DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1930, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association,

AUCKLAND, July 17

Critics of the unemployment levy say it is an unfair way of apportioning the burden. Doctor Belshaw, Varsity Professor of Economies, declared objections to the levy were not great, because the amount was small/ The danger was that it might 'lpe a precedent' for further extension. A poll tax was a bad form of taxation. I MILITARY TRAINING. AUCKLAND, July 17. Commenting on the suspending of military training, a prominent artillery officer said such extreme measures were regrettable. Once compulsory, training went off the Statute look, it was gone for ever. It had been difficult enough to put it on, and he considers it could never be enforced again. ALLEGED OIL SWINDLING. WELLINGTON, July 17.The case against Pimentel, alleging oil swindling, was continued to-day. Evidence, was given by Arthur Bvwnters, storeman for Adams and Blyth, who said his firm used to store oil for Mecca Oil Coy., the oil generally coming in one day and going out the next. A message boy employed by Pimentel gave evidence of having been instructed to mix oils of different grades, remove tlie marks from the drums and label the drums “Meca” on arrival, the original marks being scraped off. In regard to fifteen drums of Standard oil which came direct from the ship, he painted all Standard marks off and stencilled Mecca on with the number of the oil.

POWER BOARDS CONFER

WELLINGTON, July 17^

The Power Boards Conference opened to-day. The President, Mr Nash, M.P, in extending a welcome to Hon Taverner, Minister of Public W or ks, and Hon Smith, Minister of Labour, remarked on the absence ,of legislation for two years, saying the remits carried at the annual conference were of the utmost .importance, and hoping a move would be. made to let them have an amendment to the act during the present session. Mr Toogood, representing the Electrical Supplies Engineers’ Association, stressed the necessity for the setting up of a properly constituted Approval Board. Air Taverner, in an address, recognised the importance of works to the Dominion, and promised, to give complete consideration to any remit placed before him. He. suggested that although legislative progress or association might be slow, it would be sure, and its activities would not necessarily suffer because the amendments might be a little delayed.

DWELLING DESTROYED BY FIRE.

WANGANUI, July 17

A dwelling of five rooms, owned by ,T. Rutherford, of Papanui, together with the contents, were totally destroyed by fire at 5.30 this morning. The occupants made a hurried escape in their night attire. The insurances are £SOO on the. building and £250 on the furniture, in the Northern Office.