DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

JJY TELF.GRAI’H —rHESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

MOB I BBSaTION SCHEME. BLENHEIM, July 8.

At a gathering of the mem hers of the Marlborough Service Association Lieutenant-Colonel Avery, Quarter-master-Genera) of tho New Zealand Defence Force, delivered an interesting lecture in •which he described the scheme which was being provided for the mobilisation of the troops in time of war

Profiting by the experience gained in tlie days of fevered activity in 101-1, Coolnel Avery'Haul, the Defence Depnitment was taking stops to have a proper plan of mobilisation prepared. On the last occasion errors had been committed and inefficiencies exposed. 'Hie difficulties that had cropped up in the last war had been studied, and the Department was taking steps to guard against a lecuirente of such obstructions to rapid mobilisation. It was putting into book form, as it note, a carefully planned scheme which could lie set in operation instantly. Should the necessity arise for tho prompt and expeditious mobilisation of the country’s troops there would he a clearly defined path to follow. The mobilisation would comiiri.se three distinct stages, the preliminary warning, redistribution, and, finally, the collection of tlie men and putting them into training. HOME FOB STRAY DOGS. AUCKLAND, July 8. The late John Aicken bequeathed a hundred and fifty pounds to tho Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals towards establishing a home for stray dogs. NEW RAILWAY TARIFF. WFLI.-INGTOX, July 8. The Minister of Railways informed a deputation from the Associated Chambers of Commerce to-day, which asked wlien the new railway tariff schedule would be available, that the tariff laid to be reprinted and anomalies cleared up, and then tlie question of policy defined in respect to the readjustment of the tariff. The policy question was receiving attention now. When reclassification of freights was completed, various interests would lie consulted to ensure that no injustice was clone to any particular section. He thought that certain powers would have to be taken hy the Act, giving the management of the railways discretionary authority in conne: tiou with meeting the competition uf motor vehicles. Tho situation had to be met.

BLENHEIM BOBBERY. BLENHEIM, July 9. A young Australian, Victor Charles Hugo Greaves, 2G years of ago, was lo.sponsible for tho burglary committed al Pridtllo'fi Saloon on Monday night and was arrested at Renwic-itown. Ho pleaded guilty, and was committed to Hie Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. mental defectives enquiry. CHRLKTCHURCII. July !». The Committee of Enquiry appointed to ine.svtigato matters connected with the treatment of the feeble-minded and fcxual offenders commenced its sittings in Chri-tchuroh to-day. Hon W. If. Triggs presided. Lengthy evidence was given by medical men and social workers. The general opinion expressed was in favour of segregation of such rases, but sterilisation was not advocated to any great extent. It would effect a prevention of priin-'t.g.'indn, but it would not stop indecent acts. Mental defectives, it was contended, should be dealt with by a board or tribunal, and not have to appear before a Magistrate to be committed to a borne. lit deciding what clii-s should lie segregated, the first point lor the tribunal to consider was whether a person was a fit person to reproduce bis kind, and the second ground of ("insidern t ion should be whether a per-on was a danger to the eommunitv.

MAKTKRTOX BOROUGH AFFAIRS, M.ASTKRTON. Julv 9.

The Borough Loan Proposal for L"_’ s ,:p)ii (or extending the water reticulation, which the ratepayers rejected at the poll six months ago hy .’Hi) votes to did, was to-day again rejected hy (>1 if to odd. In the by-election for a seat on ihe Council, Mr F. C. Evans was returned liy a -1(111 majority over two other candidates. Air Evans unsuccessfully contested the Napier sent in 19)9, and the AJaslertoii sent in 1922 at the General Elections.