DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—rER TRUSS ASSOCIATION

BOOKMAKERS’ HEAVILY FINED GISBORNE, February 2G.

Before Air Levy, S.AL, to-day Char les Croon, charged with street hot ting and publishing a doubles card was convicted on live counts.

Arthur Owen pleaded guilty to twe charges of street betting.

The Court said the cases could not he treated lightly. A great deal of business Hint came before the court was no doubt due to the illicit operations of men of the accused’s type.' On the first street betting charge Croon would he lined CIOO and on each of the others €2O. On charges of publishing double cards Croon would also ho lined ft2o on each. Owen was fined €IOO on the first and L'2o on the second charge.

DOCTOR FOR .MURCHISON. MURCHISON. February 20

The County Council to-day considered the applications for a medical officer for the Alurrhisoir district. There were eight applicants lor the position, viz: Dr Smith (Ngakawau). Dr Crnnshnw (Dunedin). Dr Conrie (Darfield), Dr Silverman (Auckland). Dr Todd (Invercargill), and Dr Francos McC'allister (Stratford). The applications from Dr* Fenwick and Cameron were not in order. The selection was confined to Drs Smith, Conrie and .Miss -McAllister, the former Iwo going to the final ballot.

Ultimately it was decided, on the lasting vote of the Chairman, to forward the names ot Drs Smith and Conrie in that order ol preference to the Nelson Hospital Hoard.

NO GO-SLOW IN UNITED STATES. WELLINGTON. Feh. 25. An optimistic view ol conditions in England is given by Mr H. \\ Lawrence. a Wellington analyst, who lias returned from a l> ngLliy tour. The English people, he .says, are better dres-ed, beiu r fed. more prosperous and a good deal happier Hum when he lasted vi.si.e-I the Old Land twenty-four years ago. In spite of the income tax |>""ple wilh moderale means are much belter oil in Lupbiud than in New Zealand, as the cost, of living at Home is very much cheaper, bread costing only troni Sd to t'J. as imaiust' Is Id to 1* 2d in the Dominion. “[ was astonished to see the pace at which the workmen do their jobs in the United States and in Canada.’’ said Mr Lawrence. “At one ol the big towns on the Great Lakes the men on the water front wore actually trotting about their loading operations. “ -What makes you follows go so fast ?' 1 asked one of them. 't)li 1 know where you come from.’ the worker n plied. ‘Aon come from Aust ralia.’ ‘•'No T come from New Zealand,’ T replied. •• ‘I knew it was front either of those places.’ the worker said. V\>• dun t adopt, their methods here. You see we are paid to work. I have ju-t earned ten dollars in the last two hours. Isn’t that, worth working for? Go-slow methods don’t pay a man in this country.’ ” WORKERS’ HOUSES. “ (TT-TO-FIT ” DWELLINGS. WELLINGTON. February 20. In announcing the names ol the successful nrchitests in the competition for the m«st, satisfactory design for workers' dwellings lor the Iluti \ alley Housing Scheme, the Right Hon J. G. Coates. Prime Minister, roughly outlined the history of the general selienvns follows: “Much valuable information with regard to housing has already Iveon gleaned from the work ol the honorary committee, and other important fields of investigation are being exploited. The results have been so satisfactory that the GoWrnmont recently communicated with the municipalities, offering to place .all Ms facilities at their disposal to encourage a vigorous housebuilding policy, particularly lor wageearners. In this connection the Government is prepared to assist Local Bodies in arranging the necessary finance for this proposal, and the Railway Department will sell " cut-to-lit ” houses at practically cost price on trucks at Frankton Junction. '1 lie Department is also prepared to arrange contracts, and supervise the erection of the houses. In addition, all the experience that has been gained by the Government will he available to those

municipalities that are anxious to relieve the house shortage by taking advantage of the facilities placed at their disposal. I have, therefore, invited them to send representatives to Wellington at an curly date, to discuss the proposals with us. " In conclusion.” said Mr Coates, ‘T desire to express appreciation of the valuable services that have boon rendered to the community by the Honorary Advisory Committee. The good work carried out by them will not only result in hetotr houses lor a great number of people, at rentals considerably below those now being paid ; hut has also resulted in a large saving of public money, inasmuch as all the services are being rendered gratuitously.” ANOTHER CROSSING FATALITY. MARRIED AIAN KILLED. WELLINGTON, Feb. 26. William Power, of Karori, Wellington. married, was driving a car across the railway lino at Porirua this evening. when he was .struck by the goods train from Wellington. A porter saw Power approaching as the train was drawing near, and waved to Power to stop, hut the latter went on. The train struck the car and smashed it, to matchwood. Power was thrown right out of the car and either landed, or was hit by the train on his head When picked up he was dead.

X.Z. LABOUR. PARTY. WELLINGTON. Fob. 2G Rev. ,T. K. Archer (Christchurch) and Messrs R. Semple and W. T. Young (both of Wellington) have been nominated for the position of President of the New Zealand Labour Party. Air T. Briudle. who bolds the ofiiee at the present time, is not seeking reelection .

Six candidates have been nominated for the position of Vice-President, namely : Rev. J. K. Archer (Christchurch). Messrs T. Blcmdworth (Auckland), C. H. Chapman (Wellington), 11. G. H. Mason (Auckland). J. Thorn (Wellington) and P. C. Webb (Christchurch). PRISON FOR. DRIVER. DUNEDIN, Feb. 2G. At the Police Court. James Johnston was sentenced to seven days’ gaol for being drunk while driving a motor car, which collided with another car and two verandah posts.

PRISONER DIES. jAUCKLAND. ‘Feb. 26. A prisoner. George Dunn, aged 30 vears’ serving a sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for manslaughter, imposed at Napier on .Tune lOtli. 1921, died at the Mount Eden Goal Infirmary. At the inquest, medical evidence was

given that entli was duo to heart failure. A verdict was returned accordingly.

NINE HUNDRED POUNDS BLACK MARLIN. ZANE GREY’S RECORD. WELLINGTON, Feh. 26. The Government. Publicity Office has received a telegram from Zane Grey, who is fishing off the Bay of Islands, ts follows:—“Captain Mitchell landed a black marlin, estimated to weigh !)(X) pounds, breaking his own world s record. This is the largest fish ever landed in the world by rod and line. Zane Grey landed live big fish ill one day, creating a new record.” MAILS iU'li.vr. AUCKLAND. Feb. 26. The contents of a mail van were damaged by lire at Waioura yesterday. Details are not available, but it is understood the van contained so-eoiid-elu.ss matter, parcels and newspapers, including some from England, which arrived in Auckland by the Ulimaroa on Tuesday.