DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BV TELEGUAPU— PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. TRAWLERS FOE SYDNEY. AUCKLAND, December 5. The sending of three trawlers from Auckland to operate off the coast of New South Wales is reported to he under consideration hv Messrs San fords Ltd Mr Gilbert Sanford, when seen, declined to supply any information, and it is probable that no definite decision has as yet heen arrived at, hut it is probable that a move will he made alter tihe New Year'. With several trawlers now operating in Auckland and many launches fitted out with the Danish seine net. the combined catches of fish are considered to he well above the public demand, and in disposing of their catches the launch fishermen, with their minimum of expense, can sell at a lower price per basket than the firms working with big trawlers. However, this may not he the reason why Sanlords Ltd., have under consideration the sending of trawlers to Sydney. for their decision may he influenced entirely by investigations made recently by the firm's manager in Sydney. The time may he deemed opportune to enter the trade in Australia. A few years ago the State Government of New Sooth Wales established State fisheries, purchasing trawlers and erecting a most up-to-date plant, including cold storage and a market, 'the amount involved, excluding the price of the tramlers, was £28.000, lint notwithstanding that no expense was spared, the venture proved an out-and-out failure and many thousands of pounds were lost. The Government eventually decided to clo-e down on the venture, and tenders were called for the plant, trawlers, etc.

There were live trawlers, and two of them, both English-built boats, were purchased by Sa.ufnrdis, Ltd., and brought to Auckland, where they were renamed the Alsan anil the Gilsaii. They have been ill operation about this coast ever since. Another boat, the Knraga. was disposed of to a coastal trawling company in Sydney for £5500, and an Aucklander, who has just returned from a trip to Sidney, states that the earnings of the Knraga for her new owners during the first twelve months were in the vicinity of £20,000. of which .something like £OOOO would

he clear profit. The plant, including the market and cool storage, which i nsl £28.000. was disposed of by tender for £IBOO. being purchased by four men now trailing as the Now State Fish and Tee Company. WHALER CAPTAIN DIF-S. DC NED IN. December 8. AY in-loss news was received in Dunedin to-day of the sudden death from heart trouble of Captain C. A. I arson, master of the Sir .Tames Clark Ross, the mother ship of the whaling expedition now operating in Ross Sea. Captain I arson’s wife is at present residing at Port Chalmers. NEW GOVERNOR. WELLINGTON. December 8. A wireless message from the captain of the Eunhine, the vessel wliieh is bringing the new Goieriior-General lo New Zealand states that if the weather conditions remain favourable, the ship should arrive in Wellington about seven o'clock on Saturday morning. Ar-

rangements are now in hand lor the welcome to Sir Charles Eergnson to Wellington. After he leaves the Ruahiue at Pipit en wharf, Sir ('has. Ferguson will he welcomed by the Harbour Board. The Council will formally hid their Excellencies welcome to the city as they leave the wharf, this ceremony being quite a brief one. The city will express its welcome at a civic reception. The swearing-in ceremony will he performed by the Chief Justice. Sir Hubert Stout on Saturday afternoon. T' iTC PERMITS. WELLINGTON. Nov. S. Racing a" ! Ir tiling clubs I hroughonl the Domini"- ere vying with one another in pushing their claims for official consideration for a share ol the additional tiflalisator permits provided for by the Gaming Amendment Act. passed last session, after the memorable stonewall. It is understood nearly every club has sent an apnlication forward detailing reasons wliii a are considered sufficient to substantiate its case for preferment. There being only 31 permits available, their allocation becomes a problem. MOTORIST CHARGED. AUCKLAND. Dec. 8. A charge of manslaughter was preferred against Win. Pitman, land agent, at the conclusion of the inquest before Mr !•’. K. Hunt. S.M.. concerning the death of Elsie Lillian Roberts, who received fatal injuries through being knocked down on November 3rd. bv'n motor ear driven by Pitman. The Coroner returned a verdict in which he said the motor car was driven by Pitman in a culpable, negligent manner. . . , Pitman, when charged with manslaughter. pleaded not guilty, and «as committed for trial. Bail was fixed at £SOO, and was forthcoming. EM PIE E CONFERENCES. MR MASSEY’S SCGGKSTIOX. "WELLINGTON. Dee. 9. Referring to the i ahlcd discussion concerning the constitution of the Empire. Mr Massey yesterday made a statement supplementary to his former advocacy of representative Empire statesmen meeting occasionally in the Overseas Dominions. “[ agree almost entirely with the opinion expressed by the Hon. Air Amen, said Mr Massey. “When the representative statesmen of the Empire can come together in a round table confer cnee, they have no difficulty in arrivin< r at ail agreement, anil the oftenei they come together the bettor for nil concerned. As to meeting occasionally j„ overseas centres. I have advocated this on a number of occasions and am confident that it will he an advantageous arrangement if the Secretary of State for the Colonies can find tunc to visit the Dominions, well and good he will get a hearty welcome wherever ho gocs-hut hotter still would it ho to have periodical conferences m (Liferent countries in the way I have .sagrested.”

