DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) OPOSSUM TRAPPERS. GOVERNMENT’S AT’JTTUI > K. DUNEDIN, April 20. Air R. S. Black has been trying to induce the Govei nnicut to allow the importation of a better quality of marsupial so that the trappers would get higher prices for their skins, lie lias also asked that tile royality he reduced to a per rentage basis. So far. how ever, those efforts have failed.

The following letter from the Hon. W. Nosworthy, lifting .Minister of Internal Affairs, is the Government's reply: AVitli regard to the question of the importation and liberation of opossums, I have to state that this matter has on several occasions been considered by the Government hut as at present advised, it is not tonsidered e.xirahle to authorise either the importation of further opossums or the liberation of those animals in new areas. AVitli reference to the suggestion that the royalty on opossums skins instead of Is a skin he 5 per cent, on the price obtained by the trapper, I have to state that this matter also has received consideration hut it is not considered advisable at all events at the present to make the alteration suggested.”

Asked about this matter. Air Black says he is fully persuaded that many of our virgin forests especially on the AA’est Coast, should he stocked with the blue opossum. He also loels that •> per cent, is a fair royalty for the trapper to pay on the value ol the skins caught by him.

OBITUARY. DUNEDIN. April 20. The death of Air John Bartholomew Callan, son., to-day. removed from the ranks of the older generation of legal practitioners in Dunedin one of the lew surviving members. He retired from active business in 190(5,' and a year later was elected as a mein her of the Legislative Council, on which he hold a seat until 1011. lie is survived by a son. Air J. B. Callan, senior partner in the Jinn of Callan and Callaway, solicitors, Dunedin. and a daughter.

DAYLIGHT SAYING. FIELD ING. April 20. The Wellington Provincial Farmers’ Union met here to-day. The inclusion of farm labourers under the provisions of the Arbitration Act was opposed. It was also decided to circularise a petition in opposition to the re-enact-ment <>f daylight saving. The meeting approved of the AYonien’s Division of the Union having

representation at -the Dominion Conference, and arrangements were made to hold the annual provincial confer- 1 ence in Feilding on May 30th and 31 TRAMWAY ENQUIRY. AUCKLAND, April 21. Objection to the inclusion of W. G. T. Goodman, Manager of Adelaide Tramway System, in the personnel o! the Auckland Transport Commission is taken by suburban local Ladies in a letter to the Premier. Reference is made to the fact that A. E. .Ford, manager of Auckland Tramways, was trained under Goodman, and that when be took over he stipulated he should lie allowed to bring some Adelaide officials with him. The letter suggests the Auckland system will virtually be ii trial and as it no doubt conforms to that of Adelaide, the policy of which w.as nr- bally dictated by Goodman, fbe latter may lie called upon to adjudicate on methods advocated by himc*'di. He suggested tbe C'cmmet-ion ■should include someone with a pers"iiiaj knowledge and experience of local Government conditions in and around Auckland. NEW ADMINISTRATOR SAJIS. AUCKLAND, April 22. To-day the new police contingent for service in Samoa left by (be steamer Tutanekai. A small number of personal friends were on the wharf to see them off. Colonel S. S. Allen left by the Tofua tbi; morning to take up his duties as Administrator of Samoa. Ho was entertained at a farewell function at the Northern Club last night.

YOUNG MAN KILLED. CM BISTCIIriMTI, April 22 Rowland Bedford, aged 23 years, w's killed by being struck and run over by a motor car near Ashburton cm 'Saturday night. Bedford was riding a motor cycle with another young man. .Lohiixn, in the side car. and was teeing from R'lkain to Ashburton, and about eight miles from Ashburton a motor tar driven at it furious pare, t "e ro t another car. which was slowin'.!: up, and crashed into fho motor eve'p. and then continued on ids jourr w without stopping', leaving Bedford dead on the road. Johnson escaped injury. Bedford’s injuries were dreadful. His head was crushed, liiis neck broken, his boot torn, his leg and foot lacerated. Death was instantaneous.

It is stated that the police hope to make an arrest shortly, an I that fho car cvhieh struck the motor cycle was a stolen one.