DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1922, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

TAX ON COAL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Westport, Last Night. At a representative public meeting to-night a strong protest was made against the Government’s imposition of a tax of 9d .per ton on coal, and it was resolved: “That this public meeting of citizens of Westport emphatically protests against the action of the Government in imposing a wharfage rate of 9<l per ton on coal imported from Westport, in order that the charges at Westport may be the same as at Greymouth; the ports of Grey mouth and Westport are on entirely different footings.” THEFT ADMITTED. Auckland, Last Night. The theft of £47 18s 9d and a quantity of tram tickets from the offices of the National Electrical Engineering Co. laat October, was admitted at the Police Court by Thomas Edward McMahon, 23. Evidence was given that three cash boxes were rifled one night after some of the staff had been working late. Accused had been in the company’s employment for a year, until a month before the theft. Accused, who was arrested at Te Awamutu on other charges, was committed for sentence at Hamilton. VENEREAL DISEASES. Wellington, June 28. The Minister of Public Health proposes to act on the recommendation of the Board of Health to set up a special committee to collate data and figures as to the prevalence o-f venereal diseases in New Zealand; as to whether there is an undue proportion of cases in New Zealand; as to the cause and as- to the proper remedy. RUSSIAN FAMINE RELIEF. Christchurch, June 28. Tn response to a cablegram sent to Lord Weardale regarding the present position of the Russian famine, Mr. Rose, chairman of the local fund committee, has received the following reply: “I beg you to endeavor to keep the ■ fund open. We are feeding 300,000 children. Sir Benjamin Robertson states that we must keep this going, even if the harvest is good in September.” HINDUS TN RESTAURANTS. Christchurch, June 28. Dendiker, a young Hindu hawker, proceeded in the Magistrate’s Court against Mrs. DaVies, jfroprietress of the Rendezvous Restaurant, on a charge of assault. It was stated that complainant. accompanied by a fellow countryman and two others, visited the restaurant for a meal, but, before securing a seat, were ordered to leave by | Mrs. Davies, who said, “Get out, you i Indians.” He left peacably. He had ! been in New Zealand three years and j was in the habit of visiting the restaurant before Mrs. Davies took charge. He denied that he resisted the waiter, also that he took part in a fight in front of the restaurant. Mrs. Davies denied the assault. She said she did not want colored men at the restaurant, because customers objected and the girls objected to serving them. The charge was dismissed. Dendiker may appeal.