DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1923, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PP.ESS ASSOCIATION.] DUTY ON TEA. WHEN REDUCTION STARTS. WELLINGTON, June IS "Tea merchants,” stated the Hon W D. Stewart, "are anxious to know as soon ns possible when a change in I the duties will take place. I have | had enquiries made ill all the chief centres as to what length of notice will cause the least inconvenience to the merchants. A large number of merchants have asked that the alteration should operate trom the date the House passes the resolution-, while a few suggest from one month to three mouths’ notiie. It is impossible to lay down anv rule which will not impose hardships in some quarters, hut. as it has been known for some months that a change will lie made, and every week’s delay further disorganises business. I have recommended to Cabinet that the alteraion should take place, as requested by most merchants, ns soon as the resolutions pass the House on the presentation of the Budget. At what date the Budget will be pre-etned depends on Ihe time occupied by ihe addre-s-i n-rcply. but the most, definite notice I can approximate To is that. :is from the presentaiion of the budget anil subject to tile concurrvnee of Parliament, the duties on tea will be as follows: ’Tea, iii bulk, of British origin - free. Foreign tea, -in bulk—2d tier lb. Parke! tea. British—2d per lb. Packet lea, foreign—ld per lb. Primage I per cent, as usual, in every (use. THEFT CHARGES. SEVERAL AUCKLAND CASKS. A UCK LAN D, June D \t Hu- Police Court Frederiek Linton |]- . and Robert Frederiek Edwin Ellis r_M'. admitted jointly four charges ol breaking and mitering in various parts of the city. Trom a Parnell dwelling they stole jewellery valued at 2121): from a Grafton residence, jewel levy worth L’sl); Irom u (I rev l.ynii dwelling, a suit and jewellery valued at CIS; and irom a eitv fruit auctioneer's, stamps, pencils, oie. 'Tbt‘ accused were committed lor sentence, I.niton was furl Iter charged w ith breaking and entering the dwelling ol T. W. Rennie, Christchurch, on March 25, and stealing L'2oo in money, lfe was remanded to Christchurch on .Tune 27 tli. Charges of having received some of the st olmi property in the above cases were preferred against Percy George l uge ' lt>) and Stanley Reginald Harvey -.21). Fuge pleaded not guilty to receiving jewellery valued at CI Oft. He was committed for trial. Hailey pleaded guilty to receiving gold and a fob. He was sentenced to two months al Papartta prison, C'liristelnireh. On a charge of having obtained I'd Its o<| by false p.-tenee- at Greymouth, Harvey was remanded to Greymoulh on .Tune 27th. Athol Courtney Forbes i'.’WH. pleaded guilt v and was commit led for sentence mi charges of having received £2(O from the Auckland Carnival Cnmmiltee. He failed to pay it to his employers. Dixie Land Ltd.. cabaret proprietors, lie also admitted having Kinleil Cl.'4 lis lid and £!0 Els ()d from bis employers. DEATH OF I.ADY MiI.KAN DEN EDI N. dime I’d. Obituary Lady Mel,can. widow of Sir < h'orgo Mi Eel: li. OFFICER RETIRES.

WELLINGTON. June |!L Mr 11. D. Grncoii. Chief Postmaster a* Wellington, is voluntarily retiring | ■ > it- r nearly iii|iv-tv,.> y:"-‘ -civne. IB entered the I lepa:: u;i tit is a mo-~ ,-age Imy nt Chi i.-tchureh in ] V SI. Next week he commences an extended per. a of annual leave. A LUCKY ESCAPE. DANNEVniKE. June IP. A passenger By tile Napier Express to Wellington yesterday, i ttempted t» reheard the train when it was moving out and missed bis leering. Alter being dragged some di-tnn.ee. he was then di-agge I to ~ position cf safely. This morning the belated passenger was convicted and discharged lor drunkenness and lined three pounds lor attempting to heard a train in motion. SUPREME COURT. HAMILTON. June 19. j At the Supremo Court. George Kiugi was ( barged with forging two Govern- j moot vouchers while overseer ol the j Public Works Department at Aria, lie: was found guilty on two charges, ami sentence was deferred pending the hearing of further charges. Arthur Benjamin Capper, lor blackmail, received probation lor two years. Accused demanded money from a young Ilia'll who lie alleged a--nulled bn daughter. The young man wa u ncqtiited 7m the charge of assaulting the j girl. king COUNTRY and LOCAL OPTION. TA CM AII ANTI. June U> A Conference of ibdegii'es e; heal bodies io the King Uounfy was held 1 ~,t night for the nm-pcse ol discussing the question cf tho possibility and mlvisihiiitv cf sm'ttriiig lb discs lor King (’.,uuiry. Mr J. A. Gordon ( Preddciit of the local (TiainVr of Commerce) was in the chair. After a lengthy discussion it was resolved to scud delegates during tlio present -e-sion ol Parliament for the purpose of urging upon Government the desirability el granting local option for the King Country. PALMERSTON NORTH SHOW. PALMERSTON X. Jure Pb Tho National Dairv Show opened in line weather when the judging n«iinieuced cf the Agricultural and other Tiie annual meeting cl the National Daivv Association is proceeding. Mr Morton (Egmont village), president, presiding. Over two hundred delegatus are atumdins.