DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1928, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—P.er Press Association.)

STATE LUNCHEON

WELLINGTON, July 2.5,

A State luncheon in honour of the visit of the Argentine training ship President© Sarmiento was held in Parliament Buildings to-day. At the function representatives of all political parties were present. Mr Coates mentioned it was twenty years since a unit of the Argentine Navy had visited New Zealand and such visits could only have one result,' that of mutual knowledge which loads to a mutual sympathy and understanding.

DIFFERENTIAL R ATJNG. WELLINGTON, July 25. The Commission of Inquiry considering Rural Land heard the evidence of IT. D. Bennett to-day, advocating the system of differential rating is necessary.

DIVORCE BILL. IMPORTANT CHANGES PROPOSED

WELLINGTON, July 24

A Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill (in chrge of the Hon. Mr Rolleston) was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day, and read a first time.

The first Act dealing with divorce in New Zealand was the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1867, when it was copied for the most part from the English Act of 1857. In the present consolidation of tho New Zealand law advantage is being taken of tho improvements made by the English Act. The following are the more important changes proposed to be made in the law of New Zealand:—

The failure to comply with a decree for restitution of conjugal rights is made a ground for judicial separation. It is a ground in England and is a ground for dissolution in New Zealand.

The rule as to the retention of her domicile by a deserted wife, notwithstanding that her husband has changed his domicile, is extended so as to apply to the case of a wife who has been separated from her husband by agreement or otherwise.

The subject of collusion has boon cleared up, and the law declared to be that, except in the case of adultery, collusion is only a discretionary bar to relief. It has been made clear that connivance is a bar in the case of adultery only.

The clause dealing with alimony and maintenance is taken from the English Act of 1925. It gets rid of the confusion created by the apparently conflicting provisions of the Act of 190 S, and gives the Supreme Court the additional powers possessed hv the High Court in England.

Section 29 of the Act of 1908 has been dropped. “It is difficult to know what it means and would be better out of the way,” says the draughtsman. Several unnecessary sections have been dropped.

USED CAR, PROBLEM. AUCKLAND, July 21

The 'problem of used motor-ears was discussed this morning by Mr Tunes Randolph, managing director of General Motors. Australia, Ltd., who arrived in Auckland hv the Port Bowen. He said that in America the used ear difficulty was a very serious one to the trade. Fortunately, the extent to which cars were rued by American workers was providing a. big market. Sometimes two or three men would go in together and purchase a secondhand car, taking it in turn to use it on week-ends. But second-hand cars were not so had. The difficulty was how to dispose cf fifth, sixth and seventh-hand cars, and the country was littered with thorn. IJe found the mot-T industry very brisk in the United States at present. There was a tendency for leading plants to amalgamate and specialise on various tyycs. This means that a

much better service h being given the trade generally.

In America, New Zealand and Australia were regarded with considerable interest by car manufacturers, who wore well informed ns to bath countries and their requirements. Tt was ’ id.imated that Australia and New Zealand were taking about 20 per cent. ~f thp combined car exports of the United States, and naturally they ora looked upon an good customers.

FREIGHT ON ENGLISH PAPER AUCKLAND, : July 24

A concession on the freight in to on paper from England is an non need by the shipment companies. The present charge is £4 a ton on a measurement rate. • It is proposed to change to £4 a ton calculated on the weight of paper.

One merchant stated that a saving of up to 15s a ton. on bulky paper was anticipated, but there would be virtually r.o concession on hard finished papers The- change had been made, he thought, as the result of persistent representations that the freight from England should he brought more closely Into line with that from Canada and the United States, which was £3 a ton measurement. • That freight charge it was not proposed to alter.

. FISHING INDUSTRY. DUNEDIN, July 21. Important matters affecting the fishing industry were discussed by a meeting of the Otago Fishmongers’ Association. Mr A. 13. Hefford, Chief.lnspector of Fisheries, was present. A resolution was passed that the Government be requested to consider tho i advisability of setting up a council, comprising representatives of the Fisheries Department, fishermen, trawlowners, fishmongers and wholesale merchants to act in an advisory capacity in developing tho industry from local and export aspects. It was suggested that, iu order to make salmon a marketable proposition, for three months every year a license should ho granted for a lease of onemile stretches in the principal rivers in the Dominion for netting. Revision of transport rates was also urged, it being stated as an example that whore a case of fruit railed from Balelutha to Dunedin cost Is 5d a case, fish of the same weight cost 2s- lOd.

Mr Hefford stated that the Fisheries Department had* already approached the railways in this matter.