VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1921, Page 1

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

TELEGRAMS

[by telegraph—per. press association]

SERIOUS CHARGES

AUCKLAND, Feb. 7

At the Supremo Court criminal session, .Judge Stringer snid the calendar was fairly extensive and involved two grave eases. A son was charged with murdering his mother, and a father was charged with murdering his son. ■ln the first case, he said, it. would be best for the jury to return a true bill and allow the fa Is to come out in Court. The case cl Needham, who killed his sn at Maunatoroto was even more distressing. The jury would have no difficulty in finding a true bill. Tn addition to the indictment of murder there ought also to he an alternative one fo rnumslanghtcr, but his Honour suggested that a true hill in the,graver chares should he brought in.

BOY DROWNED

WANGANUI, Feb. 7

A half caste Maori lad, Richmond David, twelve years of age, was drowned in Wanganui river while bathing. The hodv was recovered.

INK A NT] UK BAR A LYSIS

WELLINGTON. February 7

Five more cases of infantile paralysis have been reported to the Department. The cases reported arc from Hataitai, Brooklyn, Kelbnrn, Wellington City, and Petone.

In all cases every precaution has been taken. The patients have been removed to the hospital for isolation.

(Sportswoman ktlijed

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb

Airs Moore of Bexley Road, New Brighton was thrown from a horse tonight and killed, her neck being broken. Site was better known as Miss J. Ration, in whose colours, Slow Tom, a winner of the Grand National Steeplechase used to race. She was a keen follower of the hounds and was interested in all matters relating to the turf. INFANT’S BODY FOUND. Feb. 7. An inquest was held to-day on the body of a newly born male child found beside a gorso bush in Addington on Saturday. The medical evidence sliced that it was not a full time child, and bad probably made an ineffectual attempt to live. The inquest was adjourned sine die.

X.Z. DEMAND to drop control. WELLINGTON, February The Prime Alinister has lately Keen in. cabled communication with the InI erial authorities regarding the c. • liTil maintained by the Imperial Government over the prices of all imported meat. At a recent meeting of the Board of Agriculture, and the Producers Committee, a resolution was passed regarding this. Tn accordance with that resolution, a special request was made that control b<‘ removed, or if that was impossible that tile orices of lamb and mutton be adjusted ; n order to place N.Z. producers in a be Vr position relatively to Home producers. A replyUins now been rcoceived which states that the authorities in England cannot see their way to accede to ti e request, but that it may be possible at the end of Afarch to remove control.

AT OKI. AN*J) SUPREME COURT. AUCKLAND, February 7. At the Supreme Court, Joseph Rowlands, alias Harris, was sentenced in two years’ gaol. 'Phc Grand Jury returned a true 1 ill against Frederick Spcarpoint for Die alleged murder of his mother, aid against Thomas Needham, for the alleged murder of his son. FOUND DROWN HD. CHRISTCHURCH, February 7 The body of a woman between 25 and 30 years of age, was found on tie Now Brighton Beach this afternoon. Tt had only been in the water for a few hours. ADMONITIONS TO RAIIAVAYMKN. WELLINGTON, February 7. Regarding the threatened railway strike at Dunedin, Mr Massey has sent the following message: - -Telegram received. Must know proper constitutional method of dealing with any grievance is through Executive. Barclay may take case to the appeal Board, which probably will sit in the South Island next week. He may appeal direct to the General Manager, or the Minister. The passing of a l inger signal thus involving public safety is a serious matter, and can not be passed over. Hope wiser counsels may prevail, and that a more satisfactory course than that suggested will be adopt'd; but please understand that the responsibility for anything that may .rkc place rests with you and those on whose behalf you have forwarded the telegram.”

marama held up. AUCKLAND, February 7 The majority of the stokehold hands and a number of the stewards on the Marama signed oil articles to-day. it is understood that the men asked to be paid off here as they have no desire to proceed to Sydney with the chance of heina involved in the strike cie. Meanwhile, the steamer’s departure few Sydney has been postponed until v/«t- ---, nesd!,y-

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT

\ UCIyLAND WATERSIDERS.

