DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association. JXTERKSTIXG EVENT AT SEA. WELLINGTON? Feb. 0. Oil the last run of the Union liner -Maunganui from Wellington to Sydney the ship’s company, especially the lady passengers wore thrilled by the following announcement in the “Wireless News’’ on the morning of Monday, January 23rd:— “Maunganui, 22nd: Distance- is apparently no object to His .Majesty the Stork, as at 7 p.m. ship’s time (8.-19 p.m. New Zealand time and G. 19 p.m. Sydney time) he landed on the fore clock, made his way below and deposited a squirming bundle in the cabin occupied by Mrs Silverton, and Hew off before anyone could catch a glimpse of him. On investigating the bundle, .Mrs Silverton found she had boon presented 'vill l a bonny woe girl. Congratulations and a speedy recovery from the shock, to Mrs Silverton, and all sorts of good wishes and luck to the happy mother and Miss Mary Maunganui Silverton

There was no medical man on hoard the ship, hut everything wenl well. The baby was named Mary after thestewardess, who attended the mother and wits also given the name of theship. The event created the most intense interest aiming the passengers, wlto in an hour or two subscribed C2l as a present for the baby. Mary YLtuuganui was good and lively and was greatly admired by all "Ito Sim her, and they included practically everv passenger. A queue had to he formed, and under official .superintendence the many callers tiled along the alley-way to the cabin tv here tho baby lay in state, took a peep at her and passed on. TA X ATI ON EX EM PT[ONS. AUCKLAND, Fob. G. At the annual meeting of the Auckland Gas Company. Mr I’pton. the chairman, referred to the inequitable incidence of income tax hv which the Gas Company’s very active rival, the Auckland Electric Power Hoard, was exempted while the Gas Company paid £l7, GOO. Tt; Wits a differential tax, found only in half-civilised countries.

■‘Bui." continued Mr Upton, “our Government is superior to all that and is a law unto itself. No redress 1s made. Consider what would happen were the Government to extend its operations a little further and undertake tile whole business of the country and apply the same methods of exemption its is no" applied to municipal and Government trading. “All business would be exempt and revenue would have to he found by lawyers, agents, and teachers, doctors. editors of newspapers—by the professional classes, in fact—aided by any unfortunate old people, who, under happier circumstances had saved a few pounds for their old age.”

SWAM COOK STRAIT.

AUCKLAND, Feb. 0.

“Long before the days of egg Hips and Annette Kellermatt cups, successful attempts were made to swim Cook Strait,” said Mr David .1. Reardon, a wt'll-known Wanganui authority on native affairs, this morning, in referring to the unsuccessful attempt on Saturday to accomplish the lent.

It was an established fact that the present natives at Taiimi I’a (Otaki). 'Were descended troin a native woman who accomplished the greatest .swimming teat in New Zealand's history. With a baby on her hack, tied with llax strips, she set out from U’l rvillc Island, landing in an exhausted state with her child on Kupiti Island. After resting for a day and a night, she swoni tho intervening seven miles to the mainland

Mr Reardon said that ihcre was also on record the eu-c, of Have who leaped overboard from a canoe hoar Barrett's Keef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. He finally got ashore at Blind Ray in the South Island. It is known that in this instance, tin- swimmer rested on a floating tree which lie met hv ehnttce in the middle of I he Strait.

FAILURE TO ERADICATE HAWTHORN. PALMERSTON X.. F-.-b. 0. Fail tiro to eradicate hawthorn on property within the i'al-i-ov ton Notili tin-blight area cost Catherine \\ iLon £2 and costs at the .Mags'... I o'. t'-iurt Air Orchard, inspoc'.o" for |P<> partment. stated that defetidnnt aas the only one out of 100 owners who had not complied sal i na:-t ui y with the notices sent out.

ROSS SKA WHALTXG. INVERCARGILL, Feb. 0

Advice received from the base states that the Ross Sea whalers secured 14,000 barrels of oil before passing fhe ice barrier. The ice was negotiated much earlier this season, and the whales had been so numerous that tHo Sir Janies Clark Ross expected to return earlier than scheduled. Phenomenally fine summer weather was being experienced in the Antarctic.

DONATION TO OLYMPIC! GAMES FUND. WELLINGTON, Feb. fi.

