INLAND TELEGRAMS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 162, 13 March 1915, Page 3

INLAND TELEGRAMS

THEFT OF LETTERS, POSTAL EMPLOYEE'S LAPSE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. ASH BURTON, This Day. At the Police Court to-day, George Reginald James, a youth of 18 years of a(ge, and a former employee of the Post Office, was charged with having beitwe'en February and March, 1913, at Ashburton, contrary to his duty, opened four letters, and with having on 'various dajteip >in February, and March, 1913, at Ashburton, secreted 131 postal packets. In evidence it was stated that the letters were discovered beneath the floor of the boards of an old building in which accused formerly resided,and which is now being demolished.

James pleaded guilty, and was committed to appear at the Supreme Court at Timaru on March 23. Bail was allowed.

OUR EXPORTS. LAST WEEK'S RETURNS. WELLINGTON, This Day. The exports of New Zealand products during the week endd March 9 were valued as follows: — £ Butter 61,334 Cheese 97,431 Frozen lamb 133,444 Frozen mutton 7:2,347 Frozen be'eL etc 52,781 Gold 21,235 Grain and pulse • 4,132 Hides and skins 48,611 Kauri gum 2,661 Flax and tow 1,046 Tallow 43,614 Timber .'#344 Wool 410,588

THE PROPOSED WAR TAX. CHRISTCHURCH, March 11. Mr. B. Laurenson, president of the Canterbury Industrial Association, interviewed in regard to the war tax proposed by Mr. Beauchamp, said lie did not think it fair, and it would be impossible in the majority of eases foi importers to pass the tax on, so i( would mean one per cent, less in profit. The tax would not be so unfair to the exporters, but still it would not be reasonable. Exporters might have to face an exceedingly heavy loss on goods exported. Such a tax would not touch many large institutions. The fairest tax would be a graduated one on incomes. . __ THE PRICE OF BREAD. DEMAND PALLING OFF. WELLINGTON, This Day. Referring to a reported decrease of 20 per cent, in the demand: for bread at Cliristchurch, Mr A. Raven, president of the Wellington Master Bakers' Association, stated that the decrease locally was about 5 per cent. The ii-:>3 in price of bread was always accompanied by lesser demand, which generally lasted only a wiaek or two. People for a while wer'a more economical, but the demand returned to normal whan they grew accustomed to the price. From January to March bread sales were always lower than at-other times of th'a year on account of the fruit season. Further inrrease in price was net thought of but a'l depende&J on tba cost of flour. I

AUCKLAND SUPREME COURT. A BURGLAR SENTENCED. AUCKLAND, This Day. At the Auckland Supreme Court, George Reynold Bennett, 55 years of e(ie, on five charges of breaking and entering and false pretences, was sentenced to five years' hard labour. TWO YEARS FOR EMBEZZLEMENT. AUCKLAND, This Day. William. Charles Hutehings appeared for sentence on several charges of embezzlement, to which he had pleaded guilty. The Crown Prosecutor stated that accused was in a responsible position in the Sun Insurance Company, and in four years he had embezzled £1,700. After making all allowances for known extravagance there wa s a sum of £3OO still unaccounted for.

Mr Justice Stringer said the prisoner had already suffered the (greatest punishment he could have, but there was his duty to the ieneral public, and punishment must be exemplary, as well as punitive. Accused had systematically robbed his employers and concealed his frauds by falsification of his books. He was sentenced to two years' hard labour.