FOUND HANGED. TAUMABUNUI. December <>. Gus McGavin. aged •15, a butcher of Mutiere. was found hanged this mornNOT GUILTY. IU.KXHEIM, December fi. •Yt the Supreme Court, Ricluiul Ti t„s Cragg. aged 88, charged with illicit relations with a girl of 15 years two months old, was found not gudt>. N.Z. PREFERENCE DUTY. CANADA WANTS DEDUCTION. WELLINGTON, December 0. The representations of the Canadian Government for a reduction from »o per cent to 50 per cent of the basis o material and workmanship of British origin recently imposed by Australia and New Zealand on manufactured imported goods to qualify for the British preferential tariff, were discussed bv tbe Minister of Customs Industries and Commerce. Hon D. Stewart, who set. out the difficulties in the way ot such a concession. • < The Government agreed,” said tlie Minister, "to give n tripl to tho sov.

enty-fivo per cent proposal in view ol the great importance of maintaining a uniform practice both in Australia and in New Zealand, as otherwise exporters would he put to grave inconveniences. Recently the Government has received representations from Canada with respect to the adoption of a fifty per cent basis in lieu of the sev-enty-live per cent basis and is at present communicating with the Government of that country and Australia. It should, however, he recognised that in coining to a decision it is necessary to view matters from many angles. Consideration had to he given, among other things, to the interests of our own manufacturers and of those in other parts of the British Empire, and also to the difficulties which are created for exporters if each •Dominion adopts an independent system, involving different forms of certified invoice, with the consequent delay and inconvenience caused to importers in New Zealand and elsewhere through documents not being in order when the goods arrive.” CONCILIATION COUNCIL. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 9. The demand of the New Zealand Federated Typographical Industrial Association of Workers for a Dominion award formed the subject of Conciliation Council proceedings this morning. The application of Southland County newspaper for exemption was referred to the Arbitration Court. The Union asked the following rates of pay:—Day news operators L'li 15s per week; day jobbing operators L‘7 15s; for night operators twenty cent extra ; casual operators Is per hour day work and 5s night work. The employers offered for day operators in the lour cities £5 5s per week ; outside the cities C 5 Is and other rales in proportion. Casuals 3s per hour day time, and 3s oil night. The hearing is proceeding.

PASS IT ON. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. .). The Union assessors at the CoiiePiition Council said they were asking for an increase in wages because the newspapers and printing trade generally were in a prosperous condition. T'e employees wished to share • n the prosperity. The employers replied that if the increases were granted the cast of jobbing would go up because the increases would he passed mi. WnOL SALES. AUCKLAND. Dei ember 5. The Auckland wool sale was resumed this morning and (•oiicluiled to-night. Bidding continued I > risk and yesterday’s prices were repeated. 7 t was evident from the nature of the bidding that a great many of the. prices paid went considerably beyond the limits of quite a numbers of buyers, anil Bradford continued to gel the lion’s share of the offerings. Nearly all the catalogue was sold, the only lots parsed being where sellers had placed "hat havers considered too high reserves on their lots. When this was the ease buyers would have none of it. The attendance of the public was again largo. A remarkable evenness of bidding was evidenced throughout the sale. As an in-lance a consecutive run of twenty Inks of cross-hred ranged from 23d to 20.L1. In another similar page of the catalogue the range was from 21d to 251 d. fh.'easionally the bidding took a sharp up"ard turn as a choice lot of line cross-hred super or Corriedale was offered, prices for tiles- frequently topping the 30,1 mark. The aim of iniistir grower to realise 2h! per pound for rrnss-breds was realised. Average prices throughout the sale were maintained remarkably well. Experts estimate the average price per pound to he from 23Jd to 21. id. making an average price per hale id about. £35. which was the figure set on the opening eight id the sale. Finer wools realised approximately the same as tlir-e ollercd at southern sales. Coarser wools showed an advance of about Jd per pound. Top pri'-cs to-day were .”>fi;d for six hales o| hall -hied and ’l'i'.il for two hales of super hall-bred.