DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] EXPRESSES STOPPED. WELLINGTON, June 18. The Prime Minister, in bis capacity of Minister of Railway, stated that a very full return hud been furnished him in connection with the volume of traffic on the Cliristchurch-Inverear-gill expresses since the accelerated service came into operation on 11th May last. "It will lie remembered,” said Mr Coates, “that 1 decided in April to retain the daily express service in order to see what the effect of the improved service would he. The passenger traffic does not justify the further retention of a daily service, and after fullv discussing the matter with the Board, Divisional Superintendent, and other tansport officers, it lias been decided to withdraw the through expresses on Wenesdays and Fridays. retaining the present service between Christchurch and Invercargill, and Invercargill and Christchurch on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Christchurch-Dunedin and Dune-din-1 nvercargill mail trains will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as hitherto. The running of the Christ-churcb-l li verea rgi II express on Mondays is a considerable improvement on last year’s winter timetable.

CYCLE ACCIDENT. AUCKLAND. June IS

A motor cyclist. Ix-slie Hammond, aged 21. collided with a pedestrian. Mrs J. Bold, at Onohunga to-night. Mrs Bold sustained a broken leg and cuts on the head. Hammond sustained injuries of a more or less serious nature to the head. Both wore sent to the hospital.

CO-OP BANKING NO FAILURE WELLINGTON. Juno 17

Mr Poison (Farmers’ Union President) when a cable on Juno t appeared in the papei-s that a Danish cooperative hank failed, asked the Danish Consul at Sydney to inquire, and the Consul replies it was a joint stock hank that went into liquidation and that tho co-operative Danish hank enterprise is no failure. Mr Poison says this is the second time such a. misleading cable has been circulated all over New Zealand.

COLLISION ACCIDENT. WANGANUI, Juno 17

As the result of a collision between a tram car and a motor cycle and a side car this afternoon, John Mitehel, a married man, sustained a fractured skull, arm and leg. He was taken to the hospital in a serious state.

SUPREME COURT. GKRORNE, June. IS. At the Supreme Court, Harold Duncan McLaren, charged with attempted rap..' or alternatively indecent assault.. or common assault, was touud guilty of indecent assault, tho jury adding a strong recommendation to leniency, on account of the circumstances leading to the assault. Accused was sentenced to twelve months’ probation and ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. DUNEDIN EXHIBITION. DUNEDIN. June 18. The New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company has recoiled a letter Irom the Secretary of the Railway Hoard stating that tickets at holiday excursion rates will he issued to Dunedin from all stations on the South Island and North Island main trunk lines and branches, while the Exhibition is open. Those tickets trill he available lor two months. Tickets at (heap day excursion rates trill Ik.' issued at places from which suitable day excursions to Dunedin can he arranged from other areas j„ the North and South Islands. Tickets at special cheap excursion rates (approximately single Lire plus 25 jx*r cent.) and with a limited availability, will be issued lo Dunedin from defined areas on r<’i Lain dates. The Secretary of the Board states that it. will no doubt he possible to issue these tickets from North Island stations in combination with the steamer fare, and when tho traffic warrants it, special trains will he

run to conned the steamer services. Tiic letter was received with an expression of appreciation of the interest, being taken in the Exhibition by the Railway Hoard.

At a meeting of the Directors of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company last night, Mr J. G. Mol lines, who is at present on the staff of the Christchurch “Press,” and who was formerly a member of the reporting staff of the “Otago Daily Times,” was appointed to the position of publicity officer.

CONFERENCE RESUMES TO-DAY WELLINGTON, June 18.

• The Committees of the Reform and Liberals Mem Iters sat at Parliament House this afternoon to discuss the fusion, but. no. result lias yet been reached.

The Reform. Representatives were: Messrs J. A, Young, I). T. Burnett, W. J. Girling and 0. Hnwken. The Liberals were Messrs R. .Masters. \\. A. Yeiteli, G. Forlies, and A. .1. Murdoch.

The Conference was commenced at 2.30 p.m., and sat- for about three hours, when it was announced that an adjournment till to-morrow had been made.

