DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN , COFYRIOHT. MAULED H£ LIONESS. FATHER AND SON HOSPITA.LLED. OISRORXE, October :!o. At thi? Showground yesterday whilst ii three-year-old boy was fstandiny; at the harrier watching the lion’s cage, the lioness shot out a paw and caught the child hv the neck. The boy’s father threw his ’ hands round the child’s neck and the lioness shot out the other paw inflicting wounds on the man’s two hands, the child sustaining a deep cut on the neck. The father and .son were sent to the hospital.

LOAN ROLLS CARRIED. AUCKLAND, October 20. The ratepayers of Newmarket, by off! to 71, carried the £ 1.7,.701) loan for concreting several Streets of the borough of OtalmlitL Ratepayers also .sanctioned the raising of the £12,000 loan for improving the water system, the voting being Rill to of. The poll at Northcote resulted: Repair of slips (£2,800). carried by 100 to 111!), recreation reserve (£2100), carried by 1 10 to l-10, streets improvement (£.7100) carried by ioll to l it). SOLDIERS’ FARMS. MAST Eli TON, October 29. Reference to the revaluation of soldier settlers’ properties was made by the Hon. A. I). MeLeod (Minister of Lands) at a social gathering in Carterton to-night. The Minister claimed that though the Government laid not achieved a total clearance for these men their position had been improved 90 per ceiit. Of 0.117 applications .‘l3lO had been revalued, a total of 72 per cent., leaving 28 per cent, still to he considered. The reductions in respect of these cases amounted to £1 ,-108,202, and if the Hoard continued this active writing off the actual loss would be £1.000.000 to C 2.000.000, which was not so great a loss as many clitics had expected. When the scheme was first launched the total amount owed by soldiers was £7J).*ISI, ami. ns the result of the Hoard’s negotiations a reduntion in these debts amounting to C0.’1.000 had been secured. In addition to this the Dominion Hoard had completed negotiations for tile purchase of private mortgages totalling £10.002. which had been purchased for £Bl’>t. MOTOIt-’HCS COM PETITION. AUCKLAND. October 20. Passenger traffic by the ferry steamers running in the St. Hcliers-Kohima-rawn-l Irakei service has tallen off to su<li an extent, owing to motor bus competition, that the Devonport Forty Company has decided to discontinue the service as from November 2nd. r l his announcement was made in a entumuniction from the company to the Auckland Harbour Hoard. In this letter it was stated that owing to the serious loss which the company was experiencing on this route, it had been decided to withdraw the regular woek-dav sor-

HONEY EXPORT CONTROL. WELLINGTON, October 29

A Honey Export Control Hill, which has been asked for by honey exporters, lias been introduced in the House of Representatives. It is on llie* lines of the Fruit and Dairy Control Hills. It provides for the appointment of a Hoard of Control, one member appointed by the Government, and two ] rodiicers’ representatives b.v election. 'I lie re are the usual provisions for election and term of office. The Hoard is empowered to assume control of all limey intended for export, and may determine the extent to which it is necessary, for the elfeetive operation of the Art and the feP'dinent of its purposes, that it shim d exerri.se control Over the export of any honey. The emit tel may be al -c;'nte or limited honey over which the Heard a-stimcs absolute control shall lie graded, packed and ship ped as the Hoard dim ts. and shall be sold and disposed of only by the Hoard or by the direction of the Hoard at such times, in such manner and on such terms as the Hoard in its discretion determines. There is power to .appoint overseas agents and for the display of honey at exhibitions or elsewhere. The levy mi exported honey is one farthing per lb. ELECTRICAL TRADERS. ' WELLINGTON, October 29. At a meeting of the Chember of

Commerce a letter was received from the New Zealand Electrical Traders’ Association protesting against the trailing operations of Electric Power Boards and asking the Chamber to support them in a deputation to (he Prime M i nister.

The letter slated that the electrical business was developing to a greater extent than any other new business in j this country. Many firms, some longstanding and others more recent, had , invested large sums of capital In the business. These linns were carrying on business in the interests of the country generally. There was no combine, and there was no reason why they should not he given absolute freedom of trading rights. The unfair methods adopled l>v the Boards were seriously interfering with the business of private linns. In many instances they gave long credits and deferred payments and cut prices. This acted unfairly on private firms. In some districts it was almost impossible for the latter to secure business owing to the restrictions placed on them by Power Board regulations. If competitive trading, financed by ratepayers’ motley, was allowed to continue, firms would find their businesses threatened with entire destruction. The Chamber was appealed to to give its support on the general principal involved. While tho opinion was expressed that the Chamber did not like to lend itself to political deputations, it was decided to grant the required support. The opinion was also expressed that public bodies should he made to place their activities on the same business basis as private traders.