The Council of flip Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to-night decided to donate to the Olympic (tames Fund, with the approval of the trustees of the Ross Trust Fund, £flOO. provided that tlie money was used to send a representative or representatives of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association overseas. At the same time it was decided to approach the various centres, and ask them to co-operate with the Olympic Associat ion. COTTAGES DESTROYED IN BUSH FIRE. INVERCARGILL. Feb. (3. Fire started on Sunday morning about half a mile from Tuntnpere township for the purpose of clearing bush got out of control later in the day. owing to a strong north-west wind that was blowing. The flames spread rapidly, soon, reaching the old sawmill. The mill was burned to the ground, and four cottages in the vicinity also caught fire and were reduced to cinders. Residents at the edge of the hush had an anxious time in the afternoon, hut fortunately the wind changed and the flames were carried past the houses. No further damage is reported. ALL BLACKS ANT> SCOTLAND. DUNEDIN. Feb. 0. “Some of the papers here arc beginning to go seriously into the ScotlandNew Zealand Rugby football controversy.” writes “Diogenes.” the Rugby writer of the Edinburgh “Evening News.” in a letter to a Dunedin resi-. dent. “Already one feels that a better understanding prevails, the feeling being heightened by the all-round success of the AY arntahs’ match. Should the All Blacks (third edition) eotne to this country in the future we would need a still greater Murray Field to hold the spectators who would wish to see them, and this ground can accommodate 70,000 at a pinc-h. Considering the cold weather at the time of the Waratahs’ game, and also the fact that it was the team’s fourth match in Scotland, the attendance of 50,000 was more than satisfactory.”

AMATEUR AGAIN. WELLINGTON, Feb. G. To-night the New Zealand Athletic Council restored to Geoffrey Alley, chosen in the All TJlack team for South Africa, his amateur atliloti j rank. Alley’s one and only experience of professionalism was on New Year’s Day, 1026, when he competed in throwing the hammer and putting the shot at Dipton, Southland, and won 2os. He refused to sign the entry form, he said, in his application for rein- ' statement and was not aware that by competing he had forfeited his amateur status.

RECORD THRESHER SHARK. AUCKLAND. Feb. 6

A world’s record thresher shark was caught yesterday tit Whnngaroa on rod and line by Air Stanley'Ellis, of Hamilton. It weighed 6071 b, was IGIt Oin long and measured Go Inches round the girth. The monster was caught on a 3G-tlire:ul line, ft fought for two hours and broke one rod. but after skilful manipulation,, another rod was substituted. Air Ellis was accompanied by Aliss K. Wnrnhaltz. a Swedish journalist, who is visiting New Zealand. IN POSSESSION OF OPIUM. DALAI ERSTON N.. Feb. G. Gee Long, sixty-five, who pleaded guilty to ii charge of being found in possession of opium suitable for smoking. was lined £6O and costs. Accused bad been previously convicted and lined for having permitted opium smoking on his premises. AUCKLAND BOARD’S DIFFICULT POSITION. AUCKLAND, Feb. G. The serious effect of delay at Arupiini oil the operations of the Auckhinid Electric Power Hoard was emphasised Lv the chairman. Mr V . .1. Iloldsworth. and members of the Board at a meeting to-day. ft was decided to make the opinion of the Hoard known lo the Government, and Air Iloldsworth will initorview either the Prime Alinister or the Minister for Public Works, when ' in Wellington in about ten days’ time. Mr Iloldsworth said the completion of the work was of paramount importance. After inspecting various aspects of the undertaking, one felt that good progress had been made in every direction except the power house. It was understood, however, that preparations were under way to expedite this part of |he work in the near future. “The uncertainty of the time of completion of the work makes the position. so far its this Hoard is concerned, a really serious one.” continued Air Iloldsworth. “The undertaking is a national one. and ol outstanding importance to Auckland Province, and the completion now is the sole responsibility of the Government. With Unclear understanding that power would be available by April Ist. 1028, the Hoard since its inception set out on a. progressive policy to build up a load for Arapuni, and to place eleclriciU within the reach of the people in its area as soon as possible. 1 hrough tho unfortunate delay, the success attained by tho Board is now likely to place it in a most difficult position.”

COMPANY-SHARING. AUCKLAND, l-Vl.. C

Fifteen years ago the employees of the Auckland Gas Company decided to apply lor shares in the Company. Now 270 of them hold GO,OOO shares and belong to the Provident Association.

Reporting to the .shareholders at tho annual meeting to-day Mr J. It. I f>ton. Chairman ol Directors, said that the number of employees was now 760. “In bite years it has I cell .generally recognised that the interests of employers and employees should be harmonised,” he said, “and many attempts have been made by co-opera-tion, profit sharing and otherwise to achieve this end. In the last fifty or sixt v vears not less than five hundred schemes have been tried in Great Britain alone, but most of them have passed away, leaving only a comparatively few bright l-samples of success. But no way has been found free from difficulties and no plan that has met with general acceptance from employers and employed. ’! here seems to he no royal road to success. It depends ultimately on the old-fashioned virtues of industry and thrift. Every industry has its own special characteristics. and no scheme for betterment of the workman can succeed that docs not take account of that fact ami that does not receive the cordial assent of hotti employer and employed. It was. therefore, with great pleasure in 1912, fifteen years ago. that we received a proposal from a number of our workmen for the formation of an association of employees for the purpose of inquiring share interest in tfio company. A'our directors welcomed the proposal, and responded to the overtures made lo them in such a manner that the Auckland Gas-Workers’ Provident Association came into existence. This association is entirely an employees’ affair. The value of flic'-e shares represents the extent to which members ol tho association have improved their position by saving, and I hope it Ims given to alj a feeling of pleasure that they are our co-part-ners in the business.”