X<> information was available beyond iv statement, that the proceedings had Wen marked hy the utmost goodwill on both sides.

INVERCARGILL SEAT. INVERCARGILL, June 18Mr Adam Hamilton, who represented Wallace Electorate from 1919 to 1922, has consented to contest th seat at the general election in the Relorin interest against Air Thompson, ALP. WELLINGTON AND BUSES. WELLINGTON. June 19. The Alayor, Air Norwood, was asked at the City Council meeting last night if the train fares were to he reduce: t„ meet the bus competition. The Mayor replied he would make a statement in committee. The Council subsequently adopted the by-laws committee’s recommendation that a by-law he prepared on the lines of the Victorian Government roe nlation governing the control and inspection of motor buses The by-law is to prohibit Ruses running in certain portions of the city. TARIFF ARRANGEMENTS. WELLINGTON, June 19. Amendments to the conditions governing the admission of goods to Now Zealand under the British preferential tariff will not apply till Ist January next. Until 31st March. 1925. various forms of iron and manufactures therefrom and impel- manufactured ill Britain of British countries (from raw materials of foreign or part origin) will he entered for import into New Zealand under the British preferential tariff. TAKAPUNA SCUTTLED. WELLINGTON. .Tune 19. The steamer Takapnna after being stripped, was scuttled in Cook Strait, eight miles out. Two charges of explosive were used and she sank in ton minutes.

I CAR’S NARROW ESCAPE. CHRISTCHURCH, June 10. A motor-car driven by Tom Pain of Cheviot, skidded on the approach to Weka Bridge at Waipara on Wednesday night and crashed through the rails. The ear was saved from falling into the river through one wheel catching on the edge of the bridge. There were five occupants, including two women hut all were able to scramble back to the bridge and escaped with a t shaking. CITY COUNCIL AND FLEET. WELLINGTON, June 19. Labour members of the City Council tried to block the voting of £2,000 towards the entertainment of the American Fleet, 011 the ground that the money was more urgently needed for local purposes, but were defeated. BANK OF N.Z. WELLINGTON. June 19. At the annual meeting of the Bank of New Zealand to-day. the report and balance sheet were adopted without. discussion. A vote of thanks to the Directors and staff, was unanimously passed. OVERDOSE OF PATENT MEDICINE. GISBORNE, June 19. At Tub-manru Bay the eleven months old daughter of Wifliam Byland was given an overdose of patent medicine lo her little brother, aged 5 years, during the absence ol the mother who had gone to meet another child crossing a Hooded creek. The baby was seized with convulsions and died. ELYF.Y’S INJURIES. WELLINGTON, June 19. The New Zealand Rugby Union has received advice from Sydney that ,T. McNah has undergone an ops ration lor appendict is. whilst Elvoy and Archer are suffering from, injuries which may keep them out of action for the rest of the tour. DAIRY CONTROL. IJON A. D. MeLKOD’S FEARS.

WELLINGTON, June 19. Mssrs Motion and Forms, members of the Dairy Produce Export Control Board who have been selected to represent the Board in London, "ere entertained at. a dinner. Mr Grounds, tho Chairman, emphasised the need of hotter marketing methods. Mr Motion said he would do his utmost in the interests of the dairy produce industry. Some proposed roiorms in marketing methods have been described '‘socialistic” and “communistic”. hut, he asked, would any section of business men living in the city consider it good business to manufacture eighteen to twenty million pounds worth of produce and send it to market without sonic organisation at the marketing end to protect their interests Busimss ticti who did this would lie thought mail. Tho Hon. W. Noswnrthv, Minister of Agriculture, said the Board’s iunction was solely to consolidate the industry. Ho had no doubt as to tho future success ol tho meat, dairy and other boards. The Hon. A. D. McLeod. Minister of Lands said Parliament was closely 0011cerued in the success oi the Dairy Board, whose powers affected forty per cent of the country’s total exports. If success were not achieved, Parliament would have to answer to the country. The Minister did not doubt the hoard’s ability to secure the desired results, hut ho regretted the apathy diown hy sections ol the indiisiit in a matter alleging their own business. At ilu' recent election over twenty-five per coni, did not vote.