DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

(.BY TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

PARLIAMENT. TO MEET AT THE USUAL TIME. WELLINGTON, Feb. 2. In view of the possibility of the Imperial Conference being held towards the end of this year, it has been suggested that Parliament might meet earlier than usual, to allow of the bulk of the legislative business being transacted before the Prime Minister’s departure. The programme for the session is well under way. It is not yet certain whether there will he an Imperial Conference, but in any case the Prime Minister stated to-day that there would bo no early session. Parliament would meet in June, at about the same time as usual. ELECTION rETTTIONS. HEARING IN MARCH. WELLINGTON, Feb. 2. Owing to the exigencies of circuit business following the legal vacation the election petitions for AVostland and Lyttelton cannot bo heard this month, Init it is expected that Justices String or and Ostler will lie able soon after March 1 to take the Westland heer.ng. Mr Justice Ostler, with Mr J nance Sim. will subsequently deal with the Lyttelton petition. EXTRAORDINARY MISHAP. PUNT-PIN, Fob. 2.

Sandwiched between two trams, a limousine taxi belonging to Alexander M’Kinlay incurred damage to the extent of £1 50 in George Street. To get out of his ear, in which fortunately were no passengers, M’Kinlay had to climb through a window into one of the trams owing to the queer effect of the smash on the doors of the car. As lie was unhurt, the spectators, and even M’Kiulav, were able to see the humorous side of the situation.

Turning into George from Albany Street after, a run from Logan Park, Al’Kinlay had noticed a tram approach. and decided to run parallel with it. Unknown to him, however, another tram was travelling in the opposite direction, and the stratagem resulted in. the motor being pinned between hath. The trams were also damaged and Fxhihition traffic held up for half an hour while a breakdown gang freed the ear and cleared the tracks. STILL AT LARGE. AUCKLAND .ESCAPEES. AUCKLAND, Fob. 3. So far the police have not been able to obtain any due as to the direction taken bv the two prisoners, Waldo and Rattray, who escaped from Rangitoto Island yesterday morning in a dinghy lifted with an outlioard motor. Bv the manner in which they escaped. M aide and Raltray may lie described as shrewd men. Indeed their plans must have been thoroughly worked out. for they knew where they could obtain the auxiliary motor, and also a battery to provide ignition thus saving themselves i he trouble and worry of having to use oars during their voyage in the dinghy. The battery is staled to have been siolen from the hack “Bay View.'' Without the battery, of course, the mol or would he utterly useless. Great point were taken by the two Fugitives so as not to awaken the other two prisoners, who shared Ihe where with them.

An inspection ol the wharc, alter their departure yesterday, revealed the fact that the hinges of the door had been greased, so that when it was opened the rusty hinges would not creak, and arouse the suspicion of the two warders wlm are stationed at llimgitoo in charge of the twelve good conduct prisoners there. How the two escapees succeeded in opening the door of Iheir wlmre. which was Incited I rum the outside, is a, mystery.

Waldo was serving n sentence of two vours’ j mi]>risonmi'iit Ini' torgory and nll orimx ; while Mill I ray was serving twelve mi *m 11 is" roloi'iiiiil ivo detention for forgery. DRUNK AT WHEEL. HAArrr/rnx. Fob. 3. \ notivo lorry driver ol Olorohanga. Townitnpu ' Tnelmn. was found guillv of driving a motor lorry along tlio ilnmillon-Oliaiipo road at night, v. lion intoxicated, lie was lined £2O. I!is license to drive was cancelled. Defendant was on the correct side ~f the road when lie ran into a horse ridden by a man who was leading a brood mare and foal.

BURGLARY CASE. WKi.UXXTON, Fell. William Pa tried; Sullivan and Frederick Stephen Smith pleaded guilt’, at Ihe .Magistrate’s Court this mottling to bttr'darv on a recent Sunday moraine fhev broke into Sehncidcman's warehouse and stoic £23 IBs. later stealing tools from the premises of t lie Hotelier (Vmslniction Compniiv. Bolm accused were committed to the Supremo Court for sentence. FAIbIXO TO ItEOTSTF.It. hit .ECTOR At. OFFKXCE. HAMILTON. Fell. 3. The lirst prosecution in the Eoniiuinn under the legislature Amendment: Aft. I!®-!, whereby the registration of those qualified to vote is made compulsory, was heard at Hamilton to-day when Selby Robson and ids wife Lydia Robson, were charged with failing to make application foi enrolment. The Court convicted defendants and ordered them to pay ns costs only. .JOCKEY'S DEATH. AUCKLAND. Eteb. 3. nj intend to have the whole matter thoroughly investigated,” said Mi F. K. Hunt. S.M.. Coroner, at the opening of the inquest into the death of |.;(heard Preston, the jockey, aged 29, who died at. tlw Auckland Hospital on Tuesday evening ns the result of injuries received through his mount Daddy’s Girl, falling in the Takapuna Hurdle rate last Saturday. The only witness called was William Preston, brother of the deceased, who said that the deceased lived with parents in Mount Albert Road, Mount Roskill. He was married three weeks ago. The inquiry was adjourned sine die. FARMERS’ UNIOX DISCUSSION. WELLINGTON, Feb. 4. The Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union spent some time yesterday discussing the extent of financial assitame that should ho given to British immigrants. It was suggested that immigrants should be carried free by the railways on arrival in New Zealand, as a few pounds at that juncture meant- much to the newcomers and the cost to the people of the Dominion would be unnoticeable.

One delegate, referring to the assistance in respect to children, thought that provision ought to be made for more than two children. All families should be welcome no matter how many children there might be. Mr J. H. .Toll. Hawke’s Bay, pointed out that all concessions must be borne by the people. The primary producers wei*e complaining now of

their burdens. Immigrants to-day already received concessions which the pioneers of half a century ago would have regarded with gratitude. The President, Air W. B. Matkeson, disagreed with the argument that the more people who came to the country' the better. At hat was needed was the best class of settler. Those unfitted for the colonial life would only become a burden on the community. ARBITRATION COURT AND FARMERS. AVELLINGTON, February 3. The relation of small farmers to the Arbitration Court was briefly discussed this morning at a meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union. The matter was introduced by the chairman (Air AA T . B. Alatlieson) who read a letter received from the Trcfford (Poverty Bay) Union, in which the writer urged that information of the earnings of small farmers should he placed before tlie Arbitration Court in order that a small holder should receive a wage at least ns great ns his employee. The writer urged that the Court paid too much attention to-tho cost of living of the employee and not enough to the cost of living of the holder of the land. Several delegates raised the question whether the sub-iec-t should ho discussed at such short notice. The Chairman said 'flint 1 did not believe in the fixation of prices bv the law. The matter was held over till next meeting.