DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1927, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[liV TELEGRAPH —-I*Kit TRESS ASSOCIATION.] INQUEST A DJOURNED. DUNEDIN. May 18. The inquest on James Young, whose body was found in the Harbour, disclosed he was last seen alive on April "35th. by a fellow inmate of the Benevolent Institution, when he stated his intention to suicide. The inquest was adjourned.

CHAMBER. OF COMMERCE. AUCKLAND. May 18. The Cei ;■ il of the Chamber of Commerce pa- d unanimously a resolution that the J!’. ! ,et surplus has fully justified the Chamber's former proti <• against Government's failure to reduce taxation. The Chamber again affirms the necessity for a substantial reduction in taxation in tiie interests of the industries of the Dominion. Members of the Council will endeavour to meet the Premier at the end of the week to discuss the matter with him. The Council discussed the constitution of the Arbitration Court, on receipt of a letter criticising tile working of the Court received from IT. T. Merritt (Vice-President), who suggested dispensing with the emnloyers’ and workers’ representatives and a creating a Court of three independent judges. The matter was referred to a special committee to investigate and make full report.

JUDGE'S DECISION. JURY'S VERDICT SET ASIDE. GREYMOCTir. May 18. Judge Adams gave his reserved decision in a compensation claim heard at last sitting of the Supreme Court hero in connect ion with the death of Peter Cnrmodv, at Brown’s Creek .sawmill. Tnangaliun. through a liddling. saw mishap. A claim was made for '£3ooo compensation by tho Public Trustee, on behalf of deceased’s children. The jury awarded CIOOO. Mr O S. Thomas, of Christchurch, defendant’s counsel, raised-a non-suit point which is now decided in the defendant’s favour and the jury’s award set aside, oil the ground that Carmody's death was caused by bis own action, in working the saw without authority.

HIGHWAYS CONFERENCE. CHRISTCHURCH. -May 18.

At the Highways Conference, Mr Furkert said the Board’s nest egg was dwindling away. It was estimated it would disappear inside of three years. The ratio of payment in the South Island was two to one as against one and a half to one in the North Island. He did net agree that the roads in the South Island had Mot been improved since the operation of the Act. It- was no good anv one making exaggerated statements.

DESERTER ARRESTED. CHRISTCHURCH. May IS

John Alexander Baird McKay, aged •23. an ex-naval man and deserter, was to-day sentenced to one month’s imprisonment and ordered to pay £'2 compensation to the Government for breaking a- window at flic Police Station so that he might lx l arrested and receive medical treatment. DAIRY RESEARCH. WELLINGTON. May 18.

At a conference at which tho Premier and representatives of the Dairy Board, Agriculture Department. Agriculture College Council, and Research Council were present, it- was resolved that dairy research should he carried out apart from day to day tests required by the department, ol agriculture and trade laboratories. A special committee will manage the dairy research laboratories and consider details necessary to the c inducting of research, the Research Council appointing the staff. Dairy factories however will he controlled by the Agricultural College hut 'fillers engaged ill research and officers ol the Department of Agriculture shall have the right of access for experimental purposes. The suggested staff lor the laboratory will he a director, bacteriologist and assistant chemist, and assistant and factory staff. The capital cast of the laboratory as part of the college buildings is .€2500. Salaries and apparatus are put at £5403. Tho Dairy Board will contribute one half of the total funds required for dairy research. The Research Council or its management committee will arrange for adequate comparison with laboratories.

A CONFERENCE. CHRISTCHURCH, May IS

With a view to removing doubts that have existed in regard to the operations of the Main Highways Act, and to evolving a policy lor the future, that will be satisfactory to the parties interested, an important conference between the Main Highways Board and representatives of the South Island County Councils and motoring organisations was held in the Canterbury Automobile Associations rooms this morning. Mr |.\ W. Ftnkert, Engincer-in-Cliief of the Public Works Department and Chairman of the Main Highways Board, presided over a large attendance. Mr I!. Falek, President of tne Canterbury Automobile Association, welcomed the delegates and expressed a hope that the confereme would go smoothly, and that satisfactory results would be obtained. mi? DAMAGES. INVERCARGILL, May 18. At the Supreme Court, Lucy Charlotte Witty, a widow, claimed from Southland Council £ISOO damages for the death of her husband, who was struck by a motor car driven by a servant of the corporation, John Guv Dennison, who had since lett the dominion. Witty was cycling at night on the right side of the road when he was run down and plaintiff contended the damages to Dennison’s car corresponded with what was to be expected from such a collision. The jury awarded £BO7. with costs.

AN INQUEST. GISBORNE, May IS

At the inquest on Frank MeCarten, an elderly man, who died from injuries through being knocked down by a ear on Gladstone Road, evidence was given that the ear driven by Ainslie Dunstone, was not travelling more than ten miles an hour. The flight was wet. The coroner held there was no evidence of carelessness or negligence on the part of .the driver.

STAMP ACT. TIMARU, May IS

At the Magistrate’s Court. Robert C. Littlejohn, was charged with having made a valuation to the amount of £1.165, and neglecting to stamp same.

Defendant pleaded ignorance of the Stamp Act. Detective Walker said defendant had been quite ignorant of any offence as were hundreds of others.

The Magistrate agreed with this view hut said all would now take warning from this ease. The maximum penalty was £SO. but in consideration of the circumstances Littlejohn would be fined i.l and ordered to pay costs. INCOME TAX.

WELLINGTON, May IS

Having admitted falsification of income tax returns for four years, ended March last year, Horace James Tapp, fellmonger. of Blenheim, was to-day fined a total of £2OO by Mr Page, S.M. Mr Tudhope, for the Crown, srud the (inippnts yere small compared

with cases recently, but tbc Department wished it to lie known that prosecutions were not confined to cases where there were big discrepancies. For the period named tbe defendant returned bis income at £1502 whereas it was £5317. The tax on income returned £l7 and on the true income £227. One of tho objects of this prosecution was to discourage others from adopting similar tactics. Mr Tuclhope stressed tho powers of the Department in rgeard to charging for tax evaded and a penal tax to correct any impression that fines were the end of the matter in these cases.