DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1927, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegraph—l>kb PRESS association.] -MONEY FOB FARMERS. WHANG ABET, May 19. The general shortness of credit, particularly for agricultural needs and housing was the subject of comment by the Hon. ,J. A. Young in a speech at Whangarei to-night ,in reply to some criticism of the Government for lending for housing. The Minister said good housing was more allied to a healthy population than many realised. He explained the operations of the State Advances Office in relation to the advances to settlers legislation of last year, providing for long term rural credits. He said FI 10,000 had already been approved by the Board under this scheme, but many were not yet ready I to receive monies. In any case, the I first issue of bonds would not go out for sale till £250,000 worth was ready. He urged .the public to buy these bonds, which would be issued probably at 5J per cent., and would have a currency of from 30 to 36 years. The interest rate to the farmer would probably be 6 per cent, but it should not bo more. Flo thought that it would be worth while for tbe State to institute a similar scheme for the people’s 8 | homes.

death from burns. CHRISTCHURCH, Hay 18. Ihrough a tent in which ho was sleeping with his parents catching firo at Willowbridge, Te Run Rourangi, the infant son of Air and Ali-s Charles Rourangi, died as a result of burns at tlio AVainiate Hospital on Monday morning. The fire was started, it is presumed, by the upsetting of a candle which ignited some straw in the tent. About 3 o’clock that morning, the mother of the child rose from her hod to warm a bottle of milk for the baby. She lit a candle, but after giving the bott-le to the baby and returning to lied omitted to extinguish' it. About half an hour later, Airs Rourangi was awakened by the warning of one of her neighbours that her tent was on fire. She caught the baby in her arms and rushed out, followed by her husband. The parents were told that their little son was still in the tent, and Mr Rourangi rushed back into the flames and rescued him. The child was found to he very severely burned about the body and face, and he was at once taken to Dr Sliaekleton, who ordered his immediate removal to the AVainiate Hospital. All measures were unavailing, however, and the child died at 9.20 on Monday morning.

RAHIATUA DISTRICT NEEDS. PAHTATUA, May 19. Hon. Air Hawken, Afinister of Agriculture, received a deputation here

coiH'orinup; :i suggested demonstration farm ami tlio appointment of a district veterinary surgeon. Ho replied it was now tin; policy of tlio Department to appoint more field instructors to meet those requests. 'file necessity for a new Post Office was also urged. The Minister inspected the present old office, and also a new central site, and promised to bring tlio matter before the Postmaster-General. This morning be inspected a block of bush land of 000 acres on the ranges behind the balance Settlement. The Minister afterwards left tor Woodville, sub.sequeully proceeding to Dannovirke. He was accompanied by Cnptain'EUis, Dii eetor of Ko res try, and Mr Hansom M. I’. Me was met here by the Mayo and members of the Chamber of Com morce. At the Tiallance forest rosern the settlers requested that the block b( cut up for settlement.

THE UNEMPLOYED. CH.iUSTCHPKCII, .Aray 19. A, deputation of the unemployed waited on the Mayor, Per. K. Archer, tliis morning, and informed him that the unemployed, were prepared to accept the (Jovernment rates of pay lor reliel work, provided tliat the men wort; supplied with "abundantly varied, nutritive, and well-prepared food, il possible tree, or even at cost price. The deputation stated that, as the married men had the preference of work, the single men were having a very hal'd time, and some were actually starving. They had carried a resolution asking the Mayor and the Labour members of the Benevolent Committee of the Hospital Hoard to exert their influence to procure "an adequate measure of relief lor the distressed unemployed. The Mayor said that he sympathised with the unemployed, and the City Council was doing its best to find work for them. Plans were being prepared, and work for a good number of men would soon he offering. As to relief from the Hospital Hoard, lie said, it must he remembered that the Labour members thereon were in a. hopeless minority of four to seventeen.

'Olio Mayor said lio had no Jiopo that the Government would provide free food for men on relief wages. He would, however, write to the Minister on the proposal that the Government should undertake the supply of food to these men at cost price.

DAILY CONTROL AY HANGAR El. Mnv 11),

The chief subject of an address given hy Hon t .1. A. Young, at Wliangaroi to-night, was that of the dairy control. The Minister said that much criticism had been levelled against Mr Coates for his part in the matter. Pillowing on his consultations in l.otulon. hut, while the dairy matters had caeupied an important part of the Prime Minister's thoughts, they could not be regarded as the only matters of importance claiming his attention in London. Due allowance, said Mr Young, should he made for Mr Grounds, the Dairy Control Chairman’s anxiety in the matter. He went to England with one purpose, and his mind was filled with the butter and elieeso situation. Consequently he was apt to misjudge the attitude of '.he Prime Minister. Mr Coates was a keen observer, said Mr Young, and noticed the situation in London, and fie telegraphed his impressions, and as a re suit of this, he had suffered misrepresentation in consequence of his conviction that the price fixing was a mis. take. Not only traders and commercial interests, hut a section of producers had opposed price fixing. Unfortunate experiences, though costly, were valuable to the Board and to the industry, and the costs of its mistake, if any, should not he allowed to be made a political vendetta against Mr Coates, who himself was a farmer, and a true friend of the producer.