DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEORAPn —PER PRESS AMOCIATIOJ ASIATIC INFLUX. ' EFFECT ON STRICT CONTROL-. AVELLING TON, April 21. The official figures regarding' Asiati immigrants to New Zealand show tin control has been stringently exci cised during recent years. The figure are:— Chinese—l9l,s, 255: 1916. 327; 11)17 272; 1918, 256; 1919, 418* 1920. 1177 1921, 255; 1922, 162; 1923. 100; 1921 13; 1925, 57. Indians—l9ls, 13; 1916. 92; 1917 12; 1918, 138; 1919. 193; 1920. 225 1921, 137; 1922, 8; 1923. 32; 1924 14 ; 1925, 49. WAPITI IN SOUNDS. DUNEDIN, April 21. Although several stalking parties ii ptest of wapiti have returned Iron ho Sounds district of Western ()tag< ml Southland unsuccessful, the C'x-K-rieuce of one party in the neighbourood of George Sound shows that. waiti aro increasing in numbers in that icality. Tbe party consisted of la.ior Barker, of Geraldine, and Alossrs I. Olsen and F. Hnlbei’g, of Wairarapa, nd during a trip extending over some nee weeks, they saw well over half hundred beasts, all in good condition, hree satisfactory heads were secured, nc 11 pointer, and two 13 pointers, icsc being the first, fiends secured this -ason. GOODS ON CARS. NAPIER. April 21. “No person shall drive any motor -hide laden with any goods on any inning board thereof so that the said xids shall project beyond the outlie edge of such running-board.” Tbe foregoing is tbe text of a new --law adopted by tbe county councils Hawke’s Bay at a conference toy. ‘That means that tbc running board the absolute limit,”*’said Ai r H. AT.. nipbell, AI.P. “And a very good thing, too,” added other delegate. GIFTS TO CHARITY.IV AUCKLAND SAVINGS BANK.

te AUCKLAND. April.2l. ir Subject to the approval of the Gov;v eminent, which is generally merely a c formal matter, tho Jubilee Institute for tho Blind, Parnell will receive £SOOO, ■- and the Knox Home for Incurables, -- West Tainaki. will receive £3OIXI, from t the Auckland Savings Bank, r These munificent donations were announced by the President at the annual meeting of the Bank. During the past j twenty years the Bank has given no i less titan £BO,OOO to various objects, f and to-day's gifts bring the total to . £BB,OCX). GIRL SECURES PRIZE. DUNEDIN. April 21. Aliss X. Jennings, of Fortrose. Southland, aged fourteen, was the winner of tbe £5 prize for the 2.800,0001 h visitor to the Exhibition. That total was passed at 11 o’clock this morning. DAMAGES REDUCED. WELLINGTON, April 21. In the appeal case, s.s. Port Stephens v. Inglis Bros.. Ltd., the judgment of the Court allowed the appeal. The fates were not in dispute. At. the trial, the appellants admitted liability, but contended that it was limited. The Judge had held that tbe ship was unsoaworthy. but it was

