DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TKLEGRAPB—ritKSS ASSN., COI'YItIGIIT.

FORGERY CHARGES, AUCKLAND, July 7

At the Police Court, a young man, Eric John .Mercer, pleaded not guiltjto a charge of'forgery and uttering. He was committed for trial. The evidence showed that accused arranged to purchase a motor car for t'o'JO, giving iucchecpie for that amount and signing his uncle’s name. The manager of the motor company said it was understood that the accused was not to have the car until witness found whether the cheque would be met. In a statement to a detective, Mercer admitted he look four cheque forms from bis uncle’s hoti-e at. Raglan, and, coming to Auckland, lie wrote a cheque for Co-0, knowing it would not he cashed. He wanted to make his friend believe that lie was a man of means-.

On a charge of forgery and uttering a cheque for L‘l at To Awamutu, Mercer was remanded to appear there on July loth.

“TKMPTATTOX TOO GREAT.” WELLINGTON. July 5

A young postal officer, Percy Reginald Sutherland, in the Supremo Court to-day was admitted to probation for two years, on a charge of forgery and uttering.

The Crown Prosecutor remarked that tile system of detection in the service must he particularly good. Hundreds of thousands of vouchers were passed for payment annually ill the Post and Telegraph Department, and this was the'" first occasion on which a fraud in this connection had been perpetrated. Even this one was- detected. Sir Robert Stout. Chief Justice, said thin this was another case in which prisoner had failed through drink and gambling. Prisoner was apparently industrious, but temptation bad been too strong for bis power of resistance. It appeared to be a case where probation could bo granted. HAUL OF ,1 F.WRI.S. AUCKLAND, July 5. Burglars last night entered the premises of Aielzer Brothers pawnbrokers, Victoria Srcct, Auckland and removed watches and jewellery valued at £303. Til K BOARDING HOUSE FIR E. AUCKLAND, July 7.

In connection with the I’okeuo fire fatality. Walden was the means of saving the lives ol a woman and a child. The deceased rushed into the burning building to rescue bis sister, who, he believed, was inside. The housekeeper, Mrs I.angdon, who was in bed with her little bay, was awakened by a voice .shouting: “May.” the name of Walden’s sister. Tin? name was shouted ome, and then there was a low murmur. and no more. Had it not been for this warning. Mrs I.angdon believes that she and her hoy would have perished. because she had time only to w rap a blanket, round the hoy and dash for safety. In a moment or two, she would have been suffocated.

APPEAL COURT. WELLINGTON, July 5. The Appeal Court to-day gave judgment in the ease of Boyd. v. AXelliugl in City Carp.mition. the District band Registrar and the Attorney-General, relating to land taken for the purpose ol a tramway. TTv* ease was removed by Mr Ju.itice MacGregor from the Supreme Court. By a majority of three to two judgment went for the corporation. Sir Robert Stout, Mr Justice Sim and Mr Justice Adams all held that the case of Mere Roihi against the Assets Company Ltd. (I00o) and Sir Robert Stout and .Mr Justice Adams also expressed the opinion that, apart from this, the |.ro<-lamalion was una-sadahle i.n view tf Section .‘StJ7 of tiio Municipal Corporations Act. 10:IS. under which the land wan taken. Mr Justice Salmond and Mr Justice Striiiger. dissenting-, were of opinion that the principle of Alert' Roihi’s case did not cover the present case. A WOMAN’S SUICIDE. AtSCKI. and. July 7. Tile body of Airs Dorothy Alnddock was found in a creek lif-ar her residence at Fast Tamaki. She was missed on Monthly evening. Her jumper Wits found near the creek. Deceased was aged 20 yea is. Recently she obtained a divorce from her husband. Sin.* leaves two young children. ALLIANCE OF LABOR. WELLINGTON. July 8.

It is stated that since the Amalgamated Society of Hallway Servants severed alliliation with the Alliance of Labour, other labour organisations have been considering the advisableuess of taking a ballot on the question. ft was recently announced that the freezing workers and allied trades: federation resolved to secure an expression of opinion of members on such a breakaway from the Alliance, hut the result of the ballot is not yet declared. It is also stated authoritatively that the New Zealand Amalgamated Society engineers and metal workers lias issued ballot papers on the question of severance from the Alliance. If the two organisations named decide on severance, the l‘edcration will comprise eight organisations, namely, seamens, watorsidors, miners, drivers, tramwaymen, storemen and packers, workers union and timber workers.

A REPLY TO THE AIIXISTEH. AUCKLAND, July .8

The general manager of the Farmers’ Fertiliser Company, replying to the Hon \Y. Xosworthy’s statement in the House,, in regard to tlie Farmers’ Parlv and the directors of the company. said the directors numbered twelve, of whom two were associated with the parly, it was obvious that the .Minister was confusing Air AC Harding, one of the directors, with .Mr A. K. Harding, provincial president of the Farmers’ Union. The Alilii-tor claimed on one occasion that he was successful in getting the company to reduc e the price of lertMiser by -„ per ten. Air Wilson said that at no time had the company been influenced |,e the opinion of the Minister in lixj,‘,„ prices. Prices had been lixed from time to time as a business proposition without anv consideration ol political influences. 'As to the innuendo that the company was exploiting tanners the company’s balance-sheet for three years of manufacturing should he sufficient evidence that prices always had been moderate, and so far the sniircliolders had received no dividend, the finished product was sold to-day at about 5 nor cent above pre-war rates, and taking into consideration the hi-dier costs of production and marketing these compared favourably with pre-war rates. 0 AYE HIS I JFK FOR -ANOTHER.

■DUNEDIN. July 5. \t the inquest on John Joseph Kropp. hotel porter, who died m the Dunedin Hospital on .Tune 20tli. as the result of injuries received through being knocked down by a runaway horse the evidence showed that, in going to. ladv’s assistance Kropp met with tlie accident. The coroner, in returning a verdict of accidental death said that he had every sympathy for the relatives of deceased, who had lost his life in an endeavour to assist a lady.