DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1923, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] UNUSUAL DIVORCE CASES. AUCKLAND, Juno 9. Before his Honour ATr Justice Stringer, a divorce ease possessing unusual features was brought by Mary Williams for the dissolution of lor marriage with Walter Keith Williams, storekeeper, of Churn. The ground of tho petition was separation. The parties were married in 1898 and have a fairly large family. Some time before the Armistice, according to petitioner’s counsel, tiffs having occurred previously, respondent expressed his intention of having nothing more to do with his wife. His method of carrying this into effect was to move to a bedroom of Ins own, furnish it himself, and discontinue, to pay the household accounts, telling his wife lie was simply a hoarder in her house, ihe house being her property, and that he would pay her ,I'3 per week for hoard and accommodation, Counsel characterised. respondent as not only a hoarder, hut also a most ungracious one. He neither spoke to anyone in the house, nor would lie have his meals at the same time as the.others of the family. Apart from sleeping in the house and having his meals there, ho shunned tho place like one possessed, and fitted his office up as a sittingroom and there spent all his spare time and evenings. There, too, he entertained his friends. So complete was the estrangement between tho parties, i that some matters relating to property i owned by petitioner given to her by respondent wore adjusted by corres- i ponilence between solicitor for respon- > dent at Olmra and Airs Williams, who i would send the letters on for her solicitor in Auckland to deal with. Counsel argued that separation had in fact taken place.

His Honour said ns the case presented some peculiar features, he would reserve his decision.

HEAVY MOTOR. TRAFFIC. BY-LAW UPHELD. INVERCARGILL, June 11. Air Justice Sim has given judgment on u motion to have the amending bylaws in respect of motor lorry traffic, recently passed by the Southland County Council, quashed. In support of the motion an affidavit was filed by a carrier who stated that the greater part of his carrying was done in Invercargill. Prior to the bylaws introduced by the County Council at the end of last year, his license fee amounted to L'2f), hut now lie paid CIO. li was claimed tlnn the fees were excessive and unreasonable anil un orpin! ami oppressive in operation. The chairman of the County Council stated that the c..miei! had given the matter careful consideration, in view of tho additional burden and cost to tile ratepayers hv the council having to expend large additional sums in maintaining and repairing the roads damaged hv motor lorry traffic. The revenue derived from these fees was considered by the council to fall far sin ri of the amount required for repairs.

In his judgment. Mr Justice Sim pointed out that the evidence had not been contradicted that the annual expenditure of maintaining and repairing the county roads, made necessary by motor traffic, was many times greater than would lie I lie total annual receipts. 1 ? cen rd i 11: - the payment n! tin- fee being unequal and oppressive, lie slated that the Act authorises a I'-cM authority to provide a yearly license fee on anv vehicle engaged in heavy traffic. Payment, rotifers the right to use the particular motor lorry in respcci of w hich the fee was paid foi a whole year oil the local authority. !l resil'd entirely on the owners whether or not they exercised that right. In conclusion, fie -late-.l: “1 think, therefore. that the applicant lots failed L e.-l-ihli h that the hv-law' is invalid and Ihe motion is dismissed, with costs C'o to tho council.”

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY. PROBLEM. FOR ( OURT. WELLINGTON. June 11. A matter of considerable interest to heal bodies, p.irtieularly with relcrcuco in power hoar-is and their spheres of jurisdiction, came before Mr Jllstie; C.'linjiiiinn in the Supreme Court, when ii.e In;rough of Wanganui asked for a declaratory judgment, under the Act of p: r is, a s to ascertaining the powers •if tie- Waiigaimi-Ritugitikci Electro Power 1: i.-ird with leiorenoc to tie town district of Gonville. the Town il-ard of Gonville being named ns the defendants in the action. The ques tion involved the rights ol tin* ‘Ann

