NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 41, 7 February 1908, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS

LABOR AND SOCIALISTS. Per Press Association. Wellington, Thursday. Representatives of forty labor and trades unions, two brandies of the Socialist Party, the Single-tax League, Political Labor League, the Fabian Society, and the Trades and Labor Council met in conference. A long discussion took place as to the objective of the combined committee. Ultimately it was decided to aim at "nationalisation of the means of production, distribution, ami exchange." It was also resolved that

the committee should toke united notion to obtain return of Parliamentary can- . didates pledged to form district" labor ] I unions and to abstain from identifying themselves with either the. Government or the Opposition Party. It hud already been decided that candidates must pledge themselves to support the commit toe's platform and, if elected, toy hand in their resignations if they de, parted from its planks while in Parliament. SALVATION AKMY COMPETITION IN I'ISIIING TKADE. Auckland, Thursday. When the .Salvation Army autliori* ties established u home for inebriates j at Hell's Island, it was considered thai one source of revenue might be the sale of lish caught by the inmates. Local lishernicn are taking exception to this, and the matter was mentioned at a meeting of the Trades and Labor Council. The Council resolved to pro*. test against the Army being allowydio compete on equal terms with private employers. HEAVY SEAS.

Wellington, Thursday. During the voyage of the Moeraki from Sydney to Wellington, extremely rough weather was experienced. On Monday heavy se is broke on board the vessel, carrying away part of the deck cargo. A passenger named Grant was thrown on the deck and broke bis arm, besides receiving injuries to his head. ALLEGED ARSON. Napier, Thursday. Martin Johnson was committed for trial on a charge of arson arising out of the recent Hastings fire. Bail was allowed on accused's bond of £IOO, and I one surety of £2O.

FAILURE OF WATER SUPPLY. Masterton, Thursday. The water pressure here was suddenly found to be almost nil, and the reservoir was found to be practically empty. This was caused by the accumulation of refuse at the intake. While the reservoir is filling again, steam will be kept up on the fire engine and other precautions taken. The waste is serious at present. The supply provides 75 gallons per head, and the consumption averages 300 gallons. The pressure is supposed to be 951b, but is usually not half that.

FEILDING RAM FAIR. Feilding, Last Night. At the Feilding ram fair to-day, thirteen hundred rams were entered, mostly Romneys. Prices declined, owing to the bad season, but good stuff sold well. The highest price of the day was 32>/o guineas for a Lincoln bred by Mr. Ray< nor, of Masterton. The _ highest, price for Roinneys was 10 guineas for two bred by Mr. Allen, of the Wairarapa. SYDNEY GRAPES. Wellington, Last Night. The Moeraki, from Sydney, brought 308 cases of grapes. Only a small proportion were handled to-dny. The quality was about the same as that of last week's shipment. Those sold at auction this afternoon brought from Od to 8d per pound. FIRES. Nelson, Last Nig'nt. A house at Brightwater, owned and occupied by 11. G. Park, was destroyed by fire this morning. The building was insured for £175 in the Norwich Union office, and there was also a small policy on the furniture. THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON. Nelson, Last Night, Four vessels of the Australasian Squadron—the Challenger, Pioneer, Pegasus, and Pyramus—are at present in Nelson, having had a few days gunnery : practice in the bay. The Challenger leaves to-morrow morning for Hobart. VITAL STATISTICS. Wellington, Last Night, The birth-rate for the Dominion in 1007 was 27.31 per 1000 of the menu population, and the death-rate 10.05, as against 27.08 and f1.31 respectively in 1006. The deaths in 1007 (10,067) were greater than the number registered in 1900 (8339) by 1728, and the rate per

1000 rose from 0.31 to 10.95. 'Die number of marriages (excluding those contracted between Maoris) solemnised in 1007 is estimated at 8170, giving a rate of 8.89 per 1000 of the mean population, against 7592 and 8.45, the actual number and rate in 1906. FIRE BRIGADES ACT. Wellington, Last Night. The Government proposes to call for applications at once for the position of fire inspector under the Fire Brigade! Ace of last session. The appointment will 1» made as soon as the applications have been sent in. The Hon. Dr. Find- - lay says the provisions of the Statute have been taken advantage of very c widely, and it seems as if all the local ' bodies qualified to adopt the Act will ' adopt it. ,■;! ,Ij|

GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING. Wellington, Last Night. The Government has decided to appoint au officer whose duty it will be, acting, of course, under one of the Ministers, to deal with the question of Government advertising. In explanation of this decision, the Hon. Dr. Findlay, Attorney-General, said to-day:—"The Government believes that considering the large sum which is being spent by this country in advertising, that the) advertising should be systematically controlled by some Department, and should proceed upon defined and regular lines. With that view, the Government has decided to place under the control of one of the existing Departments of the Public Service the Government advertising of the Dominion, It is hoped that in this way considerable economy! will be effectedj and any possible dissatisfaction with the existing system be obviated."

AN INTERESTING IMMIGRANT. Wellington, Last Night. An interesting addition was made to the Asiatic alien population to-day when a little Chinese girl arrived from Sydney in charge of a lady missionary, who is visiting New Zealand on furlough. The. girl was saved from a violent death by the missionary, who has kept her ever since, and intends training her as a lady doctor for work among her own women in China. She is not remaining in New Zealand, but an undertaking* has been entered into to pay the polltax of £IOO should she fail to leave the Dominion. As a matter of fact the

girl will accompany her guardian when she returns to the East, TRADE WITH CANADA. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. J. Graham Gow returned to-day | from Canada, and went South to-night. About sixteen months ago Mr. Gow departed for Canada to enquire about the prospects of increasing the trade- he tween that Dominion and New Zealand. From time to time he has sent reports] about the progress of his conferences with business men, but so far it has not boon possible to glean anything very definite about the outlook for New Zealand produce in Canada. Mr. Gow prefers to say nothing till his reports have gone before the Minister for Industries [ (Sir Joseph Ward). 110ER WAR PENSIONERS. Wellington, Last Night. There is published in to-night's Gazette a despatch from Lord Elgin stating that the limit of time within which the death from war service in South Africa of an oflicor, warrant officer, or soldier

I must occur in order that his family may ho eligible for pension, etc.. from Army funds has lieen extended from two to seven years from the dale of removal from duty for wounds, injuries, or disease. Tn connection with the investigation of any fresh claims- to pension which may arise under the amended rule. ! it is of importance that there should he a continuous liistory of disease clearly connecting the man's death with his war service. The Army Council ask that the evidence on which' any further pensions may he granted may he forwarded j for their information when the award j of pension is submitted for confirmation.