NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 October 1917, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

BUTTER OUTPUT.

SETTLEMENT IX SIGHT. WELLINGTON, Oct 16. Mr Okey asked the Premier tonight whether, in view of the present position of those engaged in the butter industry he would inform banks in New Zealand that the Government would be responsible for any payments made regarding this season's output. he Premier replied that the position was very much easier than last week. They had, in fact, almost a definite offer from the Imperial authorities to take over the output of butter and cheese for the present season. It was now only a question of price. He thought that during the present week satisfactory arrangements would be made between the New Zealand Government and the producers and the Imperial authorities. On the other hand, the Premier added, that, while they could not possibly give an official guarantee to banks regarding any advances they might he was quite confident everything would be right, and that arrangements would be made before many days.

GAME IN THE CLOSE SEASON A NATIVE MISAPPREHENSION. TAUMARUNUI Oct 16. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr E Rawson, S.M., Lewis Meads, who failed to appear, William Coffin, and his son James Coffin both Maoris, pleaded "guilty" to being in possession of native game shot in Tongariro National Park. Mr W. H. Tustin appeared for the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society, and Mr J. P. Strang, appeared for the native defendants The prosecution outlined the wholesale destruction of native game by Maoris, half-castes and others. One of the defendant's bags was found to contain 28 pigeons, plucked and wrapped up. Constable Rogers gave evidence as to seeing defendants leave the bush and securing the same. Mr Strang, for the native defendants, urged that they fully believed they had rights under the Treaty of Waitangi to sffoot native pigeons«he declared that "it was difficult to remove the impression from the" native mind as they regarded the treaty as the foundation of all the privileges they enjoyed_ Mr Tustin produced a certified copy of the Solicitor-General's opinion as given to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society to the effect that no person, native or otherwise, had

any right to shoot or take native pigeons out of season or during the close season. The Bench said the cases were very bad and fined Pleads £ls and costs W. Coffin £lO and. costs, and J. Coffin. £5 and costs. His Worship recommended the Society to post notices in conspicuous places RACE TRAINS WANTED. OFFER OF £SOO< FOR MEETING. WELLINGTON, Oct. 16. "The Wellington Racing Club, T understand, has offered £SOO for four race trains on the days of their meeting," said Dr. Newman in the House of Representatives to-night. "Will the Minister accede to their request? I believe the cost of the trains is about £4O or £SO. The club is anxious to know from the Minister whether he will agree." The Hon. W. H. Herrics: This is not a question of money. The question ia one of shortage of men. Dr. Newman: There are plenty of men willing to go on for the day. Mr. Herries: If we do this for one club we will have to do it for the whole Dominion. The offer has not" come to me yet, but when it does I think I will probably have to refuse it.

POSTING CONDENSED MILK. The Postmaster-General (Sir J. Gr. Ward) states that the proper outer covering for tins of tins of condensed milk is a second box of wood, metal, or strong and thick leather. But in order to enable the postage to be kept as low as possible, the Minister will raise no objection to light absorbent material in sufficient quantity being fastened around the tins of condensed milk, by other means, on the supposition that a thick viscous liquid such as condensed milk, if escaping into soft absorbent packing, will probably not leak so far as to cause damage to other packets in the mail. This will certainly mean the prohibition of posting of tins Of milk of the present weight at the 4d rate of postage. But the condensed milk, being of local manufacture, can no doubt be put up, in smaller tins. This" concession will subsist so long as there is no occasion to raise the objection that the package is or so 10% other Postal admihistratj'.:: dco3 nut object.;