DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

FLOUR, IMPORTS. AUCKLAND, March 23,

A protest against the movement in the South Island to have the importation of flour and wheat prohibited, was made to-day at a meeting of Auckland Grain, Seed and Produce Merchants’ Association, ft was decided to telegraph tbe Prime Minister and other members of tbe Cabinet concerned, that the Association views with apprehension 0 ■ pressure that was being brought t i I ear on the Government by the "la; growers, with a view to placing u. inbargo on the importation of Hour -ml wheat, anil that it desires in enter an emphatic protest against any 1 111 -flier restrictions being imposed. The Association consider that the present duty of 2s per cental on wheat, and £3 por ton on Hour, plus the dumping duty is ample protection.

OREPUKI IN STORM, (<>XSI DAMAGE DONE NELSON, March 25. Ike Anchor Company’s Orepuki arrived at Nelson last night, having l>e.n bar-bound off Greymouth on Tuesday and Wednesday. At luid-night on \\ ednesday a huge sea broke aboard, doing considerable damage. The lore bulwarks were stove in and iron staiic-lioiis twisted in all directions. Ike port lifeboat was lifted bodily across the ship. The store room and lavatory were smashed to pieces. Captain Waliai’stmni reports the seas a- the biggest in bis experience. Repair.-, are being effected and tlie vessel resumes her running to-morrow. THEFTS FROM HOTELS. NAPIER, March 2-1. A sequel to recent- burglaries at Taupo and Wanganui was board before the Police Court this morning, when Frank Smith, with several aliases, was charged with stealing LSI from the Terrace Hotel at Taupo, and £lO from Foster’s Hotel at Wanganui. Arthur Hayden was charged with receiving part of the stolen money. Both men pleaded “guilty” and were remai to Wellington Supreme ( ,nirl lo be sentenced During the hearing of the ease the police produced a long signed confession by Hayden, detailing extensive movements by the two accuse'' in a ear, nraeticnllv all over the North Island.

.MINISTER OF LABOUR. GORE, .March 25.

Hon. ,f. G. Anderson (Labour Aliuister) in replying to a I’ukerau fanners- deputation urging the abolition of the Arbitration Court, pointed out the Court, as now established, protected Luo interests of the public as well as the parties to a dispute and if abolished the Labour l)i spates investigation Act would have to take its place. Round the table eouferen'ces would have to he held to settle industrial disputes and the public would not he represented in these. The Minister held that farmers would he no better off if the Court were abolished, hut in face of influential demands in this direction the position would have to he investigated by the Government. He ai’so held that wages were hut a small factor in the present depression.

NATIVE LANDS. OPOTTKI, March 25. The Confiscated Native Lands Commission resumed yesterday for a short t.cried, when witnesses gave evidence

as to the present poor position of the Wliakaiohea natives. The value of their land is not more than LT an acre. Good land in the vicinity is worth b(i() an acre. The natives numbered a thousand and prayed for 12,000 to 15,000 acres of good land from the uovernment.

A female witness remembered l!io murder of Volyner. Sho was then I<s. At Unit time they had plenty of food, such as rats, birds, berries and other food got by hunting. When the pakeha. came this source of food supply was stopped ami they had to sell land to get money to five. Air Taylor, Counsel for the Crown, stated ho would not reply until lie hears AYliakatnnc evidence. He had no Opotiki evidence to call. The Commission adjourned until today. STABBING AFFRAY. CHRISTCHURCH, -March 25. Before the Alagistrnte to-day, Joseph Howard, a Afalay, was charged with having unlawfully assaulted Tabet Sni'ch, at Lyttelton, causing actual bodily barm. He was remanded for a week. Both are members of the crew of the steamer Slicafmount. Saleh Is in the hospital, suffering from a serious knife wound in the throat.

AMBULANCE SERVICE. WELLINGTON. A!arch 25

Wellington Hospital Board Ins decided to fiend over its ambulances to the New Zealand Free Ambulance Transport Service and grant £sllO to that body, with a stipulation ainbulances must l>e available for. hospital needs at any time. The position will be reviewed at the end ot twelve months. During a discussion it wa; stated that the system was successfully operating at Newcastle. ALr Chapman, opposed the proposal to hand over the Board’s ambulances to an outside body over whom it have no control. He feared the Hemal would have to manage its, °wn ambulance service as well. Ihe (mailman i Hon. C. AI. Luke) said the Board at present was nimble to meet the city’s requirements. A[ r Chapman when the proposal "as adopted desired to have his protest recorded.

ALLEGED SETTING. WELLINGTON, .March 20. Described as a bookmaker, John Afartindale, 45, appeared before M> Pane SAL, to-day charged with bating made a bet on the Rimgitikei Cup. He was remanded to appear to-inono morning. Bail of £25 was renewed. AN APPEAL. CHRISTCHURCH, March 25. The case of Walter Hulston. whose premises at 171 and 173, Madras St., were declared a gaining house and were closed, was to-day referred to the Full Court in Wellington. The premises were closed by a declaration by Justice Adams under the Gaming Act. In the Supreme Court to-day, before Air Justice Alpers, an application for a summons for order rescinding the declaration was referred to the Full Courts on the application of ATr Sargent, for Hulston. an appeal case. WELLINGTON. -March 25. The Court of Appeal to-day is hearing a case brought under the Tannic Protection Act by Lily E. Newman against J. A. Newton, and A. AT. Afcore. executors of the will of John Gracia, deceased. Applicant was the widow of Gracia, who died in 1912 and she remarried in 1919. Under the will she got maintenance so long as she remained a widow, and on her remarriage was to get nothing. The whole estate was valued at £9666 and there were seven children. Appellant is in ill-health and her husband lias no means, and is also in ill-health. Airs Newman asks the Court to make proper provision for her and the question is whether, in the face of the conditions of the will, it has power to do so. Air Sim is appearing for appellant and Afessrs Nicliolls and Afr Aniodes for beneficiaries and trustees. Judgment was reserved.