TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1920, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

(Per Press AssCciaticru.)

PRIME MINISTER’S WELCOME. WELLINGTON, December 8.

The Prime Minister has sent the following messages of welcome to the tennis teams which fire to meet in the Davis Cup contest at Auckland: “To Mr Hardy; ciiptain Hi tiie American team : —On behalf of the New Zealand Government, I desire to tfendef to yourself and the cither members of the team which America lias sent to contest the Davis Cup; a very hearty welcome to our dominion.'” We hope you will spend a very pleasant and enjoyable time*- during yoUr visit to New Zealand, and that you will be able to carry away happy memories when the time comes for your depart irs I hope to have the pleasure of greeting you all personally, later on.” “To Mr N. Brookes, captain of tie Australian Team:—“The New Zealand Government expresses to you and (he other members of the Australian team a. most cordial welcome on yoiir arrival in New Zealand for tiie purpose of defending the Davis Clip. \Ve shall watc;h elo-elv tiie contests which are to the ibco. aria, wiii or lose, you will have Mir gbixl wishes for a series of highly enjoyable and interesting competitions, f hope to welcome you ail personally later oil. tii the meantime, I wish you and yoiir team a very pleasant t ,,v .e amongst hs. Kia Ora.”

ANTI-ilfelTINO LAW. WfeLLiNfcjTON, December 8. Tfc Mihister of .justice (Mr Loo) stated to-day that be was aware that linliUvfiil betting lind not. stopped, although lie thought its volume had been reduced. The Government certainly was in earnest in tho enforcement of the law- and be pointed out that the. Gaming Amendment LAct of last session jirovided penalties for men who bet with bookmakers, as well ns for bookmakers themselves. He would be sorry to see any of New Zealand's sportsmen go to gaol, but the law ivas there to life observed, and it riiight be necessary to provide examples. “I think most of the betting iii'eri will agree with me,” he said, “that the racecourses provide all the Facilities hit gambling that we require in this country. It is h'fet in th'fe public ihtercst that young men in Offices arid factories should b'c crowding after bookmakers on working days arid spending money and time oil race meetings all over the Dominion. I aril on'e of those who enjoy races, but I think Parliament was well advised when it decided that betting should be confined to racecourses.”

MEAT COMMISSION. WELLINGTON, Dee. 8. During last sessioti of Parliament some rather sensational statements regarding tile c'oridition of lriferit for home consumption- and export Were iriade ih the HoUse Of Representatives by th'e leader of the Labour Party (Mr Holland). The Minister of Agriculture (Hon W. Noswortliy) told a reporter to-day that he proposed, after the New Year, to ask the Cabinet to set up a Royal Commission for the investigation of these statements. Wide publicity has been given to the charges, both inside and outside Ntew Zealand, and Nefr Zealand’s competitors iri the irieat market were seeking to take advantage of statements that had been hiade by Mr Holland. Mr NosWUrtliy added that tile reputation of New Zealand’s meat was a matter of very great importance to tho dominion. He bad no doubt at all that the system of control and inspection herd was as good as anything of the kind in the World; and that uniformly good quality and good condition of meat sent abroad was proof of effi- . eacy of' the system ; but the Ministry and he himself were of the opinion that since charges had been made publicly, they ought to be investigated fully in the interests of producers and the dominion generally.