DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

£lO FOR BOOKM.IKTNO. DUNEDIN. Aug. 13. At tho Police Court. John William Logan a casual labourer in the Railway Department was fined £lO for l>oo*fmnking. The police statement showed that defendant confined his operations to shilling doubles among bis fellow workers and friends. . THE BEEF INDUSTRY. MASTERTON, August 13. The culmination of a quantity of correspondence appearing in the local press (imeeriiing the unstable position of the beef-growing industry in Now Zealand was a meeting of farmers today whereat various opinions were expressed concerning the possibilities of improving the industry. On the motion of Mr L. F. Danioll. it was decided that the .Meat Producers Board be asked to estimate the mount of beef to be eaten annually in New Zealand to cope with the glut of beef; and further. to issue monthly reports in varasked to estimate the amount of beef ary to be eaten for the economic handling of the country’s resources. The mover stated that, working on the figures of the Meat Board’s annua! report, if five per cent more beef and five per cent less mutton were eaten, they would annually consume 12,9 i() more head of cattle and save for export not less than 110,970 sheep, besides permitting a further growth of wool.

A CHILD’S DEATH. DUNEDIN, August It. While undergoing a severe operation at the Dunedin Hospital yesterday for ear trouble. Vernon Mateliet. aged 18 months, suddenly expired, while under an anaesthetic. SEPARATE UNIVERSITIES MOVEM ENT. DUNEDIN. August 12. A special meeting of the Otago University Council was held to consider the report of the special committee set up to confer with the professorial hoard on the proposal from the northern university colleges to replace the New Zealand University with separate universities in each of the lour centres.

Mr W. .). Morrell moved “111111 the council of the University of Otago is strongly opposed to the institution within the near future of lour separate universities ol New Zealand, believing that this would lie eoiitrarv to the interests of edueation in the Dominion and is of the opinion that any necessary reforms or modifications can lie carried out within the present university of New Zealand, and that copies of this resolution be sent to the other colleges, the Prim? Minister and the Minister of Edueation.”

The motion was seconded by Mr \\ . Rennie, and alter an exhaustive discussion was carried by nine votes to one, Professor Bonham being the only opponent. POLICE REPORT. WELLINGTON. Aug. Id. fu his annual report, the Commissioner of Police says: l nder the lieai*itig ot serious crimes, there lias been a decrease of 83 olleiices reported. There were 129 less burglaries and breaking and entering cases, hut there was an increase of 89 lorgerics. I hi*re veie i murders, as compared with live the previous year, anil iu six eases nllenders were arrested. The only had ease in which no arrest was made was that of the murder of Mrs Oates at Wanganui. Inquiries are still being continued. The actual strength of the l’nlice Force on the 3|st. March last was 1999 permanent member.-, and 18 temporary constables, as compared with 989 permanent and 23 Icm Horary iu Mutch. 1923. a net increase of 21 men. Hie oHiif rs- in charge <4 districts ask lor 8.1 more men lo meet the requirements ol the service, and as population increases. there can be no doubt that the strength of the police must U' increased at the same ratio to carry oil the work in an ellicient manner. In |i)|3 rile proportion of police to population "as I to 123 i ; at the presenttime it is I to 1392. To bring up the force to its proper standard, at least lo more men are required.

TRUCK DRIVER KILLED. 11A WEILL August 13. A motor truck driven by James lleiirv King, of Normaiiby, overturned on Glover Hoad, resulting in the driver being killed anil his daughter injured. The tyre blew out and King was fatally crushed. The child was thrown out, her injuries being not serious. The deceased recently came I rom fl.TW'kes Bay and leaves it widow and three children. A SETTLER’S DEATH. TK AWaMU'I U, Aug. 14. Charles Riehilale Tcrore, the settler who t\as louial in Ins house on July itli. badly injured as tlie result ol a blow on the head, ami for which Frank Garrett, a ueign boitmig farmer, was later committed for trial ou a charge ol causing actual bodily harm, died hist night at his sister’s home at Paterangi. liichilalc appeared iu Court a tortnight ago. am! gave evidence incriminating Garrett. He, seemingly, quite rceovert'll, but yesterday afternoon became semi-conscious, living iu the evening before medical aid could be obtained. A post mortem lots been held and tile inquest takes place 10-ninrrow.

