TELEGRAMS. VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1921, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegraph—per PRESS association]

SUPREME COURT. AUCKLAND, May 16. Judge Stringer in his charge to the 'Grand* Jury at the Supreme Court ccriminal sessions, said in reference o a charge against Cornelius McDcvitt, of book-making, they would have no difficultly in finding a true bill. It "’.is somewhat unfortunate that there sliou.d be a good deal of difference of opinion whether it was wise of the legislature vo make the business of a bookmaker a criminal offence. The Court had nothing to do with that. There was the law and both jury and judge were conconoerned only in the administration of the law. There are 32 eases on the calendar. PALMERSTON N., May 16.

At the Supreme Court Francis Cassidy, railway employee, charged with theft of a quantity of woollen goods, valued at £417 19s 6d, the property of Mackay, Logan and Caldwell, from a truck on Awapuni siding, near Palmerston North, was found not guilty..

THE BONUS. ■WELLINGTON, May 16 In the Arbitration Court to-day, Mr Barker, representing the Union workers of Auckland, said he had come to Wellington specially to ask if the Unions were going to be allowed to file applications tor a bonus, and to pioduce evidence to show that their industij could stand it. “I think,” said the (Mr Justice Fra/.or), in reply, “that If you will read the concluding paragraph* of our pronouncement, you will see we say it is of a general nature, and is issued for the guidance of parties. It is not intended to deprive anyone of the right to file an application, but the Court will not depart from its pronouncement unless there is some special reason.”

ST A BILISING PR INC TPLE. WELLINGTON, May 16. Considerable indignation is expressed in official Labour circles at the decision of the Arbitration Court to introduce a new system of stabilising wages instead of granting a bonus to cover the cost of living increase during the past six months.

No official statement has been made on the matter, hut the Labour officials have made no effort to conceal the fact that they are not at all in agreement with decision.

An informal conference of secretaries of Trades Unions was called hv Mr Kenjiedv (President of the Trades and Labour' Council), and was held this afternoon. After discussion it was resolved to urge the Trades and Labour Council to discuss the bonus and make an announcement at its next meeting. The motion added that the conference was 11( ,t representative of the bodies affiliated with the Trades Council, and it was thus unable to arrive at a definite resolution to instruct the Council to take specific action.

MASQUER A 1 )EK 8 KNTF.N C FI). AUCKLAND, May 1(5. At the Supreme Court, Justice Stringer presiding, Claude Osmond Barker, who at Faster masqueraded as a clergyman and issued several valueless cheques, pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to three years’ gaol. SABBATH OBSFRYAXCE. CHRISTCHURCH, May 16 The Sabbath Observance Committee of Christchurch Presbytery passed the following resolution : “This ( 'oininittee protests against the practice grown up of late by which the Ministers of the State are treated to motor excursions and picnics and carried round a district on the Lord’s Day to meet- the Mayors of cities and the heads of various governing bodies, and to inspect crops,, roads, bridges, harbours, whether business is formally transacted or talked over for other occasions. It expresses a hope that both Ministers and local bodies will set a good example in regard to our common historic and invaluable rest day.”

HALF-HOLIDAY POLL. / GISBORNE, May 15 “Regarding the half-holiday pull, which resulted in a victory’ for Saturday by one vote, a petition has been lodged to test the validity of the poll. The petition alleges, inter alia, that two or more electors did not receive voting papers on the half-holiday issue. INDECENT ASSAULT CASE. CHRISTCHURCH, May 16

At the Supreme Court, Carl William Gloistein was sentenced to five years for indecently assaulting. “If 1 gave way to my natural inclinations 1 should order you to be flogged,” said .Justice Herdman, “because it seems to me such an offence should be met only by the heaviest of penalties.”

NEW TELEPHONE SERVICE. WELLINGTON, May 16 Yesterday morning an improved telephone service between Wellington, Blenheim and Nelson was opened. Felicitations between the Mayors of Blenheim, Nelson and Wellington were passed, also by representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Progress Leagues on both sides of the water. THEFT CASES. AUCKLAND, May 16 At the Police Court here Thomas Gonni Blong was committed for sentence for failing to account for £39 17s lid, the property of the Royal Auckland Pioneer Lodge, of which he was acting secretary. Joseph Jesse Clark was committed for sentence for appropriation of £33 12s 4d, premium due to the Australian Temperance and General Insurance Company, and for the thoft of a cheque for £l4 19s Bd. MOTOR ACCIDENT. PALMERSTON N., May 16 Edward John Thomeau, of Campbell Street, was knocked down by a motor car driven by James Persson, near the Post Office to-night. Thorneau. was removed to the hospital in a critical condition-