DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1927, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) BRITISH. FILMS. INDUSTRY GROWING. 55'ELLINGTON, Nov. 10. Marked advances in the British Film Industry are reported by the British Trade Commissioner (Mr L. ]!. Beale). In September no less than six recent film productions were being screened at important West End theatres, twenty-two films were completed and awaiting exhibition to the trade, twelve were in course of production and arrangements had been made for thirty-six others. This represents <a- rapid development from the state of the industry two months before.

The features being shown include a film version of Stanley Houghton’s “Hindle sYakes,” “Mademoiselle from Annentieies,” and “The Somme,” both war pictures. “The 5\ bite Slave.” a film of adventure, “The Battles of Coronal and Falkland Islands.” and “The Glad Eye.”

Production is on the up-grade and with more studio accommodation the number of productions scheduled will he still greater. In answer to criticism that too many British films deal with the Great sYar. it is pointed out that of the seventy features which are now being made, only five deal with military episodes in flic war, and throe with naval affairs of the same period. Right, however, are based on stories of a naval or military nature, but not connected with the war.

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

PLEBISCITE OF BARENTS

55'iELT.IXGTOX. Nov. 10,

The organisation which has been working in favour of the movement for the introduction of Bible reading in State schools recently took a plebiscite on the subject. As far as possible. voting papers were sent to parents of all children attending Stale schools.

The results were remarkable. Over 31.000 parents recorded their votes, and 81 per cent of those, voting favoured Bible. lessons, While only} per cent opposed the proposal. Tn some instances the percentages or voters to the total ballot papers issued was astonishingly high. Chnstcluiroll is a ease in Point. There P-.JOG voting papers were issued. 7130 vo es were recorded ir, favour of Bible lessons and 1701 against, the votes recorded thus being 00 per cent of the total issued. Tn this case it will be seen that over 80 per cent of those who voted favoured Bible lessons, this vote being over 50 per cent oi Hie total papers issued. Tn 55’ellington the valid votes cast showed 81 per cent in favour of the proposal and 19 per cent against, but here the total vote was under 400'b

Jn Auckland the percentages were practically the same as in 55'ell‘ngton, hut the total vote was much larger. b°in£ over 9000. At the latest advices the Dominion totals were 25.178 votes in favour of ]>||,le lessons and 5005 against.

train control

TRTAL OF XF.SY METHOD

WELLINGTON, Nov. 10.

At the end of the month all will ho* ready for the commencement i f the policy of train control which the Railway Department is trying out between Christchurch and Oamnru. Preparations for the experiment liotween 55 T ollington and Marton will he concluded by Christmas. _ The necessary work now in hand is the connecting of stations with a. selective telephone which will enab e them to report train movements to the controlling officer. These telephones •u-e un ’addition to the “station to station” lines used in reporting ordiici,v train movements and to the «>- dinary connexions with central telephone exchanges which are held y stations near the cities and large

towns. . , ... The principal benefit from train control is the elimination of risks ot traffic blocks. At present the crossings of trains are arranged between stations to suit their own convenience hut often, especially m the case « goods trains, the crossing is not to the benefit of the whole sector Unce the new system crossings will he reeled from the central office. Applications from the railway seiviro for the post of Trom Control Officers in the North anl \ 1 amis close on Saturday next. H ■ expected that two officers lv visited Australia to study the s> - tem in operation will he appointed.

POPULATION OF POAIINTOX. WELLINGTON. Nov. 10. The estimated population of New Zealand with dependencies and mandated territory is as under:

Males. Females. Total. Now Zealand 735.700 70-1,700 1,440,415 Cook Islands, , , Niue etc. • 7,204 0.9,4 14.1t8 Tokelau Islands ’-'23 “ 1( > ’ ' sYest. Samoa 22.111 20.228 I’^.JJJ

Total ... 705.547 732.418 1.497.905

XFAV ZK.VI.AXI> PROPER. Estimated population (excluding Mao-,-is) Sep. 30. 702.039 073.918.1,3, ~.9-,, utris CM» *>•!«* «'•**

NORTH ISLAND. Inc In. Maoris 471.534 440.243 920.'.Exclu. Maoris 442.370 416.800 So.LUO SOUTH' ISLAND.

I„du. Maoris 201.175 258.463 519.638 Exclu. Maoris 259.609 257.118 516,-8,

WORKLESS NEGRO’S ATTEMPTED

SUICIDI

AUCKLAND. Nov. 11

A negro named Robert Harris, alxiut fifty years of age. residing at Oncliunga. was found with a gas tube in his mouth about 10 o’clock tins morning. Airs Harris informed a neighbour that her husband told her to go away for a while as he intended to do for himself.

The police were immediately summoned and when Constable Jones and Mounted Constable Hinton arrived they found Harris lying on the kitchen floor with a gas tills? in his mouth and his l-od.v full of gas.

Constable .Jones sent for a doctor who arrived about 11 o’clock just as Harris was coming round, thanks to the efforts of Constable Hinton, who took Harris outside in the open and applied artificial respiration with vigor. His efforts were successful after an hour’s desperate battle. Harris was taken to the police station and (barged with attempting to commit suicide. He is a ship’s cook by occupation, and lias been without work for some time.

