DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1922, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

(Per Press Association.) CHINESE COMPLAINT FAILS. CHRISTCHURCH, April 5. At the Magistrate’s Court, a charge against Leonard Wilkinson and Thomas Ferguson, of having stolen a sum of money from a Chinese, and a second charge of having stated that they were detectives, were dismissed. The case, which arose out of a disturbance in a Chinese restaurant on Sunday, March 26, had been adjourned owing to an interpreter proving unsatisfactory. The Magistrate said the only evidence against the defendants was the uncorroborated testimony of one Chinese. ODDFELLOWS’ CONFERENCE. CHRISTCHURCH, April 6. The Oddfellows’ Conference passed a resolution that a deputation comprising representatives of all the Friendly Societies should interview the Premier, with a, view to having the Provident Act amended in the direction of allowing exemption of £5O for each child of a member of a Friendly Society when assessing the parents’ income, similar to the income tax exemption already in force; also to withdraw from participating in the Government's after discharge sickness scheme, pertaining to soldier-members, and to repeal a. resolution of a former conference authorising the keeping of an after discharge sickness fund account. TUNNEL CONTRACTS WELLINGTON, April 6. Contracts have been let for the completion of the Mangahao tunnels. Six parties of tunnellers have separate contracts, and an interesting feature of the arrangements is that the average price per foot to. be paid by the T’ubiic Works Department is less than the price that would have been paid under the old co-operative eontracts, ■which were cancelled when the miners ceased work some time ago. Several of the parties are already at ■work, and others are about to commence. An exact comparison ci prices is difficult owing to variation of conditions. In the case of number two contract, tho previous price was 62.> a foot, plus 5s for timbering. The new contract price is 54s a. foot, plus 5s for timbering. The men may make better money than they did under the eld arrangement if they increase their pace, but the Department is saving money on the change of system.