DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1931, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

CRITICAL POSITION.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

GISBORNE, January 7

A critical position is developing at tile camps along the railway route between Gisborne and Wnikokopu, where practically all the men returned from their holidays Imping to recommence work. A difficulty lias arisen over the catering arrangements, as the caterers are not prepared to assume further commitments in addition to those already accumulated. Many men owe money to the cookhouse managers, and the latter refuse to reopen the cookhouses without some guarantee for payment of past meals as well as for immediate requirements. The managers are nominated by the union, and it is understood the Department retimes to give the guarantee required. It is reported that 50 men in the Tikiwliata camp are without food, pending the reopening of the cookhouse, and conditions in other camps (though not so had) are serious. The possibility of disorder is not remote, and the situation of the caterers is difficult. Day wages men are now engaged clearing lip and stacking plant prior to their dismissal within a day or two, while co-operative contractors today received six days’ notice (ns required by the award) of the termination of their contracts.

THEFT CHARGES

HASTINGS, January 7

Oliver William Alexander Russell, aged 20, before J.P’s this morning pleaded guilty to the conversion of a car, conservion of a bicycle, theft* of ft travelling rug, and theft of n bathing costume. He was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment on the first charge, fourteen days on the second, and seven days on each of the theft charges. The sentences are to be concurrent. Accused was further charged with breaking and entering the house of R. Tewharo and stealing a suit of clothes. On police application a remand for a week was granted.

MOTOR FATALITY

DUNEDIN, January 7,

Admitted to the hospital last night, Thomas William Swell, 23. single, who was found unconscious on the Main South Road at Fairfield, with his motor cycle lying nenrhv. failed to regain consciousness, dying at 6.50 this morning. Deceased sustained severe head injuries and the position of the machine suggested he had been thrown heavily.

COMMUNIST SENTENCED

CHRISTCHURCH, January 7. William Rennie, late secretary of the Communist Party in Christchurch, aged 33 years, was sentenced by Magistrate Lowry to-day to one month with hard labour for the theft of £2 2s Gd, the property of tbo Unemployed Workers Movement. Evidence showed that Rennie took charge of the moneys subscribed for the help of dependents of other Communists gaoled here last month for various offences. Rennie went out in a taxi to pay the sums over nnd paid for the taxi out of the amount in his charge. Ho had a long list of previous convictions.

BURGLARIES

EL TEAM, Ja nua ry 7

Three Eltha.ni shops were burglariously entered early this morning and within half an hour of the commission of th o offence the arrest of a suspect, a middle aged man, a stranger, named Peter Tait Aitkin McLusky was made by the local police. The premises entered were Ward’s drapers, Morton’s drapers, Mann a wine and spirit merchant. Twenty four shillings was taken from Ward's and several bottles of liquor from Mann's,

INFORMATION DISMISSED. GISBORNE, January 7

Arising out of a raid on a laundry premises on Christmas night, one Chinese was charged at the police court with keeping a common gaming house and 16 others of being found in a gaming house. The evidence disclosed that the Chinese had been playing dominoes and mahjong for money, but the Magistrate held these games did not come within the scope of the Section of the Gaming Act in question and the informations were dismissed.