DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1924, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY I'KLI'CUi.U’JI rIIESS ASSN., IOI'YHIi.H I. MOTOR TRAINS. Cl II! ISTCTI U R Cll, March IS. It is understood locally that tho motor trains which tho .Minister of Railways decided to instill in New Zealand lately, are to he tried out on the Canterbury branch lines, which offer splendid facilities. If they are successful, it is considered likely that other hraueli lines will also have them installed. The .Minister, no doubt, has been guided in his decision by the success of motor trains in Australia, particularly in Victoria and New South Wales. The Farmers and Settlers Association of New South Wales arc using every endeavour to have motor trains placed oil all the country branch lines. The present “mixed'’ trains, which averaged not more than 12 miles per hour, have showed a loss in their .running. On the other hand, the motor trains are capable of a speed of 40 miles an hour, with a full complement of 170 passengers. They could he acquired for CLOOO, and then show a substantial profit. The running cost of this type of train is quoted as being ridiculously small. The labour expenses are reduced, as, a crew of two 'men, and in some instances of one man, suffices to man the train. The motors adopted are very powerful, and are capable of working on difficult grades and curves. The carriages, which are comfortable and light in construction, will each hold oO passengers. As stated by the Minister, in making his pronouncement, five more of these trains have been ordered for the R.ivcrina. j

TKACH FIIS KXAM.. OFFENCE. WELLINGTON, March IS. At the Appeal Court to-day an appeal on the ground of law was made in the cases of Webb and McLaughlin, who were found guilty of forgery in connection with an examination for teachers’ certificates. Mr Calkin appeared for the prisoners and Mr A. Fair for the Crown. This was a well known case in which Webb had entered to sit for the Teachers’ I) Certiiicate, one of his subjects being practical hygiene, Webb nr-, ranged with McLaughlin to sit in his (Webb’s) place, and Me Laughlin did .so, going through the section of the j examination and signing Webb’s name on the papers and on another slip. . j The jury found that an arrangement was made, and that tile papers' and the slip were false documents. j The appeal was on the ground that Justice Sim was wrong in directing the jury that the papers and slips were false documents. 1

Mr Calkin submitted that the paj>- i ers could not he held to be forgeries, they being signed with Webb’s consent. TTo submitted in the course of a long-! thy argument, that though it was re-j prehensible to act as Webb and Ale-: Laughlin had done, there was nothing; in New Zealand law that made their j actions criminal. Mr Chilian suggest-' cd limit, the criminal law .should not be strained to cover cases like this, which it really did not cover, and tliat, if it was thought necessary, there should be some statutory provision punishing ibis sort of offence, j