TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1921, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] MILITARY DISTRICTS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 26. From February, next, the four military districts of the Dominion will he reduced to three. Auckland and Wellington remain as now, hut tho South Island becomes one district with headquarters temporarily at Christchurch. The new arrangement is on a divisional basis, each district representing a brigade area, there being*three brigades to a division. The organisation will he capable of expanding into two divisions in case of war. The group areas will now he reduced. During the war there were 21, since reduced in number. In future there will be 12, four in each district, each group being a battalion area. c

N'ATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND. statement'by sir w. merries.

WKLLINGTON, January 26. Sir William Herries, Minister in charge of the National Provident Fund, in the course of a statement relative to the operations of the fund during the past year, said the number of new contributors (six thousand) enrolled in all branches of the funds work easily constituted a record. The contribution of revenue of the fund also showed a substantial increase, the total amount for 1920 being £106,527 as against £73,872 for 1919. ' The fund’s income from all sources was £150,582 as against £105,498 for. the previous year while the total fund increased from £338,729 to £469,311. As regards the benefits payable by the fund-during the year just ended, £31,708 was paid out to contributors and to friendly societies members for maternity allowances, and at 31st December the pensions and allowances, to contributors and widows and children were payable at an annual rate of £7,926.

A striking feature of the year’s opera tions is the increase in tho local authoritijes branch of superannuation rights, some two thousand employees having been co-operated in the fund with benefits similar to the Government service. The fund’s successful consolidation of these “groups” sin the centrally administered fund’ gives a valuable lead to tbo further widening of national superannuation. The General results of the years working are in every way satisfactory, and a continuance of the present rate of increase in business will place the fund in a forward position as an important factor in solving Hr problem of indignant old ago, and its concomitant evils.

A suicide:

PAIIIATUA, January 26

The police are advised that Alexander Prvde, a well known settler of Nireaha committed suicide this morning by shooting himself.

GREA MOUTH January 26- .Arrived at 1 p.ni.. Regains from Picton.

; TIALVRU WOOL SALES. ■ - * TTAIARU, January 26. i At the second wool sale to-day, by one o’clock over sixty per cent offered was sold. Prices range in merino from 13d to 20 1-5 three-quarter bred 51,(1 to 10icl; halfbred»sd to 13d; crossbred SLI to 7\ ; Corriodide 12] ; Black 6Jd ; Bellies 4d to 6Jd; combings 10d; cottcd s ■!d; pieces 5d to 12/d; locks 2]d to 3jd ; dingy fid. A LADY ELECTED. AUCKLAND, January 26. Airs Elizabeth Ferner was elected to the Education Board to-day, nee Dr. •I. 8. Reekie, resigned, defeating Mr V. Potter M.P., by 61 votes to 44, AV. .T. Gatonby 14.