NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3557, 20 August 1920, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

MEASLES IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, August 17. Measles are prevalent in the city and suburbs. Some schools have been closed, and others are to be closed. SUDDEN DEATH. DUNEDIN, August 19. Walter Watson Falconer, agffd 22, was found dead at Owaka yesterday, it is supposed from heart disease. FOUND DROWNED. GISBORNE, August 19. The body of Arthur Gordon Gunn, a well-known business man, was found in the Waimata River 'this afternoon. SLANDER ACTION WITHDRAWN. A COMPLETE APOLOGY. SETTLEMENT OUT OF COURT.

WELLINGTON, August 19.

The case of Arthur Leigh Hunt (late general manager of he N.Z. Farmers' Co-operative Distribution Co., Ltd.) versus Jtohn Joseph Bryce "of Hinau (now chairman of'ihe company), claiming £3OOO damages for alleged slander, has fceen settled. In April last Sir Jas. Wilson (chairman of the and H. J. Richards, John Balsillie and"; Thos. Moss (directors of the company), together with Mr. Hunt (general manager), vacated their respective positions a fact which, caused considerable sul"rise in business circles, particularly as all except; Mr. Moss had been connected with the company since its inception 17 years ago. Last year the company handled 26,000 bales of wool had a turnover of £1,048,000, and made a profit of £14,000. s When the case was called in the Supreme Court to-day Sir John Findlay (counsel ,¥or the company) iannounced that the case had been settled. He had been instructed by the defendant to .say he withdrew any imputation made either on the personal character or the general business competency of Mr. Hunt, and expressed his regret, for having made statements, which were regarded as injurious to Mr. Hunt's reputation and character. The defendent wished him to say he never had it in his mind to impute misconduct, to Mr. Hunt, or inefficiency while he acted as manager for 'the company, but, as he recognised statements made by him might lend themselves to that interpretation, he absolutely withdrew any imputation of the kind. The defedant would, pay £6OO towards costs and expenses. The case" was accordingly withdrawn.

ADULTERATED MILK. ~ DANNEVLRKE. This Day. Three Dannevirke milk -vendors ap> peared before the Magistrate to-dav, charged with offering for saSe milk containing a greater percentage of water than allowed by law. For two of *he prosecutions it wag shown that th*

water got into the milk through ao fault of the ventfurs, ami fines o£ £5 and costs were inflicted in each case'. Studer, the other defendant, pleaded that he had been forced, into the farm he occupied against his will, and could not make h pay without indulging in watering. He was fined £25 for adulterating- mi'ik, and £5 for selling same.

BOILERMAKER INJURED. AUCKLAND, August 19. Arthur Wilshire, a boile.rmaker, aged 53, fell thirty feet down the hold of a steamer whiLe using an electrical drill. He was removed to the hospital with a skull. JOURNALISTS' DISPUTE SETTLED CHEISTCHURCH, August 19. The Conciliation Councii to-day heard a dispute of the Christchurch Journalists' Union in regard to writers engaged on. the New Zealand Referee and Sporting Calendar, the owners of which are the Chris.church Press Company. ' A complete settlement was arrived at on all points. Wages fixed are:—Superior and sporting writing, £7 10; senior racing wilting £7; senior trotting writing £7; general sporting writing", £5; all plus 10/- bonus. Hours; of work were fixed at not more than twelve per day. The award operates immediately and expires on the same date" as the Canterbury Journalists' Award.

SUPREME COUET. CHEISTCHUECH, August 19. At the Supreme Court a charge of (manslaughter against Bobert Bruce Forsyth, arising out of a collision ber •tween a motor-car and a tram cat on May 22nd, as the result of- which William Arthur Griffin,-a passenger in the motor-car, lost his life, was concluded. The jury brought in a verdict of not guilty and the prisoner was discharged. William Cook was acquitted on a charge of having, indecently assaulted a little girl. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 19. The Supreme Court continued to-day before Mr. Justice Salmon d. Herbert William Snow, aged 21, with two previous convictions for theft,, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour on a charge of theft of a gold chain at Hawera.

A decree nisi was granted in ; the Undefended divorce petition of Jane Craig v. Jag. Craig, on the grounds of desertion and' failure to "maintain.

LIQUOR ON SUNDAYS. WOODVILLE, August 19. Mr. S, L. Free, S.M., gave decision £o-day in a case. Police v. Herbert Parker, licensee of the Masonic Hotel, Wood villi e. for selling liquor o travellers on Sunday. June (sth. Mr. Free holds that Section 10 of the Sale of Liquor Restriction Act 1917. which provides for the selling of liquor with meals up to 8 p.m. does not apply to Sundays. Defendant was fined £1 and costs seven shillings.

' *NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE. \ WELLINGTON, This day. The Producers' Committee » set Up in May at which meat export matters formed the principal subject for discussion, had a further meeting and went fully into the matters connected with the shipping of frozen meat and all other produce. Various points arising from the wool conference held in phe morning will be dealt with at a further meeting to be called about two "weeks hence, when further information from the producers' standpoint will be available. The marked improvement in the outlook for frozen meat export was commented on, and while the necessity for neat and careful management in connection with wool was fully realised. |a hopeful feeling was expressed.

EXPULSION OF LABOUR LEADERS. • MESSAGE TO N.Z. LABOUR PARTY WELLINGTON, Aug. 19. Mr Adamson. chairman of the United Labour.Conference, London, cables to the New Zealand Labour Party as follows:' The greatest and mlost united conference of the British Trade Union and Labour movement meeting in London to-day hailed with satisfaction the Russian Government's declaration in favour of Complete Polish independence, and realising the gravity of the internatioal situation pledged itself to resist every militarv and naval intervention against the Soviet Government, instructed the ©otmcij of Action to continue until they have secured (If alss ! olute guarantee that the armed forces of Great Britain should not be used to support Poland, Wrangel or any other military or naval effort againstA;he Soviet. Government; (2) the withdrawal Of all ►British naval forces 'operating directly or indirectly as a blockading influence against Russia; (3) recognition

of the Sovfet Government, aud the establishment of unrestricted trading and commercial relationship with Great Britain

• The conference refused to associate itself with any alliance between Great Britain and France or any icther country committing us to give any support to Wrangel or Poland, or supPly munitions or war materials for any attack upon Russia. The conference authorised the Council to call any and every form of withdrawal of labour when circumstances may rej quire to give effect to the policy and .called upon every trade union, 'official executive committee, local council and membership generally to act swiftly, loyally and courageously to sweep away secret diplomacy and assure that the foreign policy of Great Britain shall be i n . accordance with the desires of the peoples for putting an end to war and intermediate threats of war. »

The following reply has been sent to Mr Adamson, M.P.: New Zealand Labour unanimously supports the magnificent stand of the British workers against militarist and capitalists' attacks on the Russian Republic, and congratulates the organised Labour movement of Great Britain on its glorious achievement for internationalism and peace. We consider your attitude the greatest event in the history of Bjjitish Labour: We . are whole-heartedly with you. (Signed) P. Fraser, President of the N.Z. Labour Party, F R. Cooke, vice-presi den;t M. Ayrton, secretary and treasurer; H Holland (chairman of Parliamentary Labour Party).