DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1923, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[bv TELEGRAPH —TER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

EDUCATION SUBSIDIES. WELLINGTON, Sept. 25

A burning subject with Education Boards has been the reduction of the Government subsidy payable upon voluntary contributions from £1 to ten shillings in tho £. The Hon Mr Parr, Minister ol Education, told the Conference of Chairmen and Secretaries of Education Boards, to-day that, subject to certain limitations, that ho was agreeable to restore the £ for £ subsidy. The reduction had been made on the recommendation of tho Econmies Commission and the result was that £2,250 in subsidies was withheld. Times had improved and he was going to give them back that sum. He had also decided to recommend that committees receive £ for £ on voluntary contributions made prior to the making ol the regulation.

OBJECTORS TO RATES,

BLENHEIM, Sept. 26

The counsel who were engaged in the hearing, before Mr. Maunsell, S.M., of the appeals against the classification scheme issued by the Wairua River Board, as this affects areas recently added to the Board’s district, have been advised, through the Clerk of the Court that the -Magistrate has upheld the ob jeetions, and has placed the objectors in the third class.

DEPARTMENT’S CLAIM

WELLINGTON, Sept. 26

Mr Mavknum, secretary to tho Post Office, says that Australia, is the only country which has refused to accept New Zealand’s penny postage. This rate is Bolow that fixed by the Postal Union. Australia’s refusal will mean that the postal revenue of the Dominion will bo swollen by ah,out £BOO, though tho Government was prepared tn forego this amount. Mr Markman still believes Australia will alter its mind before long, lie regards the new Id rate as lower than the old one, because the expense of the postal service is so much higher to-day than it was then. Mr A. Mark mail (Secretary of Lie Postal Department) wires:—“Tho reduction from the Ist. October to Id per ounce in the rate for letters for O'eat Britain, Canada, tho Union of South Africa, the United States of America, Italy, and the other places to which the*l J<l letter rate at present applies, will not apply to letters for Australia New Zealand is able to adopt tho Id rate for letters for places overseas, only with the acquiescence ol the countries concerned, and the Commonwealth Postal authorities have refused to accept from New Zealand letters prepaid only Id. On and after Ist October, letters lor Australia, must be prepaid at the present rate of ltd for the first ounce, and Id for each additional ounce. Failure to fully prepay the letters will result . m the addressees being fined double the amount of the deficient postage, or U<U whichever amount is the greater, as 1 ,<l K tbe minimum surcharge collected on unpaid or short paid letters received m Australia from New Zealand. 'MELBOURNE, Kept. Tho action of the Postal Depai tment is setting itself against the acceptance Ol" letters from New Zealand still lacks official explanation. Dt Earle Pago has promised to consiuei the matter to-morrow.

EDUCATION CONFERENCE

WELLINGTON, Sept. 2i

At the "Education Couleroiicc, repie sontatives of the New Zealand Educational Institute were again present. The Minister said that lie had offered ot consider favourably any scheme of salaries. provided the aggregate cost would not exceed the present limit. The conference was generally favour able to the proposals for the cMiisoikln turn of smaller schools. Anomalies in the representation <J education hoards were discussed. The Minister was thanked for calling the conference.

SOLDIER SETTLERS

WELLINGTON, Sept. 26

Replying L> -Mr. 11. 1'- Holland’s charges at Hamilton regarding the Gov ernmenC's failure to provide a road lor the soldier settlors at Mangawcka, Mr. Nosworthy (Acting .Minister of hauls) states the soldiers'nought the land direct, the vendor giving the undertaking to provide proper access, but, owing to a dispute with the County Council, the work was not proceeded with, l.ntor it was deeided that the Government would endeavour for force the vendor ami the County Council to carry tnt the undertaking, and meanwhile the Government had provided .Clooo lor the work, without relieving the vendor or the Council of liability. Ihe work was now in the hands of the district J’ub lie Works engineer, who was doing evert thing possible to expedite matters. Mr. Nosworthy added that Mr. idol land’s charges were fully answered in the House last session. BOCI.DKR. HITS TRAIN'. DCN'EOIN', Sept. 20.

An exciting incident befell some passengers on a train which left Dunedin for Cromwell at 7.52 this morning. While passing the mile peg. 00 chains below Himlon station, the occupants of a first class “smoker” were startled by a sound resembling the explosion of a gun, which caused the carriage to tremble. The train was stopped, and it was scon that a boulder had crashed from the hillside, and was lying on the front platform of the “smoker.” It had crushed the iron gate into an almost unrecognisable mass, bent the stanchions, and stove in the end of tim carriage. The boulder was subsequently weighed and it turned the scale at l'lp lbs. A sheep had probably dislodged tile stone.