DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 June 1930, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

[FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS. INVERCARGILL, June 12. The Wailiopai School Committee has authorised Bible teaching in the School. A poll of parents resulted as follows: — For .. 235 Against x .. .. • • 27 Other work will be provided for conscientious objectors during the Bible lesson, to which one period weekly will be devoted. BOOKMAKER FINED GISBORNE, June 13. As the sequel to a police raid on Saturday last, Arthur Owen pleaded guilty at the Magistrate’s Court today before Magistrate Harper, to a charge of keeping a common gaming house, and he was convicted, and was fined £lOO. Rutene Takana pleaded guilty .to being found in a common gaming house. He was convicted and fined five pounds.

A GOOD ADVERTISEMENT. INVERCARGILL, June 13. Gordon McDowell pleaded guilty and was fined £4O for using his premises as a common gaming house. Counsel asked that defendant’s name be suppressed, as publication of it would result in his being besieged by people desiring to make bets. The Magistrate refused, jocularly remarking that it would be quite a good advertisement. • The police stated that on the day or the raid they found betting by telephone was brisk.

ART UNIONS. WELLINGTON, June 13. The Wellington Presbytery to-day dealt with the subject of art unions, ■ and it took exception to the whole business as being vicious, expressing the opinion that if the City Council had a mind to, it could cleanse the ■city of what was an offence to many 'of its best citizens. This reference was to the selling of tickets on the ■street and advertising them on trams.

The Presbytery called on the Minister of Internal Affairs to at once reWert to the position as it was when ■he took office. It was pointed out Mr Coates gave an assurance that his colleagues were unanimous that it was ■not in the public interest, and brought art unions to an end. The. strongest is taken by the Presbytery ■to their revival.

WANGANUI ECONOMIES. WANGANUI,, June 12

The Wanganui City Council has decided to make economies in the engineer’s administrative staff in keeping with the reductions in labour on outdoor works, but instead of straightout dismissals, the men will be offered work in the department other than that in the office.

It was stated at the meeting to-night that the greatest number of men the Council had ever employed was in 1927, yet the cost of administration was no lower now.

The engineer reported to a special committee recently that he could see no way of effecting economies, but the Council to-night ruled otherwise, and instructed him to submit proposals showing how adjustments can be made which will effect a saving in his administrative staff of £lOOO per year.

The Council also decided that if considered necessary the engineer be relieved immediately of his duties as tramway engineer, though at t]ie same time they expressed every confidence in his work.