MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1928, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

MOTOR. SHIPS. LONDON, April 18

The striking progress of the motoi ship is again emphasised by Lloyd’s quarterly returns of the tonnage building .'throughout the world. At present there sire 141)0 thousand tons of motor shipping as compared with 1300 thousand steam tonnage. not withstanding the fact that the number of steamers under construction total 309. the motor ships comprise 1 77).

Of the total tonnage of 21,893 thousand tons that is at present being constructed, the British yards are building 1431 thousand tons. This is a reduction of 139 thousand tons compared with the previous quarter.

QUITE ANOTHER STORY. SYDNEY April 18

The man rescued, from the United motor car this morning is C. G. Hcssion a ‘ city business man, and the owner of the ear. not Reynolds. IVhen the vehicle was lifted, there was no sign of any other supposed occupant. The man Reynolds, whose name was mentioned in connection with the affair, says he knew nothing about it till lie read it in the papers. The police are unable, owing to JTession’s reticence. to account for the accident.

MELBOURNE CINEMA FIRE. MELBOURNE. April 18

The “Cairo” Theatre, at St. Kilda has been hurried down. The damage is estimated at £30,000. The firemen had a desperate struggle, owing to a poor water supply, necessitating the pumping of water a long distance from a pier. BANKRUPT BANKER. WELLINGTON. April 18. The public examination of James Douglas Adams, ex-hank manager of the Bank of Australasia, of Levin, was made under Section 124 of the Bankruptcy Act. before Judge Reed, at the Supreme Court to-day. The questions asked all had reference to sums borrowed by the bankrupt at various times. Bankrupt said that about 17.97 of his debts (totalling £808) represented borrowed money. He lmd spent between' £3OO and £4OO in liquor. His Honour made a declaration that bankrupt’s affairs had been sufficiently investigated. and the examination was finished.

SERIOUS CHARGE. WELLINGTON. April 18

A conspiracy between two men to burn a motor ear in order to obtain the insurance, and covering their tracks by telling the police that the car was stolen, was revealed in Court to-day. when Donald Gilles, a plasterer. 31. and John George Eurey, a salesman 19 pleaded guilty and were committed for sentence. They took a car to South Karon poured kerosene on it. set it on fire, and then released the hand brake and sent the car over a cliff. A match box smeling of kerosene was found near the spot. Both were committed for sentence. Furev was also charged with abetting Gillies in the commission of an indecent act. The case is proceeding.

RAKARA TO BE SUNK. WELLINGTON, April 18. The Union Company have condemned the Rakara, and, weather permitting.

she will he lowed out on Friday morning beyond the 100 fathoms line, and blown up with explosives. MILITARY TRAINING. AUCKLAND, April 18. Mr E. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court this afternoon, refused to grant exemption from military training to A. -M. Richards, L. Usher, William K. Bvrt. and Alexander Miller, the four young men whose applications have caused great public controversy. Three of the. applicants are Students for the Presbyterian ministry.

.Mr Coker, who appeared for the applicants, said that it would not he possible to give an undertaking that they would do work in the Scout Movement. The question of substituted service was outside the jurisdiction of the Court, and the question at issue was exemption or non-exemption.

’The .Magistrate said he could understand the attitude of men who refused to do one thing for conscientious reasons. and yet offered to do another which did not conflict with their conscience. He refused the applications on the ground that he was not satisfied as to the bona tides of the applicants. “ They must attend the next drill,” he added. Air Coker: Remember, sir, there are men who hold principles dearer than their liberty. AUCKLAND, April 18. Holding that war was contrary to his beliefs, John Frederick Porter, a youthful member of the Christadelphian Church, also applied for exemption today. Captain Wales, representing the Defence Department, said there was no objection in this case. The applicant had stated that he was prepared to do other work in lieu of service. ’I hat was all that was asked of the other four. Exemption was granted.

EDUCATION HEADS DIFFER. WELLINGTON, April 19

The Education Department and the Education Board are at loggerheads over the appointment of a principal to the Training College. The latter, aftei advertising, oliose on the recommendation of the Board of Advice, E. K. Lomas, who has been acting-principal for the past year. He was vice-priuci-pol for many years and was considered the host qualified candidate. The Department declined to endorse the selection and requested the Board to atlteitise again. The Board by resolution objected to the Department’s action, claiming Lomas was more highly qualified than any other applicant, and expressing the opinion that his appointment should he confirmed. A further resolution was recorded that the Board protest against tile policy of appointing oversea applicants to vacancies when there are in New Zealand candidate.who have been trained in our own colleges and university possessing equal ot better qualifications. The Board also desired to know what becomes of the Rhodes Scholars sent from New Zealand.

ANGLICAN SYNOD. WELLINGTON, April 19. The General Anglican Synod formally opened last night with services in St. Raul’s, attended bv Archbishop Averill. eight bishops, and a large number of clergy.

INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, April 19.

One outcome of the industrial Conference so far is that all sections of the employers represented at the conference have come into line and accept as a compromise a proposal made by Mr Bishop, for the Employers’ Federation, that the concilation system shall be preserved intact but appeal to the Arbitration Court no longer be made compulsory.