DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1918, Page 7

DOMINION NEWS.

THE GERMAN COLONIES. By Telegraph.—'Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 18. Tlie Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce carried a motion to-day, endorsing the policy indicated by the Premier in regard to the disposal of the German colonies in the Pacific. . PROFESSOR BEDFORD'S DEATH. Wanganui, Feb. 18. A very large audience at the Opera House to-niglit, en tuc occasion of a lecture by Mr. Trueblood, passed a vote expressing regret at Professor Bedford's death, and conveying condolences to the widow. CLOSINGOF FLAX MILLS. Wellington, Feb. 18. The chairman of the National Efficiency Board (Mr. W. Ferguson), replying to a communication from the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce, regarding the report that the board proposed that flaxmills should be closed in order to liberate labor for harvesting, says there has been no proposal in that direction, and assuring the chamber that the sentiment contained in its letter, urging that before action is taken it would be the first to hear all parties interested, would meet with the entire approval of the board. NIEUE COMMISSIONER Wellington, Feb. 18. Cabinet to-day appointed Mr. Guy Morris resident commissioner at Niue. Mr. Morris served wit.li the Ne W Zealand Forces in France, and returned wounded. HOWARD ELLIOTT ON THE WARPATH. Napier, Last Night. Howard Elliott held a largely-attended meeting at the Theatre Royal to-night. A strong force of police was present, and the meeting, admission to which was bv ticket, was a quiet one. A branch of the Protestant Poitical Association was formed.- A big crowd waited outside ths theatre, but. the Rev. Elliott left unnoticed by a side entrance. The only disturbance was a chemical "bomb," which was broken in the crowd outside. LOCALITY WHERE MINE FOUND. Wellington, Feb. 19. The message on Sunday reporting the discovery of another mine should have stated the locality as off Cape Farewell, not Cook Strait. ANTI-SHOUTING REGULATIONS. Wellington, Feb 1!). A deputation o' the hotel workers' union waited on the Attorney-Goner o ' in reference to the anti-shouting regulations as affecting bar tenders. The regulations, it was pointed out, carried a maximum penalty of £IOO and prevented subsequent employment on licensed premises- The regulations als'i threw the onus of proof on defendant. Tliey asked that the maximum penalty be reduced to £lO and the. disqualification provision be struck out. Sir Francis Bell said he could only promise that he would consider the matter, and if satisfied there was cause for tile statement that the regulations were unduly harsh he would bring the matter before Cabinet with a recommendation for mitigation. CHILDREN'S TEETH. '' Wellington, Feb- 19. In reply to a deputation from Palmerston North in respect to dental treatment of children in I'almeraton North, the Minister of Public Health said he had a special vote on the estimates dealing with dental conditions, and out of that ho was prepared to allot. £2OO to Palmerston North hospital district, to be given as a subsidy of £1 for every 10s spent by the board. This would enable the board to treat at least 1000 children. DANGEROUS WRECKAGE. Gisborne, Feb. 19. The collector of customs advises vessels that the master of the steamer Mako sighted wreckage five miles north of Gable End foreland, two and a half miles oIY the land on Sunday. Tlie wreckage is about 30 feet long, like the top side of a wooden vessel, and is dangerous to navigation-