DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1923, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] OF INTEREST TO LOCAL BODIES WELLINGTON. Oct. !>. A case of interest to local bodies, and education boards came before Mr Justice Chapman to-dav at the Supreme Court. The Court was asked to determine whether or not an education hoard was liable fur payment of spo'-ia! rates, in respect of properties acquired by it. and used for the purpose of public schools, such properties having been liable, to sue li special rates when aecpiiivd |or the board. I In- par-o-s were the Mayor and Councillors of toe Borough of Napier, who asked lora declaration of judgment, and the I'aw-ki-'s Hay Education Board cited as ivi'omlauls. The properties in question were used for the purposes of the Napier school, a public school as delim-d by the Education Act, DLL Ibe Board claimed that the properties were exempt from special rates by virtue o' section 111 of the Education Act, and

section 22 of the Rating Amendment Act, 19]<>. The corporation clainv-d that special rates were payable by the Board of virtue of section 112 ol the Local Bodies’ Loans Act, IflllL in '•n?* education was one ol the functions of the State. TE KITH LOAN. TH K I'IT'I, Get. ", Bv a majority of 111 votes, the le Kuiti ratepayers to-day carried a jail m favour of a loan ol CGDOR lor -tr -.-t improvements, S.S. MAORI AN OIL BURNER. WELLINGTON"] On. 9. Thi- Union Steam Ship Company announces that i lie Maori, which has been undergoing overhaul and coliver sion to an oil-burlier at I ’or i ('banners.i is to leave there on October 111 for Wellington direct, being due at Wellington the next day to take in a supply of oil fuel. She will proceed the same day to Lyttelton without passengers and relieves the W alii tie in tile ferry service, sailing from Lyttelton on October IS. Tiic Wahine withdraws at Lyttelton on October IS for annual survey and overhaul. She will resume the Welling-Um-Lyltelton ferry service early in I)e----ceinbebr.

DEER SHOOTING. INVERCARGILL, October 0. The. following have drawn licenses to shoot moosp and Wapiti deer in the Southland acclimatisation district in the 1921 season (lasting from March to May 2-1) : For Moose: Mrs E. J. Herrick (Hastings), and C. Deans (Ainuri). Wapiti: Mr \V. Fosbury Handy-ide. (Invercargill), Mr W. If. Bailey (South Africa), C. Kirkley (Hastings), Mr R. A. Wilson (Bulis), and Mr Leslie Murell (Manapotiri). GAS SHARES. WELLINGTON. October 9. A rather strong demand for Christchurch Gas Company’s shares developed here, and three sales were reported on the Wellington Stock Exchange two at £3 os Gd each and the other at £8 (is. There is an impression here that the company is about to issue now shares. Broadly speaking investors incline rather favourably towards gas shares The Imilding of new homes on a largo scale, which must bo experienced presently. must ultimately lead to an increased consumption of gas in 1 1■«> home Kitchens, and the outlook for gas com panics is therefore very promising. AL the same time people are wondering how the m-w demands for capital are to be liter. The Auckland Gas Co., wants £.100,090. the Christchurch Drainage Board wants £200,000, the Eeihling Borough requires £20,000, an unnamed

[ concern wants JE.KKMi. ami the Clii'istchnrcli Oils issue will probably come in due course. The local bodies miiM suiter, lor the gas companies will ree> ive the sirqunt of their shareholders. UNITS APPEAL. WKU.IXOTOX. October I). The Court of Appeal dismissed the application made by Abraham A. Find for leave to appeal against the sentence imposed upon him at Dunedin, on charges of committing indecent i-s-anll on certain females belonging to the congregation to whom the accused preached. Their Honours were in complete agreement in dismissing the appeal. The Chief Justice (Sir Hubert StouPi said that previously the Conn had held one of the charges io ho sustained and dismissed the others. The Judge had refused to order a new trial nr to state a ease for reference to the Court of Appeal.

The Court did not consider that the appeal should lie allowed or that the eases should have been tried separately. The motion was aeeoidingly dismissed.

HANG BROKEN IP. AUCKLAND, Oct. 10 As a sequel to the breaking up of a gang of juvenile thieves, eight boys appeared at the Juvenile Court on six-ty-eight charges, involving theft and receiving. The ring-lender, who had three previous convictions, was sentenced to three years’ reformative treatment, the others being discharged and ordered to make restitution. BELIEF FOB JAPAN. WELLINGTON. October 10. hi connection with the relief fund started by Archbishop Julius to help sufferers from the disastrous earthquake in Japan, the first instalment of ClOfiO was to-day cabled to the presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church in Yokohama. The idea of the fund is that it shall lie administered by tin: Church authorities in Japan for the benefit of the most deserving sufferers, quite irrespective of whether they are Christian or not. It is hoped that further (Filiations to the fund will be sent 111 promptly to any of the Anglican clergy, or to the Rev. F. B. Redgrave, Wellington, honorary organiser, so that further assistance may be dispatched. HON ANDERSON'S REPLY. WELLINGTON. Oct. 10. The Hon G. J. Anderson, in reply to Ah Holland .says: Mr Holland male s an unjustifiable deduction. asserting that because the Labour Department did not consult the Secretary of »h miners’ unions on the YPest Coast before lie submitted tile ease for opinion of the Crown Law officers, it must have based tin' ease submitted upon a statement made by. or after eoii-idt.uim with the Coal Aline Owners’ Association. It wa> neither necessary nor desirable that the Labour Department before stating a case for the opinion of the Crown T.nw officers, should communicate with either the employers or workers. The only material facts were patent and undisputed. The first as that the workers lmd openly and r.vr'.vodlv taken a ballot on two issues.-.nvy.

.strike and go-slow. The second was that, ns the result of the ballot, a large number of workers started to t.oslow. The third was consc-quem upon the action of the workers, and employers closed the mines. The first question of law was whether the employers bad. been guilty of an illegal lock-out by closing down. The opinion of the LawOfficers was that the paint accord* with commonsense. The law does not require employers to keep works open under the circumstances.