DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1928, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association. TRIAL BY -I I'BY. CHRISTCHURCH."ApriI 12. The Legal Conference to-day discussed the jury system, with special reference to the rules of December. ID2I. restricting the rights cl litigants to trial by jury in certain civil cases. The following resolution was arrived «t—‘That this Conference approves the nrincipl-e that it is desirable to revert to the former rules as to trial hv jury in civil actions."

TELEPHONE COMPLAINT. CMRTSTCII URCII. April 12. Replying to a complaint that three different telephones had been used and twenty minutes wasted before exchange could he raised yesterday to put through a fire call by a city resident. the district telegraph engineer says the delay is much regretted. It was due to the extraordinary rush of business at about li) a.m., due to the people making inquiries by phone as to the postponement of the day’s races. The operators had more traffic than they could handle. . ESCAPE FROM El HE. ('ll B ISTCIIUHCTI, April 18. Suddenly confronted with Haines on all sides, John Thorn, who resides at 182 Antigua Street, was compelled to make a hasty exit from his house early Inst evening. He sustained burns to his forehead, which necessitated admission to the hospital. His injuries were not serious. The fire apparently started in the hack of the building and quickly spread. A good deal ol damage was done to the building.

SWEDISH PI'LP STRIKE OVER. WELLINGTON, April 18. The Swedish Consul-General at Sydney advises Martin, consul tor New Zealand, that most of the pulp paper and saw mills in Sweden which closed down some months ago owing to labour disputes are resuming work this week. OVERSEAS FREIGHT CHARGES NEW PLYMOUTH, April 18. The Taranaki C hamber of Commerce Inst niglit discussed the report presented to the Wellington Harbour Hoard by Mr Mitchell on the subject of flat rates of freights from overseas ports and advocating concent ration on overseas shipping at main ports. During the discussion it was elicited, that transhipping and other charges at W ellington added greatly to the cost of goods at New Plymouth and that direct shipment to and Irom New Plymouth made a. great saving to the district. ,\ committee was set up to draft a reply to Mr Mitchell.

THEFT CHARGE. ,PALMERSTON X.. April 13. _ Described as a .labourer and 27 years of age, Wallace Athol Warrington Guy Smith was charged with the theft of two chorine forms and jewellery valued at thirty-live pounds from two dwellings. He pleaded guilty and was committed to Hie Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence. On a charge of obtaining goods am! money hy valueless cheque licensed, at the request of the police, who stated }i u was awaiting sentence on a more sci ions charge, was convicted and d barged. TUB A (•< OX IST REG UI. AT lONS. AUCKLAND. April IT A loophole has been discovered in the regulations amending the closing |„,urs of tobacconists in the combined district of Auckland. The possibility of Friday (most universally observed as a late night) being taken lor the statutory half-holiday has been overlooked and as the closing hours are stipulated lor the other live days, a way has been paved for a tobacconist to trade at all hours of the day and night except 1' riday iand of course Sunday, which « governed hy general legislation), a majority" of tobacconists won’t be prepared to sacrifice trade on the busiest day Friday) the indications are some will avail themselves of the loophole particularly where their establishments are situated in the vicinity of places of amusement, where a continual demand for cigarettes is likely. FRUIT EXPORT.

AVKLIJNCTOX. Ap'd "• In order to solve the problem the “wood” grade fruit exported trom the Dominion, the -Minister lor Agriculture (the Hon. Mr Hawke,i) has decided to place the matter he I ore Cabinet in an endeavour to o.itam the issue of a separate guarantee. At present there are two trmt export guarantees "ranted by the (lovernment. one of 11s per case on the : funcy and extra iancy fruits, and one of 7s on the “gooi!” grade, (he <|iialitication imposed on the latter guatantee ?>y the Government is that d the fancy grades sell below the guarantee price, anything netted on ' the ‘•good’’ grade shall go towards reducing what the Government may be called upon to pay through the market depression alfecting fancy mat. This would he. a reasonable enough provision if it were not lor tlm hut that the 7s guarantee on ‘good grade fruit is extremely low. M hen fancy grades have been realising los “good” ' grade priees have rated as high as I:2s (id per ease. When first there was a move towards exporting “good" grade fruit which, it will be seen, is lruit ot lower duality, the Government was not very taken with the idea, but | conceded the right. U was iound that a "rent quantity ot such Inat came forward, and it became necessary („ provide financial accommodation to enable the Fruit Control Board to handle the shipments. Thus the Government guarantee was hxea. ie hen re being put low. so low that any call upon it is improbable. Howeyei, the Government complicated matters by making the two guarantees interdependent. and gave the grower the option or taking them. Tlie result is that the growers generally have refused to do so. which has resulted in embarrassment to the Board. Thus it is sought to establish the two guarantees separately, and Air Hawken will make that effort at once.