TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1923, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ABSOCIATION

DISABLED EX-SOLDI ERS,

AUCKLAND, Feb. 9

A scheme similar to that in force in the Old Country lor tin* employment ;iiui absorption of disabled soldiers was before tin- R.S.A. in Auckland last , vciiiii", when a special sub-committee imported on pensions matters. The proposal is that the scheme he administered, on hehalt ol th(* Minis--I.’- of Labour, hv a repatriation »>r !.»( rd employment committee. The commil tee will seek tile co-operation of employers to employ disabled men up to a quota of 5 per cent of their total mail's, with certain exceptions. The Minister ot Labour issues certificates to employers assisting, whose names are then entered on the King’s National Roll. A certificate entitled an employer to use a special device upon letter heads, etc.

The proposal will entail Government application to his .Majesty for a roll subsidiary to that in force at Home, on which 30,286 employers’ names are inscribed, employing, in the aggregate 362,17* disabled ex-service men. The British Government has also decided not to give Government contraets to firms whose names are not on the King’s Roll and local authorities arc also allocating contracts with that point in view. Following the consideration of the scheme by local affiliated associations, their opinions will he transmitted to Wellington, where the adoption of the scheme will he discussed as a Dominion matter.

SlllT’t >\VNKRM FKDFK ATION. WF.I.UNGTON. Fob. 9. The business at the annual meeting of the Shipowners' Federation, which concluded yesterday, was principally tontine. Captain I’cterseii was re-elected ihairmttn. with local members ol the federation im the exeeuLive. PROBATE REFUSED. AUCKLAND. February !). In refusing probate of the will of I f ori Kingi te Pita. of Araparera, Judge FTolland. of the Native Land Court, stiid the Court was fully satisfied that Te A tie Matin practised spiritualism among the Arn pa rent people and .at one time had quite a large following. over whom she exorcised eonsidevnhlc authority. It was established that meetings tit which Matin was lender were frequently held at deceased’s kaianga and the Court did not doubt that they took the form of spiritualistic seances. It "tts quite clear that Matin had sufficient control over deceased to influence him in the disposition of the estate. At the hearing of the case the opponents of probate contended that defeased was mentally failing when the will was made and that influence was exercised hy Matin and Iter sister. ft was alleged that Matin professed to he n tohnngn with power of heating the sick and acting as the mouthpiece of am for- and relative,. ••! tin- people.

RAILWAY ACCIDENT. WCIANGARFI. Feb Id. Yesterday aft< rnoon twelve trucks at the rear of a train were derailed close to the R natation tn station. Tiny went over the hank and were hadlv smashed. The guard’s van was derailed, but remained upright alongside the track. The trucks wore laden with "ml and limestone. The couplings snapped behind the seventh truck from the engine. automatically stopping the fore part of the train which remained oil the line. Traffic was delavod tor four hours, pending repairs. Two passengers in the guard’s van escaped, except for a. minor injury to one d Iliein. DOMINION FINANCE. WELLINGTON. l«Yb. 12 Mr Massey as Minister of Finance, lies issued an interim Financial Statement showing for ten months ended 31st January. 1923. the revenue collected under various headings was t 19,1)95,670. compared wit h C 1 7 .010.772 for last year. The Expenditure was 1721.1 lid. i 6(L against (723,131,32* corresponding period last vear. The public debt during the past ten months wits increased hv I'l 1,731,303. On 31st Jtt it nary, 1923, balance available for expenditure oil public works fund was 171.601.182. At the present rate of expenditure this balance should not he exhausted before JOth June next.