DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

i,By Telegraph—Per Press Association.

EXPRESS HITS LORRY. NAPIER, June 17

Frederick L. Li ley was killed, and a companion, John I). Hcenan, was somewhat badly injured at the Tomoana railway crossing, iteav Hastings at 5 o’clock last evening, as the result of a collision between the Wellington-Na-pier express and a motor van in which two men were returning from Napier Park Paces to their homes in Havelock North. The impact must have been terrific as the two men were throw some 20 feet over a fence, and their van was tossed into the air and was completely wrecked. Both men landed a foot or two from the railway lino, and had it not been so, Hcenan, who had a most wonderful escape from death as it was, must certainly have been killed also-. There were two eyewitnesses of the accident and when they reached the scene, Li lev was already dead and Heenan was at first thought to he mortally injured hut he was reported later not to be in a serious condition.

The approach to this crossing is hardly a dangerous one, so far as being able to see railway line is concerned, and though the engine would not come into view until the van was only a chain off the line, nevertheless it would seem reasonable to believe that there Would have I>cen time to pull up in safety had the oncoming train been watched for. The engine driver is reported to have informed the" police that he sounded his whistle in tho ordinary way, and this was confirmed by the eye-witnesses in conversation with a pressman. Liley was a. married man, aged 47, and leaves eight children, five of whom are quite young, including one two years of age. Tho deceased ■was a plumber by trade.

Mr Heenan is a membor of tho Havelock North Town Board, and is Chairman of the School Committee there also. BAIN IN CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH, June IS. Light rain fell over Canterbury on Saturday, increasing in volume by the evening. Yesterday there was a continuous downpour that become torrential in the afternoon and still shows no signs of clearing. From nine thirty yesterday to nine thirty this morning 1.78 inches fell. The total rainfall since Friday is over three inches. BROKEN LEG. WELLINGTON, June 18. E. J. McDonald, a stonemason, broke his left leg above the ankle playing Rugby lor Marists v. Old Boys. He' has a wife and four children. THE ECONOMIC POSITION. OTIRTSTCHURCH, June 18. That there were hotter times ahead and that the economic position would improve greatly after tho winter, were the opinions expressed- by Professor Tocker, when giving an address on Saturday evening to the Christchurch Hardware Merchants Association. Professor Tocker said that by a statistical survey of tho economic position of the country during the past few years, it could he seen that there would ho a boom in business during the next few months. In 1925-20 the value of exports from the Dominion had gone down by £10,000,000, hut in 1927-28 there had been an increase of nearly £12,000,000. The slump after 1926 would now give way to a" boom which would bring the position back to nor l mal. He did not expect, however, that the boon would he manifested until after the winter.

HOPE GIVEN UP. w ELLINGTON, June 17. There is no sign yet of tlie wlieroabouts of Mervyn Hodgkinson, tlio young man who lias been lost since last Monday on the Orongwongo. Search parties arc still out. WELLINGTON, June 18. It is stated there is no hope held out of the finding of Hodgkinson, the missing man, though a fresh party went out on Saturday and all are now returning. REFORM RALLY. ELTHAM, June 18. Egmont electorate Reform rally was held at Eltham on Saturday night and was well attended. Hon Hawken (sitting member) gate an address and the following motion was carried unanimously: “ That this meeting of Reform supporters expresses its satisfaction with the services rendered by the Hon. Hawken as Parliamentary representative of the district and Minister of Agriculture and re-affirms its loyalty to Mr Coates and the Reform Govern meat.”

lion. Hawken reviewed the achieve meats of the Reform party during its 16 years of office, stating no other party in tile Empire had survived the difficult period following the war. Surely to have established such a re cord, the party must have in its policy something virile, something sound, something progressive and indeed all that made for good government of the people. The Minister spoke of the weakness of the Liberal-Nationalist-United-party, its lack of, both policy and leader. That party, tie said, was practically defunct, those remaining being those .who would not accept the inevitable, but were prepared to go on lighting not for a policy, but only for a name. British people all over the world objected to the multiplicity of parties. He suggested it was high time the Liberals considered the matter, asked themselves whether it was worth while keeping up old feuds and jealousies, the occasion for which had long ceased to exist. The electors should combine solidly to combat the real danger of the Socialistic Labour Party, which had distinct ideals and a policy which were unacceptable to r large majority of the electors. Ihe Socialistic Labour Party’s policy was dictated by professional politicians, employed by organised trades unionism. It was an organised party and its leader had a distinct policy. Rational people of the country who were opposed to Its objections of State ownership, abolition of freehold and imposition of high protection should not regard the danger too lightly. The Minister explained what the Government had done in improving farmers finance, relieving local rating, over-coming housing shortage, and encouraging production. He predicted if the present balance of exports over imports was maintained that the in terest rate would he reduced in a comparatively short time and unemploytnent would couso.