DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1927, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(Bv Telegraph—Per Press Association.) MOTORS IN N.Z. DUNEDIN, Aug. 2. Tlie revenue collected from owners of motor vehicles by the Government dttirng the motor registration year which ended on March 61st last totalled 9197.166. says the annual report of the Internal Affairs Department, which was presented to Parliament today. This amount. less collection expenses. was paid to the Main Highways Hoard and includes the whole of the fees payable for the year 1926-27 and the greater portion of the relicensing fees for the year 1927-25.

’Hie following figures show the distribution of motor-cars, commercial vehicles, and cycles respectively registered as on March 61st, 1927:—North Island—Cars, 65.470, comeiriai' vehicles 1.5,774, cycles 19,186 —a total of 100,130 vehicles. South Island—Cars 40.443. commercial vehicles 7072, cycles 14.396—a total of 61,911 vehicles. Grand total. 162,341 vehicles.

Compared with the previous year the grand total of vehicles shows an increase of 29.530.

FILMS CENSORED. WELLINGTON. Aug. 2. During the year ended March 31st, 1927, 2751 cinematograph films, of a totai' length of 5,415,370 feet, were censored by the Dominion Censorship Office, and of this number 32 films were wholly rejected and 202 were passed subject to excisions, says the annual report of the Internal Affairs Department, presented in the House to-day. There was only one appeal against the decision of the Censor, and the Hoard of Appeal upheld the Censor’s decision.

Commencing on August Ist. 1926, a record has been kept of British-made films submitted for censoring. Between that date and March 31st, 1927. 356 Britsih films, of a total length of 427.250 feet, were examined, out of 1978 films of all makes, of a total length of 3.649,490 feet. The average length of British-made films examined was 1200 feet, as against an average of 1987 feet for nli' other makes, showing that the majority of the British films were short in length. In fact, they were mostly “ topicals ” and ‘‘ seenics.”

WAIKATO CLUB’S SQUABBLE. MINISTER FULFILS PROMISE. WELLINGTON, Aug. t. ■' I emphatically deny having made such a statement,” said the Hon. Mr Bollard when shown the report of an interview with Mr Vercoe, president of the Waikato Racing Club, which stated: "Mr Bollard had given an assurance to the secretary of the Waikato Rating ( luh that he would in no way interfere with the decision of the Racing Conference were that hotly to grant Labour Day to the Waikato C luh.”

The Minister, in announcing the decision in favour of the Waikato Hunt CAib. pointed out that at its meeting lasi year the Conference declined to transler Labour Day to the Waikato Racing Club. "In view of that decision,’' he said, “ and feeling also ceitain that the question would not he raised again this year. 1 gave a definite! undertaking to a deputation from the limit (luh Mime months ago that li would issue a license to the limit Club to hold its meeting on Labour Day. ! which, moreover, is the day upon which Hie club has held its meeting lor several years. To vary this intimation would now he a breach of faith on my j part, and after giving the matter full i consideration I am sending a communication to the Hunt Club agreeing to issue a totalisator license for a meeting on Labour Day next, ft is correct that' the secretary of the Racing Club discussed the genera? question of allocation of dates with me, hut he certainly did not mention anything about the Waikato Racing (‘lull being granted La hour Day. Had the secretary done so, I would naturally have told him of the reply 1 had a few minutes before given to the limit Club depute I ion.”

lUJ.II/ \ I 1 /JL IVKD. AUCKLAND, Aug. 2. Two doors away from the Kingsland police station in Kingsland avenue last j night an audacious attack was made by i a youth about 10 upon a girl of Id . going home from a class at the Teehni- < fa I College. | About 9..'10 the girl was in a dark I part of the road when a youth npj preached lior Imm behind and caught her by the arm, exclaiming, “ Excuse I me.” When she withdrew her arm he J said, “Keep quiet, or I’ll murder i you.” ! Becoming frightened. Life girl screamed, and the youth quickly disappeared in the direction of the Mould Albert district school. Terrified by her experience, the young girl rushed into the nearest house and knocked at the I rout door, and a man who responded immediately reported "the matter (o ( unstable Anniss. No trace could be found of the assailant.

