TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1922, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

Lby tkImHAITI-mi i’Uess association

newspaper COMMENT. DUNEDIN, March 20. Tho “Star” says: The remarks of Dr Liston, the Coadjutor Bishop of .Auckland, at the St. Patrick’s Ray (Tithering were not too strongly condemned by the Mayor of Auckland as “avowedly a nd openly disloyal to King and country, and an affront to our citizenship.” Dr Liston declared tljat he was a New Zealander, and loved his country. If his sentiments are to be judged by these reported utterances, this country will be better without lus Hove. The extravagances of Irish Nationalists may be amusing up to a certain stage, but there is a point where they have capacity for becoming extremely mischievous, and the Mayor ha staken a step much in the interes s of Irishmen by his reminder that a limit must be recognised.

' BANKING HOURS. ! WELLINGTON, March 20. 1 The public have not yet had time to ' get used to tlje .new Saturday banking ; hours, from, 9-30>m. to 11.30 a.m | but there is no doubt that they will | not grudge the bank clerk their full l Saturday half-holiday. | The ‘‘Banker,” referring to the in- ) novation, says members will be enjoyj ing the benefit of a fuller weekly half- • holiday, and doubtless they will feel. : grateful to their guild for the success it has achieved in bringing about a reform that was badly needed and long, ; long overdue. It is particularly plea- ! sent to acknowledge the co-operation i ~,f the banks in getting the necesi sary legislation passed to enable the i change of hours to be made. The alterj j„, r 0 f the banking hours on Saturdays ' concerns the public, but we feel sure S they will speedily and willingly, and | with little inconvenience, adapt tliem- ; selves to the new order of things, es- • peri ally when they realise that heuce--1 f, r th the staffs of the banks will be ! jible to better enjoy tbeir hours of ■ Staurday recreation.

PASTORAL LEASES. WELLINGTON. March 20.

Tho Minister of Lands informed a. representative of the “Lyttelton Times” that under the terms of last session’s Land Act. giving great improvements in the tenure of pastoral leases, several leases have been extended for a. period of twenty-one years. It is intended to give existing lessees the option r»r having tbeir twenty-one-year leases extended by fourteen years. Tlie Minister went on to say:—“Before we make regulations earring out tbe intentions of the Act, we intend to glean ns much information as possible regarding tbe best means of restoring this country t„ a fair, if not its former carrying capacity. Encouragement will lie given to spelling tbe country, re-grassing, planting and destruction of rabbits. It is a. tremendous task, which cannot he completed at once. However, the general satisfaction with which tbe Act has been received gives cause for tho belief that settlers, as a. result of the greater security of tenure, have renewed hope, and are prepared to overcome tbe devastation which took place in former years.”

G I - A SS-Af ANU FACTORING PROJECT

AUCKLAND, Alarcb 20

A start has been made at Penrose with tho erection- of buildings for the Australian Glass Manufacturing Comp .ny. which has decided t 0 enter upon the manufacture of all kinds of ibottles

and jars. The ultimate extent of the works depends largely on the question of tariff protection. The Government is in possession of all the facts relating to the industry, and will decide as to what extent it is worthy of encouragement. The works will Le operation before the end of the year. Should adequate protection be given, it is proposed to extend the buildings and employ about six hundred hands.

EXPORT OF WHEAT.

DUNEDIN, Alarch 20

Evidently the wheat crop in New Zealand shows a prospective surplus, for the Government has authorised the exporting of two large cargoes to the East. The exact destination is not yet disclosed. Some say the wheat is for Japan—that may or not be correct—but the grain is going somewhere to the north of Australia, and it is to bo shipped soon from Canterbury ports at a price exceeding that which could be got for delivery in London.

ARBITRATION COURT

WELLINGTON, March 21

On behalf of the Wellington Trades Council, Mr Kennedy (President) lias asked the Arbitration Court for information and directions with reference to the 1922 amendment of the Act and the powers of the Court to vary wage rates according to the movement of the cost of living. Mr Justice Frazer said that the Court had received notice of questions submitted, and the members had discussed them. The Court hoped to furnish answers this week, and then in order to give ample time for consideration. t!fe Court proposed to fix a date about April 20 to hear argument on the points raised.

SUSPICIONS DEATH. AUCKLAND, March 21

Thomas Leigh, a messroom steward on the Arahura .was found dead at the bottom of the comp anion way on the vessel. Evidence was given at the inquest that the deceased and two others had slept in the smoking room on Monday night, being found at 6 a.m. The body was clothed in pyjamas. Owing to the severe nature of injuries to deceased’s head, the Coroner ordered a post mortem.

INCOME TAX REBATE. WELLINGTON, March 21. The iPrime Minister stated to-day that the income tax payments have come up to expectations. This he attributed in a large measure, to the rebate that had offered for prompt payment of tax. It was the opinion of all financial experts, added Mr Massey, that hut for this inducement, the collection of the tax would not have been nearly so successful.

AUCKLAND THEFT. AUCKLAND, Maroh 21. The theft of £llO in notes, and about £4O worth of wearing apparel and other valuables, is reported/ from a residence at Onehunga. The property was not all taken at one time, the money being missed first, and the other lossess taking place a few days after.

egg-laying record. CHRISTCHURCH. March 21. At to-day’s meeting of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club it was reported that a white leg-horn in the Single Pen Egg Laying Competition, had, up till Monday, laid 319 eggs, thus creating a fresh Dominion record. This bird, which is the property of Mr W. H. West, of Christchurch, will be kept for a; further 20 days to complete the year.

A WARNING. WELLINGTON, March 21. It has been brought under the notice of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers? Association flint certain persons in different (parts of the Dominion have been collecting money from the public upon the representation that the sums collected will he used in ai of the disabled soldiers. In some cases a small book of poems has been sold. It has been represented that the proceeds were to.go in aid of disabled solThe Returned Soldiers’ Association states that such persons have no authoifftv from the R..S.A. to obtain money, and the Association has nol knowledge whether the moneys collected are used for the objects for wlimn they professedly are obtained. The Association knows of no body whie collects funds in this way. The. public are warned against giving money to any persons unless tbeir credentials are beyond question.

LICENSING LAW. WELLINGTON, March 21. The "Recess Parliamentary Committee on the licensing laws met to hear evidence as to what amendments may be necessary in the event of national no-license not being carried in December ext. A representative from the Moderate League, representatives from the King Country, and a representative from the Auckland brewers were heard to-day. The witness from the Iving Country urged that the question whether there was to be no-license or license in that district should he decided bv a poll of electors, as in the rest of the Dominion. The Auckland witness gave evidence in regard to questions relating to hotel management.

POLITICAL. OAMABU, March 21

Mr Wilford, wlm is visiting Oamuru met a committee of Liberal supporters this afternoon, anff has been airn.nging the organisation for a new Progressive Party to be led by him. In the evening at the invitation of Mr Marshall Robinson (President of the North Otago Labour Council), and one of his old committeemen at Brooklyn, (Wellington), Air Wilford met a full hall, principally of workers, to explain the attitude of the new parky led by him, towards the workers of New Zealand.

Afr Wilford, who was enthusiastically received, stated the new Party stood against both the Alassev and the Holland Parties. He said that his party opnosed the “extremists” of both parties, and that his Party stood for King and Empire, and against Bolshevism or Bed Feds. They stood for nationality, but not for Internationalism. They believed that production was the only source from which Labour could be paid, and that without production tlie workers would go on riding a merry-go-round and would get off where they started. The New Party stood for the Liberalism of Richard John Seddon. Air Wilford leaves to-morrow' for Timaru. He will go to Temuka on Thursday.