DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1927, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegraph—PEll press association.] FLOUR EMBARGO. CHRISTCHURCH. March 39. <; lf you can find a disease in Australian wheat, we will place an embargo on it at once.” said the Prime Minister to-day, when replying to a deputation of wheat growers, who had asked for an embargo on Australian flour. One of the speakers had pointed to the fact that New Zealand potatoes have been excluded from Australia. Mr Coates said that, if it was four that an enormous amount of Australian. flour was likely to injure the wheat-growers’ position in Now Zealand, they need have no fear as to what step the Government would take." “You had no wheat in February.’' Mr Coates. Cries of “Yes. Yes!” Mr Coates: “Tt was not in time t< meet the feeding of the people.”

Voices: “You’re wrong.” Air Contes said that, since then, the imports had fallen to a negligible quantity. The New Zealand wheatgrowor should have a fair chance, but the Government also bad a. duty to the con-

. sinners. Replying to questions asked by t’deputation. Air Coates said it was tin intention of the Government to giv< notice now of a Customs increase whH it proposed to levy on Australian flour. Fie also said the Government had agreed to appoint a personnel to < I tain all the available information regarding the wheat- and flour industry. DECLARATION VOTES. AUCKLAND, ALu-eh 30. The votes of ratepayers l>v declaration have been recorded at Newmarket for the first time in New Zealand under the terms of last year’s Local Elections and Polls Amendment Act. Section 12. which provides for voting by declaration in the case of persons who arc informed by the Returning Officer on the day of the poll that their names are not on the roll. A poll was taken at Newmarket yesterday on a local proposal to race £4.500. and on the recorded votes it was undefeated by four votes. There are. however. 37 votes by declaration. The Returning Officer. ATr Dillon, reported to the Borough Council this evening that the scrutineers had finished their work and the recount had been completed, hut he was not yet in a position to announce the result, owing to the fact- that the votes hv declaration had not been counted. In *’ matter he did not intend to take a action until he had obtained legal advice as to the correct procedure to 1followed within the meaning of the Act.