DANNEVIRKE ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 17, 14 October 1927, Page 6

DANNEVIRKE ITEMS

Dannevirke. October 11. A curious technical point was raised by Mr. E. Gibbard, counsel for two milk vendors charged at the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr. S. L. P. Free. S.M.. with selling milk which not comply with the standard prescribed by the regulations under the Sale of Foods and Drugs Act, the offence in one case beinggiven as added .water, and in the other as a deficiency of butter-fat. Mr. D. Gibbard quoted from the Act to show that “the officer purchasing or otherwise procuring it (the sample) shall, before or forthwith after procuring it. inform the seller or.his agent selling the article that he intends to have the same analysed by an analyst.” The inspector, counsel contended, did not add the words, “by an analyist,” but merely said the sample was taken for analysis. Mr. Gibbard pointed out that, as this Act was a penal one. the omission was fatal. The Magistrate reserved his decision on the points raised. The Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce recently sent a request to the Minister of Pensions for the appointment in Danneyirke of an officer to deal with applications for pensions or renewals. At its meeting last night a reply was received to the effect that it was not considered necessary that such an officer should be appointed as tho clerk of the Court was available in this connection, and had indeed received special instructions in that respect. Members considered the reply satisfactory. The chamber decided to support a resolution from Canterbury strongly protesting against the proposal of the Minister of Railways that a Ministry of Transport be set up

Dannevirke, October 12. The second road cycle race for the Boomerang Cup took place in bad weather, a thick, drizzling rain having made the roads very muddy. Nevertheless a big crowd turned out to see the race, which proved so trying that although 15 entered and about a dozen started, only six completed the course. The course was the same as for the ten-mile riin, and had to be traversed three times. The results were: A. Peeti (scr.), 1; A. Griffiths (10sec.), 2; W. Grant (115 sec. 3. Time, 53min. 3Ssec. Peeti also made the fastest riding time (50min. 23sec.l. The other riders finishing were: F. Simmonds (150 sec. L. Bell (130 sec. and R. Evernden (150 sec. The wet weather completely spoiled the opening of the Dannevirke Bowling Club’s greens for this season, so far as play was concerned. There was, however, a fair attendance of members. The president performed the opening ceremony, with a congratulatory speech. Letters from the Dannevirke County Council aroused considerable indignation at the meeting of the Hospital Board to-day. They were dated . September 22 and 27 respectively, conveying the following resolutions: —“Seeing that a county representative on the hospital has taken an active part in canvassing ratepayers to protest against the amount of rates struck by tne council, this council ask the Hospital Board what measure •of relief might be expected from the ever-in-creasing levy by them on the County Council, ’ and “the board be requested to furnish a return showing what percentage ■of tees cnarged are collected by the board.” it Was pointed out that, although the above resolutions were passed on September 2, they were not sent forward till after the board’s last meeting, which H;olr place a week later, and it seemed envious that the council did not desire a teply from the board till after the by-election, which was then pending, and.which was now over. Mr. W. A. Lvon objected to the board being used fo'r electioneering purposes. Air. L. Stein considered the council’s criticism an insult* to the board, which worked on the most economical lines. Mr. G J. Buchanan said be was the member referred to; the County Council was only trying to get a slap back at him, but he considered he was quite within his rights in protesting against the council’s increase in the rates. If that body was not satisfied with him as their representative he was q n ’te willing to resign. The board decided to reply endorsing their member’s right to act as he had done, that the maintenance levy this year is actually less than that for the previous year, tnat maintenance lew had each tear showed a steady reduction, that the estimates for the current year had been submitted to the council and had been approved by the Minister of Public Health, and no objection having been made bv the council at that time. It was decided to furnish the information asked for.