DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

o—[by TELEGKAm —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

HOUSES FOR. RAD-WAY.MEN. NAPIER, May 28. The Government has decided to erect in Napier at an early date, 2f> houses for railway employees. Hitherto there lud been some difficulty in the matter of securing suitable sites in it desirable locality, blit now itHias been found that sections are procurable. Tho houses will come to Napier in sections from tho workshops at Frankton. FOUND IN WRONG BED. CHRISTCHURCH, May 29. Arthur Small Johnston, aged 64, sharebroker, was charged this morning with having been found drunk and trespassing in a dwelling house in Hereford Street, yesterday afTerooon, The evidence showed that Small had been drinking with friends from Dunedin, and Inter was discovered hv the lady of the house. Ho was (hied ten shillings for drunkenness, and three pounds or ten days’ imprisonment for trespassing. TRAFFIC FEES DTVTDED. NAPIER, May 28. The Magisterial Commission on the subject of the allocation of heavy tiaffn- fees among the various bodies in Mluvlie’s Bay had a somewhat unexpected ending this morning, when the matter was equitably settled, as the result of a. conference of delegates of tho various local bodies attending the Commission. Whop the Court resumed its sitting, before Mr R. W. Dyer, S.M., Mr If. B. Lusk, representing the boroughs said that thereseemed a possibility of an equitable settlement which would s'nvo the Court troubling further in the matter. The Court then adjourned ami representatives of flic borough, counties and town boards concerned met and reached an agreement on the following torilis: That 5 per cent, be retained by each collecting authority in fees collected by itself; the remaining j 95 per cent of fees collected to be : divided, one-third to boroughs, tvothirds to counties and town districts; that the divisions between the boroughs he on the basis of population, one third capital value; one-third miles of metalled roads; that the division between tho counties bo on the basis of tbe capital . value one-Wilf, and miles of metalled roads, one-half. ; THTEF SENTENCED. AUCKLAND, May 31. Albert' Foster Smith, 21. described bv Detective Cummings as a profession- . ai thief, was charged at the Police ; Court with theft of chemists samples j and also money from the coat of a : fellow boarder at one of the leading hotels, and a eameiti from tbe railway station. Tie was sentenced to six montbs on each of two charges, to be cumulative and one year’s reformative treatment. AN APPOINTMENT. j WELLINGTON, May 31. '|’l, o Life Insurance Department notify Henry Rose, accountant for the past three years has been promoted to Secretary and 11. S. Manning, formerly office examiner, succeeds Mr Rose. EM IGR A NTS AN I) UNEM PLOY M ENT WELLINGTON. M.av 31. In reply to tlie statements made at Dunedin and New Plymouth that new-ly-arrived immigrants are workless and dependent upon charily and that shop girls yi Auckland are being displaced to moke room lor immigrants, It. D. Thomson, Under-Secretary tor the Immigration Department denied the allegations. lie pointed out that 2,000 assisted immigrants who arrived during tbe past fortnight,- all had homes to go to and he could give The names and addresses thereof, lie is prepared to give a flat denial to any statement about such people being unemployed end requiring charitable assistance. Mr Thomson quoted that on one occasion some time ago when the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards made similar allegations, and an enquiry elicited the fact that less than twenty cases had boon noted in the previous twelve months. To say in the present instance that “ the poor devils are living

on diarity is not only incorrect but misrepresentation.” Mr Thomson added that Mr McManus, of Dunedin, to whom he is replying in this instance, had made statements dealing with wild generalities without one specific instant • in proof thereof. "If he can give any such instance the Department will investigate and give all the assistance ■needed.” Mr Thomson pointed out also that the speeding up of immigration during the last month or two has been due to an effort to help the situation at Home, where, as the aftermath of the seamen’s strike applications for assisted passages had piled up. Replying to the statements made by .Mr Hartram. and quoted at New Plymouth regarding Auckland shop girls being displaced by the immigrants, M.r Thomson said he knew tor a fact this was not correct. So lar as female immigrants arc concerned the Government specialised in domestic servants only. Such girls have to give an undertaking to remain in their positions twelve months. If Mr Rartram's statement was correct it would show that the girls had broken

