TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1922, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

! ny TELEGItAI*fI—I’ER PRESS ASSOCIATION)

ASSISTING THE BLIND. . AUCKLAND, March 28

A public meeting held to-night decided to launch a. Dominion appeal for £45,000 carrying ii Government subsidy of 24s in the £l, making a total of £IOO,OOO as a Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund to assist the blind throughout New Zealand. Clutlm MaeKenzie M.P., said that only an income of between £SOOO and £6OOO would be expended. Of this £2,"00 would he spent in assisting; men cnul women in business. £250 oil typewriters and hra.il machines for those studying and £6OO annually for sending students to England to receive? instructions by experts in classes for those entering professions. The supervision of the., businesses would absorb £550 to £7OO per annum.

POSTAL BALLOT. MASTERTON, March 28

The local Chamber of Commerce today received p letter from Mr H. E. Combs, secretary of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association, stating that a. circular letter is now being sent to the various Cbumbeis < ; ?. ■ m meree. in which is contained an infeienee that Postal Officers might not remain trim to their oath of] seeiecy if their affiliation wiUi the Alliance of Labour took place. Hie local Chamber passed a resolution. that it had not no sympathy with the inference. The Chamber, however, deprecated the affiliation of the P. and T. men with the Alliance of Labour.

POLICE FORCE RESOLUTION AUCKLAND, March 28.

A meeting of the Auckland police members of the Public Service Association has passed a resolution that the police members of the Auckland branch of the Association suggest to the Executive of the Association that, in view of the overwhelming voting in favour of the Police Force remaining members, when the subject of forming a separate Police Association was submitted to a ballot, and in view of the fact that there is no evidence- that the Police Force generally supported the action of 50 police members in Wellington in withdrawing from the Association. the Executive of the Publ’c Service Association should proceed with the questions affecting the police officers.

FURTHER DAMAGE REPORTED AUCKLAND. March 28.

Regarding the cyclonic storm, already reported from Warkworth as destroying houses, it transpires that the storm has also caused damage at Pukokohoc East. A house owned by Mr Kellv was lifted off its blocks and carried bodily for 30 or 40 feet, ami then twisted completely round. Sheets of iron were carried fully hall a mile. A shed which covered-a motor, owned by Mr Ferguson, was carried away, tearing the hood away, and smashing the "findscreen to atoms. The residences of Mr McKay and Mr Carter were also damaged.

It is estimated that the damage to Mr Kelly’s residence amounts to over £SOO. Mr Ferguson’s to £2OO, and to Mr McKay’s and Mr Carter’s about £2OO.

MR. MASSEY’S TOUR. Tv A AVAR AAV A. March 28

The Prime Minister was entertained by the Directors of the Auckland Fanners’ Freezing Cov.. at their new M'xrewri works) ito-driv. The Prime Minister congratulated the farmers and settlers on tlri- enterprise. He S roke honefully of the future generally as far as markets were concerned ami that wool was net yet at top prloe. F> also ••■•edited - *'"ttcr F >’- ture for bco r . .He urged the use of the Nauru phosphates. He honed in the near future to improve on the radways. To the afternoon, ho received a number of deputations at Kawakawa, and was entertained a; dinner in the evenimr. He was the guest of Mr Vertnm Reed, of Pa ilia. for the night. DEFENCE F.OONOMTES. WELLINGTON, March 29.

Reductions in officers and otlU'r rank’s of the Defence Department total over a thousand. The civil staff

has been reduced from 7,20 in 1919 to 9A. The training age tor territorials will lie further reduced from 22 to 21, and there will be only three annual quotas under training. Last year, the age was reduced from 2n to 22. Camps will be abolished and home ’training only conducted consisting of 20 drills and 12 half-day parades. Ride clubs would encouraged by /•heap rilles at £1 eaeli and ammunition at one quarter cost. Tt is stated some seventy sergeant majors on the permanent staff of the Department have received notice. APPEAL COURT. WELLINGTON. March 28.

The Court of Appeal was occupied this morning with consideration oi a

case stated for its opinion, in connection with the case of -John Leonard, who at Chirstclmrch in November last wis airrai -ned on a charge) of carnally knowimr a female, detained under the provisions of the Mental Defectives Act. A peculiar fact in the case wastint the femote mental patient, was the wife of the accused. The jury found a verdict of guilty with a strong recommendation to mercy, as they believed tip. act was committed through ignorance; also that the luisnifl authorities showed laxity in not ’vani’ug the prisoner. The questions f or consideration of the Court of Apjr ! were: Firstly, whether the ae-cm-pd committed an offence; secondly whether the verdict was ai verdict of irplltv. After argument decision was reserved.