DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1944, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS

KILLED BY CAR . NEW PLYMOUTH, June 25. Fatal Injuries were received by Robert Brickell, of Stratford, a pensioner, aged 65, when he was struck by a car at Stratford shortly alter dusk on Saturday. He died in the Stratford Hospital early this morning The driver of the car was William John O’Byrne, of Inglewood, a farmer. localTbodies WELLINGTON, June 25. It ‘now seems likely that the select committee set up by the House of Representatives to investigate the local government system pt the Dominion will not begin its sittings until after Parkament resumes toward the end oi July. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr, Parry) stated that it had originally been intended to make a start with investigation shortly after the election. A number of local body representatives, however, had asked that sittings of the committee be delayeci until the new councils became fully established and the settling down process was completed.

PENSIONS APPEAL BOARD WELLINGTON, June 24. The setting up of a second War Pensions Appeal Board to cope with accumulating appeal -cases was announced by the Minister m charge oi War Pensions (Mr Jones) to-day. The Minister said the Government had been fortunate in securing tne services of Mr Frank F. Reid, S.M., for the position of chairman Mr Reid, who has been engaged tor some time as a stipendiary Magistrate in the . Christchurch district, saw service in the Field during the Great War. It is understood that arrangements have been made for Mr Reid to take up his new duties at an early date.

SEAMAN’S DEATH. WELLINGTON, June 24. “I can’t help feeling that had the net been stretched as required, this death would not have occurred,' .said the Coroner (Mr. W. .G. Mellish), when giving his verdict at the inquest into the death of David Gillespie an elderly seaman, who lost his life last Monday evening through falling into the harbour from the deck of a ship. . Evidence was given that just alter he arrived on board Gillespie staggered and fell backwards through a gap between the end of the gangway and the railings of the vessel. There was no safety net below the gangway. “I don’t know if the HarbourBoard has taken steps to enforce its by-laws,” said the Coroner, “but something ought to be done in the interests of public safety.” A verdict was returned that Gillespie met his death by drowning. MINISTER’S VISIT AUCKLAND, June 25. Senator R. V. Keane. Australian Federal Minister of Trade and Customs, arrived in Auckland on Saturday bv air on a visit to observe the results of Labour administration in the Dominion for the Commonwealth Government. He is accompanied by Mrs. Keane and the Director of the Division of Import Procurement (Mr. A. C. Moore). Two other members of the party are Mr. A. Hendrickson, secretary, an d Mr. L. W. Whitehead, press relations officer. The visitors left by ah' for Wellington to-day after a brief tour of the city and a visit to the Savage Memorial at Bastion Point, where Senator and Mrs. Keane each laid a wreath for the Commonwealth Government. One wreath was of Australian flowers and the other of New Zealand flowers.

During his visit, which is expected to last for just over a week, Senator Keane proposes to examine New Zealand achievements in housing, social services, rationing, price stabilisation and liquor control, as well as aspects of lend-lease. BONDSMAN’S APPLICATION DUNEDIN, June 26. An unusual application by a bondsman for release from his bond was made at the Police Court, when Stanley Robert Phillips and Henry Walton Phillips appeared on remand upon a charge of breaking and entering and theft at Naseby on June 13. The bondsman was Albert James Dry.den, who alleged that he suspected accused were about to abscond. . Counsel said he had entered into a recognisance for the appearance of accused at the Supreme Court on July 25 on other charges than the present one. Notwithstanding the fact of the accused being now under arrest and in custody., the bondsman still remained liable to produce them, and if a prison break occurred the bondsman would still be liable. A further ground was that since the bond was entered upon, fresh charges had been preferred. The Magistrate (Mr Bundle) said the Court’s jurisdiction was limited. He could not see how it could be said that because a man was in custody he was about to abscond. The application was dismissed. Accused were remanded on the fresh charges till July 4.