DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 17 August 1944, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS

STATE MONEY FOR HOUSING ASKED P.A. WELLINGTON, August 16. A deputation from the Dominion Settlement Association, supported oy delegates from the National Council of Women and the Women’s Institutes, placed before the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Mr. J. Thorn) proposals that all complete Slate houses should be reserved for returned soldiers and families with two or more children; that married couples should be given loan assistance to purchase land with reasonable access to cities and towns, and to erect thereon two-roomed dwellings as. a first instalment of a completely planned house of four to six rooms, additional rooms being added, one at a time as each child was born. It was stated the Waikato Master Builders’ and Industrial Union ot Employers haa submitted a very similar scheme to Hamilton Borough Council and received strong support. Taranaki Master Builders ' and Rotorua Borough Council had asked for full details. Air. Thorn gave an assurance that the proposal would receive careful consideration by the Government.

DAY OF PRAYER. P.A. WELLINGTON, August 16. The Governor-General, who received a message from the private secret ary to the King that His Majesty has appointed Sunday, September 3, to be a National Day of Prayer in the United Kingdom, is inviting the co-opera-tion of the Churches throughout tne Dominion CYCLE LAMP BATTERIES. P.A. WELLINGTON, August 16. _ The Minister of Supply CHon. D. G Sullivan) announced to-day that as the supply position has improved, permits for the purchase of cycle lamp batteries are no longer necessary. MURDER CHARGE. P.A. MASTERTON, August 15. On a charge of having murdered Peter James Louis, at Tyneside, 16 miles from Masterton, on July 27 Douglas Fraser, alias Angus Fraser, appeared on remand in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Tan Alistair Riddiford Macrae, said the accused worked for him. Shortly before 1 o’clock on the ' morning of the tragedy, Fraser came to his house and said: “I’ve killed Peter. I thought I saw a snake going up the wall and I hit him with an axe. I thought he might not be dead, so I hit him again twice.” The accused had been drinking and' appeared excited and hysterical. Pie quietened Fraser, and, on a pretence of ringing for a doctor, communicated with the police. Fraser endeavoured to get away, but the witness persuaded him to wait for the “doctor.” In a statement produced by the prosecution the accused said he had, been drinking heavily for a week before the tragedy, which occurred in the sleeping quarters on the station. Louis being in bed at the time After other evidence had been heard, the accused pleaded not guilty and was remanded for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court in Wellington. CLAIM AGAINST POLICEMAN. P.A. AUCKLAND, August 15. After a retirement of less than two hours, the jury returned a verdict for the defendant, who was awarded judgment with costs in a case in the Supreme Court in which Herbert Ivers claimed £2,000 general damages from Leonard Tippett, a police constable. for the loss of the sight of an eye as the result of an alleged assault. RUGBY REFEREE SQUABBLE. P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, August 15. Exception to remarks in a letter from the Marlborough Union to tne Buller Union regarding appointment of a referee for the Seddon Shield match was taken by a deputation from the Canterbury Referees’ Association. which asked’ the Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugoy Union to support its protest to the N.Z. Union. The Committee decided to ask Marlborough for a copy of tne. letter to the Buller Union. > The Referees’ Association described remarks' in the letter as a definite slur on every member of the Association. Marlborough Union was asked to retract the remarks or substantiate them with facts. Mr. C. McCallum said that for many years a Canterbury referee had been appointed for Seddon shield games on the West Coast or Buller. MarlborI ough Union asked Buller to support its application for a Wellington referee. Buller declined. A Wellington referee refereed the MarlboroughBuller match last Saturday. The letter of Marlborough said “one referee from Canterbury has controlled quite a number of games, and it is thougnt that a change is desirable.” The insinuation was that a referee knew tne Buller players so well that he was going to be unfair in his control of the game. ID was a slur which the Referees’ Association resented and wanted the matter taken up with the N.Z.

Union. The other member of the deputation, Mr. W. Fuller, said the Association felt that the integrity of Canterbury referees was being questioned. The incident had bearing on an incident last season, when a Canterbury referee who controlled a Seddon Shield game was “absolutely crucified” afterwards.