NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22484, 13 November 1947, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Indoor Bowls Thirty keenly-contested games of indoor bowls left honours even with 15 wins to each side at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Mangapapa, last evening when the Gisborne Post and Telegraph Social Club returned the hospitality received recently from the Gisborne Friendly Societies. Ten teams represented each side and six rounds were played, the Friendly Societies all but turning the tables on the P and T. club players who in the earlier tournament had established a winning margin. The next competition evening is being looked forward to eagerly. Wheat Price Increase

Expressing satisfaction at the Government’s announcement of an increase in the wheat price, the Federated Farmers stated that the announcement was especially gratifying in view of the warning given by the representative of their organisation that a satisfactory price would have to be announced immediately to ensure greater wheat production. The federation’s central production committee would urge wheatgrowers to reach a full acreage programme In the coming season. The price the Government had now decided to pay closely agreed with the price requested by the growers and there would be no delay in the effort to increase the acreage.—P.A. Jury Could Not Be Filfed

An unusual situation occurred in the Supreme Court in Gisborne yesterday when a jury panel could not be filled from the jurors present. A Maori jury was required for the trial of a Maori farmer. Eighteen Maori jurors were sworn tn at the opening of the session, but when the jury came to be called yesterday, five were challenged by counsel for the defence, Mr K. Gillanders Scott, and a number of others stood aside by the Crown prosecutor, Mr F. Wrey Nolan. Only 10 jurors were seated when there were no names remaining in the clerk of the court’s box. Those stood aside were again called and this time challenged by the Crown orosecutor. As members of the European jury had been dismissed until two hours after the Maori proceedings were due to commence, the court was forced to retire until the full jury panel could be made up from the European jury, ,