DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nv TELKGitArii —rr:tt press association

THE BRICE OF FRUIT. 'WELLINGTON, July IS

Many complaints were made in the Douse to-day respecting the price til Iruit. which is said to lie a accessary diet, but is often beyond the purse of the poor man. Some of the speaker* held that it was the Government's duty to investigate. Among the speakers was .Mr Savage, who saitl that it had always occurred to him as remarkable that there should bo so much fruit going to waste at the Cook - Islands, while there was such a hip' demand for it in this country. It was said that the shipments were irregular. but he did not think there was any need for them to he so. If the matter of shipment was left to private eterpri.se, it might remain as it. was today, but he saw tio reason why the Government should not step in.

TRAINING FARM OPENED. MAKTON. July 1?

The Governor-General officially opened Flock Hou-o where twenty-live sons of British seamen killed or wounded in the Great War. are being trained in farming under a .-cliemc of the Sluvpowners’ Acknowledgement, of Debt to British .Seamen Fund. Bird Jellicoe stated two things struck him. the spirit of generosity which brought the fund into being, and the fact that during the .-lump wlieu lov, prices obtained, it did not prevent the 2nr3 sheepowner. - ’ fret.i supporting i h-* fund. Hon Mr No.-worthy (Minister for Immigration) ‘-tilled the Department would assist the work in every possible way.

SERIOUS CHARGES. DUNEDIN, .fitly l u Waller Batinr-ee. aged 38 venrs.

married farmer, living in Wuikotc.iiii district, was charged to-day on remand with carnal knowledge, attempted carnal knowledge and indecent assault on three girls and two hoys, ail under 12. and hoarded out from institutions. The Court was cleared during evidence. Mr B. 1. Irwin appeared for accused, raid Chief Detective Lewis prosecuted. Alter hearing evidence, accused was remanded till Tucsdav.

CHARGED WITH ARSDN. DUNEDIN, July IS. In the Vnlice Court this morning. Hie ease was continued in which James Dec was charged wit It having on July 12th. wilfully sot file to a building situated at 73, Lower Rattray Street, oc•npieil by Keith Ramsay and Co. lie ’leaded not guilty to bull charges, anil vas represented by Mr ( . .1. 1.1 White. ( hid Detective Lewis said it was imposed to include evidence relating o three files on the same night of the digged offence, and also to a lire a

week previously, the object being to show system. After hearing evidence the Magistrate adjourned the case till next morning. AN AUCKLAND GAMING HOUSE. AUCKLAND, July 17 Twenty-seven men arrested in a gaming house raid last night appeared tit the Police Court this morning. All were convicted on a charge of being lor.ml in a common gaming house. Two were convicted and discharged, one was lined L"2, and the remainder £~> each. The keeper, John Barlett Jiakalich, admitted running his house as a gaming house for the last six weeks. Ho was fined £IOO.

SU'D SHEEP SALK. AfASTERTOX, July 17. At the dispersal sale of .Mr ]?. Hoick of Paerau. his stud of Southdown and Romneys realised t.'ioS 1. The top price was given for a Southdown ram, eighty-live guineas, the purchaser being Mr 11. Collier, of Maxwelltown. Romney stud rams sold at up to twenty guineas, flocks to ten guineas, Southdown ewes to twenty-four guiuguincas. [layers wore present from eas, and stud ram lambs to thirly-one Hawke’s llav, Nelson and Wanganui.

soldiers lands. WELLINGTON, July 10. During discussion with a deputation from AVhangamomona (Taranaki County Council it was stated that numbers of properties in the district had been abandoned by the holders, •ninety per cent of whom were ex-sol-diers. The point at issue was the loss of revenue to local bodies. In this case the Council lost £11;>-1, out of a total revenue of £I.OOO. The Minister of Lands agreed that some soldiers were over protected. An Order-in-Council now enables local bodies to recover rates from the Crown.

HIGHWAYS DISTRICT. I WELLINGTON, July 19. | The Chairman of the Highways

Board announces a resolution dividing New Zealand into 18 districts, amended n.y including all town districts iiot forming part of Counties situated within Weir boundaries. Thus Avondale Borough goes into No 2,- Auckland district, and Sumner and Lyttelton into No 14, Canterbury.

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.

NEW ZEALAND PRECAUTIONS

WELLINGTON, July 18

A statement wns made by Mr Massey in the House be foot and mouth disease. The question wns raised by Mr Ihtddo, who asked whether the Government was taking adequate steps to prevent the importation into New Zealand of products o! California which might result in the introduction to New Zealand of foot and mouth disease. Mr Buddo thought that everything from the Californian soil should lie prevented from being landed in Now Zealand. The Prime Minister ptaVi' ttii assurance that ovbvj" possible percnution wits being taken to prevent the introduction of the disease. Everyone knew what a disaster it would be if the disease got here. The .Minister of Agriculture had in the last few days to stand up to maiiy npplicatiihU Illith person* who Wanted to bring stuff in fri.lu California. Everything had been prohibited.

STATE INSURANCE EXTENSION. WELLINGTON. July 17. The scope of the State Insurance will he widened if the Government Insurance Amendment Bill, which wn.s read the first time in the House to-day, passes. The purpose of the Bill is to transfer from the Govef-limc.ut Insurance Department to the State Fire Department the accident branch, and to extend the iviwers of the accident branch from the insurance of persons to the insurance of properly, such its plate glass, motor cars, etc.