DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1927, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

PORT DARM'IX DELAYED. AUCKLAND, November 15.

Trouble with the crow last evening delayed the Commonwealth and Dominion Line steamer. Port Darwin, wliic-h did not sail for Gisborne, where she is to continue Homeward loading, until this morning.

At sailing lime, at nine o’clock, all the crew were on board with the exception of a. baker, but when preparations were made to depart, two of the ship’s complement informed the master that the stokers would not take the steamer to sea until their shipmate returned.

The majority of the stokers then went ashore and wandered up to the wharf gates, but all argument in the hope of persuading them to return to their ship was useless. At 11 o’clock the Port Darwin’s sailing was postponed until this morning, and, as the missing baker returned to the ship during the night there was no further delay to-day. the vessel getting away ‘about seven o’clock.

BORACIO ACID IN BUTTER, AVELLIXGTOX. Nov. 15

From January Ist. next, announces the Minister for Health, it will ho illegal for dairy factories to add boracic acid to their butter. This decision represents another step in the Health Department's campaign against preservatives in foods, and follows the decision of the British Government that blitter containing boracic acid .slm.ll not Lo imported into tlio Uni toil Kingdom. The amount of boracic acid in each pound of butter is very small, only about 20 grains, but the cumulative effect of various preservatives upon (lie consumer is what the Health Department fears.

The decision lias caused little perturbation in the butter trade. It is stated that some years ago dairy factories commenced to abandon the use of boracic acid and that the movement has continued ever since. Few factories now employ it. since with the progress of pasteurisation methods the need for preservative lias vanished.

HATH OF CASH AND TOBACCO. ACCKI.iA.ND, Nov. 15. Tobacco and cigarettes worth £2O. and 10s in cash were the haul made by thieves when they broke 'into the Green Lane billiard saloon opposite the Ellerslie racecourse last night, To get inside a jemmy was used on the front door. Then the burglars locked both the front and hack doors, leaving a side window open in case they were disturbed and wanted to make a quick geta'wav,

AIR. L. S. AM ERA'. AUCKLAND. Nov. 15. Advice has been received that the Prime Minister and Mrs Coates will attend the receptions to he given to Mr L. 8. Atnery. Secretary for the Dominions, and All’s Amery on their arrival from Australia by the Niagara next .Monday. A civic reception and an At Home have been arranged for next .Monday, and a welcome by the \ ictoria League, the Overseas (’lull, Royal Colonial Institute, and the Navy Leaue. A luncheon by the Chamber of Commerce, .Manufacturers’ Association, and Employers’ Association has been arranged for Tuesday. Probably ATr and Airs Amery will leave for AYclliugton on Wednesday night. DISASTROUS EIRE. INVERCARGILL, Nov. 1(1. A lire occurred in Deacon’s upstairs Billiard saloon to-day, anti completely gutted the top story of the promises in Esk Street. Stocks of millinery in the shop of Foleys, bookbinders, and AlcHaughton’s, stationer store, beneath were seriously damaged bv a collapsing floor, and by water. The damage is estimated at £IOOO. No insurances are available.

UNEMPLOV ED SEAMEN. WELTUXGTON, Nov. 1(5.

Tliore are 150 sea men reported to he unemployed in Wellington, due mainly to several of the Union Steamship Coy’s cargo hunts, and the Mnlieno and Moernki being laid up. The causes, also given are the greater use of New Zealand coal, mainly railborno through the Otira Tunnel, and the greate ruse of oil fuel, making Toss demand for hunker coal.

TAX OX PETROL. W.KLLI XGTOX, Xov. Til. The Chamber of Commerce after giving consideration to the provisions of the Motor Spirits 'Taxation Rill, has forwarded a resolution to the Premier, protesting for a number of stated reasons, against the haste with which the Rill was introduced and passed into law. It is not satisfied that the Dominion is justified in going headlong into the construction of roads before a co-ordinated policy has been laid down. The whole subject should have been considered with a view to defining the general policy of transport by rail, steamer and road, and the Chamber urges the setting up of a Royal Commission, composed of practical men, under the presidency of a Judge, for thorough consideration and exhaustive enquiry into the transport needs of the Dominion.

MOTOR UNION'S DECISION. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 16. The South Island Motor Union, tonight decided to take political action in support of the demand ol the South Island for the apportionment of the Petrol Tax between the North and South Islands, on a basis of the numbers of vehicles registered in each Island. In the course of discussion, it was suggested that the Union organise a campaign against every member ol Parliament who failed to support the Union's demand in this respect. SERIES OF THEFTS. WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. i Five charges of breaking and entering business premises in Lower Hut* and stealing clothing, money and office sundries, to tfie value ol C'-jtl. also to breaking and entering the Hutt Cabinet Company, with intent to commit a crime, were admitted by Thomas Douglas Forsyth, labourer, aged -0. who said that he had been out of work and wanted money to go elsewhere. He was committed for sentence. He also admitted stealing articles and money of tlio value of £4 2s Cd, and the conversion of a motor car valued at £550, the property of Barrett. On these charges lie was remanded for sentence, pending the Supreme Court proceedings. INCREASED OUTPUT. WANGANUI, Nov. 16. The favourable season is resulting in a large'increase in dairy produce output. The local factories report an in-

crease up to 10 per cent as compared with last year. AYitli the adding of increased prices the dairy farmers are much more cheerful.

CONSTABLE’S SUICIDE. WANGANUI, Nov. IG,

At the inquest to-day on Constable Robert Sims, who was found lying in the Central Station yard on Thursday morning last with a bullet wound in bis chest, and who later died in hospital, the Coroner found a verdict that the wound was self-inflicted, while deceased was in a state of mental depression. ALAN STRUCK BY EXPRESS IN TUNNEL. AVELLINGTON, Nov. 16. AYliile working with the Electric lines erection gang in the first tunnel; south of Paekakariki, about 11.30 il.m. to-day, Walter Burns, single, aged 30, of 50 Ellesmere Avenue, Afiramar was struck by the down Auckland Express. The injured man was removed to the AYellington Public Hospital where lie was admitted in a serious condition suffering from severe injuries to both legs. Late to-night, his condition was reported unchanged.