DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1923, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—rER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PREMISES ENTERED. . PALMERSTON X., June 8 The premises of two local firms were burglariously entered last night, and in each case the office was ransacked, but little of value taken. COOPER’S EXECUTION. WELLINGTON. June 8. No date lias yet been fixed for Daniel Richard Cooper’s execution, the XewI a lids murderer, who is under xentonca of death at the Tcraeo Prison, as the matter has not been dealt with by the Executive Council, which meets after the return of the Prime Minister from the South Island. Several other members of the Cabinet have also been away from the capital. When the matter was referee] to the Minister of Justice, he stated that lie had nothing whatsoever to communicate regarding the matter. He declined to make any comment on the suggestion that Cooper might ho executed away from Wellington, in deference to public opinion.

It is possible that an official pronouncement jn that eonnoct.ibn wfll be made after the matter has been dealt with by the Executive Council.

HAi'NEi case. WOMAN ALSO CHARGED. DUNEDIN. June 8. Elizabeth Simpson Tnglix was to-day arrested in connection with the Hayne case. She and Hayne (who was rearrested) were brought before the Court and jointly charged with the illegal use of an instrument. Bail was allowed as before in the case of Hayne LTOOO, and in the case of the woman it was fixed at £SOO with one surety of £SOO, or two of £2su. Inglis was an assistant in Havoc's chemist shop. R.S.A. I ONh'ERENCE. AUCKLAND, June 8. The Dcininion Conference of the Returned Soldiers' Association resolved to emphasise the following point of general principle in its policy : .“That every soldier settler is morally hound to carry out his obligations to the very be.st of his ability, so that the highest confidence may exist between the settlers and the Crown.” The conference adopted a remit urging that advances to soldiers on ti-treo, gorse, or blackberry lands be increased to £IOOO. It re-affirmed the request for a revaluation of soldier settlers' land whore it is shown to be neces-ary. It was decided In urge that the Crown tenants’ repiuseutntives on land boards be increased to two; that tlio Government- -lie urged to institute legislation to protect soldiers from hardships at tile expiry of the moratorium where properties were purchased without State assistance: that the Government he urged that when pastoral leases, etc. become available, such land be opened under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act.

A remit was adopted against the policy of the Land Department in loading houses 'vacated by 'returned soldiers with arrears of the previous owners.

A STRONG PROTEST. BLENHEIM. June 8. Mi lrlhorougli A. and I’. Association at its meeting to-day. resolved to send a strong protest- to the Steel; Department against the treaiinent accoided a recent consignment of stud merino ewes, imported from .South Australia by Marlborough breeders. Mr E. A. Wild, a prominent breeder, placed the facts -before the association. which showed the sheen had been seriously affected through immersion in strong. liaish sheep dip i n arrival at Dunedin. An. individual sheep of the consignment showed traces ol maggot fly. and it was cotended that it should h-.\o been band heated with a weak fluid dip. Being fully Ik-coed the efiect ol the immersion was disastrous. The sheep arrived in Marlborough in a deplorable condition, one dying cn route, and the others are totally unfit lor exhibition purposes this year.

AIR ArASSEY IN THE SOUTH. DUNEDIN, June 8. Tin* Premier and Air Noswortliv visited Taieri, which is still a scene of desolation, with 14,000 acres under water, and damage at the lowest estimate ’of 1300,000. Subsequently, Air ALissev said that in respect to roads and bridges, Taieri was not so badly otf as some other parts of New /calami. The Government was up against a very serious loss in connection with roads a-ud bridges, but lortnnately the slump ha- 1 ©tided, before the Roods came along, so that he would be able to do more than could have been done 12 months ago. lie added: “I do not know what the engineers will consider necessary to prevent a recurrence at Taieri hut we will do our duty. A deputation from the Taieri County Council asked tho Premier for a pound for pound subsidy up to £OOOO and a grant of £SOOO for Hood damage. Air Alnssev said that lie would require to see the- details, but in the meantime, so far as the repairs were concerned, the County could get on with them, and the Government would see them through. A representative deputation met the Prime Alinister on the general question of Taieri Hooding protection measures. Air ATasse.v made the suggestion that the Government should take over the land at valuation, do all the necessary work, and hand it back afterwards as a- completed scheme to thoroughly prevent future Hoods. Several difficulties were, mentioned, and it was suggested to the deputation that the committee droit a scheme loi 1 niliameiU’s consideration. In the meantime. Air Alnssey indicated that there was money in hand to deal with necessary repairs.

\EAY HEBRIDES. DUNEDIN. .Tune 8

A deputation consisting of members of the Foreign Afissions Committee of the Presbvterian Church waited on the Prime Alinister to-day with reference to the New Hebrides. The Rev G. H. Jupp said that in all probability Alr ALssev would be going to tho Imperial Conference. There was divided control over these islands between the Bntish and French Commissioners. He said the British control was very strict, but that of the French very lax. Hien was one law for the British and another law for the French. lhe position was quite untenable. Alcohol was being supplied to natives, and labour was Ik* ins recruited on linos almost nppreaching slavery. Their feeling was that the time had come when he termed the scandal of condominium must lie made public. . . ... Mr Alnssey: That is quite right. Air Jupp said they wished Air Alassev to keep this matter in mind at the Imperial Conference, and bring it forward if he could possibly do so. Air Al nssev said lie knew dual control of tho'New Hebrides bad never been a success, but the difficulty was to find a wav out. The French Government had been asked if it were willing to make an exchange by taking some land of equal value troni the 1 n >sh Empire for the New Hebrides, but had absolutely re!used to do so. e had a friendly feeling for the bronch but where territory was concerned, was alost impossible to deal th Mt-’ Alassev added that he would do im best to remedy matters, hut lie was not very sanguine in view of what had happened iiTthe past Some adjustment was necessary, and the rights and interests of the natives should, be protected.