DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1923, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH —PEP, PRESS ASSOCIATION.' A WANGANUI CHOIR. WANGANUI, Nov. 1. At the annual meeting of the Wanganui Baptist Choir, members of the deputation to Mr Temple 'White, adjudicator at the recent Wanganui competitions, explained to their choirmaster that their action had been misunderstood by the Press. There was no intention of apologising for any action lie had taken in sympathy with another competing choir. This in his private capacity he was at perfect liberty to take. The only object the deputation had in view was to express to Mr White* the sat isLiei ion of the choir as a whole, including the choirmaster, with the judge’s decision upon the performance of the Baptist choir. Mr Emmett was unanimously reappointed choirmaster and expressed himself satisfied with the explanation given.

11 ON C. J. PARR WELLINGTON, Nov. I. Tin- lion (’. .1. Parr, .Minister of Education and Justice, leaves to-mor-row lor Sydney by ihe Mamma on a brief visit to Australia. Mr Parr will visit Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and expects to he absent from New Zealand lor about four week*. In the meantime Sir Francis Hell will intend to matters connected with the Justice, Prisons, and Police Departments, and the Public Trust and Stamp Ollices. Tho Hon G. 4 Anderson will look alter Education affairs in Air Parr’s absence. SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

WELLINGTON, Nov. 1. An amendment in the schemes of control of secondary schools has boon made by the Minister. The schemes are amended by adding to the sub-clause: “The school year shall consist of three terms of about thirteen weeks each.’' the words “provided that the school shall he open on at least .‘I,So half days during each school year, unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Minister that the closing of the school is necessary owing to the prevalence of epidemics or oilier sullicienl cause.” FIRE IN LAUNDRY. WELLINGTON. Nov. 1. A lire occurred in the Victoria Laundry in Hansen Street this morning in the dry-cleaning and renovating room, to which the brigade eonlined it. Some hundreds of military uiiilorms were badly damaged. The particular building alfoeu-d was in--ured for L'SOtl in the Commercial I’niiui, and the machinery and liltings fur L'ttll) in the same ofliee. SKI)DON BURIAL GROUND. SPECIAL .PROVISIONS. WELLINGTON. Nov. 1 The. late Right lion Richard John Seddon wits buried in a -pt-eial plot of ground In a commanding situation above the old cemetery adjoining Holton Street, Wellington. A tall column mark-- Ihe -it.-- of the vault. Recently a petition wit- presented to the Government. under .section 2 of the Cemeteries Amendment Act. 1912. praying ih.i, ihe area described, being a parcel! m land wherein Hie body of tin- Right j lion Richaid John Seddon has I.ecu buried prior to the cnimiieiiceineiil of the said Act, he declared to he a private burial ground, io la- called and known by the name of "The private burial ground of the Right Hon Richard John Seddon and of his wile and descendants ”

It has la-en deemed expedient to grant the prayer of the said petition, and a "Gazette” notice has been issued accordingly. Ii sets forth that Louisa -Jane Seddon, the wife of the Right linn Richard John Seddon, and any person being a child or remoter issue of the marriage of the said Richard John Seddon and Louisa Jane Seddon. shall he the only class of persons who may now hereafter he buried ill the said private burial ground of the Right lion Richard John Seddon, and of his wife and descendants, provided that during lifetime of the said Louisa Jane Sodden, no such child or remoter issue shall l-e buried in the -aid private burial ground without Lite consent in writing of the -aid Louisa ..lane Seddon.

ItI'TCH KRS' SHOP ASSISTANTS. WELLINGTON, Nov. I. An important amalgamation between two unions, which may lead to bigger tilings, is now approved. The proposal is that the New Zealand Operative Ruteher-’ Federation and the New Zealand Federation of Shop Assistants join furies. This is the result of a conference on the subject held at Wellington some time ago. when representatives of both bodies were present, ft also eon-fiUlles the first- phase of an effort to hind all shop workers in New Zealand into one federation, whereby the workers will he considerably strengthened. A NOTE OF WARNING. DUNEDIN. Nov. I. At the annual meeting of the Drap-

cry Importing Co. (D.V.C.), Air P. L. Halstead (chairman of directors.) said: “Business since closing the books has cihtinued to expand, and is well ahead of last year, so that I think L may safely say without being accused of being unduly optimistic that the prospects of the DJ.C. never looked better. "Whilst holding this opinion, 1 think it wise to take this opportunity of sounding a note of warning in regard to the increase in the imports into the Dominion during the first eight months of the year, they having grown from £21,(331 ,Gf)(i in 1022 io £28,207,725 in 1023, an increase of £(>,576,109, equal to 30.4 per cent. In 1021 the imports were £32,582.023, and in 1020 £35.-174,513. The big reduction in the imports in 1022 was

necos.-ary owing to over-importing in 1920 and 1921. and 1 question whether the increase of 30 per cent for tho period January to August of this year is justified by the state of trade. We may perhaps he inclined to congratulate ourselves mi the increase in Customs revenue, but this will he dearly bought il it he found that .-locks accumulate more quickly than tlu-v can he disposed of, and 1 lie weaker holders have in consequence to throw them on the market at ridiculous prices in order to raise ready money to meet their obligations."

DOMIN.ION ROOT TRADE. AUCKLAND, Nov. J. At this period of the year most factories tiro busy fulfilling substantial orders to cope wiili the expected trade of Christmas and New Year, but, contrary to the general rule, the local hoot and shoe manuiaeturers are experiencing a dull time; so dull in fact, that ■several oi the factories are working their employees short time. This is most unusual and enquiries made from it prominent member of the trade elicit- ■ ed the information that the same state ; prevails throughout the Dominion and in Dunedin particularly the position is bad. Asked the reason for the slump. 1 the answer was that there was too much 1 ‘‘heap imported footwear, mostly wo- . men’s and children’s coming io the Do- I . minion.

MANY CHARGES. AUCKLAND, Nov. ]. No lower than fifteen charges were preferred at the Supreme Court against Alfred Crossey. The charges were forgery and uttering, obtaining credit while bankrupt, (live counts), and obtaining credit by fraud (nine counts). Accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of forgery and uttering, which was postponed till to-morrow. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on all fourteen counts, and accused was .sentenced to three years’ hard labour, lit* had it long record of crime in the Dominion and Australia.