DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

nv TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. FLOUR SUPPLY. DUNEDIN. A lay 15.

Writs have been issued liy the Crown against the Crown Alilling Co. (Dunedin), A. Fleming and Co. (Invercargill), Woods (Christchurch), Atlas Roller Alills (Timaru), and Distributors, Ltd., claiming from each tlio sum of £SOO for an alleged breach of the Commercial Trusts Act.

The Crown will also apply for an injunction to restrain an alleged breach of the statute.

The allegation is that Distributors, Ltd., to which each of the companies named, with other companies, is connected, has acquired practically a monopoly of the supply of flour throughout the greater part of New Zealand, and that the monopoly is contrary to the public interest and therefore a breach of the Act.

It is not expected that the cases will be taken in the Supreme Court till August nex.

potatoes. THE AUSTRALIAN EAIBARGO. OAAIABU,' Alay 15. The Alinistcr of Agriculture made a statement regarding the Australian embargo on potatoes after the official opening of the North Otago winter show today. lie said that while in Australia lately the Director-General of Agriculture discussed with the Australian authorities ihe question of the embargo. As a. result of discussions which took liliu-o, the Victorian Government decided that it would bo willing for New Zealand potatoes to be admitted under cei tain conditions which may be summarised ns follows:—“That provision be made by regulation under the Federal' Quarantine Act to allow the admission of Now Zealand potatoes if they ,i : • accompanied by a Government certificate of having been examined and found free from powdery scab or other scheduled disease, also that they have boon grown on a farm or farms on which special inspection has shown no indication of existence of powdery scab for a period of twelve months. Inspection at port of entry will he provided for. and it- may he that growers will be required to stencil their names on the bags. AYhen Dr. Rcakes left Australia said the Alinistcr, the matter was in tlie hands of the Commonwealth authorities, and lie had very good reason for hoping that it would go through all right.

YALE TELESCOPE. AUCKLAND NOT SUITABLE. AUCKLAND, Mny 15. The Alayor has received a cablegram Irom Yale University that tests taken in Auckland in connection with the proposed 20-inch reflecting telescope show that the atmospheric conditions here are nor quite suitable for the sp-coinl requirements. Air Gunson stales it was understood during the negotiations that the alternative would bo South Africa.

FORGERY CHARGE. JURY DISAGREES. WELLINGTON, Afay 13. ■|ne trial of Reginald Hoggnrd, a clerk, formerly employed in the To Are brunch of 'the National Bank, on charges of forging a cheque for £ll7 17s, and uttering the same, and alternately. the theft of that sum. was ended last night.

The jury after deliberating for four hours retimied at U.llO-o’clock, stating that there was no hope of agreement. Evidence was given concerning two cheques alleged to have been forged by accused.

The accountant at the hank described certain entries in the hank hooks made by accused as fictitious.

Detective Xuttnll related what look place when lie visit oil the bank in response to a telephone call on March ■27. lie examined a brown paper parcel, tile property of the accused, which was found in the basement of the hank, where accused . had placed it. Amo lip other things which the parcel contained was belting material such as day cards, double cards and a hotting ledger. There were also two credit slips, a cheque torn in four pieces and specimen signature hook": His Honor stated that, the case was not a simple one. although it should have been could it ho said Htiggaid was in tho hex as a victim ol a blunder or a mistake. He had made no explanation. though given every opportunity bv the hank to do so. AVliat the jury had to decide was whether this was a fraudulent transaction. When the jury niinoiniced its disagreement a now trial was ordered far Monday.

THE MORATORICM. “SrTCIDAh TO T.TI'T TT” PALMERSTON X.. May !*;• In replv to a question at a political meeting to-night, Mr R. Masters, lm-ni-her for Stratford, said in view of the financial condition of the country it would he suicidal to lift the moratorium. lie had hoped a sufficiently large

amount of money would be placed to tlie credit of the State Advances Department to meet the position, but as this would not bo passible in view of the many applications, it would ho better to extend the moratorium.

“AIANSLAUGIITER.” SUGGESTED ALTERATION OF Till TERAI.

AUCKLAND, Afay 15.

Disinclination of juries to convict in cases of which the term “manslaughter” is applied, and desirableness of altering the legal description of many such cases was once more referred to by Air Justice Stringer in the Supreme Court. The term, his Honour pointed out, was suggestive of something that hpprtonchcd murder, anil juries were consequently disposed to take a lenient view of the facts put before them. If, as lie suggested, the offence were called what it really is, namely criminal negligence, juries would probably not have the same dislike to return verdicts of conviction when they wore justified by the facts. .

BIG AfEAT .MERGER. AV E LTJNG TON. Afay 10.

Some important proposals were forthcoming at a meeting hold at Wellington to-day upon the subject of the organisation of the freezing companies under one board, having for its objects: To acquire, on behalf of the stock owners of the Dominion all the freezing works at present existing, for the purposes of the export of meat and by-proilucts.. to secure the return of surplus profits to the producers, to prevent tlie acquisition or control of the industry either by local or foreign vested interests, to control the industry and reorganise the receiving, killing preparation, and shipment of stock and agricultural products.

Provision is made for the maintenance of control by the stock owners of the Dominion, the constitution to he somewhat on the lines of harbour hoards, or the Meat Producers Board. It is suggested that there shall lie a central hoard of ten—live from each Island—representing district hoards. It is propsed to sot up a. Valuation Commission of three mouthers—one appointed hv the Freezing Companies Association. one hv the Meat Producers Board, and the third to he appointed |>y the other two. In arriving at valuations, what is ascribed as “per head valuation" would he taken into consideration. The present owners would he paid for the full valuation l>y debentures, which should carry six per. cent, interest and lie redeemable not later than thirty years from issue. On all properties acquired, sinking fund payments to he placed in the hands of the Public Trustee as security for debentures.

It is variously estimated that tho valuation of properties used in the conduct of the freezing business in the Dominion ranges from seven and a half to ten millions sterling, including the value of the -working stocks on hand at the time of taking over.

The proposals have originated with Messrs J. Begg (Dunedin). R. S. Chadwick (Dannevirko). and .T. E. Mnkgill (Auckland). At three meetings representing the farmers, freezing companies, proprietary companies and all companies concerned'. which were held yesterday, the majority tentatively approved of the scheme. A committee was appointed to take evidence, obtain expert legal and financial advice, and prepare a report for a further meeting to he held later.

TAX AT lON' COMMISSION. AVF.U.INOTON. May 10. In the course of the proceedings of the Taxation Commission, the Commissioner of Taxes. Mr 0. 0. Clark, contradicted certain statements which have been made from time to time to the effect that an alteration in the assessment of companies for income tax has been opposed by the Tax Doparement. on account of the inconvenience it would cause. The Commissioner said that an alteration of the company taxation in the direction exemping the companies altogether: and assessing the dividends ill the hand of the shareholders would enormously simplify the work of tho Department.