TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1922, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

By TELEGRAPH —PBEB3 ASSN., COPYRIGHT. THE WELLINGTON DIFFICULTY. WELLINGTON, May 1. A private deputation from the Central Progress League to-day met tho Minister of Labour, tho Hon. G. J. Anderson, with reference to the endeavour being made to release a site on To Aro Flat for the erection of a match factory. It was stated subsequently that the position was now as follows: On the land acquired by tlie company there are twenty-nine houses standing and occupied. It is necessary to obtain possession of nino of these before building can be started. Tho company has been most generous in its terms to tenants, offering a year’s ljent to any of tho nine who were put out by the Ik- ginning of tho month. This offer is being extended for fourteen days. Tli<* Government has offered to build houses costing £650 for persons now in residence on tlie property, and in order that there may be no difficulty in accepting this proposition, the company will find the deposits. There are only four children in tho nino houses of which possession is desired. If the houses are not vacated hv May 1-1 tli the company will take legal steps to obtain possession, ns it is held that the offers of the Government and the company justify such action.

FARMERS’ INTERESTS.

PRESIDENT’S VIEWS.

MASTER-TON, May 3.

The co-operation of farmers to protect their own interests was the policy of the Farmers’ Union enunciated by tli Dominion President, Mr )\ . J. Poison to an enthusiastic meeting of members to-dav.

He pointed out the necessity for better marketing, shipping and hanking facilities, which could only he brought about by co-operation. He explained what had happened in America in connection with marketing. There the farmers’ union movement had received nn enormous impetus. It hail 8,000,000 members and had been granted by Congress the rights of compulsory pooling. He strongly emphasised the necessity for compulsion, and declared that the weakness of the present Meat Export Control Act was the responsibility plac. ed on the shoulders of the board to -decide'whether compulsion should be applied or not. He agreed that tho boaid to decide whether compulsion.should be applied or not. He agreed that the board had made a good beginning on small matters, but it could not satisfy the producers until complete compulsion had been established. He dealt at length with the proposed dairy pool, strongly supporting tho proposal. He urged that, with 12,000 mites of a handicap, and the strong probability, as a result of the Genoa Conference, of Siberia’s early return to the butter trade, the most complete organisation should he undertaken to enable us to maintain our position. The union was strongly supporting the Dairy Tool.

He dealt with the question of costs, ■but characterised what he called the Bolshevik proposals to reduce rents and interests compulsorily as a double-edg-ed, and one likely to destroy all confidence in the country.

The union, lie said, was out {or an agricultural banking system, based on tin* German system. He (juoteil exPresident Tuft’s address, and explained how the system had been adopted in the United States, and what it had done to provide cheaper and more plentiful money for the producers in each country which had adopted it.

He also explained the Farmers’ Union shipping proposals, including the appointment of a shipping board, and he pointed out that it was useless to send Trade Commissioners to the East, without shipping. The present shipping freights were prohibitive. They must follow the example of America, Holland, and Japan, and must subsidise their own shipping, if wo desired to participate in world trade. He dealt at some length with the work of the union in connection with dairying matters, and explained that half the members of the Farmers’ Union were dairy-

Mr Poison concluded by an appeal for complete unity amongst all classes of the farming community at this critical stage in their existence.

FALSE PRETENCES. AUCKLAND, May 3. William George Raslileigli was committed for trial to-day on lour charges of obtaining sils totalling £350 by falso pretences. If was alleged that he represented that he had a milk vendor’s business ready for starting, and had secured premises at various centres, and had engaged men as branch managers, and in each ease they were requested to invest £IOO in the business. He pleaded not guilty. MORE THEFT CASES. AUCKLAND, May 3. At tho Supremo Court, William John Blaekmore, for forgery and uttering at Whakatane, was given prolusion for wo years. A youth named Walter Leonard Cooper, on seven charges comprising breaking and entering and theft, forgery and theft sis a servant, got three 1 years’ reformative treatment. Two Maori youths,, Waretohe Paterson and Pauapa Rumeka, for break ing and entering and theft were given probation, and were ordered to pay fur the articles. Justice Herdmn.ii, in explaining to tins accused the meaning of probation, remarked that of late many young Maori boys had come before him on various criminal charges. “Your ancestors were better men,” he said,

“and never got into trouble. They were men of integrity, and led good lives. So you Maori boys should keep out of trouble and strive to emulate them.” NEW TRIAL ORDERED. WELLINGTON, May 3. The Chief Justice to-day ordered a. new trial in the case of Gallagher versus Bicknell, a. claim for £BOO special damage, based on alleged breaches of a covenant to repair buildings, etc., on a leased farm. The jury awarded £BOO. Tlie defendant applied for a new trial, oil the ground that the damages awarded were excessive, and also that' members of the jury were guilty of misconduct in discussing the ease with a witness for the plaintiff at a luncheon adjournment during the progress of the case. The witness, it was alleged, informed the jurors that the defendant made £20,000 sterling out of the lease in question. The Chief Justice said the information was not actually material to the case, hut it was of such a natur c that it might have affected the jurymen’s findings.