TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1921, Page 1

TELEGRAMS

VARIOUS DOpON ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT

APPEAL BY WffiTTA’S COUNSEL,

May 9,

In appealing to Justice Herdman for leniency for the bookmaker Whitta, his counsel, Mr C. S. Thomas, said: “For years gambling and bookmaking has been, carried, on in New Zealand from one end to the other. The legislature in fact had tried to curb it, and to bring it within reasonable bounds, but, I am afraid, without success. The reason, no doubt, is that gambling is a national failing, and is taken part in from the highest to the lowest. It is by only the most stringent measures that the Government will control it. Whitta’s offence is a statutory one, not a moral one. It is not allied to ordinary criminal offences. Two wrongs, of course do not make a right but thousands of men up to the time that last session's Act was passed, had committed the same offence. Betting had been going on. It had been looked upon as a thing at which the > legislation winked. It is realised now that Legislature will not wink at it. In this Court, you have granted probation to thieves, rogues and vagabonds—to ordinary criminals and I ask you to extend to Whitta the same leniency as you extended to men guilty of criminal offences.”

WELLINGTON SUPREME COURT. WELLINGTON, May 9. The second quarterly criminal sessions were opened in the Supreme Court before Mr Justice Hosking. True bills were found by the Grand Jury in all cases for hearing. John James Monaghan pleaded not guilty to indecently assaulting a boy at Island Bay. Evidence was given by the hoy, also hv Detective Merrill and Edward Jones. The jury returned a verdict of guilty with a recommendation that the boy ho put under stricter control. The prisoner was remanded for sentence. Edwad Robert, Strong pleaded guilty to ten charges of forgery and uttering of wages allotment orders issued by the Union Steamship Co and was remanded for sentence. BADLY LIGHTED SHIP. CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. Trouble has arisen in connection with the discharge of coal from the steamer Doonholm, which arrived from Cardiff on April 22nd. Work had been going on daily since, without any necessity for overtime. Within the past few days, however, the vessel has been chartered, and she is required to be in an Australian port by „a certain date, and to enable her to do bo, overtime has become necessary. The ships’ agents ordered the men back to-night. The men refused to return, alleging that the vessel is insufficiently lighted. The ngentß offered to provide additional lights. The men stated that, not having been offered overtime till to-night, they were not willing to commence and did not turn to.

The local disputes committee will consider the matter to-morrow.

CENSUS. AUCKLAND, May 9. The census of Auckland metropolitan area will exceed 156,000, an increase of about 171 per cent. SAVINGS BANK RETURNS. WELLINGTON, May 9. The March quarter savings bank deposits showed an excess over withdrawals of £391,643 against £IOO,OOO for the preceding quarter. The total amount to tiro credit of depositors was £42,963,965 against £19,048,028 on the same day in 1914. HON COATES ON TOUR. NAPIER, May 9. IJon T. Coates, Minister of Public Works arrived in Napier to-night and leaves again to-morrow morning on tour of the East Coast district.

CONTROL OF COAL,. DUNEDIN MERCHANTS DEFY 1 REGULATIONS. DUNEDIN, May 6. Local coal merchants report that business in their particular trade is nothing like wlrat it was in the corresponding period of last year. The result is that merchants arc competing keenly for orders, and this competition is being given effect to in a peculiar direction. Some merchants are now practically defying the Government regulations in regard to the control and distribution of supplies by merchants to retailers, and are selling in any quantity. A leading Dunedin merchant infromed an “Otago Daily Times” reporter to-day that he had himself informed the Coal Controller that he was evading the regulations. The same merchant, referring to the Wellington Coal Trade Committees’ statement regarding the alleged difficulty of obtaining coal, said tlrat lie was prepared, if required, to give the name of a firm which would supply from 2000 to 4000 tons of Borehole or Maitland coal at current rates, to he delivered by steamer or sailor promptly; if by steamer, within from two to three weeks. There is no prospect of any coal shortage in the Otago and South Canterbury districts this winter, and merchants could do with a considerably larger number of orders. The merchants therefore argue that it is full time that the Government control and distribution of coal came to an end,