DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1927, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

LABOUR. PROTESTS. AUCKLAND. Oct. 27

A meeting of Trade Unions last night to discuss the proposed amendments in the Arbitration Act had an attendance of only eighty. Tlie favourite expression of tlie speakers regaining the proposed amendments was that they were the most smashing and vicious blow to unionism ever attempted in any country. It was agreed that three delegates 'should be sent to-attend the Alliance of Labour Conference in Wellington to-mor-row.

Mr Blood worth said tiie piece-work clause was the most vicious of any proposal ever tried to lie put neross the workers of any country. He discouraged remarks threatening a Goveiiinent with a majority of fifty. Delegates appointed are Johns (dairy workers), Rloodwortli (carpenters and joiners). Liddell (tramways). A resolution was passed pledging those present to do all in their power to prevent the proposed amendment liecoming law.

COMPETITION ILLEGAL. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 27

Sidney Robert Evison. manager of tlie “ Sun ” newspaper, was charged to-day with four breaches of tlie Gaming Act. The charges were in reference to a competition in which a prize of one thousand pounds was offered to tl first person picking the correct order of tlie first three horses in tlie New Zealand Cup and the N.Z. Trott: Cup races. A condition of entry was the payment of ten shillings, being throe months’ subscription to tlie “ Sun ’’ newspaper. The thousand pounds was oll'ored for the first correct solution, and if the thousand pounds were not won outright, five consolation prizes of one hundred pounds each were to lie paid. Mr Donnelly, for the prosecution, contended that the main feature of the competition was that one thousand pounds was to lie given the person correctly selecting the first three horses in the two Cups. If there was a cluiliee involved it was a breach of the Gaming Act. if there was skill required, then it was unobjectionable. .Mr Gresson (for the defendant): How about if there is a mixture of skill and chance?

Mr Donnelly: It depends on the strength of the mixture? The odds were exceptional. When tlie competition was opened, before the fields were reduced by deflections, the odds were four hundred to one against any competition The “ Sun ” was laying two thousand to one Mr Gresson said that before tlie “Sun” started the scheme the “Sun Company took counsel’s opinion, and was informed the scheme was within Hie law. Ho argued that there was an element of skill in tlie competition. .Magistrate Mosley said lie would be glad if Ihis ease went to the Full Court. He could not conceive that any Court would come to the conclusion that the element of skill was the main or even the predominating element. Defendant was convicted and fined ten pounds with costs. Security lor appeal was fixed at twenty pounds.

N.Z. FINANCES. WELLINGTON, Oet. 27. The Public Accounts for tlie quarter ended ,‘iOtli September, 1927 j appear in a special “ Gazette ” this week, and tlie Minister of Finance, in the course of summarising tlie position for the first six months of tlie current finannnoial year, states that the revenue for that period amounted to £10,32(1,(193. as compared with CD,801,547 lor the corresponding period last year, the principal increases being: Customs £303,950: stamp duties £101,781; and interest on the Public Debt Redemption Fund. £110.202. The principal decrease is the Postal and Telegraph revenue, viz., £7G,2!(S. The expenditure for the six months was £10.912,059. as compared with £11,281,000 during the same period o( last year. The increase of £308,547 recorded in tlie Customs Receipts is due principally to recent heavy withdrawals from bond, and it will probably be offset later in tlie year by a decrease in the returns from this source. The increase in tlie interest on tlie Public Debt Redemption Fund is largely nominal, being due chiefly to the fact that payments have been received from the Public Trustee earlier this year than last year. The decrease in the expenditure is largely accounted for by the fact that no transfers of payments under the Replacement of the Public Debt Act, 1925, have been made so far this year.

burglaries. GISBORNE, Oct. 28. Attempts to burglarise three business premises are reported to the police. About Cl2 worth of tobacco and cigarettes were taken from one simp. DREDGE STRANDED. GISBORNE. Oct. 28. The Harbour Board’s dredge, John Townley, whilst endeavouring to pick up moorings off AVaikane Beach, was stranded. An attempt to refloat has sn far been unavailable. The vessel is being buffeted in the surf, but apparently has sustained no injury. SALVAGE OPERATIONS. GISBORNE. Oct. 28. In attempting to salvage the stranded dredge, John Townley, at Waikane beach, the tug Pelican nairowly escaped stranding herself, •> small launch coming to her assistance in the surf opportunely. The launch nearly foundered when a big comber caught her on a short-snubbed towline. SUICIDE VERDICT. AIXI7HAND, Oct. 23. Suicide, while of an unsound mind, was the verdict at the inquest yesterday concerning the death of John Alexander on Wednesday afternoon, as the result of cutting arteries in his arm with a knife. SCNDAY concerts stopped AUCKLAND. Oct. 28. The Finance Committee stated in a brief report last night to the City Council that it had given close attention to Sunday concerts in theatres, and as it considered they were not being conducted in a satisfactory manner. it was recommended that no further permits be issued. The recommendation was adopted without discussion.

