DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] THE .MILFORD BUNGLE. MINI -STMB’S D EFENCE. WELLINGTON. Feh. lb. Asked whether his attention has been called In the leading article in tho “Otago Daily Times” of the I Ith of February, entitled-“A Dune Apologia” the Hon W. Nosworlhy, Minister in Charge of the Tourist Department, said that he had seen the article, and he desired to make certain comments upon it. “1 untie:* 1.” said the Minister “that the si til meat I made to the press in Chris: m—’i on tho 9th inst.. which forms , !)•• basis of the Dunedin journal's i ri: ieism, was sent out h.v the Press .' sociation. and was published by the “Times” with the following sen- ! fence omitted: "It was difficult to understand why when the launch did not put in an appearance, some attempt was not made to land the party in the ship’s boats, as he was informed that tho weather was calm.” That omission was important., as he was still of the opinion that, if the blame was attributable to anyone, it must rest on tho shoulders of the Union Steam Ship Coy. The Milford Track Manager’s report, he said, shows that the “Moeraki” (with the visiting medical men) / did not proceed further into .Milford Sound than the Sterling Falls. Any-

one who know the distance and the direction of Sterling Falls from Sandfly Huts would realise that it would ho i practically impossible for the ship’s i signals to he heard from that pos,- . tion. Tho men. after waiting on the Sound for fifteen hours on the date of the expected arrival, lmd gone ashore. They could hardly he expected 1 to remain cruising about day and night I indefinitely, and he was disposed to ( believe their statement that the signals | were not heard, notwithstanding the ungenerous suggestion of the “Otago Times” that such statement was wortliv of acceptance. (Jiptaiu 'Hamilton, a I perfectly independent authority, who e was camped at Sutherland’s heard only I one detonator. Had the ship gone to tho usual stopping place at Bowen ( | Falls she would hue been plainly visible from Sutherland’s, and tho •’ whole trouble would have been avoided.” 1

MOTOR CYCLISTS’ MEETING. WELLINGTON, hen. 17. A large meeting of motor cyclists, at which some five hundred attended, passed a resolution, strongly protesting against interference with pillion riding. The Speakers, in clfecO said the agitation had arisen from remarks by .Magistrates uho c!i<l not know what they were talking about. The facts bail never been examined hv those who

objected to the practice. Other resolutions were passed: First, Maintaining pillion riding was safe, and actually gave greater control over the machine, second, that ii could not he shown it was dangerous; third, that it was cheap and healthy, hut not more than one passenger should he allowed.

INTEK-KMIM li E TRADE ENCOURAGEMENT. WELLINGTON. 'Feh. 17. More was heard about the encouragement of Inter-Empire Trade in speeches made at the luncheon tendered to the Prime Minister by the New Zealand Association of British Manufacturers a fi'd agents. Mr Coates again spoke hopefully of the future of the Dominion. In the course of his speech the Prime Minister stated his conviction, \\ iLlioiiT--pro-judice. wtts that as far as comparisons went. New Zealand was still the happiest country on God's earth. No doubt there was over capitalisation in manv industries, and it was net-ossa rv

to get these costs down, in order that they could find a market with prices that could compete with those of other parts of the world. In the future the Dominion would want to carry a larger population, and although there are millions of acres of land which could carry additional people at tho moment. it was in the productive stage, ft was essential that local industry should lie encouraged wherever possible, hut a selection would have to he made as to which industries would he likely to show reasonable results. MEALS FOR CHILDREN. DUNEDIN. Feh. 17. Tn connection with relief of Kaitangi.ii distress, the Education Board hits received a grant of £SO from the Government which it will supplement by a like amount in providing one meal daily for school chilTlreu in need, of whom there are fifty at present. The Board will send a colliery expert to supervise. REDUCTION TN FLOUR. CHRISTCHURCH, Feh .17. From to-day, the price of flour will Ik* reduced by £| per toll. This decision was arrived at by a meeting of shareholders of Distributors 1.1 1 1 yesterday. Other reductions are the lowering iT the price of bran by Cl per ton, > ll ■ <I the price of pollard by £2 a ton. The now price of (lour will he 017 per ton. the price until yesterday, having been £lB since last season. Now that the pari tv for Ilnur is 30s less, the existing price could not he supported hv rates for wheat. BODY FOUND. WELLINGTON, Fob. 17. A party spearing flounders at Retone beach last night came upon the body of a dead man fully clothed ill an advanced state of decomposition. Tho police were notified land the body was taken to tho morgue. The deceased wa.s well built. sft Gin, between *>9 and GO. had on a slate grey suit, fawn shirt, no collar or tie. black hoots, socks. Thero aro no marks on the body which is unidentified. Suicide is suggested by a, stone around the neck. BODY RECOVERED. NEW PLYMOUTH. Feh. 17 The body of Taiaroa AVctere, one of the two hoys drowned on Sunday afternoon while bathing on the beach near Awakino was found yesterday afternoon in Awakino river, about a mile from the mouth, apparently carried thitTicr by the tide.