DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

lIY TKtjF.OßAPir—]*ltr.SS ASSN.J. COPYRIGHT. OFARANTIXK SYSTIOI. DL'XKDIX, May 7. For some time past the Health Department has had under consideration the desirability of reviewing the quarantine system in New Zealand, with the idea of ultimately adopting she system of medical examination of slapping which obtains in the Old Country. The subject was considered by the Board of Health, which passed a resolution supporting the views of olaeers of the Department in favour of following the English practice. T!>.‘ Minister of Health subsequently submitted the question to Cabinet, which, however, decided that no action should he taken.

As long ago as 181!). Kngland abandoned quarantine, and the question which has been before the authorities in New Zealand is whether the Dominion should follow thill example or vastly improve the system in operation here and bring it into line with thoroughly up-to-date systems in Australia.

MAX KLK( CROC FT KD. CHRISTCIirRCH. May 8. A labourer named James Karnest Williams, thirty -two years of ago, residing at llargood Street, Woollston, met bis death by electrocution about five o’clock last evening. Deceased was employed at the State coalyard. Harper Street. Woolston. He was engaged with two other employees .named Weavers and Atkins in working a circular saw driven by an electric motor which was connected with a pole in the yard by an uncovered copper cable. A few seconds prior to bis death do ceased turned on the electric current to start the motor and operate the saw. lie then walked from the switch towards the saw bench, a distance of about two chums, and he must have come in eoiilai j with file cable in do-

ing so. Mr Weavers, who was working ;i ,cir yards distant, heard deceased cry out, "Go and turn the power oil"'. Weavers rushed and ibis and when he returned lie found deceased lying on his hank with the cable aero--. bin body, lie was then apparently dead.

The body was removed t:i the Christrhurrli llosnital and examined by Dr Lanrnlh. who nronoi.iicnd life to lie extinct. Deceased leaves a wile and four children. CA BIN FT CHANGES. WELLINGTON. Mnv 7.

The nmioitiiccmcin was made somo time ago that Sir Heaton Bhodes and the Hon. I). 11. Guthrie.... Minister for Lands, will retire from political life at the close of the present T’aiTiamc and in Reform circles the question of consequent Cabinet, changes is being discussed. It is believed that the matter will he considered hy the I’rimc Minister and his party at the opening of the f lining ■.session of Parliament. Sir Heaton Rhodes has been ordered hy his medical adviser to take a complete rest. He will leave Wellington for the South Island to-night, and will I way for some weeks.

Meantime his various portfolios have been allocated as follows :- Forestry. Sir Francis Bell. Defence. —lion. W. Downie Stewart.

War Pensions. State Fire. Government Life Insurance. Superannuation and Friendly Societies. lion. G. .1. Anderson.

PI.I'MIIKIIS AND GASFITTKIIS

WELLINGTON". May 7. The application hy the New Zealand Federated Plumbers’ and Gaslit tors’ Industrial Association of Workers lor a Domil-'OU Award came before tbe ( oliilialio'. Ceiio.il to-da' . Applje.it i.nw fur exemption "ere made on beball ol ( bristebitreb and Wellington Ga- ( ninpauies. New Zealand Freezing Companies ami the Wellington Harbour Boaril. and were I'elelTcd to tile (ollt'l. It was urged by tile union that the

ga- coni|Mnic- were in competition with other employers, and what they wanted wa- to In* able lo call I lie men out alter hour- and nay them ordinary rates, while in -itch ciiviim-taiie:-- the ordinary employer would he. required to pay overtime. ITcc/.ing companies were also at times in competition with other employers.

N'.Z. ALLIANCE. WELLINGTON. May ft. At the annual meeting ol the New Zealand Allium e aimmg-t items noted in the annual review were protests hv wav of meetings ami deputations against the I-ropo-al to inlrod.uce license into King Country and numerous violations of the licensing law in regard to six o'clock < losing. In regard to the latter, ihe report states the met that six o'elock dosing is better oh-ei v. ad than was tell o’elock <.r eleven o'clock i.s not good, for all trade between -ix p.m. and nine a.m. is dhI trade and should le slopped at once and' for ever. The police have more time and better facilities than CVOI they had under ihe longer hours ol sale. The lejort al-o points that whereas liquor had promised a. revenue of two and a half miliums | ev annum, the olliciu! hgimrcs lor L>-- :; ll( | 11 )•_>:■, calendar years total md\ 1.7:511 inst.-ad of five million.-. 'I mil is in say. over two years ihe deficit i- 1.1 .UT.V-T.I as compared with what liipiov trallic had protni-cd the voters.

WELLINGTON CA-d-.S. WEI.TTnGTON. May 8. A negro. Christopher Marti-, lailcd to appear on charges of theft Inun the person. Hail was allowed to Marti- who has a record, and lm went to Australia. The hail ol I'll!" wa- ordered to he estreated. Ki-iuicis Osman Hurke, nil the same charge was then placed in the dock. ||e pleaded not guilty to the charge A .Maori. Mirni Urunini. was hitiml

..milv ol breaking and ciitcrcring a imu-cat l.yall Hay. Sentence was de‘T'he Magistrate’s Court. Loo Koo and Joe Leo were lined IMO each lor being in po-ses-ion ol opium. Mutable lor -milking, in tlofiinlt t«» imprisonment.

shoplieting cases. WELLINGTON. May 8. Mr .1. S. Hartoii. S.M., had a difitcult ta.-k this morning m dealing wit i female offenders who fell to the l«i----„f dress. Two married women attended Wa mock’s drapery su e pro vided with a kit hag. which they iilto the value of Lift before they created suspicion, which ultimately led to their arrest. The women were Airs Ford and Mrs Wilson. An unsuccessH,l endeavour was made to have their names suppressed. Mr Barton regarded the act a' premeditated. not impulse. Hi-'only consideration was for their young humlies and he decided not to send then to ~r i s„„. hut sentenced then, to IS months’ probation. Another young woman charged with stealing a costume valued at Li l j* from her employer, admitted the theft and was sentenced to 12 months probation. her name 'wing suppressed.