COVERNM.ENT STORES. £3,877,275 EXPENDT'fTRE. WELLINGTON, Aug. 2. Tito annual report of the Stores Control Board states that the expenditure for the year amounted to £3,577,275. With the exception of a few instances of urgency, tho usual procedure of obtaining tenders and quotations was followed. The requisitions dealt with were 10,470 and 381 contracts were arranged for daily supplies, mostly of perishable foodstuffs, 'these figures do not include contracts and requisitions dealt with by the three purchasing Departments (Railways, Public. Works and Post and Telegraph). The Board’s schedules of standardised stores have been printed, and tenders invited For periods varying from one to three years. Six of the 35 schedules covering- ■ stores which are manufactured withii the Dominion, have been dealt witl and contracts arranged. Generally speaking, the competition was keen and apart front tho convenience ol the system it is estimated that a sag. ing of approximately 10 per cent will be effected. The total number of items included in these six schedules is 345, and as delivery is required at several centres, nearly 4000 separate prices had to be considered. The estimated expenditure is, in round figures, £20,000, the whole of which, with the exception of less than £IOO, will go to New Zealand manufacturers.

BUSH-SICK LAND

OBLIGATION TO SETTLERS. WELLINGTON. Aug. 1. i The problem of dealing with bushsick lands occupied the attention of the I Farmers’ Union Conference. Ihe following motion was passed: when Ciown land has been settled and is found afterwards not to have been of sufficiently good quality to return a living under conditions of settlement, the State should undertake such necessary rearrangements and readjustments j as will enable settlers to obtain the necessaries of life without recourse to public charity.” j

WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS

COSTLY EXTENSIONS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 1. The tramway manager, in a report to the Wellington City Council, says that the large expenditure incurred in connection with the Northland extension and the amount spent in the purchase of buses—£'49,ooo in the last two years—has seriously-depleted the funds available for extension purposes, lie has. therefore, submitted schedules involving the expenditure of £337,000. The two great problems in AYellington are access to the eastern and western suburbs. The former involves a new tunnel through Mount Victoria, and the latter some means of providing quicker access to Karori and contiguous districts. As these matters are to he considered by the council, the tramway manager’s report has been referred back so that the whole question of tramways can he more fully considered hv the committee.

ITANKR UPT’S DISCHARGE REFUSED. DUNEDIN. Aug. 2. Wheeler Tumber Cooper, carpenter, Oainaru, made application to Mr Justice Sim in the Supreme Court to-da.v fur his discharge from bankruptcy. Applicant said he was doing day work as a carpenter, hut at present was not able to do anything for hi- creditors. His Honour: Your creditors, have not received a penny? Bankrupt: No. He added that nothing had been done with his farm property. The house had been sold for less than the amount of the mortgage. His Honour said the bankrupt had paid about £4OO to secure the release of his brother, and lie asked when that was paid. "During the case.” replied the bankrupt. • I don’t think you deserve your discharge,” said his Honour. 11 Your application is refused.”

SACKING TEACHERS. AY ELLINGTON, Aug. 3

"It is one of the waeknesses of oui education system that we can’t sack a teacher.” said Mr F. W. Dunvard (Palmerston North) at the Technical Education Association’s Conference to-day. A delegate: "You have the power now.” Mr Dttrward: ‘‘Then they appeal.” The Chairman (Mr 11. 8. W. King), in moving a remit urging the Minister to provide power of transfer of instructors in technical school and manual training centres, said that, provided discretion was used, it was a slop in the light direction. “ You will often get strong diversity of opinion when the question of a dismissal' is being considered,” he said, “ hut you will get unanimity if it is a question of transfer.” The remit was lost.