PRODUCTION OF BULLION

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20989, 18 October 1933, Page 10

PRODUCTION OF BULLION

An Increase in 1932

THE MINES STATEMENT j , [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] j WELLINGTON, October 17. j A satisfactory increase in the quan-1 tity of bullion produced in New Zea- j land during 1932 is recorded in the '■ mines statement, which was presented j to Parliament to-day. Last year's j production amounted to 729,1460z, • valued at £1,019.814, an increase of j 164,2750z in quantity, and of £302,625 in value as compared with 1931. The quantity produced is the greatest recorded since 1918, and the value the greatest since 1017. The gold content \ of the bullion for 1932 is estimated at; 166,3540z. valued at £974,734, as com- j pared with 129,8610z valued at j £627,451 for 1931. j The value of minerals exported, in- ' eluding kauri gum and of coal used in j the Dominion, amounted to £2,883.211, I as compared with £2,913,793 during j 1931. The total value of such min- j orals exported to the end of 19321 amounted to £181,939,560. The amount of goldfields revenue payable to local bodies during the year ended March 31. 1933. was £15,823. During the same period £30.432 was received by way of duty on gold exported, of which £22,225 was credited to the Consolidated Fund and the balance of £8206 was credited to the local bodies deposit account for the benefit of local bodies in whose districts the gold was won. Licenses granted for mining privileges totalled 1982, as compared with 1276 j for the previous year. Out of this j number 383 were licenses for claims, j authorising the holders to mine for' gold. ! The production of coal during 1932 I was less than in 1931 by 315.734 tons,! and approximately 700.000 tons less I than the record output for 1930. It was | almost as low as that of 1907, when I 3910 men were employed in the indus- j try, whereas 4636 were at work in or ! about coal mines in 1932. In 1931 ; there were 5745 men so employed.

THE LAW OF MASTER AND SERVANT mi.j. aitecti.m; taxi COMPANIES [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON', October 17. The belief that certain taxi-cab companies are in the habit of evading the law of master and servant has led Mr It. G. R. Mason t.Lab., Auckland Suburbs) to frame the Motor Cabs Bill to deal with evils arising from this evasion, lie gave notice in (he House today that he would introduce this bill. The practice he complains of is the making of an arrangement for the hiring of a taxi-cab to the driver, instead of the ordinary contract for employment. The result is to enable the company to evade the ordinary obligations oi employers as to the Arbitration Court awards, workers' compensation for accidents, and liability 1o third parties for negligence of" the ciriver. The bill will seek to prevent such evasion of ordinary employers' obligations by taxi-cab companies." and is introduced on behalf of the Labour party.

CRIMINAL STATISTICS DJXKKASE IX ULKGLAKY AM) DUUNKKNXKSS LFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 17. The annual report of the Police Force of the Dominion, presented to the House of Representatives to-day, shows several satisfactory decreases in the criminal statistics of the country. The number of offences reported to the police during the calendar year 1932 was 35.308, representing a decrease of 1312 on the figures of 1931. The chief increase was under the heading of petty thefts, which increased by (.108. On the other hand, there was a decrease of 01u in complaints of drunkenness, and another decrease of 55 in cases of burglary and housebreaking is regarded as satisfactory in view of the increase of 345 recorded in these offences during the previous year. A steady decrease in convictions for drunkenness is being maintained, and .it is noteworthy that arrests for this offence in 1932 are the lowest since 1878. On March 31 last the number of permanent members of the force of all ranks was 1106, being a decrease of 28 during the year. There were 89 temporary constables appointed, an increase of 66 during the year. The commissioner of police, Mr \V. G. Wohlmann, comments that there has been a marked reduction in the social unrest of the previous year. "The small anti-social element in the community." he says, "is evidently losing its influence with the genuine worker, who has discovered these agitators to be false friends."

CLAIMS FOR WAR PENSIONS

BILL SEEKS TO ALTER ONUS OF PROOF OF ILL-HEALTH [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 17. Notice was given by Mr J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn) to-day of his intention to introduce the War Pensions Amendment Bill. The bill proposes to permit all soldiers who have had a period of service overseas to put in a claim for a war pension on the ground that their active service contributed to their ill-health. At present the onus of proof is on the soldier. Mr Lee's object is to place the onus of disproof on the Government. The clauses will operate without a lime limit. It is stated that thousands of soldiers who have a record of service, but no record of wounds or disability, are debarred by the time limit and Iho absence of evidence from obtaining pensions, notwithstanding the fact that their service must have undermined their health.

DAIRY REGULATIONS CABINET TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION (MESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.') WELLINGTON, October 17. Tim Cabinet will introduce legislation this session to give full legal force to the present dairy regulations, which prohibit suppliers changing from one factory to another during any one season.