DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1927, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) THEFT OF CAR. BLENHEIM, Oct. 13. The story of two “.swaggers” who relieved the tedium of a weary trudge across country (by appropriating a. motor car to carry them on their way. was unfolded at the Police Court to-day liefore Mr T. E. Alaunsell, SAL, when two young men. Thos. Shaw and Edgar Stanley Hale, pleaded guilty to having on October 1 Lth at Blenheim converted to their own use a motor car valued at £2OO, the property of Cloustoii and Co. Constable Byrue found the ear abandoned on McArthur’s property. Ngaiotiui. Pro River, and ultimately came up with accused men on foot at Kekernngu. ton miles further south. Both accused were sentenced to six Weeks imprisonment with hard labour.

WOODSHED BURNT. BLENHEIM, Oct. IT A woolshed at J. I>. McArthur's Xgaionui (station was destroyed by fire. The building was insured for £SOO and contents £IOO in the Royal Exchange.

A CONCESSION. GR A MOP HONE R ECOR DS. WELLINGTON. Oct, 12. A concctssiou iniMlsdng 'about £20,000 was announced by the Minister of Customs, the Hon W. Downie Stewart, in the House to-day in reference to gramophone records. When the item in the tariff dealing with gramophones and records was reached the Minister said that he had . intended to employ gramophone records as a bargaining item with other countries when the tariff got through. Records were obtained from ’Australia, Canada, America. England, Germany, etc. However, he had received a good number of requests pointing out that it would he a great convenience if gramophone records could bo brought in free from British sources. It was pointed out that wireless people were getting sets free. Although it would mean a loss of revenue, involving something over £20,000, ho ’.now 'proposed that on and after duly 1, 1028, British records should lie admitted free instead of paying 20 per cent ad valorem duty, and that foreign records should he charged a duty of 20 per cent ad valorem instead of 40 i'or cent ad valorem.

Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) said that- the gramophone was really a necessity and not a luxury. He thanked the .Minister for what he had done and said his action would he greatly appreciated. People living in hackhlocks had not an opportunity of attending concerts, hut that was somewhat remedied by the gramophone and wireless. Until concerts from Now York and other capitals could he broadcast, however, the gramophone must hold pride of place from a musical point of view. Other speakers having congratulated Ik 1 ' Minister the amended item was agreed to.

LICENSING ACT. HASTINGS, Oct. 12. [u Court to-day bolore .Mr AlowIcm. K.M.. Ronald Hugh M’l.cod was fined £7 10s for selling liquor To (Reginald dlonnor during prohibited hours. A charge of having premises open for the sale of liquor during prohibited hours, was dismissed. Honndr and Athol Griffiths were- each fined £2 for being on licensed premises after hours. Charges of assisting AFLeod were dismissed. Tlie Magistrate, in the course of cross-examination, debarred questions that were levelled to discredit the evidence of *n constable, and on these grounds security lor appeal was tendered.

\ ntRER YM EX’S COM PL A I NTS. ATICK LA NO, Opt, 12. ‘'M ; v association largely endorses tho point of view expressed by Air AY. ATcArthur, president of the Tiniher Growers’ Association, in his criticism of the State Forest Service,” said Air G. A. Green. Dominion secretary ol the New Zealand Association of Nurserynion. <<r .riic forestry nurserymen connected with our Association are certainly not satisfied with the operations of the State Forest Sen-ice. When that Service was inaugurated some years ago, the director, addressing- the nurserymen’s conference in 1921, said: ‘The State Forest Service is not a competitor with the New Zealand Association wv shape or form.' Notwithstanding this assurance the State Forest Service has been our keenest competitor, both by a system of free advertising of its State trees and by the price-cutting methods.” Air Green said there was plenty or evidence of serious overlapping and groat national loss from the nursery operations of the State Forest Service. Tho members of the Association as a whole were anything Shut satisfied with the Service as it was working to-day.

MUNICIPAL TRADING PROFU. DUNEDIN. Oct. 12. The profits of the various trading departments of the City Council for tl.n half year ended September 30Di f" the corresponding period ot last year, an increase of £9961. ILLEGAL AYINE SALK. HAWERA, Oct, 13. At the Court this afternoon Alfred -William Perrow, travelling salesman, of Auckland, was convicted and fined 30s on each of two charges of selling wine without a license in quantities of less than two gallons, at Hawern, on September 1926. The evidence was to the effect that defendant contracted to sell a case of wine of two gallons to a factory employee and two others, they agreeing to share the cost, but when one refused delivery. Perrow sold a third of tho case to each of the other two. ught-fingered youth HAAYF.RA, Oct. 13.

Victor John Peddie, aged 19, a "■rocor’s assistant, pleaded guilty to the Theft of 9s 3d from his employer, and was committed to the Borstal Institute for two years. Accused previously was placed on probation for three years in 1923, as a result of theft charges at Thames, and also was admitted to 12 month’ probation at Hawera in September, 192", for theft of money from a Chinaman.

MOTOR CYCLIST HURT WANGANUI, Oct. 13. AYliile proceeding on a motor cycle to a dance at Kaitoke, three miles from AYanganui, on the main south road, Maurice Armstrong, aged nineteen, employed as a boilermaker at

Eastown Railway Workshops, collided with a straying horse half a mile from the town bridge. He sustained .several severe spinal injuries, and was taken to the hospital. The accident occurred about eight o’clock to-night. Armstrong’s condition is reported to ho critical.

EMPLOYEES’ FEDERATION. WELLINGTON, Oct. 13. The following were elected officers at the annual meeting to-day of the N.Z. Employers’ Federation:— President, Hon. T. Shniler Weston, M.L.C.; VicePresident, Air A. C. Mitchell; Treasurer. Air H. Coull; Executive Members : The Presidents of the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago Associations; Air C. AY. Wood (representing other Associations) and Alessrs W. AlcLlny. W. Reece and J. Alilne (representing affiliated organisations); Trustees: Alessrs A. 11. Afiles, T. Ballinger, 'W. H. Bennett and Doctor C. P. Knight; Auditor. Afr AY. C. Stephen, F.P.A.. N.Z. NO BROADCAST. AUCKLAND, Oct. 13. A decision to refuse to permit the broadcasting of an account of the races at the trotting meeting which opens at Alexandra Park on Saturday has been made by the Committee of the Auckland Trotting Club. No reason has been advanced by the Club for its decision. Afr Trevor Stringer, Station-Director of T Y.A. stated he was unable to make any comment on the matter.

NATVTES CLAIAf. OTAKI. Oct. 14. The natives who claim a part of the main road at Otaki railway, to-day erected a fence, thus narrowing the road to a few feet, impeding vehicular traffic. The intention is to force the Borough Council to pay for the land. Tlie roadway at present is extremely dangerous to users of the highway. APPEAL court. WELLINGTON, October 13. The Appeal Court dismissed the application to strike Jordan oil the Solicitors’ Roll. The Court said lie must have known that there was a fraud, hut lie did not realise the true position. He would he taught a .sufficient lesson if he were ordered to pay the costs of the petition.