DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

THEFT CHARGES. AUCKLAND, Sept. 7

A lengthy list of serious charges comprising break ing:. entering ami theft, koine; in possession of gelignite. fuM*. detonators. ami house-breaking implements, and of unlawfully converting two motor cars to their own use, were preferred against three men. CJustav Henry Hangggi (24). Krnest John limiting (28) and James Harold O'llrion (2Jh at the Police Court this morning.

One witness. Thomas Johnson, a motor ear dealer. said he saw Hansen driving the stolen car along Tlelensvilli* road on Sunday, August 2Jrd. Knowing the car to have been stolen, took Hansen to Helensville to give him in charge, hut the constable was absent in Auckland, so it ness brought accused to the city, and handed him over to the police. Kvidem e was given regarding burglaries at various shops in the suburb*;, and the u<e of explosives on safes. The healing was then adjourned till tomorrow.

['NQl'Al-IRET) DEN'TJST. AVANOAXrr. Sept. 7. Arthur Edward Couper. dentist. was fined £2O for i><m - mi l li ll e one. A. I’. Murray. unregistered. to fairy on the practise of dentistry in his name and oil his behalf. 'Murray was fined Co for holding himself out as practising dentist rv. lIOX .MH .Md,KOI). IIAWF.IiA. Sept. 7. The .Minister of hands. Atr Mel. I. adressed a largely attended meeting here and replied to the criticism of the Government (onrcrning financial matters. .lie pointed out. that since the 11*1 U-1 I period, there had heeu a rise in «ages and prices of apptoximatoly sixty per cent. Taking the increase in prices and wages during I lie last decade at fifty per rent, it meant that the figures for l!)2-l-2u had to he. reduced hy one third to he comparable with those of IHI l-1.0. On this basis the .Minister contended that the harden of taxation had been increased during the decade hy only ten |or cent, whereas the increase in the population during the same period was nineteen per cent, i’ho implication of extravagant. administration to the detriment of tin- taxpayers was thn» based on a superficial examination of the figures, lie fully realised that the expenditure had heeu increased in what might he termed the social departments and also that, a.s a result of the local body | and State borrowing, the interest and sinking fund payments had increased at silt'll a rate, comparatively speaking. as t> cause a degree of anxiety; hut, lie asked, what assistance had the Government received from the members of either of tin' Opposition sections in bringing the public to realise that hollowing has ils limitations of safety?. When did they fail to ask for more railways, more expenditure on existing railways, hydro electricity, roads, bridges, and other public works. The .Minister ((noted figures supporting the ((intention that there hate been reductions in taxation, uin! reviewed the various State a'tivities on the lines of his previous addresses. MK. I'. SKI.IG l.'K'i ll!KS. tlll!I Sl( 111 Ktll. Sept. s, Mr l>. Seie... who has been nresjdenl of Ihe New Zealand Trolling Assn, inlion sime l.sill retired from the ollice it to-dav's meeting. A resolution was Massed placing on record deep apple lion of his services. SMI NTING KNnriliY. PA 1.. M CHS 11 IN X< H;TI I. Sent. s. •|;'e. Ilailw at Hoard lesumcd this int i r ii i iiy. Mr Usher, stall aster, read a | tepared statement (Galing willi points ill the order m , Wito-s* detailed tlf hours worked hy the different gangs m employee- in the turd, showing a forty nine and a half hours week continuous time, this being ah ml the maximum scheduled. while in the case of smite gangs tin* meal interval was not (ledmtei'l from the hours worked, which, it allowed hu . mace the hours worked lor the week -IS. Palmerston North wn~ the best stalled station for Ihe shunting gang' concerned. Thu witness gave figures showing (he number ol ears and waggons handled in the local yard from MMf to M'-l-together with particulars ol the stall, the number el vehicles bundled |m[_ man the figures l.cing I'-Ho. dill.-Go vehicles. II shunters. <> porters, average man 17.0dd; 102-1. d.t11.10l 'chicles. II shunters, s porters. average In, -11!) |ier foreman':-, duties were detailed by witness who said as the result Ilf the vigilance _ these «'f!ic"ts t.b.efts from the yards during the pa.-.t three years had practically reused.