DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nv TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. DROP IX FLOUR. REDUCED 10s i)C r TON. NEW PLYMOUTH, July 14. Future shipments of New Zealand flour have been reduced in price by 10s per ton, according to advice received by the New Plymouth agents of Distributors, Ltd. Australian 'flour imported through 'this source will also bare an equivalent reduction. The new rates do not apply, however, to cargoes at present afloat. South Island flour will now be £l7 10s a ton f.o.b. instead of £'lS, and its price at the breakwater will be £lB 2s 3d. Australian flour imported by direct boat to New Plymouth will cost £lB 2s 3d e.i.f. if it is bought- through Distributors, Ltd. - Surprise was expressed at the - announcement, because the Australian market has advanced'by 17s Oil in the last week or so. Importers through Distributors, Ltd., will now receive the benefit of the reduction of 10s., or, roughly, they will pay £1 less for their T flour than to-day’s market price in 1 Australia.

A MOTORIST FINED. AUCKLAND, July 15. A judgment of interest to motorists was given b,v Mr W. R» McKean, S.M., in a case in which the plaintiff was D. Stoupe (Mr Terry), inspector for the Mount Albert Borough Council and the defendant, T. B. House (Mr Holden). The defendant was charged that, oil February 13th. last, lie did drive a car along the New North Road at a speed which, (laving regard to all circumstances of the case, was dangerous to the pubic. On that day there were motor car races at Muriwai Beach, and many cars proceeded there, via Now North Road. The Automobile Association interested itself in the prosecution, and in several other prosecutions relating to alleged offences' on that day, and contended that the method of timing the cars over a measured distance of 410 yards was unfair, and, in some cases, might 'cause nil injustice, as t-lie measure distance commenced on a rise and ended nearly in the middle of- an intersecting road. j Prior to the hearing of the case, tests . were made by officials of the Association, and : t was found that the time taken at tile end of “the trip” did not coincide with the watches carried ill

the ear. His Worship said that lie had been afforded an opportunity of making some tests over the measured distance, although slop watches .showed a speed of about one mile per hour in excess of the speedometer, the difference between the watches was too slight to be important. The method adopted by the prosecution while not sufficiently precise to lie acceptable for the purpose of Brcklands records, was sufficient. to enable a reasonably accurate statement of the speed of a car to be made by conscientious officers. If the existing method of timing cars was shown to be capable of producing extremely unsatisfactory results, ' bo would not. hesitate to condemn it, but neither the evidence nor the demonstration had shown that any real injustice was likely to result from the existing method of working <r the trap.” His Worship said that the Automobile Association' desired to make it clear that one of it's maxims was “Safety First,” and that it discouraged dangerousdriving. It had been induced to interest itself in these proceedings because of a complaint l>y members who claimed that- they habitually dr,ore slowly. He could only conclude that if the complaints had come from those members whose speeds had been 30 miles an hour over portion of the road on the day of the Muriwai races, they were not well-founded. The defendant asserted that his speed was 22 miles an hour, while the prosecution alleged that it was 31 miles an hour. Ills Worship said he did not think that the prosecution would onto tli" extent of nine milek an hour, and lie accepted their evidence. 'l’lie defendant was convicted and fined £T and £2 9s costs.

AN AUCKLAND PROPOSAL. AUCKLAND, July 15. The desirability of establishing agricultural bureaux throughout the province has been suggested to the executive of the Auckland Farmers’ Union by Mr T .11. Patterson, instructor to- the Department of Agriculture. Bureaux have been established in Australia. for a number of years, and more recently in America and England. They have a three-fold aim, namely:—, Better farming practice, better business and hotter living conditions. Mr Patterson suggested that the Farmers’ Union should extend its activities bo embody those of an agricultural bureau. Such action, he thought, would be to tbe mutual benefit of farmers and the Department of Agriculture. The movement had readied its highest development in Now South' Wales and had official recognition by the Government which gave a subsidy. In Auckland the bureau might include members of the Farmers’ Union and nominees of the Department. Development of the movement in overseas countries indicated that it was altogether desirable, and lie considered that the Farmers’ Union ertuld adopt it with every prospect of success. Several speakers supported the proposal. The matter Was referred to the Education. and Propaganda Committee to report.