DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEORAPn —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] FOOTBALL SPLIT'. WELLINGTON, January 31. A nearly full meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Football Association to-night unanimously decided nrf. to participate in the tour of the Canadian team. All present strongly denounced the action of the Australian .Association is going behind the hacks ,J f the New Zealand Council in completing arrangement, with Canada without reference to Lite Dominion, as tlm negotiations were first opened in New Zealand. MOVEMENTS OF CI-ERGY. CHRISTCHURCH. January 31. It wits the intention of Archbishop Afannix and Bishop MaeCarthy to leave lor Christchurch and Dunedin this morning, but, their departure lias been postponed in com-eq ueure of Bishop MacCarthy having to enter Lewisham Hospital for treautlent. While at Rotorua recently, lie had one of his feet badly scalded, as the tesuit of the cru.st. of ground on which he was walking giving away. On reaching Christchurch yesterday, it was found that the injury required further treatment. It will be several days I,.Tore Dr. MaeCnrHi.v can Pave the hospital, and it is unlikely (hat the two eeelesia.M ii s will ’cave Chriptchmvll before .Saturday. Dr. M.-icCatiliv was reported to-dav to he getting on well. THEFT CHARGE. AUCKLAND, Jan. 31. At the Police Court to-day. James Wilson, aged 3S, Town Clerk of Devonport, and firela Ttii Ingham Fattlhnuiii, aged 21. Borough Cashier, pleaded not guilty, reserved their deli’iice, mid were committed for trial on a charge ol the theft of Devnnport borough funds totalling C7GO. T YRE AND PETROL TAXES .MINISTER ADDRESSES FARMERS. W FI. RING TON, Jan. 30 The Hon J. G. Coates attended it meeting of the Executive Committee of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and addressed members on proposals in connection with motor and highways taxation. lie said that he wauled more revenue lor the maintenance of roads, and the question was one of deriving revenue from the users of the reads. They were going to hold a

series of conferences with local bodies and motor interests, so that when Parliament met they would have some proposal-, on which they were more or less unanimous and upon which Parliament would express its views. “I recognise that ,-n far as local hollies are concerned 1 lie.v are powerful inlltienccs in Parliament, possibly one of the most powerful inlluenees we have in the country.'' he said. Parliament last year appropriated £1)0,000 for road maintenance and i 1 could lie assumed that local bodies had borrowed something like the same sum for road’ must ruel ion. yd that money had been spent on the roads. The Government could li: I continue paying out of the Consolidated Fund. as there were certain charges mi that, fund which could not he evaded. They must look to the users of the roads to contribute towards their maintenance. The three thousand miles ol’ roadwhich would come under I lie Highways Board would r-vodi'e £500,1100 lor interest and maintenance at. the lowest estimate, ft -was thought find they would get C 150.1 Will Irom the ivroiax and the balance from meter taxes. If tliev were reiving on local bodies lo maintain reads for mount, of traffic that went on them they were relying mi oinething which would not work out. No one wanted more taxation, hut l! In. ! out rilmtioii.s from the user of a road they could give him a track on which lie could run ••r.nomically a tax ol a small amount would rsootm him. It was tho eccaorv.o cost, ot running a motor-car that couided In America many States adopted a petrol tax or gas tax. li

;i cm r travelled L’OOd miles tlie owner paid a tax on petrol lor I*ooo milos. In a way it would rCKnlnle speed, as speed meant a larger eonsimipt ioon and cxre-si

sprf'd mcniil an ('x<vssmt:’m. y.liMo ;i lii'Mvy Inad :ilsk meant a heavy rntixiimntion. !t was al-ai )ii'h-

