TELEGRAMS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 102, 2 May 1911, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

FARMERS' PARTY. POLITICAL ACTION BEFORE NEXT ELECTION. Cbx tblzgbaph— special 10 ihd rosx.] AUCKLAND, This Day. A farmers' party in the House of Representatives is the aim of the Auckland Provincial Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, and the matter of having things in order to promote that end at the next general election will probably be discussed at the coming provincial conference. In the course of the visit here of Mr. C. H. Ensor, of Canterbury, treasurer of the Farmers' Political Protection Federation it has become apparent that there is a difference between the federation and the Auckland farmers in the matter of policy. The federation thinks that it is not politic to run a farmers' party, while the Auckland Farmers' Union is kight out for suph a party. Again, the latter includes in its platform what is known as the fifth plank. "That taxation through the Custom* shall be for revenue purposes only, and not for protection purposes." This plank has been dropped from the federation^ platform, ana therein lies the opportunity for compromise between the Auckland Union and the Political Federation. It is understood that "Mr. Enspr will go south with a proposal that if the federation will go for an independent farmers' party in Parliament, the Auckland Union will subscribe to the federation's policy, and meantime give way on the matter of the fifth plank. AGGREGATION OF HOLDINGS. EFFECT ON CENSUS BETURNS. [>Z TZLBGRAPH— SPECIAL TO TBS POST.} FEILDING, This. Day. The question is being asked why Feilding and its adjoining counties show up up badly in the matter of population in the census returns. • So far as this town is concerned there are no industries to keep the growing youth at home. The explanation of the lose of people in the country districts is'that very one-^ aggregation of holdings, which has been going on steadily and quietly during recent years. This is particularly noticeable along the Kiwitea, uj) to and beyond Kimborton even to Apiti, thirty miles* back from Feilding. After the first settlers had got through their initial work in clearing the land, more fortunate neighbours made too tempting offer*. In this way family after family has been going over the border into some other district. Empty houses dotted all over the country testify to this special aspect of the depopulation problem. The King Country and the Waikato have won many of our early settlers, who vrere not only able to -sell here to advantage but were able to buy land ' up there to advantage. EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. CEITIOISH BY ME. MASSEY. [BZ T«UCGBAPH— SPECIAL 10 XHB FOST.] AUCKLAND, This Day. Mr. W. F. Massey, in speaking at Clevedon on Saturday evening, said that the country was not getting value for the thousands of pounds spent on the so-called experimental farms. 'Instead of so much monew being spent on experimental farms, he would like to see more institution* set tip on the lines of the Lincoln Agricultural College, where young men acquired a thoroughly sound agricultural education. The only objection to that college Was that the fees were beyond the means of the ordinary settler. The money spent on experimental farms would be better expended on the establishment of institutions like Lincoln College, with a provision for the education being given at smaller expense to the young men in the way of fees. NOISY TRAMS. AUCKLAND COMPANY AND TflE DEED OF DELEGATION. (•X XC&KJBAPX—IPICIAZ. XO XHB POIT.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The noise made by tramcars is attracting the attention of a number of Queenstreet business men, who consider that it causes them material loss, and a movement is being set on foot for the purpose of urging the City Council to carry out a more rigid enforcement of the deed of delegation, *rhich. is considered to have been broken in Several rspects. For the purpose of furthering the agitation a Vigilance Committee is being formed, and in all probability counsel will be employed. It is believed that fully a hundred business men will be willing to subscribe a guinea, each towards the expenses thereby incurred. The chief complaint is that between the hours of 4 and 6 p.m. the cars fill up at Customs-street and traverse Queen-street at a^ high speed, making such a noise that it is practically impossible to do business. 11 is considered that the under-gear of many cars needs replacement, and that the Tramway Company could be forced' to nlake the alteration if the deed of delegation were properly enforced. * ' [PBESS ASSOCIATION.] THE KNYVETT TRIAL. COURT MUST SIT IN WELLINGTON. AUCKLAND, Ist May. Jlr. J. S. Dickson, chairman of the Knyvett Defence Committee, this afternoon received the following telegram from the Adjutant-General, Wellington : — "General Officer Commanding regrets that your request for court-martial to sit in Auckland instead of Wellington cannot to acceded to. Expense of a limited number of witnesses "relevant, to the charge, or to character, will be paid to and from Auckland." Mr. Dickson remarked that the committee was not satisfied with the nature of the reply from headquarters, and will continue to agitate ir favour of the trial being conducted in Auckland. ALLEGED FORGERY AND CONSPIRACY. AUCKLAND.- Ist May. On Saturday a clerk of the Bank of New Zealand named Kiwi Wilkinson was arrested by Detective Hollis on a charge of forging a cheque for £135, and conspiring with another person to defraud the Bank of $ew Zealand of that amount. The second party to the alleged conspiracj', William Alexander Boyd, was arrested this morning. The alleged attempt to obtain the £135 was not successful, as the bank became sus 'picious, although the forgery was an excellent one, the name forged being T. S. Culling, merchant, Remuera. Both accused have been charged and remanded to Friday, bail being allowed in the sum of £50. BANKRUPT COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. GISBORNE, Ist May. In the M 'Murray bankruptcy case the Deputy-Official Assignee deposed that accused had been arrested under the absconding clause of the Act. A con-

siderable number of debts had been proved in the estate, and a proof from Napier showed debts amounting to £192. There were ateo proofs from Nelson showing debts amounting to £58, while those at Gisborne totalled £276, making a gross total of £527. Accused was trading at Napier under the name of James Murray, at Nelson as James Kane, and in Gisborne as William | M 'Murray. He was also at New Plymouth. He told witness (the DeputyOfficial Assignee) that he had come to Gisborne with £50. won at the Auckland races. Hie only assets were stock, valued at £30, and cash in the bank at Hamilton, £170. M'Murray was committed for trial. HOKITIKA LOAN PROPOSAL. HOKITDSA, Ist May. A poll of ratepayers of the Hokitika harbour district is being held to-morrow on the question of the board obtaining a loan of £25.000 to continue the works in progress for the improvement of the Port of Hokitika.