DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Par Press Association.) CONDITIONS IX AUSTRALIA. AUCKLAND, .May 8. “Australia has undergone the sumo economic depression as New Zealand has been going 1 h.rough during the past- eighteen months,” (said Air J. AY. Tattors/ield, who has returned to Auckland after a month’s visit to the Commonwealth. “New South Wales and Western Australia are the two most prosperous States at the present time,” lie continued, “hut it is the general opinion that there has been too much borrowing of money, which has been invested in unproductive works. On the other hand, {here has been a wonderful wool season, and there is abundant feed. As a matter of fact there is too much of the latter for stock to eat off. Pastures which at one time ran one sheep to the acre, could now run. three or four.” Discussing industrial conditions, he said that some firms had adopted the piece-work with a minimum wage method, and fin's had been found henofie.ial to employers and employees, but more particularly to the latter. As a matter of fact lie had been shown figures winch had gone to prove that employees working under this system had made from -Cl to 25sa week more in wages than previously. “As far as the economic difficulties of Australia are concerned,” said Air ■Tattersfield. “business men with whom I came'in con tact, expressed the 'opinion that the solution would he to bring the duties to what might lie termed a happy medium. With this idea in view it was suggested that something might he done with regard to tlio bounties on wine and butter.”

DEFENCE SYKTEAL WELLINGTON, Aiay 8. Cuts in the Territorial system are to take place during the next military year, which begins on .lime 1. This Is indicated by the training notices which have just been issued. On these, a - statement appears that there will he ho camps for first-year Territorials in the coming training year. It is understood that the move has been decided upon in order to keep down the cost of Ihc defence forces. Another step likely to conns about is the cutting out of training for cadets of fourteen years of age. i his will mean that cadets will he trained from the ages of fifteen to eighteen instead of from the ages of fourteen to eighteen, as at present. The cut in cadet training will only affect tlio night parading cadets ; the secondary school units will carry on as at present.

Another measure that: is being strictly carried out this year is the medical examination. The standards have been tightened up and only those in the host of health will lie passed. This will result in a large percentage of the present cadets failing to he transferred to the. Territorial force.

INQUEST FIXDIXf

GISBORNE, .May 10.

At the inquest on Marcia Margaret Harrington, who died at Gisborne on May 3rd, as a result oi being knocked over by a motor cycle, whilst walking with her mother at dusk on the Mnkarakn Road, the Coroner found that death followed an injury sustained when deceased was run into and knocked down by a motor-cycle ridden hy a youth, Archibald Lawrence Lamb.

PRICE OF-PETROL. CHRISTCHURCH. Afay 10. Dissatisfaction with present prices of petrol was expressed at a meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Automobile Association on Afondny night, and the question was discussed again at an Executive meeting of the South Island Alotor Union to-night, when it was decided to .set up a sub-committee to go into a proposal to establish a company of motorists to import petrol. The scheme was discussed in committee. After the announcement of the decision in open meeting, a member of

the executive said: “The price of pet rol will he down on Aloud ay morning. l DETENTION OF A LETTER. . WELLINGTON, May 10. In the Supreme Court to-day, TTaroi Edmund Collie, pleaded not guilty t having detained a postal packet, whic .should have been delivered to his wife at New Brighton. The question the jury had to decid was whether the detention was wilful They found for defendant, and accuse) was discharged. PARLIAMENT TO MEET. WELLINGTON, May 10. The date for the opening of tin corning session of Parliament has beer fixed for Thursday, ‘2Bth June. The session is expected to last atop three months, thus allowing six o seven weeks before the General Election. if it is held about the middle o November. BANKRUPT GAOLED. CHRISTCHURCH, May 19. James Wright Fynes, formerly : restaurant keeper in the city, was trie at the Supreme Court to-day oil charge of failing to keep proper hooks of ac counts and contracting debts when no! in a position to pay them. Kyncs’s bankruptcy was describee by the Crown Prosecutor as an unsatis factory one. The deficiency adinittoi hy bankrupt was £950. hut the Ofr.cin Assignee found it actually .CloOO. A 1 Fynes had to show foi; his linancia position was a hank hook, hut this wt useless, as other cheques had hoc uttered hy Fynes and- drawn in fb titious names on accounts which did no exist. Ho had cashed cheques with : firm of fishmongers for £7 12s, £‘B Is £7 ss, and .£8 12s, purchasing a smh> quantity of fish and taking the rest i: cash. The firm had lost in four day the fish supplied and about £3O in cas’ which they had been unable to recover from Fynes.

Pri soiicr was found 'guilty on hot! counts, and was remanded for sentence

iApe air aiassey

WELLINGTON, May 11

Sincere tributes to the memory oi the late Air Alnssey were paid yesterday on the occasion of the third mini versafy of his death. In the moniing a pilgrimage was made to his last resting place, Point Halsweli, and in the afternoon his portrait was unveiled b\ Air Coates in the Assembly 1 full of tlu Political Reform League.

CHINESE PERMITS. AUCKLAND, Aiay 10

Fraudulent dealings with his fellow countrymen wore alleged in the Supreme. Court to-day against a Chinaman, named Charlie Lee, who pleaded guilty to four charges of obtaining money by falselv representing that lie could oh tain an extension of their permits t’ stay in New Zealand. The accused is of middle age, and the Chinese from whom he is alleged to have obtaino' sums totalling £(i!i, are much younge>

The Crown Prosecutor said that tlu charges centred round three young Chinamen who arrived in Ajiekhmd In October, 1925. There was a procedure hy which a Chinese could obtain a permit to remain in this conn fry for six months. The Customs Department did, occasionally, rt its discretion, grant extensions. .It was alleged that tlio accused obtained various sums from the Chinese, stating Hint. in return for payments, lie would arrange for extensions of their permits. . The jury returned a verdict of guilty, adding the following rider:—” In View of the evidence in this case, a recommendation should lie made to the proper authorities that steps be taken to prevent Chinese from overstaying their time allowed hy the permit. His Honour said he agreed with tlio rider, stating lie thought that a great deal of looseness in connection with these permits had been disclosed. The prisoner was remanded for sentence.