TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1921, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] PUBLIC SUB VICE THEFTS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 24. It has been suggested editorially in Wellington, as a consequence of a number of defalcations by public servants, that some method akin to a courtmartial ought to be provided to ascertain whether superior officers’ laxity does not tend to encourage i.'ue evil. The Public Service Commissioner dealt with this point in a statement to-day. He announced that the As-sistant-Commissioner, Mr P. Versohaffelt, would conduct an inquiry into the whole .of the circumstances in the Christchurch State Coal Office. T' ere was ample authority in the Public Service Act and regulations for suclu inquiries and for punishment of negligence or incompetency by dismissal or reduction of status. Such powers of I course were quite apart from the prosecution which followed any reported dishonesty. The - ,State Mines Department is conducted as a business concern. H* • accounts are regularly audited, so-that defalcations are bound to be discov- : f ered. Every precaution is taken to ensure their early discovery or prevent them wholly. No business methods, it is contended, can guarantee perfect safeguards against dishonesty, but where there is not negligence on the part of someone dishonesty should be revealed early. The Government has now adopted a system of prosecuting in every case of dishonesty, even though there may be a rotund of the money misappropriated. This, and the publicity thus given to offences, in itself a powerful deterrent of crime, may acount for the public belief that there are more defalcations now than formerly. There have also been inquiries conducted by the Public Service C'ofmissionor with a view to discovering weakness in the system or negligence on. the part of officers. NEW PA JR TV. ! WELLINGTON, Aug. 21. I A largely attended meeting was held j in the Town Hall to-night, when Mr C. E. Statham, the leader, detailed Hr I platform of the National Progressive! and Moderate Labour Party. In the absence of the Mayor, Air M right, M.P.. who declined to preside, Mr Len I M’Konzie, senior city councillor, took the chair. Mr Statham said the party was being formed outside of the House, only two members belonging to it. It was com•ntscd of young’ Nnv Zealanders, and UiC'v had no time foi the Bed hod or the Bod Flag. If the Union Jack was not good enough for a man he should get. out to another country. Mr •Star-; ham detailed his .'state superannuation scheme. He suggested that on the. wages hill of the Dominion, which was L'7(’,,.j( 10. mu, a contribution of 21 par "(‘Ct bv the employee. 2.1 per cent by the employer, and a subside <jl 2.1 lrom the State would bring in L'd.llODJlOO annually. Accumulating at (i per cent lot sis years it would yield t4(),000,00;). This capital sum would yield annually at (i per cent 1:2.112.077. Add -V,' million contributions, and there would he j a total income of per annum, so thateach widow would be able! to draw l'loo a year as a right. It . would lie drawn by wife as well as bus-, band. Mr Slat! am et will) a good , reception and was iroqucntly applauded, j FA B MING INTERESTS. j WELLINGTON, August 21. An important meeting of teprescit-j latives of various organisations eon- , nee Led with the agricultural and pas- | ioral industry was held to-day for the purpose of discussing moans whereby I mutual interests and requirements | may Is: represented with due weight j to the Government. The eontereneo i was ctilled by the executive of the Council of Agriculture "illi the object of I endeavouring to arrive at a constitution [ satisfactory to till concerned. Air G. L. Marshall presided. The majority of the speakers were averse to the formation of a separate organistaioii but favoured setting up a central council to control the general interest of the farming community. The following resolution was carried: ‘‘That the organisations represented at this meeting unite-to the extent of setting ill a national council, composed of representatives. iu appropriate niimlier, from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Sheopownors Federation. Council of Agriculture and Dairy Association, such executive to deal with all matters of common interest generally, but r to interfere with matters adecting m dividual organisations exclusively. For the purpose of carrying out the above a committee lie set up to draft a const i tut ion and submit it to a future meeting of delegates for ratification ' and adoption.” .Messrs \\ . J. I’olsoii. J. I’egg. J. D. Hall IV. Perry, 0. Ilnwken, G. L. .Marshall and E. AvcriP were appointed the cominittee.