their agreement. Mr Bartram’s • atti- < tilde was strangely at variance with the attitude lie adopted three years ago "hen lie attached the Department for requirin'; a girl who had broken her agreement in this manner to make f good her passage money, or return to j domestic employment. Mr Bart rani ( then took up the cudgels on the girl’s ’ behalf and informed Mr Thomson that

lio and other Labour M.’sP. had acl- ' ised her not to refund or sign any agreement. In other words, these responsible public men advised the girl to flout the Department.

[ AUCKLAND WATER. AUCKLAND, 3ray 31. ) Water from XiTiotopu reservoir was ; turned into the main yesterday after--3 noon, and reached the city reservoir during the night and was made pns- ! l>.v the completion of temporary , repairs to Nihotopu main at Quinn’s Creek where an extensive washout during the storm on May If) carried

;i large seciioji ot' tile pipe. PETROL RISE. AUCKLAND. May 31. Tiie price of all first grade brands ol petrol sold through pumps was advanced threepence per gallon on Saturday and the charge per ease of petrol j

increased by one shilling for eight gallons. Household kerosene is also a shilling per case dearer and power kerosene advanced Gd per case. The new dates follow increases in the United States during the last five weeks. OUTCOME OF BETTING CHARGE. GISBORNE, May 31. Recently Charles Croon and Arthur Owen were fined £oo each on a charge of loitering at Rnatoria for the purpose of betting. It transpired after the decision I<ul been given that neither accused nor - 'counsel had been notified that a jury might be given. Mr TBurnard (solicitor for defendants) ap- ' pealed and the Magistrate agreed to ' hear counsel on the question of miti- ’ gation of penalty. . •' Mr Rurnjird today contended that ! the charges were identical with rases I heard at the Supreme Court and dis- ' missed by ft jury. An inspector of the I rules stated the jury’s decision did '

not affect the Magistrate's verdict. If juries verdicts were followed there would bo no bookmakers convicted in New Zealand. Mr Burnard contended ;:is no charges had been beard against defendants for a number of years, they should be treated as first offenders. Th o Magistrate agreed on this course and inflicted tho minimum penalty of £2O. A SMASH. MARTON, May 31. In semi-darkness yesterday, a motor cycle ridden by two brothers, Jensens of Marton ran into a pram on tbe main road near hero, with the- result that severe injuries to a man, named Mcrchie wheeling the pram? but tho Toby occupant escaped practically unhurt. AGR.[CULTURAL STUDY. CHRISTCHURCH, May 31. Thb following resolutions in connection with tjie Agricultural College were adopted by the Canterbury College Board of Governors to-day:—“That, in accordance with the strong recommendation of the Royal Commission on University Education in New Zealand, the Dominion agricultural requirements will best, be met by the concentration of all available funds in the establishment of a single fully-staffed and equipped college capable of producing leaders of the highest standing and efficiency.” “ That the Canterbury Agricultural College, established in 1880, with its land of 1850 acres, is estimated, as it is in the centre of the largest agricultural district of New Zealand, and more accessible for the Dominion as a whole than even Palmerston North or others, as Die most suitable and economical nucleus for such a college.” “That there is adequate scope for most valuable work lor the recently appointed Professors of Agriculture at Victoria and Auckland University Colleges, and they would best servo the agricultural and pastoral interests ol the Dominion as organising heads ol local agricultural research stations and post graduate specialised courses.”

CHARGE DISMISSED. CHRISTCHURCH, May 31. In the reserved judgment this morning, Magistrate Widdowson dismissed a charge against George Hannfrn, a chemist, of sending indecent documents through the post. The case was heard on March 22. “ It seems peculiar,” said the Magistrate. “ that defendant should be (barged with sending such documents, while newspapers insert advertisements that deal with practically tbe same thing, birth control and surgical goods.”

