DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1923, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHARGES OF RAPE, DUNEDIN, June 7. At the Police Court, Abraham Alfred Lind n missionary, was charged on three counts of rape and indocent assult in respect of three girls. The allegation of the Crown was that, the healing mission conducted by the accused produced a condition that made the girls easily amenable to accused's suggestion. Evidence was given by the girls, one of whom stated that, when accused committed the. offence lie represented his act ns treatment for nerves. Another girl said that lie stated (led Imd shown to him that lie was to be as 10 husbands to her. Liinl reserved bis defence and was commuted for trial. FIRE AT DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, June 7. Extensive damage was done to-day to the stock on the premises of .1. Wren and Co. (Ltd.) painters, in Princess Street South, through a lire breaking out in the top Hat of the building. The Civ Fire Brigade was on the scene without delay, and succeeded in suppressing the outbreak by 1.50 p.m.. about 05 minutes after il occurred. The damage is expected to amount to some thousands of pounds, as, in addition to loss of stock, the roof of the building lias been badly burned. The stock was insured with the following companies: British and Dominion, £750 and £250: Union. £850; United. £700; Northern Union, 2500; Northern. £490; Home £800; Alliance £2OO. The insurances o:i the building are:—Southern Union. £500; New Zealand. £.‘185: Alliance, £,H(\9- Phoenix, C'.'IOO; British and Dominion. .9200.

BLINK FT SOCIETY. DUNEDIN. Jan 7. A deputation from the Plnnket Society asked Mr Massey lor the extension of Government as-istniice totalling £15,982 10s as under: Karitane Hospital, Dunedin, £200!); Christchurch. £1000: Wanganui. £1000; subsidy of salary of director of Pluukel Nursing 2200; and subsidy lor secretari ; Central Council. £IOO, travelling allowance lor director £182; subsidy for nurses, £11,500. Mr Massey detailed the enormous calls on national finances, but said that he would endeavour to induce his colleagues to increase the subsidy paid last year, about £II.OOO.

CARPENTERS (’(INFER. WELLINGTON, dune 7. Guild progress lias been made up to a point in euniiecticm with a proposal to form a federation n mpu-eil of all tile unions engaged in the building industry. The idea lias been approved m Wellington, in CanterLmiy. and in Otago, but Auckland lias so far not come into line. It is stated to be the failure of Auckland to take active steps in connection with the matter which is delaying the prusectdieii of the project. The draft constitution for the p:o----posed federation has been drawn up but its final ratification is awaited from tlie building trades unions in Auckland before the scheme can lie placed upon a definite basis. Onto Auckland signifies its ndhe-ion to the prop sals, and the Federation becomes an actual lart. steps will be

put in train towards effecting some degree of uniformity in the conditions obtaining in the clifYcient buckling trades. ft is not altogether expected that, it will lie possible to secure exactly one set of wages for all the classes ol artisans engaged in the industry, but il is beeped to get some im| rot ement on the conditions now. prevailing, and to co-ordinate tile interests ol the dilIV re lit sections of the bonding trade w orkers. THE ALLIANCE OF I.ALOLIL WELLINGTON, dime L ■•( li guui'ul ion along the lines of Industry.'’ the slogan ol the Alliance ol Labour, appears now to lie finding layout - among an increasing number ol workers throughout the Dominion, and this principle seems to be gaining acceptance, even with certain sections ol workers whose ideas on industiial matteis do not altogether coincide with those of the Alliance.

The latest bedy of workers tv ho are considering tlk* i|uestion of federating arc those tt ho are engaged in the shops, and, as a step forward in this direction, a . oiilci'ciioe was held in Wellington this week, between tho representatives <:f the New Zealand Shop Assistants’ Federation and the New Zealand Operative Butchers’ Federation. The proposal for consideration was the amalgamation of these two oi-

ganisations. The discussion resulted in considerable progress being made, and it is hoped that, within the next two or three months, their amalgamation will have been effected, thus < ompleting the initial move lor the consolidation of all the shop workers in the Dominion' in one National Federation. The proposed amalgamation lots been mooted for a long time past, hut, up to the present, nothing had been done towards earning the idea into eile.f. Although the prc.psoul is being confined for the present to the butchers and to the several classes of workers represented hv the Shop Assistants’ Federation, including the drapers, it is hoped ultimately, that this new movement will embrace every shop and trade, from tlu* hairdressers to the ffpor ors.

empire exhibition. XE\y ZEALAND’S WOOL DISPLAY. DUNEDIN, June ‘J. At a conference of delegates representing the Canterbury and Otago Committees of the British Empire Exhibition. it was decided to ask Lie Dominion Advisory Committee to cable to the High Commissioner to ascertain the quantity of wool required, the method of display, and the dates of ski pinout.

BAD WHISKY. ( lIRISTC HUBC H June 8. The Lyttelton Licensing Committee recently requested that a test should be made of the liquor sold at the various hotels in Lyttelton Licensing District.. As a lesult. lines totalling £<o have been imposed on tnroo licensees exposing for sale, whisky not true to label. Tlu* following have been convicted and fined: --Thomas Wilson (Grand Hotel, Aknroa) £2O: George Henry Scott- (Canterbury Lyttelton) £2O: Frank William Wright (fake Forsyth Hotel, Little Kitci) .£3O.

Wright was charged with exposing liquor not true to label, in that he put draught whisky into ease whisky bottles. He pleaded guilty and stated it did not pay him to sell case whisky at the present price of 9d a nip. PROPOSED POTATO EMBARGO. WELLINGTON, June. S. The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce yesterday passed a resolution protesting against the proposed embargo on the importation of potatoes.