DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1923, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TAXES ON BIKES. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 15. Draft bye-laws were submitted to the City Council to-night, providing for the registration of push bicycles at a fee of 2s Od, on payment of which the owner is to receive a certificate of registration, and a red reflector. Dealers and bicycle traders are to furnish monthly records of sales and of exchanges of new and used bicycles. Cr F. Cooke (Labour) said there was nothing beneficial to cycle riders in the new bye-laws. The Council had bought a consignment of red reflectors at 4<l each, and proposed to sell them to cyclists at 2s od. A numbering device would he no more effective in protecting a cycle from theft than the maker’s number on the machine. The whole idea was ail imposition and an irritating device directed against the poorer people. If more revenue was required, then tlio .rates should he increased. He would move an amendment : “That ‘bicycles’ shall also include hasinettes, prams, and invalid chairs, as a protest against a. silly by-law the committee was attempting to put on the public.” Cr. Deadley: Make it t.rac tion engines and wheelbarrows 1 Cr. Agar: Put scooters in! Cr C'ooke : That would he just as sensible as the- by-law you are attempting to put on to tlie people. The amendment was not seconded, and the report was adopted. A WOMAN’S DEATH. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 15.'

Arising oul of the death of Miss Julia Carboy, who died as the result j of injuries received in a collision hei tween a car ancl a gig on North Le- ; burn Road on September 29, a charge ; of manslaughter was laid against Louis Pain, driver of the gig at the conclusion of the inquest, held at Rangiora-, to-day. the Coroner, Mr Wyvcrn Wilson . finding that the accused caused Miss Carboy’s death by driving without lights. Accused was remanded on bail till October 23. FARMERS’ CO-OP. CHRIOTCTTURCH. Oct, 15. The directors of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-op. Association of Canterbury have issued a circular to the free and fixed depositors and to the bond holders of the association, staling that with the olqect of placing the association's finances on a sounder basis, and thereby creating a greater feeling of security in the minds of the clients, and also to provide a measure of security and protection for the depositors, a scheme is being evolved which will necessitate a closer understanding with the depositors, and a rearrangement of their free and fixed moneys. The object of the scheme is to stabilise finance by providing a definite form of security for the free and fixed depositors. with the necessary provision lo incorporate the bond holders who arc, in reality, long term depositors, ’flic directors say the proposal creates a. foundation for stability that, should he the means of bringing about a muchneeded reduction in the present interest. rates.

SENDAY TENNIS. WELLINGTON, Oct. 11. At a meeting of the Victoria College Council a somewhat lengthy discussion took place on the following notice of motion standing in the name ol I iofcs* sor Hunter: •‘That, in reference to the playing oi tennis on the College courts on Sunday, the following resolution passed bv the Council oil August ]OtTi, 1922 “That no plav he allowed on Sundays during the summer recess, ’ lie rescinded." On a division the motion was carried by six votes to lour. There voted for the motion, Afessrs P. Levi (chairman), AA'atson, Fair, Bakcwell. Parkinson, and Professor Hunter. Against the motion, .Messrs Atkinson. Forsyth., Howell, and Mof'alluni.

CO-OP. .MINERS. WELLINGTON, Oct. M. According to a West Coaster visiting AA'ellington, there are three hundred miners producing coal on the West Coast under the co-operative system. “These parties,” he declared, “are standing the tesi of competition. They have been delivering goods in competition with private enterprise. Tliev are working wihtout internal friction, without the waste of time that constitutes a community loss, without asking the community io pay any more than the community pays under the competitive system. There was a tendency a while ago to curtail their cooperative power by allowing a co-op-erative party to employ permanent wages men. This reversion to the wage system has now been prevented, and co-operative coal-mining parties on the AYest Coast retain their co-operative character, which is the only insurance against friction.” It was further stated that the coal deposits recently proved near the mouth of the Grey in the Taylorvillo district opened up a now field for cooperative coal-mining, provided that the Government would finance the heavy initial expenditure. Such expenditure could easily be secured in tlie asset in such a way that the Government could not lose. Then the onus would he on the co-operative coalminers to organise production and at a competitive juice to the public. SCHOOL GR ANTS. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 16. A new system of allotting school commttees’ grants for incidental expenses was announced by the Afinister of Education, .Mr Parr, in reply to a deputation from the Canterbury School Committee’s Association, which made a general complaint that the grants were too small. The Minister said he could not sei' his way to increase the rate of the grant, which was proving sufficient for the needs of nearly all the committees in the Dominion. However. lie intended to try a ehango in the method of distribution. Tim greatoi part of the grant, say 80 per cent., would be allotted to the Committees on a capitation basis, as at present. The remainder would bo left in the hands of Education Boards for distribution at their discretion.