NEWS BY MAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1928, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL

MONACO PRINCE’S POWER. PARIS, Jan. 30

Tlie Prince of Alonaco, the tiny Principality which includes Alonte Carlo, has the fate of a Alonaco hotelkeeper, Etienne Blongino, in Ids hands. Blengino has been twice tried and condemned for the murder of his wife and daughter.

Justice in the Principality more or less follows the French erimin il code but- it has its peculiarities. Blengino was condemned some time ago, but a second trial was ordered owing to a legal mistake in the indictment. Now tlie second trial and verdict have also been qua shed for the same reason. There will not be a third trial, as would have been the ease in France.

Prince Louis of Alonaco, who is head of the wealthy Grimaldi family, is the sovereign ruler. He is also tJ:o supreme head of the judicature. He will now have- to consider tlie evidence in the ease and decide whether the last sentence of ten years’ imprisonment shall stand or whether it .shall he cancelled or even increased.

Prince Louis is the only European authority who has the power to sit as a supreme judge and to alter or cancel verdicts passed by the lower courts. Prince Louis lias just left for the United States. Information received by the Department of Industries and Commerce regarding the Afaui Pomure, the Government motor ship for the Islands trade, is tex tlie effect that tlie vessel left Southampton oil Afarcli 17th, and is: expected to reach New Zealand, from Samoa, early in May. The date when the vessel will leave New Zealand with the party comprising representatives of the commercial interests on tlie vessel’s first trip from the Dominion to the Islands has not been fixed yet.

THE REAL SILK LOOK. LONDON, Jan. 30

AA'lien artificial silk was first introduced, according to Air Alfred Stern, chairman of Stern Hosiery Afamaaeturers, Ltd., anyone could tell whether a girl’s stockings were of artificial silk, .because they wore shiny. Now. with a dull finish, they laid the same appearance as real silk. Afr Stern is acting as chairman of the group of merchants and importers who are opposing the renewed application by the National Joint Industrial Council for the hosiery trade for the imposition of a safeguarding duty on imported hosiery and knitwear. and he gave evidence yesterday before the Board of Trade Committee which is inquiring into tbe application. SHARP PRACTICE. “There is a lot of fraud in the trade, or, at any rate, a sharp practice,” he said. “I have hero, a stocking which is sold wholesale at 5s a dozen pairs. It lias 2s fid stamped on the foot.” ' Mr R. M. Allard, who appeared for tbe applicants, asked whether that price was put on by the manufacturer. Air Stern: Yes; and tbe foreigner is just as bad as tlie British. They nro all the same.

The following definition was given by Mr Stern in explaining certain

samples:—• “Silk is all silk, except when it is artificial silk. Cotton is all cotton. Wool is all wool, but woollen is shoddy stuff.”

Air Comyns Carr, K.C., for the opponents, asked how the nnic-h greater consumption of cheap cotton hose was accounted for. Afr Stern: Women wear different coloured dresses, and even if a woman is only earning £2 a week she wlil like to have half a dozen, different coloured stockings in her wardrobe. Then we have passed through troublous times and many unfortunate people have to be satisfied with cotton because it is cheap and wears a long time.