ganui Gonville Power Board and the Gonville Town Board to supply or receive light and power without the consent of the plaintiff corporation. What were the powers of the plaint iff' corporation, regarding the supply to such districts. Legal argument was heard. The case is unfinished. OUR NATIONAL DEBT. AVELLINGTON, June 12 The Premier, replying further to-day to Sir Joseph Ward’s criticisms, maintained that, far from making provision for meeting the Imperial Government’s war advances by including them in loans falling due in future years, Sir Joseph had provided for L-L131,000 only, by the issue of debentures, hut 22 millions was covered by a memorandum agreement. This, iu effect, left that large sum as a floating debt, with no fixed maturity. Thus it remained till it was included in the ■ Reform Government’s funding agreement concluded last year. Air Alassoy complained that Sir Joseph Ward attempted to minimise the difficulties arising out of the war charges and post-war depression. ALMassey claims that the net increase in the public debt, after deducting increases for which the war was directly or indirectly responsible, is i L‘3,270,000 only, which is not out of i

proportion to the normal expansion of the Dominion’s requirements for education, postal, railways, and other services. He claims, also, that tho taxation per head of the population has been reduced by £G Is 3d during the past three years. He was pleased to be able to say that for the financial year 1922-23 the public debt showed a net decrease; that tax remissions were made last year, and that further reductions will he made this year.

THEFT GASES. CHRISTCHURCH, June 12 At the Supreme Court,' .Terras Armour Kimberley Wilkin, a youth of 23. for breaking and entering a hotel whore he had boon a porter, was admitted to probation for three years, Hu- judge taking account of the fact Hint ordinary criminal intent was not proved, as the crime was committed with the intent to procure liquor. John Kiesnnovski, 18 years, for theft of goods at Brighton Pier, was sentenced to reformative treatment for three years. Counsel for the prosecution stated that- accused was serving a. .sentence for a similar offence. DOMINION COUNCIL. AVELLINGTON, June 12. Two important decisons were reached by the New Zealand Golf Council Inst evening. It was resolved to follow the English example and institute ft national handicap in the Dominion, applying particularly to players likely to compete in the championships. It is unlikely that the lowest handicap will be below two, so •flint handicaps will lie cn the same 'basis as those of British players. Arthur Duncan, who is about the lowest handicap player in New Zealand, played level in England with players who are now handicapped one or two in the British handicaps, and this gives an indication enabling tile British and local handicaps to conform. The Council also decided to ask clubs to support its finaiites with a view to assisting professionals by an annual tournament, and thought it might he advisable for the Council to employ one or two profcssionahls who would he available to clubs who are now without- professionals.

LABOUR Af.lVs. AVELLINGTON. June 12 Four Labour members, Messrs Holland, Eraser. Alonleith, and MeKcen. addn-sscd a full house at the Concert ('linmbcr el ihe lov-n 1 inil to-llight. Mr Holland said New Zealand might to he represented at tile Imperial ( onfcrence. hut Mr Massey, or whoever went, should go as a delegate and not as a *1 it tat or. L Mr Massey insisted on a free hand. Parliament should hi true to the people, and say. “I nlcss von take your in-innt ions we will not let you go.” The other speakers said there winmuch lor Parliament to do, wheiiiei Mr Alas-oy went or not. A DUNEDIN PROJECT. DUNEIMN. June 12 A public meeting, fairly well attended. was held to-night at the invitation of the Alayor to discu-s a project foi the erect it n of a Town Hall in Dundin. Tii- Hon G. M. Thomson moved as follow : "That in view of the imparlance of the project about to he undo token in Dunedin, and the ahsencr of suitable s-cemmodat ton it wli'ch to h-dd great Imperial, national, or civil functions, it is essential Uni” a new Town Hall, woithy of tin- city he erected, and this meeting or oiii xoii;i urges the ratepayers to vote iu favour of a loan at a pull to he taken on June 27th. Tlie resolution was carried, only two voting against ii. Those presold formed 1 bent-elves into a committee le. further the project.