New Zealand, but it would be started. The scheme was to have the main road right through the Dominion, with branches east and west. At first metal would have to be used. They could gradually work up to concrete.

FALLING, PRICES IN AMERICA DUNEDIN, November 30.

A Dunedin business man now in America writes as follows from New York:—“Business is worse than before. One® sugar refining company is faced with a loss of 50 million dollars. A big firm of meat packers is trying to borrow. 45 million iJollars, and a big Japanese firm supposed to be the largest trading firm in the world, are holding up payments on the smallest accounts. The trouble is especially severe in California. A leading firm of motor manufacturers reduced their ears by about 145 dollars. AH manufacturers are fighting to make the biggest reductions. One make of motor-cars has eo;me down 430 dollars.' Rice,-cocoa, coffee, sugar rubber, oils, food, boots, clothing, building material, etc., are all falling, and owners of stock are having a bad time. Thousands of people are being thrown out of work.”

THE CEMENT SHORTAGE. AUCKLAND, Nov. 29

The cement output for the Dominion during the year ended October 31st last by the three companies engaged in this industry, was approximately 85,000 tons, whereas ilnder normal condition' the total output should have b/jen ovei 150,000 tons.

The manager of Wilson’s (N.Z.) Port land Cement Company, Ltd., Mr M. S. lteid, stated to-day that for the last 12 months there was a shortage of 65,0(X tons, and there was no prospect in the near future of this being made up. Tiie cause of this shortage was the inability of the cement manufacturing companies to obtain coal in sufficient quantities to enable their works to bcoperatetl at full pressure. In the circumstances it was impossible to supply orders for cement for works already in course of construction. Orders for neu works were coming to hand almost every' day. and these, with the prospects of orders for cement for hydroelectric schemes, would accentuate t>lu position. If the companies could get sufficient coal for the next- year, the accumulated shortage would disappeai before 1922.,Wilson’s (N.Z.) Portland Cement 'Company had completed arrangements for a supply of Newcastle coal to be delivered during this month, with a view to ensuring a full output of cement from the Portland works during December. The company was also making other enquiries for coal locally ant 1 overseas,' its object being to get its different works in full swing by the New Year,

FATAL MOTOR-CYCLE ACCIDENT CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 3

J. C. Wilson, tinsmith, a married man, died of injuries received in a collision between a motor-cycle he was riding and a post at Bedcliffs. AN APPEAL. , WELLINGTON, Dec. 3. The Mayor of Wellington has received an appeal from the village of Les Waisnii, Fournes, North France, for aid iii re-establishing it. It was retaken, by N.Z, troops from the Germans with great courage. The Mayor and Pastor wrote saying that not .a house is upstanding, and the people, live in rude wood shelters. Mayor;Luke states In will have enquiries made before a public appeal is made,

HOUSE .|olt, GOVERNOR. CHRISTCHURCH, pece.mber 3. “*For the. sake of the dignity of the city and , the South Island,” said the Mayor (Dr. Thacker) to-day, “it is up to us to jnake the. question of a vice regal residence a vitfif question. A letter is feeing sent ,to-day to Captain Curtis, .asking for .the full requirements pf his Excellency regarding a house and. grounds, A letter is also being sent to , the Prime .Minister on the subject. Various properties for a Governor General’s, residence are under consideration in Christchurch . but the question of their suitability is fencer tain.”

WATERSIDE WIPERS’ FEDERATION., . . .TIMARU, Dec.. 3. The Waterside Workers’ Federation Conference adopted the reports,,of the President and Secretary and the bal ahce sheet. . The. report on the “N..Z. . , Transport Worker” was considered and the hope expressed that the Alliance of. Labour will undertake a daily Labour paper immediately. .Committees were set up to repoit on the coal, docks, slips, weight and constitution of slings and finance. ‘ It 'was unanimously agreed that organisation work be undertaken immediately for the formationof one union of: watersiders for the Dominion . It also agreed to recommend the N.Z. 'Alliance, of Labour immediately to form a Council of Action such as that recently formed in Great Britain, and that an understanding between the two Councils be arrived at.

DIVORCE CASE. NEW PLYMOUTH, December 3.

At the Supreme Court to-day before Justice Edwards there was a lengthy hearing of the divorce petition of Henry E. Harris, of Hawera, versus Ethel Harris, on the grounds of adultery. Alfred Ware of Hamilton, was cited as co-respondent, and the sum of two hundred damages was claimed. The Jury returned affirmative answers to questions as to adultery betvyeen respondent, and co-respondent and awarded petitioner a hundred and fifty as damages.