SHODDY FOOTWKAK. AUCKLAND. May 28. Children's shoes stiffened will) coinposition for leather resulted in the prosecution ol Thomas Clark, a retail bootmaker (Mr L. P. l.oarv) in tlio Police Court before Mr F. lv. Hunt, S.M. Defendant pleaded a technical breach and ignorance* of the construc- | lion of the shoes. j The Inspector of Footwear exhibited a pair of superior finish. The outsole was of substantial leather, but dissection bad revealed that beneath it was a composition of stiffening. There was no stamp on the outside to disclose the make-up of the shoes. Mr Leary said the prosecution might suggest that retailers were passing “shoddy” goods on to the public. Defendant’s breach was inadvertent. It was difficult for a retailer to ascertain the quality of every brand of shoo handled. '"The shoes under examination had been made in ‘England. The Magistrate: He was misled by the dealer who supplied the shoes? Mr Leary: This brand is recognised as one of the liest. He exhibited a well-worn side of the same make as the dissected sample and drew attention to the evidences of its good condition after use. A footwear expert said she considered the shoe was good value for f*s (Id, and the brand had a good reputation. She herself would have no hesitation in passing tho shoe as an all-leather shoe. Mr Leary said the defendant had been a strong advocate for legislation (o prohibit the importation of inferior footwear. He had headed a

deputation to the INfini.stor of Internal A H airs to request that English shoo manufacturers should he required to declare the quality of all goods they

sent to New Zealand. The .Magistrate said he was hound to ensure that the public did not suffer Defendant was fined C

BIG ART UNION'. DRAWING POSTPONED A WEEK i AUCKLAND, May 31. The drawing of the “Big Three” Art Tin ion has been postponed until June 10th. Four sacks of letters wen? received oil Saturday, and it is impossible to deal with Die last minute rush before the date named. MOTOR ISTS INJURED. CHRISTCHURCH, May 31. Mr James O Day and Mr Reg. Ferrv two residents of Lincoln, were cranking their cars in the township yesterday, when tho engines backfired, and both received fractured arms when struck by flio crank handles. WOMAN'S SUICIDE. TIMARU, May 31. Mrs Manton. aged 43, wife of a farm labourer at Levels, was found hanging in a plantation about half a mile from her home. At the inquest n ve,ditt by hanging , was rc _ tunned, the Coroner stating that the death seemed quite unaccountable, as her borne life seemed quite happy.

large house destroyed ■ x A PIER, A lay 31. An eleven-roomed house, one of the oldest in Napier, owned and occupied s y -Mr R. Smale, a retired contrae- . t ?‘; totn % destroyed by fire to- . 'light. The old building made A spee- ■ ewm ' b u°' x- U was il,sured fot ' i in the Northern Assurance Co ; "' P , furn,turo ' "one of which was saved, was uninsured. POLL DOWN PARLOUR. WELLINGTON. June 1. The much discussed Roll Down Parlour was again under review bv the Petone Borough Council last night when a. deputation attended on behalf of the owner of the parhtr recont)v established, and asked a recision of the Council’s previous decision, and that he be allowed a fortnight wherein to close the business. The deputation asked that time be extended for a fortnight. The councillors who supported this contended that the owner ot the parlour lias been unfairly treated, as he had a reason to believe his license to 1& granted iihotu question. Councillor A. Chmpbell asked if it were true that scantily painted females were employed as assistants in such parlours. He had gathered from various remarks that these females were employed as decoys to entice young men into pyiHours. Campbell moved that the previous motion be rescinded. Another Councillor, Air -Jacobsen objected, that to do tills would .make the Council a laughing stock. The owner of the parlour informed the Council that so for as his place was concerned, the suggestions-: in Air .Campbell's remarks did not apply. Eventually Air Campbell’s motion was lost on voices.