A BOLL OF HONOUR. WELLINGTON. August 21 A 801 l of Honour recording M'‘ names of members of t lie- Now Zealand Society of Accountants who - served in the war was unveiled tin's evening “y t-li,. Governor-General. The orosident of the society, Mr Walter Green in asking his Excellency to perform the ceremony spoke of the assistance the so eietv had given returned men and referred reverently In the dead. Tin Governor-General said the record o* the society was one of which it migb lie proud. loud xorthouffe. WELLINGTON, Aug. 21. Information received by Sir Francis Bell from Lord Xorthclille is to Me effect that the latter wishes to make his week' in New Zealand as much of a holiday as possible. He desires that public functions should be confined to the day of his arrival in Auckland next Friday. He will attend a luncheon given by tlie Auckland newspaper proprietors on Friday. He hopes to leave the same evening for Hamilton. He will probably visit Rotorua. Ho v ill leave for Australia by the Alaheno, sailing on September 3rd. AN INNOVATION. WELLINGTON, This Day. An innovation of some, importance was announced by the Minister o! F lu. cation yesterday. His Department is a limit to begin tlie issue of a monthly Educational Gazette and this nublicntion will ho used to convey instructions and suggestions to teachers as well as to advertise vficapojes In school qtaffa.

MISSING SOLDIERS. WELLINGTON, - August 23. The High Commissioner has informed the Government that the War Office.assured him some time ago that there was only one unidentified soldier patient, and be was known to be a member of the Imperial force. This case has now been cleared up. This announcement is made as relatives in tlie Dominion of soldiers reported killed in action but whose graves were not located have written enquiring whether there was a possibility of a mistake bei ing made and such soldiers being among the shell shock cases at Brighton. DEPARTURE FROM ENGLAND. WELLINGTON, August 25. Cabled advice was received by the Acting Premier, Sir Francis Bell, yesterday morning that Air ATassey .wap leaving England for New Zealand that ■ afternoon. Air ATassey is expected to arrive in New Zealand, during the first I week in October. MR HOLLAND EXPLAINS. WESTPORT, August 25. ! Afr H. E. Holland ALP., chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party. ; spoke in the Town Hall here Ibis evening on the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, which he declared grew out of the struggle of the capitalists of variocountries for trading concessions and territorial acquisitions in China wine 1 * are now under Japanese control, asserting that some millions of Britisl capital were invested in the Japanese companies. He bold that, notwithstanding the A.nglo-American arbitration nrran.geinent. it is still possible for Britain to he drawn into war against America on the side of Japan. It was quite certain, that Britain could lie involved in war, in Russia, China, and ally other country than America. The -Labour movement of Australia and New Zealand, he said was practically unanimous in its opposition to a renewal of the present treaty, but would favour an international arrangement based on friendly economic and political relationships and making for peace. KINSELL.VS CASE. ACCUSED CONVfCTED. WANGANUI, August 25. A case for which there has beer no precedent in the past century, occupied the .Supreme Court to-day, when John Kinsella was charged with the murder of George Gordon at Alangamalin. The evidence was much on the linos of that heard in the Lower Court and telegraphed to the Press. Air O’Loarv. of AYcllington. argtmd that the prisoner was so hopelessly drunk that be was beyond the capacity of forming an intention, and therefore could not be convicted of murder, but only of 'manslaughter. None of the three men in the wliai'c appreciated what they were doing, owing to the effect of the wliiskv and beer. The jury after -10 minutes retirement ''oturned a verdict of “guilty of manslaughter.” Kinsella was remanded for sentence A A UNEP’S DEATH. TIAIARU. August 25. T. E. Slower, owner of the Chamberlain Coal .Mine, was charged before Afr I) Aforloy S.AL. on five counts of breaches of the Coal Mines Act, and Regulations. The first charge was of negligence by which an employee. John Hector Robinson lost bis life by a fall of coal on Afay 17th. last. Othecharges alleged neglect to comply with Section 11, Pule 2, of the second schedule, and with Section 21 in that do fendnnt did not appoint or act as-Un-derviewer, and did not make every part of the mine safe. Defendant stated that lie directed th<’ employee to leave the place where lie was working and to work elsewhere After the accident lie learned that the man did not leave, hut hid remained because the coal was easily got. The Magistrate dismissed the cu'-’C without prejudice, lie was not satisfied that, negligence had caused the deatli of Robinson. He convicted on tin' oilier charges and lined l I'.e defendant ’C3 and costs of 08 10s hi. It was stated that the defendant bad paid compensation to the widow of the deceased.