AUCKLAND, February 7

As a result of the Watersiders’ decision not to work after five o'clock, the departure of the Opawa, Ruahino, and l'e A nan for coastal ports lias been delayed.

No work was done on the Otaraun, which arrived from Liverpool yesterdnv, as no men responded <o the call for labour. Apparently there is not a shortage of labour, but no reason was given.

Discussing the position, a prominent member of the Union said that while the decision not to work after five o'clock was a constitutional one, it was, in effect, the introduction of the •‘go-slow” policy.

CIVIL SERVICE BONUS

WELLINGTON, February <

Reference was made by the Prime Minister to a complaint made by the Wnirarapn branch of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association at Master ton that the Government’s promise to pay the post and telegraph officers bonuses commensurate with the increased cost of living had not Ixsen kept. Tor claims of the post and telegraph Officers snid Air Massey, were referrej to a committee of heads of departments, six months ago. After going into the whole circumstances, the Committee recommended that provision should be made for a rateable increase or reduction in the amount then being granted should the cost of living rise or tail. He had communicated with the Committee Messrs W. R. Morris (Public Service Commissioner), R. AV. McViilv (General Manager of Railways), A Mnrkman (Permanent Head of the P. M and Telegraph Department), and the Committee bad replied: In accordance with the promise given, it is now time to review the matter, and the Government Statistician has, therefore, been asked to supply information in rgurd fo the present cost of living figures. We hope to receive this ini urination by the middle of the nion u. As soon as it comes to hand, a fur flier report will lie furnished.” PATENT SLIP STRIKE.

WELLINGTON, February Despite the efforts of Air T. R. Briley (Inspector of Awards), the deadlock at the patent slip over the payment of the “dirt” money continue-*-The Ivoilermakers still decline to resume operations under the terms if the award and Air Bailcv is still working to secure a settlement. One proposal is that the dispute should be referral to the Arbitration Court in the form of aw application for interpretation of the award. THE KAITANGATA TROUBLE. WELLINGTON, February 7 A fresh development lias occurred in ihe coal mining dispute. Some days' ago a difficulty arose at the Kaitangatn coal mine lietween the mine owners and miners. The Union, later made a demand upon the company that it should be responsible for collection of certain debts that are owing to the Union. The employers declined to undertake any responsibility in the mitter, which was purely a Union vote. It is now stated that the employers will insist that until this difficulty is settled, they will not allow their iepresentatives to appear at a sitting of the Committee which was set up to inquire into the alleged victimisation of Air Henderson at Blackball. They consider that since the Committei was set. it]) for the specific purpose of discussing the Blackball dispute, which is not concerned with the dispute at Kaitangatn, the sitting of the committee is dependent upon a stipulation in an agreement arrived at before the Prime Minister, that operations should he continued for at least two weeks before a meeting is called. From advice received in Wellington it appears that the normal output has been resumed at all the coal mines at Kaitangatn.

STAB WITH TABLE KNIFE

CHRISTCHURCH This Day

As the result of a quarrel at the servants breakfast table at the Federal Hotel Frank Delsie was arrested yesterday and charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Clarence Hahn, who was gashed in the forearm by a table knife. Dtdsio appeared this morning at the Magistrate’s Court when the police asked for a remand to Feb. I.6th. Ail application for bail was refused, the. Magistrate saying before the Court could consent something must be known of the case.

SLACK TRADE.

AUCKLAND, Feb. 8

Clothing factories in Auckland are experiencing a slack period now and a fair number of female workers have been put off employment. In some cases it is reported that factory stalls have been reduced, but more often bands have been put off temporarily. Yesterday one factory proprietor received applications for work from fifteen girls, mostly costume bands.

FATALLY BURNT.

AUCKLAND, Feb. 8

Charles Graham, two years old, died at the hospital from severe injuries caused by his clothes catching fire, while the child was playing with matches.