DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association. €ISOO SHORT OF REQUIRED AMOUNT. WELLINGTON, March 20. At a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Olympic Association tonight the results of the appeal for funds were considered. It was stated that although the closing date was past, a great number of returns were still outstanding, and the council had no idea what- the total would lie. A member stated that there was every indication that the amount would fall very far short of what was expected, so that it would take the council all its time to send even six of a team. It was decided to write to the governing bodies of sports stating that unless tjie necessary funds were in sight by March 31. the proposed send ing a team to this year's games would be dropped. The amount to hand was only £320, so that another €ISOO was required to send the team of six away. There did not appear any |ik< lihoud of sending any rowing ropresonta fives. STEAMER SERVICE. DUNEDIN. Mu rdi 10 At a meeting of the chamber of Commerce to-night- the president brought up the question of better communication between Australia and South Island ports, md the following resolution was adopted: ‘‘l hat the Prime Minister he again approached regarding South Island steimsh':) mnnication with Australian ports, and in the event of no aiT.mgefni hci.iS? able to lie made with, ihe existing <-• >■!!- panics trading wirli Australnt, wtli the Government protect any pi'-mesid •cm jinny that misrlti he formed io ic . siallis.li the servii •'?” HOSPITAL FEES INCREASED. NEW PLYMOUTH. March 20. The Taranaki Hospital Board decided to-day to increase patient’s fees from 9s a day to 12s subject to the np--1 jiroval of Ihe Health Department. It l was reported that the actual cost of I treatment tier day was 13s Id. I The question of instituting paying I wards for patients able to afford higlt- | or fees was dicussed hut no action was j taken. The attitude of the Board was that hard-pressed ratepayers should lie relieved by making financial patients pay higher fees. Those in poor circumstances would receive every consideration. ATTEMPTED THEFT. AUCKLAND, March 22. A middle-aged man, described by ins counsel as highly respectable and manager of a well-known Auckland business concern, was charged to-day with intempting to steal from a city hotel. The Chief Detective stated the accused was found upstairs turning over a mattress and when questioned said ho was looking for a couple of pounds or anything else he could get. Accused had €0 in his possession. Counsel said accused was married with live children and had been drinking a good deal’. He had been associating with he should not have met The whole thing was a Ireak and if his name was not sujijiressed it would mean absolute initiation. Magistrate McKean agreed that no offence except drunkenness had really | been committed. He adjourned the ease for six months ami suppressed Mm name of the man. W.C.T.U. CONVENTION. NAPIER. March 21. The Dominion convention of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union opened here to-night when delegates from all parts of New Zealand were accorded a civic reception h.\ the Mayor (Mr .1. Vigor Brown). Numerous other speakers, representing kindred societies, also extended a welcome, and commended Hie work of tlicit 11 ion. Airs T. E. Taylor. Dominion, president, acknowledged the welcome. The Convention will he extended over ten days. PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN. WELLINGTON, March 21. The extension of New Zealand’s publicity activities in Australia is to receive early attention. Although the actual details have yet to he settled, a decision has been come to by the publicity hoard to send the Government publicity officer (Air. A. IT. Alessenger) to the Commonwealth shortly to investigate all matters there in connection with publicity by film and propaganda work. Air Alessengcr’.s mission will occujry about a month, and the result of his enquiries will be reported to the Government. CHOICE OF TEACHERS. REQUEST TO AUCKLAND EDUCATION BOARD. AUCKLAND, Afnrch 21. “He is one of those poor unfortunates who should not have been a teacher,” said AH E. C. Banks at todays, meeting of (lie Auckland Education Board when the appointment of a man who Had been twenty years in the service to a low grade country school was under consideration. The teacher had won the position in open competition, but the School Cmmittee sought the services of a younger man. “It is on of these unfortunate jiositions,” agreed the chairman (Air A. Burns) “and we seem to he helpless in the matter. He won the position in open competition and I don’t see how we can get past it.” Tito opinion was expressed that the teacher’s grade should he higher than it was considering his length of scr-

The chairman suit! that twenty years j ago the Board could not pick and I choose, while to-day they were getting more highly educated tachers. The Senior Inspector (Mr C. AY. Garrard) said the teacher had been doing fair work, in country schools, but he thought it advisable -that ho should ho kept working under another teacher in the country. It was decided to inform the eommitto that the Board regretted it. could not supply a younger man in the circumstances. The appointment was confirmed and the inspector instructed to keep a close watch on the teacher’s work. MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE. OF DOUBTFUL UTILITY. WELLINGTON. March 21. The value of holding municipal conferences is discounted hy Mr H. D. Bennett, who was one of the AA'ellington delegates to the recent Municipal Conference at Nelson. In an interview Councillor Bennett said that he thought very little of niiat was done there would become legislation. He had noticed in the past that the Government did not attach very much importance to the decisions of the municipal parliament, and he thought that for that reason it was really questionable whether such conferences were worth while. It was not altogether difficult to appreciate the Cause of hesitancy on the part of the Government in these matters. . Indeed he would go as far as saying that he would be sorry to see the majority of

the adopted remits go straight to tlio Statute Book. Delegates from municipal bodies naturally sought for equilibrium from the point of view of those responsible for the administration of the municipal law.

Generally speaking, agenda papers at the conferences contained remits from local bodies of all kinds and sizes which had little in common with many of the others. These conditions brought about decisions only moderately sound V bad habit was made and sustained and the net result was indifference on the part of the Legislature. These observations applied fully to the recent conference at Nelson.

Many delegates had complained about* wliat was stated to be the slipsltod manner in which the agenda paper was prepared. Ho agreed largely with them. Remits came down (AYcllingtou was not the least offender) vague and unfinished, and this caused much annoyance. A very definite hint was given next year's oxcuiive to bring down a clean agenda with adequate explanatory notes where neeessnrv.