argued that the'condition of the cargohook had nothing to do with the seaworthiness of the ship. The condition of the cargo hook was a broach of the duty on tlie ship as a carrier, not a breach of seaworthiness. The liability, therefore, was limited to the amount under the bill of lading. The damages were reduced from £6OO to £ls2,"and the costs of the appeal were allowed on the lowest scale, and the case remitted to the Supremo Court. COTTON GROWING. INDUSTRY TN FIJI. AUCKLAND, April 21. The Fiji cotton industry, which has been growing by leaps and hounds since it was revived after the war, is expected to reap further rewards for its growers as a. result of February’s planting. Aft- It. Lyon Field, cotton inspector for the Fijian Government, is on a visit to Auclkand, and he mentioned to-day that approximately 2500 acres were planted in cotton this year, as against 600 acres last year. The prospects, he continued, were favorable for another satisfactory picking. ' The growing of cotton in Fiji was commenced about 1860- but as a result of a drop in prices after the American Civil War. the industry declined and ceased about 1000. In 1922, however, the Fijian Government imported seeds from Barbndoes. and distributed them to the Fast Indians residing in, the Fijian group. Owing to the financial straits of these people, the Government built its own ginnery at Lautoka. and assumed the, responsibility of marketing the crops. This plan has been carried out every year since with gratifying results. Ah- Field said that with the exception of a lew white planters the industry so far had been developed solely by the efforts of the Indians, assisted by the Government. The holdings averaged only two and a half acres, and were occupied by probably 700 or 806 Indians. Although the latter were mostly inexperienced as far as cotton growing went, their gross returns last season averaged £lO 15s od an acre. Many (if them drew £3O. and the maximum sum paid out by the Government last year to an Indian cultivator was £6l an acre. In the next five years. Mr Field anticipates that the. cotton industry in Fiji will have grown to the dimensions of the copra trade. The latter at present ranks second among the group’s wealthiest industries. BOYCOTT IN CHINA. INFLUENCE OF SOVIET. AUCKLAND, April 21. A view on Eastern problems was given by the Rev George M’Netir, who arrived on the Ulimaroa after serving for twenty-five years as a missionary in China, and latterly as director of the department of practical training at the Union Theological College at Canton. He expressed the opinion that, directed by the Russian Soviet, the antiBritish boycott in China has developed into a serious problem. “The boycott movement,” he said, “is directed poli- \ tically, economically and commercial- ] ly by a small group of Russian Soviet . advisers stationed in Canton. The Chinese claim that these Soviet ad- j risers are merely their servants., but ,

there is no doubt that they exercise great influchee in' the campaign. In ■; addition, tlie Soviet has its officials j '•] directing the army, navy and air j forces.” I Tlie' head of the Russian mission, j lie said,- js General Borodin,’ a very f capable’ man. He is directing the j anti-British propaganda; and making l it severely effective. “These Russian t '' officials,” said Air APNeur, have no regard for the truth so long as .they can hurt British trade and influence. s If their propagandawere lifted 1 have no doubt the boycott would almost - immediately cease, because the people ’ generally are not anti-British', nor - even anti-foreign, especially tlie' merchant classes, who as a matter of ’ fact, are friendly.” Air APNeur went on to speak of the ’ bad influence the boycott was having on British trade, expressing the opinion that it would be a long time bo; tore it recovered in South Chiiia. 1 FRUIT EXPORTS. 1 NELSON, April 21. 1 Tho announcement that no more fruit wilt lie accepted for export' owing to the X! overninent guarantee; and j shipping spate’ being exhausted has caused a. feeling of consternation amongst Nelson growers. Nearly all exporters arc more or less affected, and to some it mentis that tli.cir whole crop will he shut out, as they are growing only late varieties, and are faced with ruin. Su-mb who contracted for certain space are not ; now able to get it. There is widespread dissatisfaction at the conditions on tbc AVellington wharves. An urgent meeting of exporters was held this morning when strong com- i incuts were made on the Government’s : action in shutting down without notice [and a demand was made for more control in Nelson. Tt was reported that there was a hopeful prospect of securing additional shipping space. Tt is estimated That from seventy thousand to eighty thousand cases have been shut out- at Nelson. HASTINGS CONCERNED. HASTINGS. April 21. Tlie news of the lack of shipping space caused a stir among orchardists hero. They have about, twenty-five thousand eases for export. Air Atwood, president of the Fruitgrocrs’ Federation, is here, but can say nothing definite nnfij lie hoars from headquarters.