HARBORS’ CONFERENCE. ■WELLINGTON. Aug. 14. A Conference of the Harboms’ .W-n. of New Zealand opened to-day, Mr (■. Mitchell (Wellington) presiding. He ri,anked tin- Mmiser of -Marine lotbringing down the Consolidating il.nbunrs’ Act, einlHidying measures that boards bad long striven for. There acre, however, many other matters which they thought should Is' included. European countries were looming as i mnpetitors in British markets, with our produce and cheaper labour costs, and freight favoured them. Ihe stoppace of borrowed n.oitey lor war purposes and depression at Home bad severely curtailed tite purchasing power of the British people. Under me circumstances they could not look tor a continuance of high prices lor the whole of our produce, but there was no need for alarm. Their aim should Ikto wive more efficient and cheaper service to shipping anil shippers alike, which would make for the lower cost <>!

transport. WEI-LINOTON. Aug. M. Hon. Anderson (Minister of Marine) said although he had promised last year to bring in an amending hill this session, in view of the present Conference lie. had determined to postpone further legislation until next year, until he had an npixirtunity of carefully oonsidering the recommendations of the Conference. He pointed out that the act provided that I*> foro a harbour work would lie commenced. plans musthe approved by the Department. Hitherto the attitude had largely lieen that if the work did not interfere with navigation, the Department's function was ittlißlcM. However, in the future it would he wise, especially in the case of new harbours that complete plans lie submitted without any fuss or trouble. These plans should I*> thoroughly gone into and then the public would have greater security than if such precautionary steps were not taken. The Department would determine if the harbour work was essential on the grounds from navigation and engineering points of view, and whether if other tnepns of typpsport exist, (Rid

the provision of additional means was justifiable, and whether the work would be of such advantage as to be eelfsupporting without recourse to special rating. CLAIM AGAINST DOCTOR. AUCKLAND. Aug. 14. Dr Dunlins Mackenzie, Dr. Bruce Mackenzie, stated in evidence that lie visited the defendant in response to a general invitation to investigate Abram’s mac-bine. The defendant promised to make some tests of the blood submitted by witness, but after much delay defendant refused to carry out his promise, giving tho reason that witness was not an honest investigator. Witness said the principle of the machine was that every disease had its s|H'i> ial rate of radio activity and the claim was that the application of this rate would cure the disease. Other claims were made, such as that it. could tell the religion, sex. age. and paternity. He classed some of the claims as ridiculous nonsense. He arrived at the conclusion that so far as the method was said to rest upon a recognised scientific case, the metlnnl was an absolute fraud and hopeless.

Gf.KNMOPE-MUP,CHIK()N RAILWAY WELLINGTON. Aug. 14.

A deputation of West Coast members of Parliament waited op the Prime Minister and Minister of Railways in regard to the completion of the Glen-hope-.Mu reh iso u railway. Mon J. G. Coates said that it would cost about £430.900 to complete the 23 mile gap and more than a million extra to connect tip to Jnaiignhua. Tie was not enthusiastic about the possibility of the lino paying when completed. He stressed the necessity of surveying for tile Westport line before commencing any active work on that section. It would not pay to stop other works now in band in order to attempt to deal with those proposed, lie proposed to put a vote on the Estimates in regard to the Miiroliisoii-Gleiihope section.

The Prime Minister spoke of possibilities of tapping Butler Gorge on account of the coal resources, and from that point of view lie thought it should be pushed ahead as soon as possible, lie was sure it. would pay as a coal line and once it was constructed it would solve tlie dilticulty of providing sufficient coal for the Dominion’s requirements. Government would do its best this year to provide for the deputation’s request. \N UNDESIRABLE. NEW PLYMOUTH. Aug. 14. Alexander Clifford James \\ elsli was sentenced to three mouths imprisonment on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person with insufficient visible lawful means of supnort. Defendant. under the name of Do l.a Seacuvd. posed as a civil engineer and special correspondent of the Sydney “ J olograph” sent to write tin the oilfields. He was also lined £1 on each of two charges for offences against the Anns Art. and was sentenced to two months imprisonment on eaeli ol two charges ol theft.