DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

* BUTTER FOR CANADA. | 'WELLINGTON, April 8. | '3 There is a fairly good market, in Canada this season lor New Zealand butter, and prices in Vancouver at the present time are ruling better than in London. The Niagara, which leaves Auckland on Tuesday, i.s taking between 7<MK) and 8000 boxes ot butter lor Vancouver. More could have been slid if there had been space available in the Niagara. If is expected that a total of loO'.TK> boxes (nearly 4000 tons) of butter will have been shipped to Canada, and the United States by the end of the current season, and that fully dO.OOO boxes will have been sold to Australia.

The secretary of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Control Hoard (Mr i. C. Hrash) informed a "Dominion" representative to-day that Australian butter bad been shut out ol the Canadian market this season owing to the operation of the Paterson Scheme, file Canadian Government took up the attitude that as an export bounty was being paid on Australian butter, it was entitled to charge a dumping duty. Thus Australian butter was faced with the payment of a duty of four cents a i!... as against one cent per lb paid on New Zealand butler. SAFETY OF ROPES. WELLINGTON. April 3. All Order-in-Couneil issued last night postpones till dune I the operation ol regulations and tallies governing fibre ropes used in ship and shore cure, working gear. j The Minister explains dial ilie Department, by a process of come, lire's with interested parties (wate:.-nlers. harbour boards and shipping companies) lias achieved positive regulation >o far as chains and wire ropeare concerned, but fibre ropes cow ! resented an exl raordinary prob'en . !: fibre rope i- weak, lie it a lifting i one or sling, it may break. Alternately, i) it be of too great cireumierenee. either in a. lifting rope or sling, to hold the contents snugly together, definite practical difficulties arise, in which the human operating lactor bo-omcs as great a danger as the low factor of safety in the ropes or slings themselves. There is no desire on the part of the Department to enforce anything not practicable or reasonable, and in order that the fibre rope section might be subjected to further eansideration. the date in coming into operation of the regulations regarding fibre rope lias been postponed to enable further investigation. This will finally resolve itself into the necessity for taking samples of all cargo-working fibre ropes and testing their breaking load. So far as chains and wire ropes are concerned the regulations have been in operation since January. VIRTUE IN WATER. AUCKLAND, April S. Amusement was caused at a sitting of the Water Commission, when reference was made by a witness to the method of assessing the value oi a human life adopted in the United States. Mr A. .1. Parker, public analyst, stated that the financial aspect of any water supply was a large factor not fully realised in Auckland. lit many parts of the United States a monetary value was placed on citizens, and the responsibility of Wafer Hoards was worked out, on this basis. I heir duty was to supply pure water, not likely t". cause infection or death from disease. “In a recent. American publication they do attempt to put down the loss of human life in money." remarked the chairman. Air A. W. Rlair: I see £3OO is the value of a child at live years of age. 'bin's increases to £loC9 between the age- of 2o and 30, and decreases to £2OO between the ages of (to and 70. Mr Johnstone: What is Hie value after 70 years? The chairman : You are worth Q.V)9 now. Mr Parker added that it was Ihe duty of bodies controlling a water supply to see that the chance of infection was reduced. Monetary assessment of Ihe value ol a life was therefore a good system, and one that could well be adopted. A Water Hoard or Council was not only fated with supplying water which would not cause fatal disease, but also other maladies involving medical expenses. WAITRESS KILLED. WELLINGTON. April 8. As the result: of a skylight on which she stepped giving way. Mrs Martha Cronin, aged -It), fell through into the k iclie n of SJarrett’s Hotel shortly before noon to-day, and was killed instantly. It appears that Mrs ('roller

who was a rolioviii" Waitress aL the hot<■!. was crossing 11 11* root to roach a bootmaker's shop on the same level, wilt’ll-she jictiidf 11 1 all v trod on the skylight. which cave way. ami precipitated her to the kitchen some lourteen feel below. It is believed that death was caused by a bad fracture of the skull. Mrs Cronin only commenced duties at the hotel on Thursday.

a burglary. OTARI. April 9. Another burglnrly was committed, the promises ot the Novelty Company being entered and tobacco and cigarettes stolen last night. This is the fourth burglary within two weeks. ATSTKALI AN I XDESTRTA I - .MISSION. GIPIIORNE, April 9. From New York speeches of members of the Australian Industrial Allegation. broadcasted last evening, addresses were given by representaives of the employers'and Labour, Adam (associate editor of the Sydney “Herald''). and Boyle (chief of staff of the Melbourne “Argus.”) The delegates all spoke of the wonderful time they are having and of the great courtesy and kindness received from Americans. The Queensland representative of labour said he was impressed by the way intensive production increased the prospects of a country and workers in particular. He urged all Australians to work their best to make their country greater. A FIRE. NAPIER. April 9. An empty store and unoccupied 'house adjoining were destroyed by fire at West- Shore this morning. The property was owned hy I>. Donovan of Hastings. ARRESTED AFTER THREE YEARS. BLENHEIM, April 9. The long arm of the law reached out this morning and arrested George Albert Mchrettens who has been wanted for three years at Ashburton for allegedly defrauding Dyne. Gould. Guinness and Co. and selling sheep which were the subject of an instrument of security. He was remanded to appear at Ashburton oil the 14th.