DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BV TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGIIT. AIETAL WORKERS’ AWARD. WELLINGTON, June IC. The last of the engineering trades disputes, the metal workers, cited under the Dominion proposals of the Ironmasters’ Federation came before Conciliation Commissioner Newton to-1 day. In each of the other disputes in the trade the parties did not get past the hours’ clause and the dispute was referred to the Arbitration Court. To-day, the dispute was refererd to the Court for interpretation on legal points. PARTLY BRITISH GOODS. AIR .MASSEY’S MOVE. WELLINGTON, June 17 Air Massey intends, when Parliament meets, to submit proposals to increase above the present rate of 25”,', the proportion of British manufacture in goods before they may become entitled, tis far as New Zealand is concerned, tfi the preferential tariff. Air .Massey says that he is aware the existing rate had been decided on as the Empire’s policy, but tfierc was no reason why New Zealand should not take the lead in improving the position of British manufacturers.

THE N.Z. EXHIBIT. REPLY TO CRITICISM. WELLINGTON, June 17 Recently most unfacourahle criticisms were published of the Now Zealand exhibits at Wembley, in particular a scathing comment was made on some sheep set tip in natural form. It is now said that these were lambs and not sheep and the critic couldn’t distinguish between them. A photograph of the group indicates that it was carefully a ltd skilfully arranged. Air D. Jones, Chairman of the .Meat Producers’ Board cables: “Tlie unanimous opinion of the trade and public is (hat New Zealand exhibits of meat surpasses anything previously seen under refrigeration and is a remarkable advertisement for the Dominion.” WELLINGTON’S AVAR MEMORIAL. SITE DE(TI)EI) UPON.

WELLINGTON, June 17 For some time the question of erecting Wellington's war memorial has been hung up because of the unsuitability of foe proposed site. Yesterday the matter was considered by Cabinet. At the conclusion of the meeting the Premier announced Cabinet had decided to accede to the War .Memorial Commit ice's request that the site in Parliament Gardens originally chosen by the Returned Soldiers Association for their Cenotaph he permanently set apart for Wellington’s war memorial. The .Memorial Committee have a sum of fifteen thousand sterling in hand and it is considered that now the site lias hccn definitely fixed there will be no difficulty in collecting the balance <>* the objective, which was twenty-five thousand, enabling them to erect a symbolical memorial that will fittingly perpetuate the memory of those gallant, soldiers who laid down their lives in the Empire’s cause.

CUSTOMS DIFFER. A SCOTSMAN’S LAAIEXT. AUCKLAND. June 11. In various spheres of life in New Zealand we are said to be drifting away from customs existing in the .Motherland (reniavk.s to-night’s “Stitr”). AA'e don’t perhaps notice changes, but people from the Old Country arc quick to observe and comment upon them. It will be recalled that a Scotsman recently held up his hands in holy horror when he discovered that guests at a public banquet given in connexion with the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, belli in Auckland, began their repast without grace being said, lie bail attended numerous functions in Scotland. and had never previously been at one where there hail been this omission. This unfortunate man seems lilted to have his susceptibilities hurt, for ho icports another shock which lie received at a dinner given last evening by the Auckland Provincial Iml ns trial • Association to delegates from the southern Industrial Associations. There was no grace, but, this was accepted as a matter of course. What did astound the Scot was that immediately after tlie repast? was over, and before the health •if the King bad been toasted, half a dozen of the most prominent citizens of Auckland were smoking cigarettes. .Most' people know that in Britain this is considered a grave breach of etiquette, and that no one should ‘‘light, up’’ until after the toast of “Tlie King”, when the chairman gives permission in these words. ‘•Gentlemen, yon may smoko.*’

DAYLIGHT BURGLARY. CHRISTCHURCH, July 17. Burglars, in broad daylight, yesterday. broke into a house tenanted by Airs .T. Thompson. Spreydon. and stole jewellery valued at £2OO. The thieves gained entrance by means of the leadlight.

Replying to a question at the end of his address at Wanganui, Air Veiteh expressed the opinion that trade within the Empire alone would bo absolutely disastrous to New Zealand. It would Ik? wrong, he thought, lot* this country to sell all its produce in Great Britain: enough should be sent there to pay for goods imported from that country, but markets should be openefi in other parts of the world, and produce should bo sent to where value could be obtained for it. He considered that an economics department should be sot up to study trade matters and to see that the country’s produce was sold to the best advantage economically. Tlie best way to strengthen the Empire was to build up the units of it. and the best way to do so in New Zealand was by good trading and trade development.