VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1921, Page 1

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

TELEGRAMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH—PEII PREBB ASSOCIATION

FABATERS’ UNION

WELLINGTON, July 27

I lie committee set up by the Dominion conference of the Fanners’ Union to-day, proposed the following 'Omit:—“Unit the Conference respectfully suggests (1) the present position 1 Native s land laws is unsatisfactory both in the interests of the Native and of the Doihinou; (2) that the Natives should now he be granted as far as possible the same rights and privihges to deal with their land as Europeans; (2) that all Native lands should be subject to the' same land tax and county rating as European land, provided they have reasonably good road access, (I) that the Natives be granted the same facilities under all Loan Acts as the Europeans, so that they may be able to develop and road their lands; (5) that if a‘Ter the Natives are l ranted Privileges of Europeans they fail to bring their land into useful occupation, the Government should take power to acquire the same under the La ad tor Settlement Act.

Clause 2, was objected to, and fin ally defeated, and the remit vas re ferred hack to the Committee.

CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH

AUCKLAND, July 27

Flora HI bin Waite was committed for sentence for having disposed of the dead body of her child with intent to conceal birth. The case was a sequel to the finding of the charred body of male infant in a furnace at Alt. Eden gaol on July 17. A doctor stated lie could not toll whether the child had InieaJUiedl Accused informed him it was still born

NEW ROADS LAW

LOCAL BODIES SUPERSEDED

WELLINGTON, July 27

Air Coates. Alinister of Public Works stated today he will, next session, introduce a Alain Highways Bill the scheme of which had the approval of Cabinet. It would make a new departure, eliminating local bodies from the matter of finance and control. Tic first would be provided by the Government, and the second would be ruder an independent expert board without interference from tbe Govornino it or local body. Tbe former would only interfere so far as was necessary to preserve Government control <>f the expenditure of Government money.

The first roads to be declared artcria are.:

North Island Road from Kaitaia ti Wellington, via Auckland,' Hamilton. Te Kuiti, Waitara, Wanganui; flu road from Wellington to Gisborne

South Island.—The road from Bl'-n----lieim to Bluff; the road from Ble lheiin via Nelson to Hokitika.

The Bill will propose that the finane. be provided by: (1) A special duty oi tyres; (2) by a license fee (apart from the local bodies registration fee) ..i every four or throe-wheeled motor vehicle. cycle, or side ear. The lieensi fee would be identical in amount foi every four wheeled vehicle without dilfcrentntiou for weight or power. Then should "be another uniform fee I n- two wheeled vehicles. There also will he a uniform fee for two-wheeled veilieles.

Thirdly, finance will be provided bv Parliament annually from the Pnhli” Works or Consolidated Fund.

The portions of the arterial r. ads in cities or boroughs are to be constru'ded and maintained out of city or borough funds.

PRODUCERS CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, July 28. Representatives of producers anc. shipping interests met in coiiUi'once here yesterday to discuss freights on dairy produce for the coming mi. mu. Those present comprised a sub- •'ii’indttcc of the Executive of the Natiui’a: Dairy Association and South Island Dairy Association respectively, r<m,e. sen tat ives of the Exporters \sso-ia-tion and representatives of -'np:"ig companies. A preliminary drie.mi took place and when the Conf 'l'Uiee rose, if was officially reported thai no further progress could bo mad-’ >'it till about ten days benee, when another meetng will he held

WANGANUI’S POWER RIANT

AY ANG ANUI, J uly 27

A special meeting ol the Borough Council concluded sensationally just before mid-nigbt At last municipal elections a Citizens’ Ticket impliedly ph’dged to prevent tbe installation ol a big steam plant as a stand-by at the Tramway Power house was elected, and obtained a majority ot tbe Council. A few meetings ago it was decided 1 erect a small portion of the plant, and sell tbe remainder in order to obtain funds with which to reticulate the town. Since then I luce members of Ibe Citizens’ Ticket have become supporters of tbe big scheme, and by theii change of front, the opponents of the Citizens’ ticket gained a majority tonight.

A motion rescinding the resolution to inslal Hie small portion was carried in favour of one to put in the whole plant to cost over £BO.OOO. The remaining members of tbe Citizens’ tickets handed in their resignations and intimated that they would seek re-election. AIR KNOX GILMER, WELLINGTON, July 27

The death occurred to-day of Mr Knox Gilmer, a well-known dental surgeon, of Wellington, son of the late Hamilton Gilmer. He was born in Greymouth in 1878, and married in 1900 the daughter of the late Right Hon R, J. Seddon. He leaves two children; also brothers (Dr Hamilton Gilmer and Mr S. Gilmer), and two sisters.