DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1924, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

( ltv TIiMCCKAHl —l’Klt I’RKSS ASSOCIATION. TAX COMMISSION. INVERCARGILL, April G. Telegrams concerning the personnel of the Taxation Commission have passed between Mr l’ol-un (President ol the Farmers’ Union) and the Prune Minister. The following communication was received by Mr Massey from Mr Poison: “There is strong feeling on the part of my organisation that, in view of the producers’ taxation, the farmers’ interests should be directly represented on the taxation com mission, as well as tile city interests. Several of the provincial districts have asked me to represent this to you.” To this Mr Massey replied in the following terms: —“Your telegram received. It lias been the aim <d the Government, in setting tin the luxation Commission, to avoid anything in the nature of party or sectional feeling, hence the selection of a judge ol the Supreme Court, as chairman, and the appointment of four reliable and experienced business men :o tbe Commission. all of whom have a sound knowledge ol economic.-. lids appears to me tile best way of getting recommendations which "ill bo f value to the Government in submitting necessary legislation to Parliament next session. The Commission "ill be very glad to have representatives of the farmers' organisation giving evidence, along with representatives of other sections of the community. The subject is of great importance, and requires to be thoroughly ventilated, in order to enable, the public to form a correct judgment as to tbe present position, and tbe best way of remedying tbe anomalies that exist.”

A SERIOUS EIRE. AUCKLAND, April G. Fire broke out in the city markets, yesterday afternoon, in the premises occupied bv the Fruit Case Co., Ltd. The flames burned fiecrely, and spread to the premises-of J. Jones, fruit and poultry auctioneers, and on the other side to Somerville and Wilson, Cleveland Co., and Racllev’s. ft took some time to quell the' outbreak. The flames licked their way through an aperture to the premises of .1. Jones and Co., on the top storey of which was stored a large quantity oi' miiiae in hags. Practically the whole of this was damaged by wafer and smoke, and the corn dropped through to the bottom floor. Here was stored principally hardware 1 , which was more or less damaged. A concrete partition separated the poultry section and a small eolleeCiou of birds and ducks here, though safe, showed by their restlessness and cackling that they were aware that something untoward had happened. On tile top storey of the Radley Buildings was stored a valuable collection of grass seed, and the heat, ignited ibis as well as quantities of chaff and lades of hay. Ouanlities of this were dumped through the windows by the firemen. Glover and Co’s, premises had only recently been leased from A. B. Donald. There were twelve hundred sacks of wheat stored on the top floor of Glover and Co’s, and this was all badly damaged. The Manager of the Fruit Case Co., Ltd., stated that his stocks are well insured, as this was the fruit season, and the firm was carrying much larger stocks than usual. He estimated the insurance on this stock and machinery, which is in Norwich Union Office, at Li.>(lo.

Radlev and Co’s insurances are:— Contents o f coal stores, £'4ooo ■ stock, between £SOOO and 10,000; fixtures and fittings, £2000; all in the Phoenix Office.