DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] -POPULATION OF DOMINION. WELLINGTON, February 19. Following is a return of the estimated population of the Dominion of New Zealand and mandated territory : Estimated population (including .Maoris) of New Zealand proper December 81, 1924 1,370,424 Estimated population of Cook Islands, Niue, etc, September 80. 1924 ... ]3,(353 Estimated population Western Samun September 89, 1924 37,525 Estimated total population of New Zealand and mandated territory 1.421,002 Estimated Maori population. New Zealand 5-1,2(55 The estimated total increase of population for the year 1924 was 27,403 (males 14,074, females 13.329), equivalent to 2.01 per cent. VITAL STATISTICS. WELLINGTON, February 19. During the month of January the total births registered for urban areas amounted to I L(i(s as against 1175 in December, a decrease of 9. Deaths in January were 451. a decrease of 31 ns compared with the previous month. Of the total deaths males contributed 2(50 and females 194. Sixty-six of the deaths were of children under live years of age, being 15.54 per cent of the whole number. Forty-four of these were under one year of age.

MASTER PRINTERS’ ASSOCIATION WELLINGTON, February 18.

The annual meeting of the New Zea land Master Printers’ Association will held vesterday.

Mr X. M’Rohie, president, in the course of his annual report, said his prediction that the industry had a prosperous outlook-lor 1924 had not been borne out. He urged the importance of establishing technical classes, especially in the large centres. With the Auckland master printers’ contribution of L‘7so and the Government subsidy, an amount ol CLiOO was available for such classes in that city. The British Paper Export Association had made strenuous efforts to get freight concessions from the shipping companies, hut, (with one exception, had been unsuccessful. Comparative figures dealing with a number of lines of jobbing paper were quoted, showing that the percentage of increase to New Zealand as against Australia ranged from 54 per cent. to 120 per cent, which was a serious handicap. During Hie discussion suggestions were made that the Auckland Association should be asked to explain its technical education scheme in di tail, and that the question of education by correspondence he considered.

LADY’S CATCH OF SWORDFISH AUCKLAND, February 19.

Fishing from a launch oil' Cape Brett yesterday. Miss A. M. Whitney, ot Bemucra was rcsive.isible tor landing two line swordfish, one weighing 3001 b and one 2501 b. She hooked both lish and played them herself until their landing. Questioned regarding her catch ul Berber return to Auckland to-day. Miss Whitney described the fishing as “great fun.” ”1 landed the bigger one in half an hour.” she said. “ hut the smaller lish fought much more fiercely, and it was an hour heloro I played him out. It takes you all your time. lon have to he careful the lish docs not pull you down on to the gunwale, ol he will break your line.” Major Whitney, who was with the party, wanted, (iesnile his eighty-eight vears and the heavy sea. to try ami harpoon the lish. hut was with difficulty prevented from doing so.

It AAI FAIR. Al ASTF.KTOX. February 20. The Alastertoii Ram Fair concluded to-dav with offerings of Soutlulowns. Lincolns and Corridalcs. Soutlulowns were in demand, but the operations had a defined limit, with the result that the vendors met the market, and some cheap sheep were secured Mr (). Donald topped the market lor Mocks with twenty guineas, while the total offering averaged about twelve guineas. The highest price in studs was secured |, y Mr 11. .1. Andrews (of AVaihemn Downs) Otago, a shearling sold to Air ,|. 1 lawkcn (Taranaki) realising lil'ty guineas. Lincoln studs were entirely neglected, while the market, for flock's was erratic, and the passings were numerous. The top price was IS', guineas. • Corridalcs, Shropshire's ami English Leiccsters were not enquired for. policeman killed. INVERCARGILL. February 20. .Mounted Constable David Dickson, of the Invercargill Police Force, when riding on a motor cycle at Woodlands Lids afternoon was struck by the Dunedin F’xpi'css and sustained such injuries that lie'died shortly after Ids. admission to the Southland Hospital. Apparently the constable did -not bear the approaching train, on account ol a high 'wind and was, it is said, looking ill the opposite direction when the train overtook him on the crossing; the cycle being wrecked and the constable sustaining a fracture of both legs and of the skull, and internal injuries, from which he succumbed.

A.S.R.S. CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON. February 20. On- subject of the keenest interest on the agenda at the recent conference of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was the consideration of the attitude of the late Natiomd Executive in calling a strike at Easter, last year. It is understood that this topic' gave rise to a considerable debate, in tlif course of the conference deliberations. . - , Opinions were fairly evenly divided on the question, and it is understood that a resolution was passed by 1 t to 10 which was tantamount to a vote of tensure on the Executive, which would account for drastic changes made in personnel of the commiftee elected for this vear. Out of eight members appointed, three were members ot last vear’s executive. The vote of con's,, re was recorded in the following resolution : . , -The Conference, after hearing fullv the facts, and having had the Tiles „, connection with the recent strike at its disposal, is of opinion that the calling of the strike was not justified by the circumstances existing at the time.” (lOYERNAIENT CONDEAVNKD. The attitude of the Government m regard to the hours and wages before the strike and the subsequent re-in-stitution of the 48 hours’ week, were also discussed. The following motion I was passed : ! “That, this Conference, having bad all the li'es and details in connection with the -ecetit strike before it and bavin" full regard to the inadequate waue'paid to the basic wage earner in "the service at that time, strongly condemns the action of the Government for its attitude before and after calling off the strike.” In view of the above resolution, the result of the ballot, now in progress for the election of President of the Societv will be awaited with considerable interest. The candidates are AH Af Connelly (retiring president) of

Otago Central, and Mr R. Hamptor/ (a former president) who is now stationed in Wellington. A BAD RECORD. NELSON, February 21. On a charge of false pretences and the issue of a cheque Athol Joseph Keene Sutherland, alias A. Stewart, alias A. J. Wakefield, alias Frank Stanley Reid, aged twenty-two, was sentenced to twelve months’ reformative treatment. The police stated the accused was sentenced at Christchurch in 1922 to tore years’ proha- . tion 011 six charges of theft, two of false pretences, and was also wanted for false pretences at Dannevirke. LOAN FOR OTAGO. DUNEDIN, February 21. The Otago Harbour Board lias accepted the offer of the A.M.P. Society to lend (.'(55.000 at 5] per cent. CO-OPERATION MINERS. GREY-MOUTH, February 21. A party of miners at James State mine have signed an agreement to work the dip section on the co-opera-tive system and commence work on Monday next. This makes the third party that have come to terms with the management to work sections on the co-operative system. It is understood there are other sections of the State mines that could he worked on the same system, and it is expected satisfactory arrangements will he made to work other sections. The co-opera-tion system is evidently appealing to the men.