AUCKLAND CITY LOAN PROPOSALS. AUCKLAND. Oct. 28. Recommendations to submit loan proposals for raising £429.000 for tramway extensions and improvements, besides the provision of additional rolling stock, provided a lengthy discussion at the City Council. On the casting vote of the Mayor they were referred to the Finance Committee for report. RAILWAY CLERKSi’S THEFT. WELLINGTON, Oct. 27. Charged with t he theft of sums totalling —l7 2s od, the property of the Government, Frederick Diver, 3-3, a clerk in the Parcels Office of the Railway Department at Wellington, appeared before Mr Sainton, S.M.. to-day. The Chief Detective asked for a remand. Air Onyon. for accused, said that

Diver bad frankly confessed bis theft to the Stationmnster. and having £ll9 in superannuation due to him, had made arrangements lor restitution. Counsel asked for bail. A remand was granted, with bail at £IOO, conditional on accused daily reporting to tlie police. RESERVED JUDGMENT GIVEN. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 28. .Magistrate Mosley gave bis reserved judgment in eases against Charles John Brown, one of the promoters of the “ Wordskill ” competition and Thomas Edward Robson, publisher of the “ Star,” in which an advertisement appeared , the police alleging tlie competition was a mode of chance. Brown was convicted and fined £lO and costs The charge against Robson was dismissed, tlie .Magistrate holding that a post office box could not lie brought under the meaning of tlie Act. as a premises. DRUNKEN DRIVER COALED. CHRISTCHURCH. Oet. 28. David Evans, alias H. McKay, was charged to-day with being drunk while in charge of a motor car. and was sentenced to a month’s hard labour. His license was enncelled and lie was prohibited from obtaining another for five years.

The police said this was tlie second offence of the kind to accused.

” You are not going to drive again lor a few years,” said Magistrate Moslev.

UNWELCOME FAMILY. Wellington, oet. 28.

The committee of the Hospital Board two and a half years ago paid half tlie return fare to England for a family who had fhiled to make good here. When the committee offered to assist them they would not go unless all went. A week ago the same family turned up again and applied for charitable aid. Tlie husband at present is a patient in the hospital. A member of tlie committee said they had come in for a windfall at home and used part of tlie money to return to New Zealand. How they got through the ‘lmmigration Department, members could not understand. The committee felt itself in a dilemma as the Government had failed to keep these people out, but decided to ask tie' immigration Department to explain. A PROTEST. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 28.

A vigorous protest against legislation by Orders-in-Council was made to-day at the annual conference ol the Association of Chambers of Commerce which resolved:—“That all sii‘-It legislation is improper and that Ordera-in-Council 'should he limited to the issue of such machinery clauses or regulations as are necessary to give effect io Acts of Parliament. Air \V. (low. of Dunedin, said the system was a crying shame which was getting worse daily. INDECENT ASSAULT. AUCKLAND, Oet. 28.

A plea for lenient treatment on beralf of George William Afford, who had pleaded guilty to a charge ot indecent assault on a young girl, on account of tlie accused having been badly gassed in the war, was not acceded to. Judge llerdman said tlie law looked upon offences against little children as: being extremely serious, and lor such crimes there was n maximum penalty of seven years. The tendency nowadays seemed to he to consider the future ol the prisoner before the safety ol society, but it was his duty to consider first what could he done to prevent offences of this kind. It had been stated by tlie police officer that the prisoner had on three occasions been guilty of offences in regard to the same child. Afford was ordered reformative detention not exceeding twelve months.

ADMITTED TO PROBATION. AUCKLAND. Oet. 28. Charles McKinnon, 50. a clerk in the employ of the Mangonui (ounty Council, on a. charge of furnishing a false receipt came before Judge Herdman for sentence. There bad been other charges of theft and furnishing false receipts, but Hie.se were not proceeded with. Judge llerdman said there was no doubt- accused bad taken „n fii.s own shoulders the wrong doing of another man. It also appeared that he was endeavouring to repay the money which had been stolen and that ho himself had not profited as a result of the defalcations. He was quite sure be bad not received any of the moneys which were the subject of charges. McKinnon was ordered to come ui) for sentence when called upon, ami to repay the amount owin"’,. approximately £-11POST OFFICE BURGLED. CHRISTCHURCH. Oet. 28.

A daring attempt to rob Sydneylmm Post Office was made last night. *> l,t only a few letters were stolen. Entrance to the building was gained through one of tlie back windows winch eras prised open with a jemmy. An attempt to force the hack door, which apparently bad been made prior to the window being opened, failed owing to tlie door being securely bolted and locked.

All the cash, stamps, postal notes, and other valuables were stored in the strongroom and although strenuous efforts were made to break into it, the intruders were foiled. No explosives were used on the locks but a rathei amateurish attempt was made to Imre through the brick wall with the object of getting inside. The attempt was abandoned before much progress was made.