DOMINION NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1928, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS.

(By Telegraph—P.er Press Association.) TO DEHORN CATTLE. WELLINGTON, August 9. A deputation from Canterbury to-day asked the Minister of Agriculture for legislation making compulsory the dehorning of cattle. It was stated the proposal had the support of wholesale butchers, wool brokers, freezing companies, and other bodies, also that bids would be worth from 3s to 4s more on an average. The Minister was asked to treat the matter as one of urgency. Hon. 0. J. Hawekn was sympathetic A farmer should dehorn his own cattle. It was to his benefit. He would look into the question with a view to legislation this session if possible. He mentioned that probably the best way would be to prohibit any two-year-old cattle from being trucked after a certain date, unless they were dehorned. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. AUCKLAND, August 9. A claim for £I,OOO general damages, and £lO special damages, was made before Judge Blair and n jury, by Arthur Frederick Rose, aged 18, by bis guardian; W. A. Rose, against Tom Grinter, Frank C. Grinter, and James A. Grinter, drainage contractors, for the loss of all the fingers of his left hand by the explosion of detonators. Harold Rose said when playing with his brother on a dump of spoil from Grinter Bros.’ tunnelling contract, he found two little brass things. He gave them to bis brother Arthur. The latter said ho was scraping the clay out of one of the detonators when there was an explosion. FURTHER EVIDENCE. AUCKLAND, August 9. George Rose, brother of the plaintiff, said that the same afternoon as the accident occurred, a man found two more detonators lying near the contractors, lie found a detonator with fuse attached. Replying to the Judge, he admitted the filling was surfaced with scoria, which came from somewhere other than the tunnel works. Leonard Ivan Kent, said that he had seen fuses and gelignite, but not detonators, placed outside the mouth of the tunnel before the date of the accident.

Mr Nortlicroft. in opening for the defence, said that in bis opinion, the boys bad known very well what the detonators were, lie would call evidence to show how carefully explosives had been used and stored. The Clerk of AVorks to the Drainage Board, for which the work had been done, denied the statement that explosives were carried in open kerosene tins. The Court then adjourned. WOMAN ACQUITTED. DUNEDIN, August 9. In the charge of atteinpfd murder against Elsie Clara Babich, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. I>. AND T. OVERTIME. WELLINGTON, August 9. The reversion in the near future to the payment of overtime to employees in the Post and Telegraph Department instead of giving time off for extra hours worked as at present, was foreshadowed by the Secretary of the Department, Mr G. MacNamara-, when replying to the toast of " Hie Post-master-General and the Department, at the annual smoke concert of the Wellington Postal Employees Association to-night. Mr .MacNamara said that when itwas found necessary to institute time off, instead of paying overtime, he realised the position was not a happy one for many employees in the service. “The change,” he said, “was not acceptable to many, but the loyalty of the service came paramount and thero was not a murmur. The pill was accepted without a murmur of protest. Overtime is an inevitable part of the Post and Telegraph employees’ work. To-day I have been approached by the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association, and asked when the period is coming to an end. I could not give them any reply, hut I can say now that J feel sure that before the end of the half year, or at least at the end of the half year, we will be back to the payment of overtime.”

A NEWMARKET DISPUTE. AUCKLAND, August 9.

Seven members of Newmarket Borough Council have instructed a solicitor to apply to tlio Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus to compel the Mayor, Mr S. Donaldson, to put a certain motion. This referred to “ misleading and improper statements” circulated in a paper called the Newmarket Ratepayers’ Gazette, and with a view to stopping the publication of the paper, it was proposed that a copy be handed to the Borough Solicitor. The Mayor refused to put the motion, saying it was unfair, and he was not going to have the Council shouldered with the responsibility of securing legal advice or with the cost of litigation. JAPAN AND N.Z. WELLINGTON, August 9. To commemorate the taking effect of the trade treaty between Japan and Now Zealand, the Japanese ConsulGeneral, Mr I. M. Tokugawa, gave a luncheon to-day to leading representatives of the legislative' and commercial community. M. Tokugawa said he was very glad the agreement had been concluded, not only because it would encourage trade between Japan and Now Zealand, but would be a contribution to a more general good relationship between the two countries. No doubt, tlio co-oper-ation of the two countries was necessary. He expressed appreciation of the Dominion’s treatment towards the Japanese training squadron. The Prime Minister, Mr Contes, also expressed pleasure at the conclusion of the treaty of trade, and macle. it clear that before the negotiations were entered into, the concurrence of the British Foreign Office was obtained to complete the agreement along the lines followed. The object of the agreement was the facilitation of trade and commerce between the two countries. The trade between Japan and New Zealand already was considerable, and was increasing.' Mr Coates stressed the need for co-operation in the Pacific. The Dominion would always remember Japan’s assistance in the hour of need. Mr Coates read the following cablegram received from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan : “ Trusting that the commerce and intercourse between us all will be stimulated by the commercial arrangements now arrived at I heartily felicitate and send my best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of New Zealand.”