DOMINION NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.] PROFIT OF PETROL COMPANIES. A DUNEDIN DISCUSSION. DUNEDIN, August 28. At a meeting of the Otago Motor Club to-night the president (Air E. Ansel!) quoted figuresto show that petrol companies in New Zealand are making an unreasonable profit. The speaker said that with the exception of Spain and Italy petrol was dearer here than in any other country in the world, in outlining the arguments raised by the petrol companies to show that their prices were not exorbitant he said-the chief one was the high cost of distribution to a scattered population. He still thought that the companies had a case to answer. Mr 11. H. Henderson stated that the profit of the companies totalled more than the whole of the taxes on motorists in New Zealand.

After discussion the following resolution was carried unanimously: “That the Government be requested to institute a Board of Trade inquiry in order to determine whether or not petrol companies operating on the New Zen land market are obtaining more than a fair and reasonable rate of commercial profit.”

PROPOSED NEW STREET. DUNEDIN, August 28. At the invitation of the Mayor, Mr W, B. Taverner, a large number attended a public meeting to-night to listen to a proposal to raise a loan of 02(1,500 for the purchase of the Royal Arcade property and the construction thereon of a public street (1(5 Ifeet wide. After the cliai'iinan of the Works Committee (Councillor Wilson) and the chairman of the Finance Committee (Councillor Clark) had fully explained the project a general discussion followed and the concensus of opinion was that the purchase was inadvisable. A poll will be taken on Tuesday next.

II AC'IXG CONFERENCE. ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE. AUCKLAND Aug. 28. Considerable dissatisfaction has been expressed in racing circles in Auckland regarding the method adopted at the last annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference concerning the election of the executive. Word has now been received that it has been decided- to declare the election null .and void, as the rules were ret complied with and the headquarter? of tin- conference wishes to know whether the delegates who wero present at the annual meeting will agreo to a postal ballot being taken for the erection of an executive from the same seven nominees that were submitted at the annual meeting. This is not likely to 'be agreed to by Auckland, for there is ro provision in the. Rules of Racing for such a ballot. The only tiling apparently that remains to he done, therefore, is to again assemble the conference, call for nominations, and have an entirely fresh election.

POLICE METHODS. SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS MADE BY COUNSEL. WELLINGTON, Aug. 39. 'flic defence to charges against George Ashton Ferguson, of stealing an electric iron and three lamp shades from the National Electric and Em gineering Company, and also a battery charger pick-up and two valves, is being beard by .Mr Page. S.M. The case relates partly to the recent one against Yauso and Turns, t<: a certain extent on goods sent out on approval.

The defence denies that it was always the firm’s practice to send out an approval notice with goods. Air Sievwright, for the accused, is taking a line which brings into question the methods pursued by the police in examination of suspected persons. It is suggested that the police wilfully put untruthful statements in a statement accused win asked to sign, without its being read over.

. Accused’s father giving evidence of what transpired at the detective of fiee in his presence, said his son wa: taken away and returned with hi? collar off. Witness asked where the collar was and accused replied, they’ve taken mv braces as well.

When All' Page asked if all the details were necessary to Air Sievwright’s ease, the latter said lie just wanted the Court to appreciate' hr methods adopted by detectives, and said he hoped the Court would make representations to the police as to the proper conduct of investigations.

CAti Blunges into river. HA WEB A, August 29. “That Florence Ale Call uni met liei death on July 9 in the Afanawatu river, as the result of a motor accident, whereby a car in which she was travelling plunged into the river was the verdict at the inquest concluded this afternoon. The evidence showed that deceased was the only passenger in a two scator elosed-in ear, driven by her husband, John McCall uni, a former resident of Wanganui. After crossing the Afanawatu Bridge on the main south road at two o’clock in the afternoon, the ear swerved sliarpl.' and plunged over a steep bank to be submerged in the flooded river a few yards from the roadway. The driver was rescued fifty yards downstream, where he was found a few minute 1 Inter clinging to a tree. Airs AfcCal--1 urn’s body was not discovered untd live weeks later, when it was foum’ after another fresh in the river, aw*u 250 yards from the point of the cal plunge. A mechanic gave evidence that tin. steering gear of the car was in goon order.

The Coroner remarked “the occurrence is one of those inexplicable things which must just rest.

LVBOUBEB KILLED. AUCKLAND, Aug. 29. A labourer, whose name is not definitely known, but is believed to be C. Harding, sustained a fractured skull when working on the old museum site to-day, and died in hospital, fonr hours later. EX-SUB V EYOB-GENEB AL. WELLINGTON, August 30. Obituary.—Air Thomas Humphries, a former Surveyor-General.