DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1923, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

FARMERS’ AIFETING. BLEXHKIM. M:iy ‘JO. I/,ist night, Afr AV. G. Poison, (Dominion President of the Farmers’ Unio 11 ) addressed eountry settlers of Marlborough upon the agricultural hanking proposals. The .movement was explained in fall detail and resolutions were unanimously carried that this meeting of farmers agrees with the explanation of agricultural banking given I v Mr Poison and believes that it was o.i right, lines and in the direction of offering facilities to producers for increased production. A BURGLARY. FF.ILDING, May 20. Dalgetv’s premises were burglarised last night and a safe taken away. This morning it was found near the iiiilua’. lino shout half a mile from the preloisea. D was unopened and nothing was taken. The contents were valued 1 ;,l. over £509. mostly cheques.

DROPPED DEAD. TIAIABU, A fay 20. Just after 10.45 n.m. to-day Afr 0eo!'"e Steven, about 70 years of age. dropped dead in front ot the post office. Deceased was a. member of the High School Board. COA LADNERS’ TROUBLE. AYHAXGAREF. Afay 20. Following upon t> ennferenee on Thursday morning between Hikurangi .Miners’ I'uion delegates and owners, the delegates reported to a meeting ul the I'nion yesterday that the owners adhered to the principle of reducing the number of employees by dismissing those most, recently employed, and would not accept balloting instead. Thereupon the members of the l liion decided to strike, leaving it to the owners to ninke the first move in negotiating for an adjustment. The . defleets all the mines at llikurnngi, including Wilson’s which supplies coal for the large cement works at Portland. Altogether one hundred men n if. idled. The miners allege victimisation. The President of the .Miners Fniou was one of the first men discharged. RAILWAY FREIGHTS. WKi.r IXGTOX. May 21. There are persistent rumours ot a 'contemplated reduction in railway ! freights, hut so far no official informuj lion on tlie subject is available. ] ft is stated unofficially that there is i certain to he a reduction in the freight !of dairy produce. Dairymen sav that ! I hey have already laid a promise from i Mr Masscv. Aeting-Alinister of Rnilj ways, to that effect. NEW POLITICAL PARTY. DFXF.DI X. May 21. | Xot much has been said or written about Ike movement which i- engaging tliouglitiul men right through Xew Zealand—a movement for organising a new Liberal-Labour Party to bring into political relationship progressive Liberals and progressive Labourites, who believe that Xew Zealand can he pushed ahead without setting the country on lire.

Organisers are already busy, and some persons who know what is going on are wondering whether anything definite will he disclosed at the political socials which arc about to he held at Dunedin. Winton, and Palmerston South. FIRF IX I'll KATE F. A FCKI.AXD. May 25. A lire cv.-curred in the Victoria Tluain Devonporl. to-night. when i>: 1 1 1 1 i:-i• ut a. storeroom under Ihe ojieraiing box became igniled. The ihe'dl'c filled with sun.dee. and the aili(ietii v liccame alarmed, hut the mae.tger reassured t-lietn. anil the orchestra continued playing. C un.-iderahie damace was done in the storeroom, alI hough the brigade easily ex.l inguislied the llames. ELECTROLYSIS SCARF. WELLINGTON. AI ay 25. The report from .Melbourne as to the ravages of electrolysis has aroused musides'll hie interest, especially amongst ill,. miners of steel-framed buildings. Government ol’sciaU, including All E.

A Shrimpton, Chief Telegraph Engineer and Mr f„ Kirks. Chief Electrical. Engineer, state that electrolysis is well-known and guarded against. They are inclined to think that the Aielbonrnc engineer exaggerates tin- position. Special precautions are taken uml-.u-the Tramways Act to minimise the escape of electric current. ANZAC DAY. AUCKLAND. May i'>. Replying to a deputation from the Soldiers’ Alothers League, which asked that the observance of Anzae Dav bo transferred from April 25t!i to the Sunday prior to that date. Air Afasso.v said lie*was not going to give any pledge on tin matter as there were two Miles to the question, and loss of wages whn-.i the deputation said could ill he alien deo hv earners of small wages, required soijmis consideration. Ho would see the suggestion taken up in Parliament and discussed. He had taken part in the last Anzae Dav observance in Christchurch, ami it was the best ceremony of tin- kind he had ever seen. He lined to think that the day would he observe in that way all over New •Zealand, sacredly and satisfactorily. IXVKRCARO TEL SESSIONS.

INVERCARGILL, -May 25. At the Supreme Court, John i'otrester, an old men, who had been found guilty of indecently assaulting a girl under 1(1, was admitted to prohut ion for live years, on condition that he does not leave homo alter sunset without permission of the Probation Officer, or in company of a member of his family.

Robert Hannah, charged with assault, was found guilty, and ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, .Cl2. .Michael Prcmlevillc, charged with assaulting a constable and causing actual bodily harm, was released on probation for live years, and ordered to p.iv costs of ttie prosecution, totalling C 22.

BREWERY COMBINE. CHRISTCHURCH, Afav 27. The proposals relating to the amalgamation of the principal breweries of the Dominion were placed before n meeting of the shareholders of AVnrd anti Co., yesterday, and the proposition was agrcc-d to. The Chairman stated that, at a meeting held at Wellington, and attended by the directors of the principal brewing concerns of New Zealand, nil agreement had been signed in favour of an amalgamticn on the basis that each concern represented should sell out its plant-, stock, premises, and good will to the Amalgamated Breweries of New Zealand. The shareholders of the Crown Brewery Ltd., and of S. Manning ar.d C'o., Ltd., will hold meetings to-morrow to consider the proposition.

FIVE MEN INJURED. AUCKLAND. Afay 27. Five men were injured yesterday afternoon by the capsize of a motor lies conveying 10 passengers, mostly footballers, on Razorbaek Hill, near Fukekolie. The bus ran into some sand, and capsized. William Garvie of Alauku. sustained fractured ribs, and his son, John Garvie. a fractured thigh. M. A r - Wright broke his coTinr-bono. The others injured wore:—L. and J. Franklin.