NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 37, 14 February 1938, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Toasting a Baby. j "Under the special circumstances existing in this case I think I should not convict the defendants," said Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M.. in the Auckland Police Court on Friday, when giving his reserved judgment in a case in which eight men were charged with being unlawfully on the premises of a hotel on November 25 after 6 p.m. (reports the "New Zealand Herald")'. During the case it was stated that the eight defendants were found in the bar shortly after 6 o'clock, toasting the birth of the first-born child of one of the men. Mr. McVeagh, appearing for the defendants, entered a plea of not guilty, because the drinks the men had were "on the house." "Of course, the facts were' a little peculiar, but they were drinking too long," said the Magistrate, dismissing the charges. The Iron Industry. "The-last Government spent £2500 in investigating-the possibilities of the Onekaka iron works, and the report of the experts was favourable," said Mr. K. J. Holyoake, M.Pf, in an address at Greymouth on Thursday evening (reports the "Press"). "As a result, overseas capital to the tune ol £3,000.000 was waiting to be invested ,in the project. Then a Labour Government came into power in New Zealand and was asked to give an assurance that it would not step in and.take over the works and to guarantee that, should Broken Hill attempt to dump iron into New Zealand, the Government would put a dumping order into operation. Two and a half years have passed now, and those assurances have not been given. Needless to say, that £3,000,000 was waiting to be invested minion. Yet New Zealand and the world are crying out for iron. ' That i 3 but one way in which the Labour Government has restricted industry." Timbers Contrasted. A striking difference between milling timbers in the South Island and in the North Island was mentioned to the Second. Court of Arbitration at Auckland on Friday, during the hearing of the dispute over wages in the timber industry (states the "New Zealand Herald"). The secretary of the New Zealand Timbers Workers' Union, Mr. F. L. Turley, said the North island timber was much rougher and more matured./ In the South Island the percentage of heart timber was from 5 to 7 per cent., but in the North it was about 30 per cent.. Mr. Justice Hunter said that was a rather extraordinary statement. Mr. Turley said it had astounded him when he discovered it not long ago. His Honour said he was surprised, because he knew of the magnificent timber grown in Westland. Library Conference. Library authorities from all parts of New Zealand are congregating in Nelson for -the annual conference of the New Zealand Library Association, which opens tomorrow. Many problems connected with library organisation are to be discussed, and addresses are to be given and seminars conducted by Mr. A. L. Low ' (New Plymouth), Mr. C. W. Collins (Christchurch), Mr. W. C. Prosser (Rangiora), i Mr. John Barr (Auckland), Dr. G. H. Scholefield (Wellington), and Mr: A. •G. W. Dunningham (Dunedin). The conference will conclude on Friday.