DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 February 1937, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

[PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] METHODIST CONFERENCE AUCKLAND, February 18. The annual Dominion Methodist conference, in which 250 clergy and laity are participating, opened to-night when the induction took place of the new president, the Rev. F. Copeland (New Plymouth), who delivered the presidential address. Mr. H. R. French (Hastings) was appointed vicepresident, while the president-elect for 1938 is the Rev. P. R. Paris, of Wellington. The conference will last 10 days. GUARANTEED PRICES. DANNEVIRKE, February IS. The Southern Hawke’s Bay Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union passed a motion that, it was emphatically opposed to the principle of guaranteed prices and, considering the guaranteed prices for the dairy industry, strongly protested against a fixed price for wool and meat being brought into effect. The President, Mr J. Livingston, said the effect of fixed prices was only taking the credit of an important industry for creating liabilities' for the country. This would become a serious burden on the industry in the future. No matter what prices were fixed' for wool and meat the farmers would have to pay in the end. DRAINAGE BOARD ELECTION. CHRISTCHURCH, February IS. Labour lost one seat in a by-elec-tion, to-day, for two seats on the Christchurch Drainage Board. The by-election was held to fill vacancies caused by The retirement of Messrs T. H. gutterfield and G. H. Winter, who had lost their residential qualification. The voting was as follows: — Heathcote District. —Miss M. Howard “(Labour) 530 votes; Mr W. S. Grigg 404 votes. Central South-west District.—Mr E. H. S. Hamilton 175 votes; Mr S. MClinch (Labour) 91. Miss Howard is 'the daughter of Mr E. J. Howard, M.P. She is the first woman to be elected to the Board. TAXES ON TRAILERS. QUEENSTOWN, February 18. Arrangements are being made by the Minister for Transport, Hon. R. Semple, for the preparation of an or-der-in-council which will exempt from annual licensing and heavy traffic fees agricultural hut galleys, anti similar trailers drawn from farm to farm in the course of agricultural operations. This announcement was made by the Minister to-day. “This means,” said Mr. Semple, “that these types of trailers will be liable only for a non-recurring registration fee of £1 and the annual thirdparty insurance of 6/-. This is desirable in case they are involved in road accidents. As they are used on the road only to a limited extent in proceeding from farm to farm and because of the purpose for which they are used I consider that any further taxation would b.e unreasonable.”