DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—rER TRESS ASSOCIATION.]

DR. TELFORD RESIGNS. CHRISTCHURCH, .March 19. Dr T. F. Telford (Medical Officer ol Health for the Canterbury and West t oast District), has resigned that position. JUDGMENT RESERVED. AUCKLAND, March 19. In the MacKemze ease, counsel addressed the Court. M.r .Meredith, for the 8.M.A.. commented on the refusal of defendant to make tests. The Judge said Unit, all over the world, scientists were trying to discover the cause of cancer, and if there was any cure, here was an opportunity for a test. Judgment was reseved. THE OPAWA CASE. WELLINGTON. March 19.

The ease in which Kckl’ord and Co.. Blenheim, are claiming IMO'd from the Seamen’s Union as a penalty lor alleged breach of clause 48 of the Firemen's Award was continued to-dav. Mr W. Fuller, local manager for Eckford and Co., said that the union encouraged job control by taking union men out of" the ship. He admitted the vessel Opawa had done better business in February than in January hut considerable inconvenience had been caused. Eckford had to leave his ordinary work and work as an A. 8., while the watersiders refused to work the boat., the crew having to do it. Walter Nicholas, shore superintendent for the company, said that except when there were industrial troubles lie hail never known the Opawa to he in want of a union crew.

A Government shipping official said that the notice for a crew for the Opawa remained up at the Office lor about a month. Plenty of men were available. A man who ottered was engaged. He was told to join the union, lint he did not. Fuller, recalled, said the two men who offered were told to join the union but. they also did not return.

Victor Jobannsen, stevedore, said tliat lie engaged labour to work on the Opawa, Imt the men did Jiot start. On making inquiries, he was inlormed that the boat had been declared “ black.”

In the Opawa case, Hatchett. an able seamen said that he had noticed the unionist members ol the crew leave to attend a union meeting. On their return, they said the Opawa had been declared black. Ratchett and Morrison went to the captain, and nlfered to join the union to save trouble. 1 hey went to the Union olliee, put in applications and deposited live shillings. Mr Young 'the secretary') told them In put it back in their pockets, as they might need it. Morrison said he had made a persoo:,l application to join the union in 1923. Ho was told by one of the ollicials ‘‘to gel to Ill'll out of it.” C, Eckford said he was told that the Opawa was declared black ami that ti, t . Health officials laid issued these instructions. "i'hc case was adjourned until luesday. found SHOT. TAI’MARUNUI, March 20. Oeorge Robinson, public works contractor? was found shot this morning at Tni Toi near Ohara. The shot entered' deceased’s stomach ami a gun was found close to the body. BULKS OF RUGBY. WIJLLINGTON, March 18. M r S. F. Wilson. New Zealand delegate to the imperial Rugby Conference, told a reporter that from the New Zealand point of view the gathering had been a distinct success. N., aiiuimccmont had yet keen made as to the decisions of ill coo fe’ cine. Imt he bad sent in a report t‘> the New Zealand Rugby Foicm. ami the English

l ’llinn was m iv the ummhpimc for the roiirlir-iun • at the other cud. lb' would not tic surprised if all the main points urged hv New Zealand vide adopted, said Air Wilson. It seemed generally recognised that the English rules regarding the mark need 1 modifying, the jive-yards ilrow-in w.ca certainty, and the amended ru governing ’ kicking-into touch probably would be played in the Old Country next fconson.

On the minor points there had 'ecu some differences of opinion, and they had not pressed all ol them.

AH- S. S. Dean, in an interview, also expressed the opinion that the new kicking into touch mlc 1 rohahly would he played in England next season. STOWAWAYS NOT WANTED. WELLINGTON. Ai.ar.li 20. A comolaint regarding the ease with which stowaways gain admission to the Dominion was made to tlie Miui.stei ol Justice, the Hon. Sir James Parr, by a deputation from the Southern l mss League. Airs AleNieol said there were cases where stowaways had been taken before the local .Magistrates and as the charges were dismissed they were, allowed remain in New Zealand. Such leniency had been shown that masters of vessels were now not taking the trouble to prosecute.

Airs Paxton said the League was asking for an amendment to the lav to make it more difficult for stowaways to remain.

The Alinister agreed that the question was of importance and when admitted. the careers of deserters and stowaways should he watched \ei.\ closely for the first year. II the man turned out badly the responsibility of taking them out of the country should l,e placed on the shipping companies which brought them. He thought that I Ids was the law at present. As -Minister of Justice he had to consider the question seriously when, as was stated, a responsible police ollicer had said that some of the worst criminals had reached the country in this way. In reply to the complaint that unfit neople wi'ro toming to the Dominion as assisted emigrants the Minister said the matter was outside his jurisdic-

tion. t Airs AlcNicol asked whether the Alinister could not tighten up the jurisdiction given t.i a magistrate. Sir James replied that as Minister oi Justice he could not and would not interfere with any magistrate. A WIDOW'S CLAIAI. NAPIER, Aiarch 20. At the Supreme Court Elizabeth Bishop, a widow, sued Annie Spence. ~ nurse. lor £IOOO damages, for allegedly negligent treatment, residing in the death of plaintiff’s husband. dairy produce. QUESTION OF QUALITY.

AY ELLINGTON, -March 18. Speaking of the quality of New Z.ea- ( land dairy produce, a well-known business man in the city of many yea.s experience in the dairy im ust.v, impressed the opinion that lhe ,|Ual ‘ ‘ was not as high as it was 10 o. -0 years ago. He contended that tin e was no inducement to produce highest quality when the man whose butter and cheese was graded at 9 01 - 97 received no more tor Ins product than the man whose produce was graded at 92. Agents came to New land and persuaded some factories to

s'dUm consignment, and'the same sort of thing happened. Home senaration had eo.me a long, and in some cases the cream might not reach the factory for a day «i l " • while others collected the emu at This sort of thing all made dillerenee to the quality, for the cream which had to he collected tron I>, g distance either by road or rail had to be treated with earhonate ol sod. make it sweet, and then it lost Us flavour. the reputation fur which was built up about 191. T The factories making the high-class article were not getting proper value for it.

PLIAISOLL SUBAIERGF.D

AMERICAN SHIP OVERLOADED

AY ELLINGTON. Aiarch 18. U the ALigistrate’s Court yesterday under Air C. R. Orr-Walker. S.M.. a fine of 225. was imposed upon G - ■ Bergman, the master of the s.s. Halo, for arriving at Wellington with the plimsoll submerged to the centre, contrary to section 208 of the Shipping and' Seamen’s Act. 190?. and nmendwf ; stated that the Halo was an American ship, ami that it was her first trip here. it was also the master’s first visit to Wellington. Mr O’Learv. in defending Bergman pointed out that in previous cases o a similar nature the masters, in then first offence, had been cautioned The Afagistrate contended that th master should have been aware of tne regulations contained in the Act a imposed the above fine «'tth - costs.