TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1922, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION)

ISSUE OF MED ATS ETC. CHRISTCHURCH, ApVil 10

Sir Heaton Rhodes, Minister of Defence, remarked to-night that the number of war medals issued up to •March 31st last was 140,186, : made up as follows-.—1914-15 Star, 25,896; •British War Medal, 85,096; Victory Medal, 2905. Of this number 293 Stars and 2452 War and Victory Medals have been returned unclaimed. In addition to these, about 2000 medals cannot be dispatched until an address for each is available. The number of plaques dispatched up to March 31et was 15,200. Twelve hundred are being dispatched this month to the High Commissioner, for distributon to the next-of-kin in the United Kingdom. There are approximately 2200 plaques yet to be distributed. The issue of illuminated certificates has. up to the present, been confined to the men who served hqnourably with the Expeditionary Force, and were intended originally as discharge certificates. They were, therefore, not issued to the next-of-kin of those who died on service. It has now been approved that this certificate, with certain necessary alterations, shall be issued to the next-of-kn of those who died while on service, or in the Dominion as a result of war service prior to receiving such certificate. The Outpatients’ Department of the ATedical Branch of the Defence Department ,which has been administered by the assistant directors of Afedieal Services in various commands, has been closed, as from March 31st. 'This affects approximately 1200 men and these will in future be given treatment by the Health Department at the Outpatients’" Department of the civil hospitals. The only medical institution now being administered by the Defence Department is the Cashmere Sanatorium, and this is to be taken over at an early date.

POLICE COURT SESSIONS

AUCKLAND, April 10

At the Police Court. Walter Chapman. formerly wharfinger at Devonport, pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence on three charges of falsifying receipts with intent to defraud the Harbour Board and three charges of failing to account for money totalling £55. Frank Joseph AYood and Harold Joseph AVhittle admitted stealing a motor car at Frankton Junction and stealing various articles from a launch in Wnitemata. AYood was also charged with breaking, entering and ilieft of a Karangahape Road premises. Both were committed for sentence. William George McKernon admitted the theft of a motor ear at Helensville on August loth and was committed for sentence.

Tlie theft of a motor and seven gallons of benzine was admitted by Henry Hampton. The evidence showed that the car was taken from an Auckland Garage on March 11th and driven to Hamilton with another occupant. At Hamilton they picked up Stanley Roy Montgomery and accused and ‘Montgomery proceeded with the intention of going to Wellington. The car broke down at Taumatamaire Hills and was abandoned, being taken to New Plymouth by another motorist.

Montgomery was charged with having assisted Hampton to get away after the commission of the offence and pleaded guilty.

Both were committed for sentence

William Henry Peveral admitted the theft of £llO, the property of his uncle, taken from a room in accused's mother’s house. He. was committed for sentence.

EDUCATION

REPORT OF EXPERTS’ CONFERENCE.

WELLINGTON, April 10

The Minister of Education (Hon C. J. Parr) furnished to-day a preliminary report of the results of a conference of experts held at Wellington on March 30th and 31st to consider the question of primary and post primary education. The conference unanimously approved of the proposal that the primary school course should be shortened to about six years and was of opinion that this should be followed by a three years’ Junior High School course, and that pupils proceeding beyond this course should take up a Senior High School course for a further three years, the primary course to he determined by attainment that can reasonably be expected of pupils who have completed their twelfth year. It was contended that, in general, about three fifths of the Junior High Schools course should be common to all pupils, this portion of the course to include English, Arithmetic, Geography, History, and Civics, (elementary) General Science, Drawing and Practical Geometry, Craftwork, Singing and Physical training and health instruction. Each Junior High School should produce as far as possible the following courses: Academic, Commercial and Industrial; including domestic course for girls and a course of agriculture. The Minister expressed the opinion that cogent and forcible views on this important subject embodied in the speeches made at the Conference, would have a decided educative effect on public opinion.

SPIRITUALIST FINED. WELLINGTON, April 10 Pastor Page, of the Spiritualist Church, has been fined £5 on each of three charges of fortune-telling. The other charges were dismissed. The alternative to the fine is one month’s imprisoowonto