DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1940, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

[FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] MAN IMPRISONED. .! WELLINGTON, April IG. Mr Justice Johnstone, in the Supreme Court, sentenced Gustave Victor Hill, 55, painter and decorator, to six years’ imprisonment, on charges of indecency. FATAL FALL AT PLAY? WELLINGTON, April 16. It was revealed at an inquest today that Joyce Spur die, aged eight years, died from a fracture of the skull, received through slipping on a banana skin while playing at school. The accident happened on A_pril 4. SHOW GROUNDS FIRE. NELSON, April 16.

A small administrative block on the Nelson A. and P. show grounds, used by the Association and the Jockey and Trotting Clubs, was destroyed by fire, early this morning. The building was used during the previous day in connection with the Nelson races. FOUND DEAD. OAMARU, April 15. Andrew Gray, a farmer, of Papakaio, 1 aged 09 years, was found dead on his ■ property this afternoon, with wounds in the left side of his body. A double- ■ barrelled shot-gun was found behind : him with one cartridge discharged. James Fisher, aged 67, was found dead in a- hut at Kurow yesterday afternoon. There was a .22 calibre rifle beside the body. WOMAN’S SUICIDE. WELLINGTON, April 16. A finding that Ethel Mary Cross, ■ married, 48, died from injuries received through throwing herself from a roof, while her mind was temporarily deranged, was returned by the Coroner, to-day. Mrs Cross was seen falling from the roof of James Smith’s building, on April 5. She had been employed there in the pantry. HARBOUR INCIDENT. AUCKLAND, April 16. The launch which had a shot fired across her bows by a coastal battery, early yesterday, because she failed to report to the examination ship when entering the Rangitoto Channel, was engaged in towing logs. Colonel Weir, officer commanding the district, sajd to-day that the shot fired was a plug shell, which is a solid missile without a fuse. The launch stopped immediately, and remained anchored until daylight. NEW PARTY. AUCKLAND, April 15. Plans for the formation of a “democratic” Labour Party were discussed to-night by Mr. J. A. Lee, who was recently expelled from the New Zealand Labour Party. Mr. Lee will meet friends and supporters at the Grey Lynn Library Hall on Wednesday night, when it is planned to discuss the formation of a Grey Lynn branch of the new party. “The first meeting is for all those anxious to join and assist in the establishment of a democratic Labour Party,” Mr. Lee said. “From the meeting there will probably come a decision to hold further meetings in the central part of Auckland city for the purpose of extending the organisation as a preliminary to holding a public meeting.” WATERSIDE CONTROL. WELLINGTON, April 15. A suspension order signed by the Minister for Labour (Mr. Webb) under the Waterfront Control Commission Emergency Regulations, 1940, was gazetted this evening. This orders the suspension of the . whole of the provisions of the New Zealand waterside workers’ award of November 30, 1937, in respect of their application to all the ports, of New Zealand. The provisions of the various Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Acts are suspended in respect of their application to workers coming within the scope of the award excepting the provisions relating to registration of the' union.