DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

HV TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. CXI V KIiSITY KDt'CATin.V. .MINISTER ADVOCATES INQUIRY. WELLINGTON. July 10. A Royal Commission to consider the whole question of universities was the suggestion of the Hon C. J. I’arr. .Minister of Education, in an interview to-day.’ lie thought that the scope ol such Commission should include administration and reconstruction of the Senate and the formation of lour v.cparate universities. Among other items that would come under review .would he the proper function of the university in respect to agricultural c«iiicat ion. Air I’a it said that in the University world of the Dominion to-day uiilv the haziest ideas prevailed regarding this important matter, and no concrete proposals had been put forward. He appreciated the keenness of Wellington and Auckland I'niver-itie- on the subject of agricultural college-, but no solid scheme has been put forward, nor had it been stated how far and in what direction the university should dc.-d with agricultural education. These were pertinent issues upon which ho had got, very little information from the university authorities. His opinion was that the Senate would greatly eiieonrago agricultural subjects in high school- if it gate agriculture more prominence in the matriculation examinations. lie considered that the Agi'irultnral Department iiiu-t come closely into touch with agricultural education in the way of c-lnbli-liiug institutions for pracinal fanning. Dealing with agricultural education in tin- schools, the .Minister thought n was clear that (here -Imiild be an inquiry into the whole question with a view to securing co-oi'dimi I ioii and correlation in the work of l lie twenty—ix specialist agricultural teachers at present winking in the Dominion without proper expert supervision. These specialist- were distributed as follows:—Six in Auckland district, lour in Taranaki, three in Hawke'- Bay. three in Wellington, four in Wanganui, one in Nelson, three in Canterbury.. three m Otago and one in Southland. They were at present suffering from lack ol co-operation and seemed Io lack proper expert supervision and control.

t'AK.MKRS’ SEEK LABOUR RAIMA'S HELL WELLINGTON. July 11. The Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' I'nion interviewed members of the Labour Rart.v to-day to place before them the decisions of the recent Conference regarding the moratorium. agricultural banks, taxation, and the coii-litution of the Dairy Control Board. They advocated tile extension of the moratorium because while not supporting this system they held there mu-1 be a gradual lilting, otherwise lliele would lie extreme dilliculty in adjusting the matter and many farmers would have to walk oil their farms because they could not lace the expense and uncertainty of Supreme Court proceedings as suggested by the I ’rilin’ .Minister. Mr Holland said the information given would l>e .sympathetically considered by the party, lie realised that action must he taken about the moratorium. A DOl'ni.K CHART. AI'CKLAND, July in. At the l’olice Court. William Becker was lined 118 in default fourteen days' gaol, for having published a double chart He laid odds of £2B to .Is with two men and when he refused to pay out one. complaint was made to the police. R,RIDDING accident. ARCKLAND. July 111. A man named Richard Sliicls was killed at a building ii. Reach Road through a mortar trestle billing on him.

TWELVE YEARS OF OFFICE.

MR MASSEY CONGRATULATED

AY ELLINGTON. July 10. During the dinner adjournment mendiers of the Reform Rally as

scudded and nas-eil the following motion: ‘'Thai members ol the Relorm Rart.v in Rarliaiiient de-ire to convey to the Right Him. M . K- Massey their hearty congratulations on his twelfth anniversary of the day on which lie look the office of Rriuie Min-i.-ter of New Zealand, and to express (heir entire isnifidcm-c in liim as their leader."

A MATERNAL FATALITY. DARGAVILI.E. July 11. A married woman. Mr- George Davidson. died suddenly at Tekopiiru yesterday. At the inquest to-day the verdict, was one of death from piilmijfimr.v cmholiis after childbirth. Deceased was only 28 years of age. and was wellknown in the di-trici. SNEAK TillEYEs IN WELLINGTON AYKLLINTGOX, July 12 Sneak thieving lias been prevalent in the suburbs lately and yesterday several houses in Oriental Bay were ■ •(- tcrod during the occupiers’ absence and articles -iich as jewellery stole:. The thieves’ attention seems to be confined to small valuables and ea.ti? transportable goods.

ELECTRIC ROWER ROLI

WA I MATE. July 11. The AYaimate Borough ratepayers carried a poll by two hundred ami thirty-three votes to thirty-six on the South Canterbury Rower Board s proposals to raise a loan of L'-HLUOI) to reticulate the Borough. It is anticipated that current from Lake Coleridge will be turned on in April. CURTAILING SKRA'ICE. AATdLLINGTON. July 12. Local agents have been informed that the French .shipping service which has been making AYolliiigton a port of (id! on the round trip from Frame to New Zealand will no longer include New Zealand in the itinerary, as trade was unprofitable. A call will now be made at Suva instead. AAY AI’UN I ROAYEIt SCHEME. AYELLINhTON. July 11In a statement to the House on the Avap.im power scheme, the Minister ol Public AYorks reviewed the position. He said that, after an exgiinmitioii ol the tenders, it was found that the cheapest alternative, and the one winch at t!i«* s:nm* tinif was aU'olutvly s;iti>factory from a technical point ot view, was 'that of Sir AY. G. Armstrong. Whitworth ami Company, al C,,V Their price lay within le.-s than one per cent, of the Department’s estimate. The Minister explained that tender- were called for the work in two contract-, one for the dam. spillway, ami part of the headworks. and the other for the erection of the powerhouse and the installation ot the; requisite plant for a capacity ot bO.OOO liorse power, hut the conditions said that preference would be given to the firm tendering for Initli contracts.

TAVO BLENHEIM LOANS

BLENHEIM. .Tilly 12. The Innn proposal for £1,750 for fire hricado purposes was carried, lmt the second loan of £20.000 for road improvements was turned down.