DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association STATEMENT REFUTED. WAITOMO LABOUR PARTY’S , RESOLUTION.

TE KUITI, Sept. 7. At a meeting of the Wnitomo Labour Party, held on Thursday night, tlio following resolution was adopted: “That this' meeting of the Wnitomo Labour Party entirely dissociates itself from the statement contained,in the Press Association message alleged to have been sent hy its secretary to the London 'Daily Herald.’ While agreeing that there is much unemployment in NoW Zealand, it is not correct that many are dying of starvation. It is the opinion of this meeting that the alleged statement must have been misconstrued from a private letter written bv tliq late secretary to the ‘Herald’ without the sanction or knowledge of the Wnitomo branch of the Labour Party of New Zealand.”

SHORT-WEIGHT COAL, DUNEDIN, Sept. 7. A easo involving short weight coal was hoard in the City Police Court today, when Joseph Mitchell was charged with conveying three sacks of coal 011 a vehicle, such coal having been found to he 731 b short of the weight, shown on the ticket relating thereto. The Magistrate, Mr IT. -W. Bundle, iii fining defendant £7 and costs, said the employer was responsible for the acts of himself and his servants. It was not a. case for a nominal penalty as negligence had beeiv shown.

A COID ENT AT FIRE. AUCKLAND, Sept. 7. •Fire, attended h.v an unfortunate accident, occurred in tlio Council Depot. Otahuiiu, this evening. The borough foreman, W. Hughes, who lives nearby, was proceeding home past the depot when he saw a light in tlio main building. 'On investigating lie found that a quantity of papers and borough records in a store room upstairs were on fire. 'After giving the alarm Hughes coupled a lead of hose and endeavoured to extinguish the. flames. Just as the Brigade arrived Hughes fell from a ladder about ten feet to the ground, and was rendered unconscious. He was found to he suffering from concussion of the brain, severe bruises on the face, and a sprained ankle. Little damage was done by the fire. COAL OUTPUT. A RECORD YEAR, WELLINGTON, Sept. 7. The mines statement for 1927 states that the coal production in the Dominion was a record, the total output for all kinds being 0G,00f),342 tons. This is said to be most gratifying and it is to some extent attributable to the greater quantity used by the railways in place of imported coal. The gold production shows a slight dccreaso though from the number of claims taken up last year it appears that great interest is still taken in goldmining. 'The total value of the metals obtained was £3,515,119,

The total val.ue of the minerals exported to the end of last year amounts to £166,238,654. In the metalliferous mines, at which 1733 men were ordinarily employed, there was no fatal accident and only one serious accident. Only ono person was killed and five seriously injured in the stone quarries in which 2341 men were engaged. In coal mines, where 5374 men are ordinarily employed, ten were killed and 27 seriously injured. During the year £13,860 was expended in subsidies for prospecting. There was paid out in connection with minors’ phthisis £45,090. The total paid in pensions since the inception of the Act is £346,274. The net output of the Government mines was—Liverpool Mine, 137,180 toils; and from the James Mine, 3/,142 tons.’ The net. profit' amounted to £2l 806. This is accounted for largely owing to the fact that very little time was lost on account of strikes. The Rimu Elat dredge turned over 1,761,461 cubic yards for a return of 13,070 ounces of gold valued at £53.128.

TRAM BUSS AWAY. DUNEDIN, Sept. 8. Breaking a wav 75 yards up a steep hill in the Roslyn Valley, a City-hound Corporation cable car this morning ran hack at a high speed-, and when the brakes finally held it at a curve tbe car jumped tbe rails, turning slightly on one-side, tbe footboard preventing its complete capsize. Four passengers were in tbe ear. Only one was injured, Miss Mildred Walker, who was taken to the hospital with head injuries, which are not considered serious.

MAORI KILLED ON RAILWAY. HAMILTON, Sept. 9.

All elderly Maori, named Walter George, u resident of Tnupiri, was killed by a train at Tanpiri last evening. H e was walking along the line, and although his attention was. drawn to the approaching train, lie took no notice. Death was instantaneous.

WELLINGTON’S HEAVY LOSS. WELLINGTON, September 9. The Wellington Musical Competitions again show a loss, this time ol over £20(1, although the entries wen--2847. The loss for the past three years has a total of £7OO. ~l,r G. A. Troup. Mayor, and the Patron of the Society, attributed tin loss to the radio broadcasting. People would not come out to. the concert* preferring to listen in. Ibe annual meeting will discuss whether tbe Competitions ought to be continued.