DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

'By Telegraph—Par Press Association.)

CARPET DISAPPEARS. WANGANUI, May 23. One of the most daring and impudont daylight robberies ever perpetrated in Wanganui was committed yesterday morning at a well known hotel.

A msJid cleaned up a sitting-room upstairs and closed the doors. Later, a dodger had occasion to visit the room. He thought the floor looked very bare, and casually remarked about it to the licensee, who went up to investigate. To his astonishment, he found that the largo Axniinster carpet which had boon on the flooi. had completely disappeared. It i.s assumed that the thief must have rolled up the carpet and taken it down the hack stairs. In any case, he got clean away with it.

NEW ZEALAND FLAX. WELLINGTON, May 23,

The earlier anticipation that tests carried out in connection with New Zealand flax might result in the discovery of new avenues for the utilisation of phoriuin fibre is at the moment somewhat distant from realisa. tion. Investigations, however, are still proceeding, but the latest oversea ad vice in possession of the Department o' Scientific and Industrial Research sounds a note of caution not to build up over sanguine hopes, which may not he fulfilled.

RADIO LICENSES. RENEWALS DECREASE. WELLINGTON, May 23. Radio licenses which expired on March 31st are being renewed slowly. The following figures supplied by the Post and Telegraph Department show the number of receiving licenses issued as at April 30th : —Auckland, 10,531 ; Canterbury, Glfio; Otago. 1930; Wellington, 11,314; total, 29,939. These figures include licenses renewed and new licenses. In addition 1028 radio dealers’ licenses were issued and 108 transmitting licenses, making a grand total of 31,075. As compared with the position as at March 31st. on April 30th there was a shortage of 9290 in respect of re newals for receiving licenses. The regulations provided that a holder of a license must notify the Department of the dismantling of his set if he does not intend renewing his license. A penalty is provided for any failure in that respect. The number of receiving licenses at the head office on May 20th is shown as follows (the figures as at April 30th quoted above arc given in parenthesis) : —Auckland, 10,710 (10.531) ; Canterbury, 0301 (0105) ; Otago. 1895 (1930) ; Wellington, 1 1,927 11,314); total 30,089. These figures indicate that licenses were renewed between May Ist and 20tli at about the rate of 300 a week. The rate is not yet satisfactory.

BITfLE-1 N-SCHOOLS. HAMILTON, May 23.

The Hamilton Ministers’ Association has arranged to commence Bible teaching under the Nelson systen next week in two local schools, aiu hopes to extend it to other school.later. The Education Hoard require; the consent of parents by plebiscite

A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION. WELLINGTON, May 23. The negotiations to secure a visit to the Dominion by Dr .T. H. Orr, Director of the Rowetl Institute, Aberdeen, and a world’s authority on the subject of mineral content of pastures, have been successful. Dr Orr, who has been spending some time in Australia. mill niif-iva m Wellington next week and, although the length of Ids stay is Indefinite at present, it is expected that, he will remain hero long enough to go into the question of mineral content of pastures which is. at the moment, the subject of a special investigation under the direction of Mr B. O. Aston, of the Department of Agriculture.

UTILISATION OF WHEY. WELLINGTON, May 23.

Investigations oversea into the utilisation of whey are being closely watched by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. At the last meeting of the Management Committee of the Dairy Research Institute information was received from Dr K. If. M’Downll, at present in England, in regard to his inquiries into the question in Britain and Germany. At present, he reported, it did not appear that there was any highly economical utilisation of whey other than using it as stock food.

Reporting on investigations into whey evaporation, the Secretary of the Department (.Dr Mnrsden) said the use of whey- paste now was being made the subject of experiments in a series of feeding trials.

COMPANY TAX. HAMILTON, M.nv 23

“The company tax is one of the greatest burdens put oil farmers,” said a delegate at the provincial conference of the Farmers’ Union this morning.

The conference rejected a remit asking stock auctioneering companies to reduce commission rates, the directors of companies pointing out their difficulties, particularly- with reference to tlie company tax.