DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1927, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION ]

AVAR. VETERAN’S PLIGHT. s AA'AIAIATE, May 31. „ James Bell, who it was stated, held the Alons Medal and the British and French AHlitary Aledals, liesides being promoted by Lord Haig for bravery and Recommended by seven officers for the Victoria Cross at St. Quentin, pleaded guilty before Justices to-day to breaking and theft from a cordial factory, of empty bottles, worth 4s. The accused said that he was a bottle-gatherer, whose wife and two children were boarding at Oamnru, and owing to their board bill l>eing due, he had Intended to take the bottles to get money to pay, as he himself had only enough for bread and dripping.

He didn’t drink The accused was remanded to the' Supreme Court for sentence.

“C AUGHT AATTH THE GOODS.” DUNEDIN, May 31. A charge against .Tames .Tohnstpn in Hie Police Court this morning revealed another case of a thief being “canglit with the goods” on the premises. The charge was that of breaking and entering Cooke, Howlinson and Co\ s garage, and Senior Sergeant Quartermain said the man was found there at about 11.15 p.m. yesterday in the act of removing gear, a shift lover* valued at 555. He admitted being there for the purpose of theft. The accused was remanded in custody until Monday, hail being refused.

ACCIDENTS TO AIAORIS. HA AYER A, Alay 31. A Alaori, locally known as Davy, whose real name is unknown, missed a track down the Opunako Cliffs to bis whare, during a storm last night, and fell 10 feet on to the beach. He was found dead this morning through injuries to the head. AVHANGAREI, Alay 28. Dan Ti Iveta, a Alaori boy, 3 years of age, was drowned in a stream at Pakotai yesterday afternoon. The deceased was playing on the edge of a creek with a younger brother when he fell into the water and was a ay. The smaller hoy informed the parents of the mishap) but when they arrived the victim was out of sight.

MOTHER'S TRIAL. GORE, Alay 31. The adjourned inquest touching tiie deaths of Elizabeth Jean Rae A’ years.), Thomas Rae (3 years), George Alexandra Rae (8 months), the children of George Coekburn Rae and Tryphena. Clifford Rae. who were’, shot _ latter at Ivaiwere on April lltli last, was concluded before Air Martin, J.P., the District Coroner, to-day. Inspector Bird represented the polico and .Messrs Russell and Bannerman the mother. Evidence relative to tlie finding of the bodies was given, also medical evidence regarding the wounds. The Coroner found that death was caused through haemorrhage by bullet wounds, inflicted by the mother, Tryphena Clifford Rae. Later the mother appeared before Air Dixon, S.AL, charged with i.-e murder of the four children. Similar evidence to that at the coroninl inquiry _ was given. Dr Rogers stated that he could not, from observation of the accused at the Gore Hospital, certify her to be of unsound mind.

In a lengthy statement made to the police, the accused made allegations of cruelty against her husband, and she referred to her domestic unhappiness and to family troubles. The woman admitted having shot the children as being for the best., and also admitted attempting to take her own life. She was committed to tho Court at Invercargill, and to he kept under observation meanwhile by a mental expert.

DAYLIGHT SAVING. DUNEDIN. May 31. The attitude of the Otago farmers in regard to the proposed daylight Saving Bill was expressed at the 27th annual conference of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which opened here this morning. The President (Mr John Preston) presided over an attendance of 43 delegates. Air F. Lawrence moved—“ That this conference reiterates its protest against ■ Daylight Saving.” AFr Robertson said he failed to see how primary production would he increased by putting his clock hack an hour. The would prove a hardship for- the rising generation, who had plenty to do m the country already. It was a move on the part of city sportsmen, and was not calculated to help the farmer, Afr Murray pointed out that the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union was the only farmers’ body to agree with the hill.

Speaking in favour, of Daylight Saving, Air Waite said that it was wrong to say that a majority of the farmers opposed it. In Otago it already was in operation in hundreds of ways. “ Then why legislate for it,” asked

Afr Murray. Air Waite replied that it was necessary to Help people out in some walks of life. Afr R. .T. E. Smith said he was in agreement with the measure. An hour in the morning was worth two at night, and, if they once tried it, they would never want to do without it.

On being put to the meeting, the remit of protest was carried on the casting vote of the Chairman.

RECAPTURED.' AUCKLAND, May 31. Archibald Andrew Scott, who escaped from custody at Auckland two years ago was captured by the police at Tearoha this morning. Recently the escapee was located at Lower Waikato but he broke through a police cordon and escaped.

DUTY ON FLOUR. WELLINGTON, Afay 31. In a statement to-night on the method to lie adopted to encourage wheat-growing in the Dominion, the Prime Minister says that the Government has decided to adopt a sliding scale of customs duties, so fixed that the rate of duty on flour will increase when the price outside New Zealand falls, but will decrease when the worlds*" prices increase. It is, therefore, proposed to asks Parliament next session to alter the present duties on flour to the following basis:— Wheat flour, including wheatmeal, and similar preparations: When the current domestic value of flour is £l3 per ton of 2000 av., the duty £3 10s per ton, provided that (1) when the current domestic value exceeds £l3 the rate of duty shall he decreased hv one shilling, or a fraction of one shilling, by which the said current domestic value exceeds £l3; (2) when the current domestic value is less than £l3. the rate of duty shall lie increased by one shilling per 200 lhs av. for even - one shilling or fraction—of —< one shilling hv which the said current domestic value is less than £l3. When these duties take effect, a dumping duty will not lie charged on imported flour.