posed to tux ninlor-c.'irs at I'3 each, lie hoped the Minister ol Finance would give them a little from the fax on hotlies of cars, Inn he did not give Unit as a Ministerial statement. The petrol tax could he collected over the counter a! less cost, lie thought Ibis would be the best way. After the Minister had Lit. a million was piupo-ed favouring a tyre and petrol lux. Iml not a tint tax. l’innllv the question was adjourned to next meet iny of the executive. THE EARL OF CASSIUS. WELLINGTON. -lan. 20 An occasion unique in Die history of New Zealand is the visit ol the Earl of C'assilis to the Dominion, lie is Die First Grand Principal of the Grand lloval Arch ChapLer of Scotland, and is visiting the Disiricl Grand Chapter i f New Zealand to instill Most Excellent Companion Ellery, ot Gisborne, at a ceremony at Dunedin. While there |,is Lordship will consecrate a now eh apt or called Kilwinning Peninsula No. 573. lie then hopes, ho stales, to see some New Zealand scenery and visit Christchurch and other chapters. He had b>-eti doing simitar work in Aimlndia, where I hey gave him a cordial welcome, entertaining Lord T.everhulino and hlmsell in I ieioria. He will have to leave New Zealand in February. POSTAL OFFICER. itKqrr-'.sT foi: INCREASES. AUCKLAND. February 1. Dissatisfaction "ith the salaries of D-e l’nsr and Telegraph Service was expressed at a meeting of the Auckland section of the Officers Association. A resolution was carried: --“Hint as the service never received an increase in salary emtvniensumite with the cost of living, and had sliflered unjust cuts in the already inadequate remuneration. the executive demand that in fixing the salaries for the next live years, officers be placed on a footing u Licit will give their salaries the same purchasing power as obtained in 121-1. ,'s an instance, the seventh class maximum should now he £332 per annum. Phe reason advanced in justification of the cuts ‘•that the country was short of money.” no longer exists, as is instanced by the fact that large sums of money have been handed to the public in reductions of postage and telegraph rates. It is contended that officers .xHotihl participate in the better conditio'; now ruling.” AN ATR CRUISE. CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 1. A squadron of six aeroplanes took an hours cruise over Christchurch and suburbs to-day in perfect weather, covering seventy miles. Five Avros flew in honi'iiiim formation, led by Captain PMusgrave. while n Bristol fighter, flown hv Capt. M. CL .McGregor. -M.0., D.F. C.. provided an escort mid did occasionad stunts on route: Ibe flight "as the p,is- of its kind in New Zealand. look-out case. CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. L Five men arrested in the Look-Out-case were remanded to Dunedin on Friday when the police stated they would be readv to go on with the evidence,

WAR RELIEF FUNDS LOW. WELLINGTON, Feb. 1. The War Relief Association states that the funds are clown to £35,000, and are not likely to last more than six years. In five years £IOO,OOO has been spent, and applicants last year were more numerous than lieforc.

.Many men, for various reasons, could not legally prove their war injuries, but when the chances were that their service had produced illness they were given the benefit of the doubt.

WIRELESS NEWS FOR SHIPS. WELLINGTON, Fob. 1. The Postmaster-General has made arrangements for transmitting nightly New Zealand news to vessels within call for publication in the wireless newspapers supplied to passengers.

ALLEGED THEFT CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. I. R. I). .Martin, ex Union Seerotary, appeared in Court, on charges ol theft of CJOI 0s Id. £BO 8s Od. £lO 11s Bd. and £O3 -Is !)d. the property o’ the Bakers' and Pastry Cooks’ Union, £3lO Is Sd and £3OB 13s 4d. the property of the Retail Shop Assistants’ Union, and of making false declarations regarding officers and memlfcrs of the Hairdressers’ Union. There are two similar counts in respect to Christchurch Clerks' Union, and one count in respect of the linkers' and Pm-try Cooks’ Union. The police in asking for a remand aid tin y were prepared to go on with the case on Wednesday. The Magistrate said the former hail was not now sufficient, and hail was fixed at £SOO and one surety of £SOO. SUPREME COURT. CHRISTCHURCH. Fell. 1. At the Supreme Court, Thomas Keeling. I liekingbollmm, an aci-uiint-ant, 33, was sentenced to four months hard labour for forging a inline to an endorsement on a cheque 'or £22 18s. while Secretary for Booth, .MacDonald and Coy. Counsel said tile accused had a brilliant commercial career and the case was (inexplicable and the -saddest lie had ever known. Henry Edward Lyons, for indecent assault, was described b,v tlu* Judge as the type of man regarding whom Grand Juries had made recommendations. Innocent girls must he protected. lie received five years. |

Joseph Simpson Kenny, aged 72. for assault with intent to roll was sentenced to one vear.