DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TF.LEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

MOTOR CYCLE ACCIDENT. BLENHEIM. February 17. Harry Barrett, aged 18, riding a motor cycle collided with a motor lony proceeding along Matuwell road. When the lorry pulled up the front wheel had to he jacked up to release the youth as his left leg was pinned to the road. He was removed to the AYuirau hospital and underwent an operation. He suffered severe injuries to liis leg.

NATIVE ROYAL COMMISSION. WAITAKA. February 17. The investigating of the Native claims {for alleged wrongful confiscation of their lands, by the Royal Commission. was continued for the seventh day. Evidence was given this morning by a son of the great Te Wliiti, who gave an account of lion. John Bryce’s raid on Parihaka in 1881. The Commission is now dealing with individual petitions.

TO TEACH SWIMMING. PAHIATUA, Fob. 17. In view of the appalling number of deaths from drowning in the Dominion. Pahiatua Swimming Club decided to send a deputation to wait on tin Hritnc Minister, urging either that swimming he made compulsory in schools, or Government subsidise Clubs employing instructors and thus doing the Government’ work. In sixteen years of its existence Pahiatua Club has taught seven hundred children to swim without any Government’ assistance.

SPOKEN ENGLISH. EXPRESSION IN SPEECH. CHRISTCHURCH. Fob. 17. Under the auspices of the Canterbury School Committees’ Association. Professor James Shelley delivered an address on “Spoken English in Primary Schools” last evening. English was now a compulsory language in the schools of many countries, said the speaker, and it behoved English men. therefore, to use the language well. There was no dialect in Now Zealand, hut the fault in New Zealand’s English was general slovenliness. There was nothing wrong with dialect, which often would be as full of expression as standard English, hut there was a need to maintain a standard of punctuation. There was. as yet, no standard of pronunciation, but this might possibly come through the use of wireless telegraphy. A committee of school teachers had been set up for the purpose of making a standard English pronunciation for radio announcing and this might have the effect of creating a standard. A language properly spoken always meant more than a language that was not properly spoken, for in the correct speech much more expression could he obtained. Adequate substitutes for national tongues could never he found in Esperanto or other made-up languages because in taking the greatest common Factors of a language it was robbed of its effectiveness. Languages had to bo taught in the schools to retain expression, and it was necessary to start the young mind with sound images. A vote of thanks was accorded the Professor for his lecture.

AMAZING SIGHTS. BUILDING MOVED LIKE STRAW. AUCKLAND. T’eh. 10. The storm which swept Auckland last eight ceased with dramatic suddenness shortly niter the deluge started. A waterspout was experienced in the East Tamaki district, almost like the tail of an animal. It extended from a dark stormeloud. incongruous but menacing, tapering gradually as it approached the earth. It appeared to drag behind the cloud and motorists who witnessed tile phenomenon while driving from Wiri to M-inurewa said it was ceaselessly re-

voicing. Mr .T. .T, Trihle saw the waterspout moving steadily over the farm of Mr F. Waters at Fast Taniaki. From its path it removed a small outbuilding as if it was a piece of sinew, and uprooted a portion of a hedge. Then came a most striking sight. The waterspout passed over a windmill and tank, and suddenly the water in the tank utis drawn upward '■ to a height of about. 100 feet in Iho dusk, and in the intermit-' tent glare of lightning it' looked almost like a geyser in action. The waterspout was also noticed by passengers in the southbound suburban train. Three wore seen, apparently at a distance of about three miles, but one was much larger than the others. Then, as the passengers watched spellbound. the huge column of cloud appeared to break in two, and almost before their eyes dissolve into a heavy shower of rain. A NEW SLOGAN. COATS OFF WITH COATES.

WELLINGTON. Feb. 10. As the quickest way of overcoming the present- depression in New Zealand the Prime Minister (Mr Coates) offered the members of the New Zealand Association of British Manufacturers and Agents assembled in liis honour to-day a now slogan. ‘'Tf you want a slogan.” said the Prime Minister. “Here is one: ‘Coats Off With Coates.’ (Laughter and applause). In America, you know, you ■are told ‘You Must Keen Cool With Coolidge.” (Renewed laughter.)

THE BATE WAYS. WELLINGTON, Fob. IG. The Hon J. G. Coates. Minister of Railways, to-day reported on the result. of his observations of railways and railway management in other countries. His inquiries abroad have gone to show that the re-organised administration of the New Zealand railways lias been carried out on principles accepted elsewhere as ibeing the most satisfactory. Improved service must be the slogan to counteract keen competition on the road. He is of opinion tltit more can be done in the direction of "making railway travel and freight as nearly universal as possible. More powerful locomotives are essential to reduce the cost of uncrating heavy freight trains. New Zealand is just as far advanced as oilier countries in cutting branch lino losses. The refreshment services on the Now Zealand railways arc first class and much chcaner than in any other country bo visited.

Mon will bo selected bore to proceed to Canada and Great Britain, and possibly South Africa, to take tin the spine (•lass of work in those countries. for say twelve months, in exchange for similar officers, who will take up dot) on the New Zealand railways for similar periods.

Mr Coates found in all the systems of workshops he investigated in Great Britain that sonic method of bonus earning was in operation. This was generally discouraged officially by the unions, but at the same time was taken full advantage of hv the workmen. The basis fixed for payment is by a time limit for each particular job. and that basis is agreed upon by men who have bad long praefiod experience on that- work—men who have been actually doing the job. If tlm employee wishes to maintain the ordinary or basic rate of pav he can do so l»t simply ndhering to the average time schedule, but should be be above the average m efficiency and desire to do so lie can alignment his earnings very considerably.

The whole scheme is dependent upon the basis fixed. Mr Coates ciitiieh agrees that the basis should ho iv fail and reasonable one. and enable the average artisan to earn wlait nc non call the standard rate of pay.

■RELUCT VNT WITNESS. AUCKLAND. Feb. 16

“The woman had a cut two inches long oil her head, going right to the none. There was fat on the floor, a bucket of water was unset, and close to a pool of blood a tomahawk was Iv- • rtir. So said a constable this morning when William Connor (46) was

charged with having assaulted Delia Pine. He pleaded not guilty. The woman, who lived with Connor soon proved a reluctant witness, stating that she did not, remember complaining to the police and making a statement to the constable about what happened when Connor dame home yesterday while she was cooking the mid-day meal. Turning to the Magistrate tile woman said: “I’m the'sufferer, if you send liini to gaol. He never hit me with the frying-pan, but only bumped against me with it.” Neither did she remember saying that Connor had cut her with an axe. Mr M’Kcan, S.M. said that there was no doubt that the woman was reluctant to say anything, but it was quite evident that she had been struck by the pan. A fine of £5 or fourteen days’ imprisonment was imposed. Time to pay was refused.