DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegraph—l-En press association*.] TRADE OUTLOOK. INVERCARGILL, Eeh. 29 Referring to Mr Massey’s recent views on the financial situation in New Zealand, Sir Harold Beauchamp told a “Southland Times” reporter that the Premier was perfectly right in what he said. The great bulk of Now Zealanders were not aware of the extent of the Government’s obligations between 1921 and 1930. In that six years the Dominion would have to find eighty two million in loan renewals, and also more money for public works. Therefore it was only natural that there should be a hardening tendency in the money market. New Zealanders wore obtaining excellent prices for their primary products which were enabling Us to k'eep the Dominion on an even keel.

There was no room for extravagance, and all should endeavour to reduce the liabilities during the prosperous times. Extravagance was already reflected in the imports, especially in motor cars, which were the heaviest item, amounting to over three millions. Referring to Mr Downie Stewart’s statement that the exports for January la-t were greater than the previous year’.-, lie said this was largely duo to the greatly enhanced values of wool, winch commodity was estimated to realise for New Zealand two and a-liaTf millions more this season than last. The dairy exports, also, wore worth eighteen million. If the people paid attention to the warning of Mr Massey (here was u<> real danger as lar as Nev. Zealand was cutieerned; but he joined with tin- Premier in emphasising the necessity for the people of New Zealand to put their financial houses -in order. The Southlnn'ders might, he congratulated on their farming outlook. due lo the fact that they had not suffered so greatly from the blighting effect of the drought as was experienced in iho North of the South Island and in most of the North Island.

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, Eeh. 29 Doctors from till parts of New Zealand, Australia. America and England were welcomed tit a civic reception prior to the opening of the annual conference of the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association. In his Presidential address to the conference to-night, the President (Dr Cun ick Robertson referred to the importance of accurate diagnosis. Successful diagnosis meant siteeesslul treatment, unless the trouble was past curing. Dr Robertson referred with regret, to the fact that patients still poured into the consulting rooms of self styled healers, and others who had never gone through scientific.

COLLIERY CLOSED. AUCKLAND, Feb. 29. An important alteration in working methods, involving the closing ot 'laupiri Extended Coal .Mine, at Taupiri, for about two years has been decided upon by the directors. This is Ihe adoption of the hydraulic filling of the danger places already operated to permit of flit- bale working of the intervening pillars. The syslein is the pumping of water with suspended tilling matter into the working which consolidates and grauttally forms a closely compacted pillar. The employees ret-civod notice, lo take effect oil .March 11. LVJ being atIceicd. The Company’s output recently urntonally det tilled owing to a tailing oil' in flu- demand, due to the Railway Department importing Newcastle coal, while the New Zealand Co-operative-Dairy Company, a former customer of the Taupiri Company, is opening its own mine at Glen Alton. Since the inception of the Taupiri Mine*. Limited, in 1898, the Railway Department has taken from the Company at times as much as .To,ooo lons per annum.

LABOR LEADER. FETLDTNO, Afaro!, I. Mr [Tolland (leader of the Labour Partv), addressed a good meeting last night. ITe expounded the Labour platform dealing especially with land and finance, and said the party advocated a. state for the taking over of all mor!gages on the national debt, lie said mi sane man would advof-ate repudiation. The debt must he paid. Iho Labour Parly would make m capital levy on estates over £5.0-90 graduating steeply upward*. The speaker had a pood hear ins:.