DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1

RAILWAY-MEN'S PRESIDENT. WELLINGTON, Alarch 8.

A trade union ballot of considerable interest will be taken among members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants next month, closing on April 14th. for the election of the national president of the organisation. Nominations close on Afareh 21st. and so far there are fotir candidates in the field, Atessrs AL Connelly (Dunedin), J. Elilott (Newmarket), S. Scliotiold (Christchurch) and J. Churchhouse (Carterton).

The. retirng president Air T. Carlyle (Wanganui), announced to the recent biennial conference of the organisation that he would not seek re-election and he adhered to this decision after a number of the members of the society’s executive had requested him to reconsider the matter. Oil receipt of this decision, Air Cluirehouse announced his candidature. ,

The candidates, with the exception of Air Connelly, are all mem tiers of the executive council of the, society and the rules provide that voting must Tie on the preferential system.

THE PRI.MK MINISTER. WELLNGTON, March 8. The Prime Minister, who was invited by the Commonwealth Government to participate in the festivities associated with the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament Buildings by the Duke of York at the new capital, Canberra, has replied that he will lie represented by a member of the Cabinet, as he will bo unable to visit Australia himself. The name of the Minister will he announced shortly.

Air Coates’ decision that he will not leave Now Zealand was anticipated, as he is extremely anxious to get matters moving in respect to a number of important questions. That of unemployment lias given considerable thought to the Government, and there has been some delay in completing a scheme, a delay due to a variety of factors one of which is the interruption to Cabinet work due to the Royal visit. Another reason is that several important public departments will be required to co-oper-ate in the Government's scheme, these including Public Works, Railways, Laud and Forestry.

WHEAT AND FLOUR. AVEI/LINGTON, Alarch 8.

The Government policy in regard to the wheat and flour question ,was defined by tbe Minister of Agriculture (the Hon 0. J. Hnwken) to-day. “There will be no embargo on the importation, of flour and the dumping duty will not be increased. The Tariff Revison Commission, however, will inquire into the whole question of the wheat industry, and if there is found to he a discrepancy in the relative duties oil flour and wheat the Government will endeavour to get the House next session to agree to an adjustment of the, tariff. “The Government has considered the alternative suggested, solution of the present difficulty, viz., an embargo on flour, hut. the objections are (1) such action might reasonably he regarded as being in. conflict with our reciprocal agreement with Australia; (2) an embargo would not be in the interests of the consumer, and (3) in view of the extra quantity of wheat grown this year it is very doubtful if an embargo on (lour importations would have the effect hoped for by the New Zealand grower of wheat.”

AUCKLAND MUSEUM. DIFFICULTIES OF FINANCE. AUCKLAND. .March 8. I The financial position of the Auckland Institute and Museum was discussed at the annual meeting last evening, when it was announced that a loss had hern sustained on the year’s workings. i A report regarding the progress of the new museum building stated that the council felt some uneasiness about the completion of the new building, as funds posscsed by the Citizens’ Commit too are still 025,000 short. 'The president. Mr 11. E. Yuilo. said that the work of the Institute was greatly hampered by its miserable income. The Wellington Museum cost about 07000 to maintain, while the Auckland Museum was expected to carry on with an income of a little over £2OOO, but the City Council wan not enabled to contribute to its upkeep and application bad been made for a grant. “ People may not know it, but we have in the Auckland museum probably the finest collection of AFaorl curios in the world.” said Dr P. If. Buck, who predicted that the museum would in future years become ihu Mecca for tourists studying the history of the Polynesian race. Professor F. P. Worslev said he thought that with opening of the new

building, people would become more interested in the institute. “If the worst comes to the worst wo can run it as a business and charge for admission,” lie added. The president: a hat would be contrary to our Act. The hardship is that the people of the Auckland Province should he forced to help to pay for the Wellington museum by reason of tile Government grant which it receives. No resolution was passed. A MAORI'S OFFENCE. GISBORNE, March 9. Another serious criminal charge came before the Supreme Court to-day, when Nocma Ivaiwai appeared before Air Justice .Ostler oil a charge of attempting to murder Thomas Alfred Joyce, by discharging at him the contents; of a shot gun at Ivaiwai. He was alternatively charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. The accused pleaded not guilty.

The evidence showed that the cases arose out of a Maori woman’s relations with men nt Ruatoria, near Wainpu river. The woman had lived first with Ivaiwai, and then with Joyce. She then returned to Kniwai. Joyce had gained possession of a ring from the woman, and Ivaiwai demanded its return. Joyce refused, and Kaiwai secured a gun, ancl fired at Joyce, who received the pellets in the shoulder. The accused then fired again, and missed. and Joyce closed with him, wresting the gun from him, and he later delivered the gun to the police. The jury, after a quarter of an hour’s retirement, returned a verdict of guilty on the third count of assault with intent to cause bodily harm. ■ In imposing a sentence of one year’s hard labour, the Judge said to the prisoner: “I consider you very lucky in that you were not here to answer a charge of murder, ancl the jury have been very lenient with you. I think, if I had been judging the ease I would not have been so merciful. T have to presume that you did not intend to kill or injure the man. hut merely to frighten him.”