BUTTER-FAT TESTS a STRAFORD. April 21. 1 At the annual meeting of the Tara- > naki Friesian Breeders’ Association, ’ the following resolution was passed: 1 “With a view to following on the recommendations made by the Control Board delegates, and the other au--1 thoritios on their return from abroad, this branch of the New Zealand Friosian Association deems it very advisable that a. conference be called of Friesian. Shorthorn and Ayrshire breed societies for the. purpose of discussing the steps necessary to combat tlie present method of paying out on a butter fiat basis for tho manufacture of cheese.” It was explained in the discussion that high tested’ milk had a greater proportion of butter fat, but the higher the test, the less proportion of solids necessary for cheese manufacture. SHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, April 22. A meeting of the Canterbury Breeders of Southdown sheep decided to-day that a Southdown Breeders’ Association be formed, in conjunction with the North Island breeders. A committee was appointed to meet tho North Ts-

land brooders. FARMER'S SUDDEN DEATH. CHRISTCHURCH, April 22. Mr Thomas Breen, farmer, of Fendalton, dropped dead at noon to-day. while dieting potatoes in a paddock behind his house. His wife, who was working with him at the time, says that, beyond remarking about the heat, he gave no indication that anything was wrong. Death, it is thought, was due to heart failure. "MAORIS’ FISHING RIGHTS. AUCKLAND, April 22. One of the most important events in the history of the Taupo country was a meeting at the IVaihi Village, when t-lic Hon .T. G. Contes, Minister of Native Affairs, met the assembled representatives of the Tuwliaretoa and other tribes interested to negotiate for an agreement respecting the fishing rights in Taupo waters (an agreement was made for the payment to the natives of a minnnim annual sum of C3OOO for the fishing rights of Lake Taupo). Sir Maui Pomnre, Minister representing the Native Race, was present at the conference. LARGER. FEES ADVOCATED. TIMARU, April 22. At a meeting of-tho Main Highways Board hero to-day, on the proposal of Mr TT. B. S. Johnstone, Chairman of the Waimate County Council, a motion was unanimously passed as follows: ‘ That, in fairness to the County ratepayers, and for the benefit of road users, a much larger proportion of the cost of the upkeep of the roads should he collected from the owners of all motor vehicles the moneys collected to he allocated to the County Councils by way of an additional subsidy on the rates ; such subsidy not to he governed by the ten thousand pounds limit applied to the present subsidy, but to be given on all monies collected by the County Councils by way of general rates.” RESUMPTION EXPECTED. CHRISTCHURCH. Ap. 22. As usual, calls were made to-day at Lyttelton for the two “preference” steamers, the Coohma and the Canopus. but there was no response. The Canopus is continuing discharging into hulks with oiie gang, 'engaged oil For arrival. They should complete by tomorrow, wlieli, it is expected the ship will sail. Tho Kurow, which arrived this evening from Auckland and Gisborne, With general cargo and sheep, and then sailed again for Dunedin, overcarrying the general cargo. The general opinion in shipping circles is that the men, having held the port up for a few days, as a protest against not having received the IJd per hour increase, will resume, probably About Monday without explanation. INDUSTRIALISTS’ REQUEST. CHRISTCHURCH, Ap. 22. The Executive of the Canterbury Industrial Association to-day adopted a “resolution for forwarding to the Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament and to Kindred Associations, asking for An addition of Pot less than ten per cent duty to be levied on all manufactured, goods imported from overseas, so as to enable industrial-

ists in Now Zealand to hold their own against unfair competition, and so as to enable tlie standard of wages paid to the workers of the Dominion to be maintained. GRANDSTAND BURNT. ROTORUA, April 23. A fire at 3 a.m. tin's morning tot- . ally destroyed Rotorua Racing Club’s second grand stand building. It contained a store of baled hay. Tlie ascuined cause of the fire is spontaneous combustion. The structure had an historic interest in connection with the Prince of "Wales’ visit. The loss will probably be a thousand sterling over the insurance. ESC A PEES RECA PTURE D. AVELLINGTON. April 23. IJdgctt arid Taylor who escaped from Waikune Prison, were arrested on Rangipo road by the officer in charge of the prison. RAILWAY TRAFFIC. WELLINGTON, April 23. Although passenger traffic on the railways shows a decrease of six hundred thousand, season tickets exhibit

an increase of 41,000 and new tripbearer tickets introduced last August were sold to the nunilier of 29.000. Tt is reckoned those would account for nearly a million and a half passen- - gors. Trip bearer tickets which may g bo passed from hand to hand are hcs coming very popular oh the suburban lines. ’ mmmm—aWggliiii^Maigigi