DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1922, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

/Per Press Association.) HAMILTON SESSIONS. HAMILTON, June lb. At the Supreme Court, Frank James Mclntosh, for theft, was placed, on two years’ probation. Francis Corcoran, for forging and uttering, was ordered two years’ reformative treatment. Chai les Alexander Campbell, for arson at Te Kuiti, received a similar sentence. FIRE AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, June 17. A fire occurred last night at a threestoreyed brick building in Fort Street, owned by IL O. Wilts, and occupied by H. O. Milts, Ltd., merchants, and the Norden Coy., Ltd., dairy produce merchants. The fire originated in the basement where a large amount of dairy produce was stored. The fire brigade prevented the flames spreading to the upper parts of the building, though the ground floor was burned through, and a pile of the cases precipitated below'. Norden’s stock in the building was insured for about £3OOO. The stock was not damaged, except by smoke and steam. The building was insured for £5OOO, and 'Wilts’s stock for £3360. 'these amounts are all in the United Office. FRUITGROWERS’ CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, June 16. Addressing the Fruitgrowers’ Conference, Dr. Tillyard (Cawthorn Institute) stated that the position regarding fire blight was fairly hopeful. It was definitely established that it could be controlled where hawthorn was eradicated. Except by a miracle the disease could never be eradicated from New Zealand, and it was only a matter of a year or two before it spread to the South Island. Last spring was most unfavourable to the disease, which could be expected to show up more vigorously and virulently when spring happened to be favourable. Bees and migratory birds spread the fire blight, and the Government should introduce stringent regulations to overcome the danger. Owing to fear of Australian competition, the fruitgrowers decided to urge a substantial increase in the duty on Australian cherries and grapes.

PUBLIC SERVANTS’ WAGES. NORTH, June 16 A combined meeting of the Public Service Association, P. and T. Association, Railway Officers’ Institute, and the Association of Railway Engineers, passed the following resolution: — “That this meeting protests against any further cut in salaries of public servants until there is a corresponding decrease in the cost of living. Already the public servants have suffered a reduction of 6s per week and more from January 1, while the Arbitration Court has held that a, reduction of 5s per week, from May,.sth, is all that is justified. The further cut proposed will have the effect of making large families live in actual want, as the Government Statistician’s latest figures &how that the cost of living is again rising. The members of the various localt branches assure their executives of their hearty support in any action which they may take to resist a further cut.’’