DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1925, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] BREAD GOES UK. DUNEDIN., March 2. The cost of living barometer took a leap upwards this morning, when the price of bread was increased by twopence on the 41b loaf. The prices now generally ruling in the city and suburbs for the oil) loaf are over the counter Is delivered (cash), Is Id delivered, (booked Is 2d). At least one suburban firm which does not deliver bread but does ail exclusive cash counter trade, informed a trc-poit-er that they would only increase the price of file 4lb loaf by Id. The principal of the firm paid he understood most bakers were supplying bread to grocers for Ihl, who retailer! it at Is. Under the tiireumstam'les he did not, feel justified in charging his customers an extra penny. Bakers state that, besides the £f per ton increase in the price of Hour, they recently bad to pay their drivers an increase in wages amounting to 7s Gel per week, whilst their bakehouse assistants have had their working hours reduced by two per week. A SHORTAGE OF FLOUR. WELLINGTON, March 2. Wellington bakers met today, but arrived at no decision regarding increase in the price of bread. An increase is certain before the end of the week. The master bakers ol the Dominion will meet the Secretary of Industries and Commerce to-morrow to discuss the situation. Flour supplies in Wellington are verv short, few bakers holding more than two days’ supply. £22 a ton was paid to-day for small lots. 200 sacks consigned from Lyttelton to Wellington by the ferry steamer on Friday were not loaded, fu the event t.l tne shipping trouble holding up .southern ■supplic.r Wellington will lie dependent on country supplies from Palmerston North and Wanganui and a limited supply from Auckland. There is no increase in the price of bread at Auckland at present. MOTOR VEHICLES ACT. WELLINGTON March 2. Assertions that the motor vehicles legislation had been passed hastily veto refuted by the -Minister of Public Works, replying to a deputation from llutt and Ketone carriers which waited upon him to-dav to protest against the heavy traffic fees being levelled by local authorities under the pooling scheme which has been arranged by the City Council and contiguous bodies. The lion. .). G. Coates said that the road question had to he tackled by public men now in order to prevent further national waste. “Those who say that this legislation is hasty make use . of that statement for other purposes,” remarked Mr Coates, ‘'ami are not gel--1 ting at tin l lai'ts of the thing. We ' have gone into it with our eyes open, and we want to get some consensus of o] inion Irom the users of the reads to know what is the best thing to do. Wo have legislation and now we want to get down to till tacks in the* iutoicsts of the cuuntry.”

A POWERFUL TUG. GIFT TO THE DOMINION. AUCKLAND March 2. A steel screw tug. of the “Saint" class, which has keen pic-son ted h.v the British Government to New Zealand, will doubtless prove a very vnluabh vessel. The lug, which is valued at £II,OCR. is one of a group ol powerful vessels which the Liquidation Do--lai trneut of the British Treasury has been selling by private treaty. She is ,:f about IRS tons gross register, and

we.s built under Lloyd’s special survey to the A 1 class. She has triple I, . Ir . 111,- :, ~l ;,l„iil| PJ0 :1 bull | horse I mu-r. taking steam in-in two forced draught boilers. On trial tbit ma'hinery would give a speed of „t tv.-.-lve knots, and similar ‘'Saint” tugs arc reported to have maintained a speed of about ten km i on a dailv cnnsumplion of ten and nha 1 f tons of coal, on tin- voyage from the United Kingdom to South America. The tug has a hunker capacity of about 215 tens of (.-ml. whi h would give her a long cruising range. She i.s about ];*s ip-et in length by 211 lent beam, mid is electrically lighted. Definite particulars regarding the eon trot to he exercised ha ve not vet been made public. It is known, however. that the Lug will nol he a harbour hoard craft. Presumably she will In, ; ,t the call of the naval authorities whenever required and in the event of miv wreck she will no doubt ho pressed into immediate use for such work. A vessel of this type will move of tlu* highest value, particularly of she i- fitted wiTii the latest type of linethrowing gear and lile-.saving apparatus. Whether she will he equipped with any salvage plant has not been announced. A photograph shows lining of he of distinctly weatherly design, with lofty bows. alleged ROOKMAKING. GISBORNE. March 2. Beniamin Reiinett. aged 33. who was charged with hookmaking at Ruatorea. elected lo he tried by a jury. lie was remanded without hail. It was stated that accused cullr-ted ii lot of money and left for Gisborne without settling.