INQUIRIES INTO FIRES

WELLINGTON. Nov. 11

The Wellington Fire Board to-day resolved that a letter lie written to the Department of _ Internal Affairs that in the opinion of the Board’s compulsory inquests should also l>e held outside Fire Board areas into all fires where circumstances would justify an inquiry being held.

STEAM CAR RUNS DOWN GANGER

OAMARU, Nov. 11. The morning 8.15 Clayton steam car overtook ganger William Stevens, residing at Hakataranea, whilst proceeding on a jigger on the Kurow line near Hillies Siding. It is understood to he customary for the ganger to proceed to a fwint below Hillies Siding. The Clayton car whistled. Stevens apparently endeavoured to get ahead. The car was too closo. overtaking and throwing the jigger and driver over the hank. Stcrons was removed to Kurow and later to Oamaru hospital suffering from facial abrasions and skull wounds. His conditon is not serious. ROY’S TRAGIC END. INVERCARGILL, Nov. 11. The death occurred in tragic circumstances to-day of a hoy named George Gough. 13 years. About 5 p.rn. his mother heard a shot in front of the house, on going to investigate she found the hoy in the front bedroom, dead with a shot gun beside him. The case is doubly tragic from the fact that three months ago. the hoy found a baby brother lying dead in the perambulator, apparently due to suffocation. He had been depressed since. The police after the investigation stated that appearances pointed to the boy having shot himself.

MOTORIST’S SYIFE KILLED. PALAIERSTOX X.. Nov. 10.

A distressing fatality occurred this afternoon when a motor driven by Mr Alex Mitchell, of Newbury, in which were his wife and child, was run into by a rake of trucks being hacked over a crossing on the Rangitikei line, in connection with the new railway deviation. All’s Mi trihell was killed in an endeavour to jump clear. The husband and child were uninjured.

AN lAf PORT ANT STA TEA TEXT. WELLINGTON, Nov. 10.

The Minister of Public 55'orks, replying on the second reading of the Alotor Spirit Taxation Bill, which was agreed to without a division, dealt, with tjhe position of small lmroughs with a population under 6000. Several members had shown anxiety on this point, and the Minister assured them that the Highways Board, under the new regime would carry the main highway through these boroughs as if there were no borough in existence. The Hon D. Buildo: As’ill they get the same share as the counties? AH’ As’illiams: A'es. exactly the same. If the road is not in order it will ho put in order. Mr Girling: As’ill they get tar seal? Air Williams: It- will depend on the necessity and the locality.’ The road would i)0 maintained to the same width as the county road. ARAITSTTCE DAY. 55’ELLINGTON, Nov. 11. Air Coates sent a message to the “Daily ALiil” on the ninth anniversary of Armistice Day:— “New Zealanders greet their kinsfolk in the Homeland and in the. Dominions. and assure them that the. trials and sacrifices of our mutual associations as brothers in arms are still kept green in our memories, as an indissoluble link of union. 5Ye fought together for our common ideals, and wo look to-day as we did then to tho British Commonwealth of Nations as the surest foundation for the peace ami freedom of the world.” PIG GROSYERS’ REQUEST 55’ELIJN GTON, Nov. 10. A conference of pig growers at 55 Tellington to-day decided that the Government he approached and asked to offer a bonus, sufficient to ensure to all exporters of the park, a minimum return of oil a. pound. Air Poison said his impression vns that as a result of the impetus given in the industry by the action of the Afoat Board particularly, there would ho a great increase in the number of pigs turned out after Christmas, and there would bo a tremendous number of pigs offering. THEATRE EAIPLOYEES’ DISPUTE. 55’ELTiTNGTON. Nov. 11. The New Zealand Theatre and Stage Employees’ dispute came before tho Arbitration Court to-day. The employees’ representatives withdrew the Dominion dispute .whereupon tho employers’ representatives intimated they would immediately cite the Union to a new dispute and bring it before the Court. His Honour said that if the dispute was to come before the Court again so soon, it might bo as well for tho parties to hold a conference. Any decision reached at such a conference would he morally binding. The Court would have no hesitation in making an award on the recommendation of the conference. Jt was suggested that the conference should take place here on Thursday. ATHLETIC BANKRUPT. ArASTERTON. Nov. 10. 55’hen the creditors of Randolph H. Rose, farmer, of AGistert'Cii, met in Afasterton to-da.v. the fact that the public- and athletic societies all over the Dominion demanded the appearance of this noted athlete as a competitor. was assigned as a reason for his hankrnptcv.

Bankrupt’s debts, all of which are unsecured, amounted to £782. while the assets are estimated at £353. The meeting adjourned for a week, owing to the uhseiue of bankiupt, who was unable to get down from Taranaki. BURGLARY AND ARSON. ASHBURTON. Nov. 11. A burglary was committed at Metlivon early this morning, W. C. Battson’s drapery and soft goods emporium being entered, and a quantity of stock removed. The thieves evidently gained admission by the front door, as it was found open this morning. The marauders set fire to some material, hut before the blaze attained any dimensions it. was discoverd by the brigade, which was returning from another tire, at the residence of Janies Robinson, which was severely damaged. "I.OItKY CRASHES INTO TRAIN. HAMILTON. Nov. 11. A light lorry, driven by G. Cameron. struck the Eranktoii-Rotorua train at the M’aharoa crossing tins morning, hitting the engine cab. The lorry was badly smashed and the driver had a narrow escape, receiving severe cuts. The engine was damaged and uas replaced at Matamata.