MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1927, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

| Australian fit N.Z. Cable Association.] COATES AND BRUCE. OTTAWA. Feb. 3. Speaking at a banquet in honour of the Premier (Air AlacKenzie King). Air La Pointo (Alinister of Justice) said: “I cannot see by what process of reasoning it could bo argued that Dominion autonomy implies more military obligations. May I even suggest that distinguished visitors would perhaps bo better advised if they refrained from offering so much advice to the people of Canada as to bow they should deal with matters which are exclusively their own business. Autonomy means self-government in all matters —in the problems of defence as in other questions—and then it is for the Parliament of Canada to decide.” AVIATION AND RADIO. OTTAWA. Feb. 3. The Prime Minister. All' MacKonzio King, in a speech", referred to the imnnrtance of aviation. He said : “Believing as I do. in the great significance of aviation, alike for military and civil purposes. I feel it incumbent upon us, as a nation to io.ster wise and wide development of this service. ! am profoundly impressed by the significance of the almost limitless possibilities of aviation, an dof wireless communications in times ol peace and war alike. No nation that cares tor its commerce, or its people, can afford to be indifferent to the many considerations of which they compel is to take account.” ! r.M.BKI! TARIFF. OTTAWA, February -!. A message from Winnipeg states the increased tariff proposed by Australia ami New Zealand on logs are worryibe (. auadiaii lumber men. British Columbia lumbermen are enlisting the support of thousands of western Inin* be r retailers in a movement seeking ( aundian preference over the United States in British countries.

COST OF LIVING. Wellington, Feb. -t. According to the last report of the Government Statistician, the retail price index for Lite three food groups, as at December 15, 1928, was 1591 (compared with IOCO during 1909-1.”), and showed an increase of 2G points since November. The index number shows -18.7 per cent, of an increase over July, I ill 4. It now takes 32s 7icl on tho average to purchase what 20 would purchase in that mouth. Marked increases in the potato and sugar prices have caused a Go points rise in the groceries group. Aleat showed a 22 points decline.

.MEDICAL CONGRESS. DUNEDIN, Feb. 4

The Australasian Medical Congress sat this morning, a discussion taking place on goitre, those taking part being Professor Kerens (Dunedin), Dr Harvey Sutton (Sydney), Dr Drennan (Dunedin). Or Stuwell (Melbourne), Dr Garrick Robertson (Auckland), and others. To-night there trill he a discussion on the relation of the State hospital and the practitioner. TRAINING OF XTUSKS. DUNEDIN, Fch. I. A deputation from the Trained Nurses’ Association, asked the Minister of Health (Mr Young) that the university he put in a position of carrying trained nurses to such a degree as ivould enable them to take service in hospitals as tutors for probationers. Mr \oung said he had tried something like this before, and very probably, in a few weeks something would he done on the lines indicated, hut possibly not in Dunedin. MENTAL CASES. DUNEDIN, Feh. 4. Ihe National Council of Women approached the Minister of Health, and asked him to carry out recommendations of the Mental Defectives Commission. The Minister said that certain of the recommendations were already in force but the matter was so delicate J that the Department did not advertise | its aeions. Five hundred pounds was granted annually to the chief hospital boards tor mental clinics at hospitals. 110 intended to push the claim that accommodation for mental patients be provided at hospitals before despatch to a mental institution, instead of detention i« a police station. A borderland institution would be opened shortly at Wellington.