DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—P.or Press Association.)

LIQUOR QUESTION.

REFORM ASSOCIATION PROTEST.

CHRISTCHURCH, June G.

A meeting of the Canterbury Brunch of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association was held yesterday. The Yen. Archdeacon Taylor presided. The following resolutions were carried

“That tho Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association having considered the reported contemplated action of Parliament in connexion with licensing legislation expresses its grave concern that this important matter should he made the subject of political barter, and settled by compromise between extremes, and urges the Government to (bring forward a comprehensive policy of licensing reform in the interests of tho whole of the people of tho Dominion.

“That in the event of the present franchise held by the people on the licensing question being interfered with in any way by the manipulation of Parliament, the attention of the Government he directed to the duty owing to the middle section, to provide a ballot paper that will not result in forcing this growing body of the electors either into one or other of tho extreme camps, or to refrain from voting altogether. “That the Dominion Executive he requested to formulate a plan so that steps he taken in view of the approaching Geu°ral Election, to prevent the new Parliament from becoming subservient to the domination of the super-government of the Prohibitionists outside tho House.”

FRUIT EXPORT. THIS .SEASON'S RECORD. WELLINGTON, ..Tune 5. Fruit exporting from the Dominion has reached a position of importance as a contributor to the national income, as this season’s overseas business will exceed one million eases. The .season has been a good one for production, though not so abnormal as to suggest the impossibility of again reaching the same total. It was hardly expected that space would he obtained in overseas steamers for all the fruit .-vailable for export, but recent additional space arrangements added BD.COO cases, with the icsnlt that during Thursday the steamer Tamnroa. loading at 'Wellington. will take aboard the millionth ease. This notable event in connection with a growing industry is to he marked with a special celebration, in which the Minister of Agriculture (the lion. 0. J. Hnwken). the chairman of the Fruit Export Control Board (Colonel Gray), and the chairman of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation (Mr T. C. Brash) will take part. Overseas business has been widely distributed during the season, shipments to South America. totalling nearly 8-1,000 eases, while consignments also have been sent to the Continent and Canada.

AN UNUSUAL INC!DENT. CHRISTCHURCH, .Line 0. Ail unusual test case occurred to-day when Joseph Doyen-, a taxi driver, was charged, on information of a carrier, with driving .'an unregistered motor van. Action arose out of the custom of some tnximeu carrying luggage with passengers. Defendant was convicteci and ordered to pay costs.

LETTER TO JUDGE. AUCKLAND, June G

A reference to a letter which had been written to him was made by Mr Justice Blair in a divorce case at the Supreme Court to-day. AVhen David F'. Duthoit, of Hamil--‘(-•n. was eiving evidence in tho ease, the Judge asked him if lie- know tho signature of a letter which he (the judge) handed to him. Witness said it was his wife’s signature.

His Honour said that this letter was an attempt by the lady who signed it to prejudice him as far as that case was concerned. It was highly improper. The letter said that a. certain case was to come before him, and ho had to make certain allowances for a man concerned in it. In this letter which was addressed to ITis Honour, was a. sealed envelope containing the name of tho man referred to.

“Of course I did not open it,” said His Honour. “I have been able to recognise the ease referred to only because of the similarity of the names.”

The witness, Duthoit, said that he knew nothing of the letter. His wife was nob acquainted with legal procedure. His Honour said that he would require to take further action in regard to this. People must not attempt to interfere with the adminstraDon of justice. Whether it was done with tho host of intentions, or the worst of intentions. did not matter. It made the matter very difficult for him. The witness and his counsel, Air Osburne Lilly, again disclaimed all knowledge. of the letter.

BIG OIL-TANKER- ARRIVES. ’ NEW COMPANY TO OPERATE. AUCKLAND. June 5. Tho oil-tanker Ranja, which arrived in Auckland early this morning, is carrying 3,250,000 gallons of oil, with which the Atlantic Union Oil Company, Ltd., will begin operations in New Zealand.

.Mr J. E. 'Gray, managing director of the company, arrived in Auckland yesterday from Sydney, and in an interview, explained the company’s activities and organisation in the Dominion. The Banja will discharge a portion of Us supply into tanks at Freeman’s Bay. the remainder going to Wellington. Auckland and Wellington are the main hulk terminals, but bulk sub-stations are in course of erection at Gisborne, Hamilton, and Frankton Junction. Other sub-stations will be '.built later. The company’s operations will begin immediately and a full range of high grade products will he marketed. To date the company has invested more than £300,000, principally in equipment, most of which was supplied by New Zealand firms.

GENERAL ELECTION. DUNEDIN. Juno 6. Hr J. Ritchie, Chairman of the Vincent County Council, has acceded to a number of requests to stand for the Central Otago .seat in the Reform interests. As the candidature of Hr Charles Todd has also been announced for this seat, a ballot will be necessary to decide which candidate will officially bear the Reform banner. WOHAN’S BODY IN BACH. CHRISTCHURCH, June 0. The body of Emily Forward, aged about 21 years, was found in a bach at North Beach, New Brighton, today. The woman had been dead for three months. > Gas had been turned on from a gas stove in the room, where the body was ■ found, but as the upper was one of

the shilling-in-thc-slot variety, and the house was isolated, the escape of gas ceased before it attracted attention.

OILFIELDS REPORT. GISBORNE, June 6.

Tarnnki Oilfields Ltd., report for the week ended 2nd. June ns follows: Gisborne No 1 well: From 2950 ft. to -900 ft. there are shale samples, which smell freely of oil, and give a very strong reaction with chloroform. From 2990 ft. to 2995 ft. sandy shale was met. From 2995 ft. to 3000 ft. there was brittle lighter-coloured shale. The GJ in. diameter casing is down to 3000 ft.

Gisborne No. 2 well: Pulled the 121 in. diameter casing to free the same, and cleaned out the hole to 525 ft. and 12^in. casing has been run down again to -195 ft.

SEVERAL HOUSES ROBBED IN CHRISTCHURCH.

CHRISTCHURCH, Juno G

Robberies from houses during the absence of the occupants are still recurring frequently in Christchurch. Yesterday a thief, or thieves, entered and ransacked a house in Spreydon, selected jewellery worth £2O. Money was hidden in three or four places in the house, hut the thief did not find if. Other thefts have occurred in the same district during the past few weeks. Last week a house was entered and £25 stolen. Another resident was awakened )>v hearing a man prowling about the house. In this case the dog was poisoned.

SECULAR SYSTEM OPPOSED. MASTE.RTON, June 0

At a well attended meeting in Masterton to-night, under the auspices of the Bible-in-Sehoo! s’ League, a res-•ln-ti cn was unanimously passed: “That this meeting views as inadequate the present system of eduentien. because its entirely secular principle is a menace to moral and religious welfare, a danger to State; and an injustice to the child; and therefore demands from Parliament a restoration of the Bib:e to the primary schools. While not opposing the Nelson system (the resolution continued), this meeting views that system as inadequate.” The speakers were the Bishop of Nelson and the Rev John Paterson, of Wanganui.