DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1923, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

LUY TKLEUiIAI’H —PEE PEESS ASSOCIATION.]

OPOSSUM SKIN FINE

DUNEDIN, July 10.

At the Police Court to-day, the first ease was hoard im-or the new regulations requiring the purchaser of opossum skins to have a statement and certificate. from the, vendors, ceitifying the number and nature of the skins, that they had been killed in the district in which an open season was prevailing at the time.

Edward Kennetdey, a buyer was charged. He admitted his failure to comply with tlie regulations, it being explained that he was not aware of them. Nominal penalties of 20s and costs and 10s and co-ts were imposed in respect of the charges, ol which there were three.

VOTING METHODS

DUNEDIN, July 12

For the New Zealand Municipal Conferenc cto bo held at Christchurch, the Dunedin representatives (the Mayor, the Town Clerk, and ( r. A\ ilson) arc charged by the Dunedin Council wit' tlie duty of bringing forward eight or nine remits, mostly of a machinery character, but including one that is ot general importance to the public atlarge. This is a recommendation for an improvement in the manner of conducting local elections, and specifically in respect to the actual way of recordinn- the vote, whether by making a cross opposite the name of the candidate who is wanted, or by scoring out the name or names of the unwanted. Those who favour a reform, argue that it is foolish and confusing to have one method for Parliamentary elections and another for niunieipa elections. But that is not the worst of tile position, since at polls in respect to special loans, Dunedin instructs tlie voter to score out, and at election of councillors bo is to make ti cross. Returning officers say this muddled practice leads to all sorts of strange and unexpected complications.

LATE SIR AY. FRASER. CHRISTCHURCH. July IG. Paying a tribute to the late Sir AY. Fraser. MV H. J. Marriner (Chairman of the Railway Committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce) said: The people o. Canterbury particularly are indebted to Sir AY. Fraser in bis eaparity of Minister of Public AYorks. During the war. when money was tight a crisis arose with regard to the carrying on of works in connection with the Otira Tunnel. Strong pressure, was brought to hear on all the Ministers in favour of closing down the work, or a: least cutting down the amount ol money required. The arguments in favour of this course were logical, but at the critical moment. Sir AY. 1< raser. having carefully considered every detail, decided that tlie wisest and mosteconomical course was to push the work through to its completion, and. as everybody now knows. Ins efforts m this ’connection were sucessful. bunco he left office, his successors have carried on this work, and it is the irony o, late that Sir AYilliam should he taken when the linking up of the East and AA est Coasts, is an accomplished fact, and on Aic-ust -Ith. the date fixed for the official opening of tlie Otira tunnel, u« kindlv presence will he much missed.

RO.V MINE DISPUTI

WELLINGTON. July 10

Tl: ( . secretary of the Coal Owners’ Association is in receipt of advice that the Pnparon minors have not yet resumed work, although the decision ol the Disputes Committee, which met in Wellington last week to decide their dispute with the management. was ojven on Thursday last. Mr Balderstone, who represented the miners, and Air Bishop, who represented tlie company, both agieod io accept as final and binding the decision of Mr J. AY. Poyntun. w)m came from Auckland to act as Chairman, hut it is alleged that tlie men are now turning down their representative by repudiating the decision.