VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1921, Page 4

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[by - f.e rrtESs association] A FlllE. _\i;\\ PLYMOUTH, July 11. A two-storeyed wooden house on Mnngorei Road was completely destroyed l.v lire early this afternoon. A child

W! mhs of ag- had a narrow escape. When thor lire was discovered an alarm was given, and a small fire engine dis,tched from the central station, hut th t . brigade would do nothing to stfu the progress of the llamcs, as L j u house was out of the area served »J the water mains. Within an hour only the chimneys remained standing. I he house was owned by Mr David Rea, who only recently retired from a farm in the TJruti district. Constable Parkinson was in occupation as tenant, •ni a week ago the R™s moved mto the house. There was a policy ot £I2OO in the Yorkshire office on the house, hut no insurance on Rea’s furniture. Parkinson’s furniture is covered by a policy of £l5O.

FURNITURE TiIADE. AUCKLAND, .July 9. Judgment in the application for an order amending the United Furniture T .„,| » 1. fixing the hours of work on a gra b at- 1 scale to lessen uncmplovinent hv reducing hours, was delivered at the Arbitration Court hy Air Justice Fraser. The judgment staed that the application had much to commend it, hut the matter could only bo arranged by individual employers with their employees. The position was complicated by the fact that the slackness of business was not experienced to the same degree of all branches of the trade, or by all firms engaged in an industry. Difficulties also would arise in respect to the transfer of citv and country workers under such a scheme if the amendment wert to apply to the whole district. The Court gave the secretary of the union every credit for time and thought he had given to formulation of the scheme. It recognised with appreciation the spirit of self-sacrifice that actuated members of the union in making the application of the Court. He commanded to the employers for careful and sympathetic consideration the desirability of relieving the situation disclosed by the adoption of a readjust- ! mont of hours where possible.

DIVORCE LAW. WELLINGTON. -July 13. At; the Anglican Synod yesterday the following resolution was passed unanimously—“ That this S>mod views with strong disapproval the extesision of the grounds of divorce made by the 1920 amendment of the Divorce Act. as being more subversive of the Christian standard of marriage than any previous legislation on the subject." Bishop Sprott in the course ot a striking speech, said what amazes me on this subject is that the women of the country have not risen up. because it is the women who suffer every time. arterial roads. WELLINGTON, July 13. A Bill dealing with arterial roads will lie one of the matters to be considered by Parliament next session. The bill has been roughly drafted. In,r before submission to Parliament will be circulated amongst local bodies. It is anticipated the bill will provide for the creation of controlling nuthorites vested with power to deal with arterial roads over wide districts The controlling authority will lay down the linos of operations and provide specifications for roadways to he constructed, but in some eases the actual work may be left to local bodies if they have ado (piate facilities. The crux of the question, however, is not control, hut finance, The arranging of finance will he the task of the controlling authority, l/oan money will he used for new construction and funds for maintenance, payment of interests and sinking fund will probably he provided by levies on the local bodies, supplemented by Government grants. Some special taxa tion, including a tyre tax may be ear marked for the purpose of the, grants.

, CLERK’S DEFALCATIONS. ASHBURTON, July 12 Charged with defalcations of Borough funds totalling CO 1. James Henry Alfred Redder, lately acting Town Clerk, pleaded guilty at the Magistrate’s Court to-dav, and was committed for sentence. No bail was applied for. AN IMPORTANT CASE. WELLINGTON, July 12 Mr Hunt, S.M., to-day gave reserved decision in an important ease, tjie Wellington Hotel Workers’ Union against Gilbert Wilby, claim for arrears of subscription amounting to £2 Us at the rafe of fid per week. The point at issue was the Union’s right to sue for a greater sum than 12 months’ arrears. The rules providing then for the striking off the roll of the defaulting member. Judgment was given for 12 months’ arrears. OBJECTIONS TO VALUATIONS. WELLINGTON, July 11 'l’he Assessment Court presided over by Mr V. G. Day, which is to commence its sittings in Wellington on July 20, is likely to have a fairly busy time. The number of objeetons to the recent valuations in Wellington City number 7117. This does not mean that that number of property-owners are objecting to the valuations being too high, as in a proportion of instances the objection is to the value of the land or the improvements being too low. There will also bo a proportion of objectors who v-:u not go to the Court at all. It is understood that in the case of Auckland very few reductions in value were authorised, and in those few the amounts allowed were inconsiderable. fry* Lt'JOH rwa*ig

Clincbe • Motor Cycle Tyres are dependable. ''Dreadnought” 28 x 3, and 750 x 75 de luxe extra heavy, for highpowered machines such as Indians and Harleys. British built. For longer wear.