DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

11V TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT NO EARLY ELECTION. CABINET .MINISTER’S VIEWS. AUCKLAND, .May 28. "Are we to have an early electionb" That wits the question very often asked. remarked the J lon R. V. Bollard, .Minister for Internal AlFairs, at the ■opening of the Raglan Winter Exhibition.

"As far as the party with which I mu connected is concerned," Mr Bollard said, "we don't want an election ■other than at the usual time. The -same remark ran safely he applied to tho Liberal Party and the Labour I’arty. The country cannot afford to s|*.“iid between £S().ob\'l and 8100.000 on an early election, but the Government will he faced with no alternative, if there is obstruction during the session which prevents the passing of its legislation, than, to ask for a dissolution.

“I think, however, that when the parties meet anil the House settles down to work, although there may lie a good deal of opposition, an early election will not he favoured, in my opinion, should such a crucial vote he taken all the members of the Reform Party will be there, hut there will he .some absent members of the other parties. No, I don't think we will have another election until 1923—the proper time.”

RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION. CRITICISED BY MB VFITCH. HAMILTON, May 29 Mr W. A. Veiteh. the member for Wanganui, addressed a large audience at Frankton last night. He said that 'the Liberal-Labour Baity undoubtedly would be the Government of New Zealand ill the near future. The Reform Rat ty had gained coni ml of the newspapers and consequently the LilieralLahmir Party were giving addresses in t lie constituencies. Every department under the present Government was unsatisfactory and the Railway Department was Ihe worst. Surely the .Minister wa> to blame for this state of affairs. Better men wore willing and aide to take charge of the Department. | There had never been a balance-sheet presented with regard to the railways; all that had been done was to issue a statement of receipts and expenditure. Nothing had been allowed for depreciation ot stock. The Government was in arrears in Irving new lines. He strongly advocated decentralisation of the stall' to enable local officials to have more control over their stafT. A great deal ol the cost of administration was omisfd l )v work involved in carrying on a huge amount of correspondence with the head office. Operative

men .should have a chance of reaching the highest position in the service. The Government bail failed in its promises in regard to proportional representation. The Liberal Party could carry out nmnosals to give the people a inst system of voting. Mr Massey

was extremely extravagant in finances and there was a need for a change.

•••!' \eiteh criticised the Government in other directions. He was accorded a vote ol thanks for his interesting address.

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION. DUNEDIN. Mav 29. At a meeting or directors of the Exhibition Company to-night it was decided to accept the fender of Fletcher and Love, Dunedin, amounting to 237,318 lor the ■ i\- main buildings in connection with the exhibition. New Zealand timber will he used in the erect ion of the buildings. PRIVATE BARS IN HOTELS. DUNEDIN. May 30. In giving a reserved decision ibis morning in a licensing case, in whiili the licensee and barman were lined for exposing liquor for sale after hours, the Magistrate. Mr Bundle, said : ‘T cannot refrain from expressing the opinion that existence of private har.s in hotels must tend to illicit selling. If it i.s necessary for the convenient working of an In tel to have a storeroom or depot away from the ordinary bar. it .should not contain an open bar. The presence of such becomes known to the ordinary customers. affording a strong temptation. A bar, which the police find difficult to keep under supervision, must afford opportunities to evade the provisions of the Act."

lIARHOI'R HOARD RAISES HATES

TIMARI'. May 30. At tlie annual meeting of the Tiinnru Harbour Hoard to-day. Mr Win. Hayman was appointed chairman. Rv reason of the heavy expenditure Ibis year oil wharf renewals, it was decided to increase the rate by one thirty-second ol a penny in the £. making it five thirty-seconds of a penny in the £. The increase is estimated In bring in L'l'J.olKh A CRACKSMAN AT WORK. MASTERTON. May 30. Still another burglary was perpetrated on business premises in Masterton adding another to an already long list, a sports depot and tobacconist shop in Main Street being found this morning to have lieen visited last night. The front (lour was lorceil with a jemmy and the circumstances of the crime suggest it is the operation ot a cracksman who in an uninterrupted career for the past IS months has been a cause of anxiety to business men. About £■'. worth of razors, pipes and tobacco was stolen on this occasion.