DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELiYGRAPII — rRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. THE PRIME MINISTER. SOUTHLAND VISIT. INVERCARGILL, April 5 Tlie Prime -Minister arrived in Invercargill by this afternoon’s express, and was accorded a civic reception, at which lie was enthusiastically received by a large concourse of the poeplc. Replying to the Mayoral welcome, -Mr -Massey said that since the last occasion ho had been to an Imperial Conference, and his return had found the country in a state of depression. The price of produce had gone down by GO per cent, and tlie position was a serious one, and tlie only thing to do was to face it. He had retrenched, and the people had hacked him up. 'Tilings began to improve. The country had never looked back, and Now Zealand was one of tbe most prsoperous countries within the bounds of the British Empire. (Applause.) Industry, energy, climate and a good soil had made for the prosperity of the country. There was a satisfactory surplus, and their credit was second to none with the ‘big guns’ of Finance in London. The exports for the last financial year had constituted a record, either hv being a little over or a little under £50,000,000. New Zealand had made miraculous progress since IH4O, and the British Empire Exhibition would give the British people »nd others an opportunity of seeing wlmt They could do. With £18,000.000 worth of butter and cheese exported in a. year, they beat Denmark and Holland. On account of the slump many sheep owners had to reduce their flocks, and beenu.se of this the Government had to restrict the shipment of mutton. Now they were 750,000 sheep better off than previously, and he hoped it would continue to recover. The Government were not going to restrict the people in connection with the Exhibition, and he hoped the people of Southland would do their duty. -Mr Massey also dealt with several points of policy referred to in the North. -Mr Massey subsequently opened the football season, and then inspected Sandy Point Domain, where afforestation has made much progress. On Sunday afternoon he will unveil t he War -Memorial at the Bluff, and on Monday next will deliver a policy speech at Winton. SOLDIERS’ FARMS. [ INVERCARGILL, April 5 '

The Prime Minister to-night made the following statement to a “South land Times” reporter. ‘‘The district committees are now actively engaged in the work of the revaluing of soldiers' farms, and some two or three have completed their field work. As the various inspections and revaluations are completed, they are sent forward to the Dominion Revaluation Hoard which has its headquarters in Wellington.” To date tbe Dominion Board have made about. 795 determinations, and the interested parties have been so advised. The applications for reconsideration have been very small, in fact negligible, and this is to be taken as distinct evidence flint the Dominion. Board is generously giving -effect to the Governments instructions that the Soldier Settlers are to receive fair and honest relief, ami assistance': The Board have been able to secure, in several eases the complete discharge «>l‘ second and third mortgages. Tlie postponements granted have been, in almost every cast 1 , more generous than Liaise suggested by the district committee'. The Dominion Board have field meetings in Hamilton, New Plymouth, Christchurch. Blenheim, Nelson, and Hokitika, have taken the opportunity to view as many areas as possible and these visit s of inspection have been appreciated, and are very helpful as the Board thus obtains first hand knowledge. and is better able to make its determination. The attitude ot the Board in ibis respect must, enable if to do justice to the question at issue and create confidence. Very substantial reduction having been made as regards advances, bv the way of combined mortgage advances. Rentals have been reduced where necessary and postponement- of arrears given for periods of 7 and 10 years respectively and also to the end of the mortgage terms (usually 30.1 years). ’The Board actively endeavours to arrange finances as between ■the. settler and his creditors and has met with a fair amount of success.’ TAX. COMMISSION. WINTON, April 7. Speaking at Winton last night. Air Alnsse.v announced the personnel of the taxation commission as follows: Judge Sim (President), Messrs Shailer Weston and Sborteliffe (Wellington), W. D. H uut. .MAIN TRUNK TRAIN. RUNS INTO A SLIP. TE lifilTl, April H. The Wellington-Auckland express van into a slip between Ivopaki and Puketiitu 14 miles south of To Kuiti. Tiie engine left the line and ran .75 yards on the sleepers. None of the carriages left the line. The engine v.as damaged hut not seriously. It is expected to have the line clear before midday. The presence of mind of the driver averted a serious disaster. If the brakes had been applied suddenly the whole train might have left the line. The train was going at a moderate speed and was brought up with the two ends in separate cuttings. Between these was a drop of fifty feet. The slip occurred round a sharp bend and it was impossible to see it tilt within ten yards. A relief train from To Kuiti brought the passengers to here at (i a.m. 'I he journey was continued at 9 by a special train from Frunktoii. No one was injured.

MR HOLLAND’S PROTEST

WESTI’ORT, April 8. This morning Mr Holland, M.P.. (Leader of the Labour Party wired as follows to the Prime Minister:— Now that the personnel of the Taxation Commission is available 1 beg to supplement my previous protest against the refusal of the Government to give the workers any representation' whatever on the commission. Not only is representation denied the wage workers, but the primary producers are also excluded. The Commission scorns to me to be solely representative of middlemen. I have no hesitation whatever in saying that the glaring one-sidedness of the representation mi the Commission will arouse dissent and resentment in the whole of the workers organisations throughout the Dominion.

• EXPRESS RUNS INTO SLIP. NO PASSENGERS WERE HURT. TAUMARUXUT. April 8. The Wellington to Auckalml express ran into a- slip* a. mile north of Ixipaki and about fourteen miles south of Te Kuiti at 1.45 o’clock this morning. The engine was derailed, but tlie carriages remained oil the line. No passengers were hurt. A relief train left- for the scene of the accident at 6.15 p.m. with four hundred passengers hound for the north. Tlie slip is fairly extensive, and the trains on the southern side are still held up.