AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20962, 27 February 1930, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE DUTY ON PETROL. AN INCREASE UNLIKELY. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, February 26. It is now regarded as unlikely that any additional duty will be imposed on petrol this year. Mr Scullin announced after a Cabinet meeting that no lecisior ' ad been reached regarding the request by the States for the imposition of an additional duty of 2Jd per gallon on imported petrol. FALL OVER A PRECIPICE. MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED.

SYDNEY, February 26. So seriously injured that he is unable to move, William Chalfont, aged 50, was rescued from the bottom of a 50ft precipice near Manly. The man fell over the cliff on Thursday night, and was without food and water for five days. He chewed leaves, and when ,ain fell he lay with his mouth oper drinking in the. raindrops. The ambulance men had a dangerous climb to reach Chalfont, who is now in hospital in a critical condition with his right arm fractured in two places, and his pelvis -id ribs broken. The man was engaged in road work, and it is alleged that trouble occurred at the camp, when Chalfont was assaulted, anu he decided ,to go home. Two men have been arrested in connection with the attack.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

CURTAILING OF PRIVILEGES,

SYDNEY, February 2G. (Received Feb. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) The State Government intends to bring down legislation for curtailing the privileges of justices of the peace, including a provision that no honorary magistrates shall sit on the bench when police magistrates are available. The matter has been under review for some time, but a recent happening in the northern coalfields was responsible for the decision to deal with the matter immediately.

A previous message read as follows: It is rumoured that, though they were acquitted at Kurri on charges of using insulting words to the police at Cessnock on November 18, Mr Baddeley (a member of the State Assembly) and Mr James (a Federal representative) will probably hear more of the matter. The Chief Secretary is calling for reports of the case. He says it was a most extraordinary verdict, and in the interests of justice the matter cannot be allowed to remain where it is. Apparently out of the three members of the court one found the charge proved, and two decided to dismiss the case. It is strange that justices of the peace should sit on the bench in the circumstances. It is pointed out that the two justices concerned are presidents of branches of the Australian Labour Party. It is officially explained that outside the stipendiary magistrates’ districts any justices of the peace have a right to sit on the bench with the police magistrate, and in such cases the verdict goes by a majority. , BOGUS INSURANCE CLAIM' TWO MEN CONVICTED. BRISBANE, February HU. (Received Feb. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) After a second trial lasting seven days Leonard Roy Montefiore, aged 36, an insurance manager,, and Stanley Robert MOntcfiore, aged 29, a salesman, were convicted of conspiracy. Two others, George Arthur Baker, motor engineer, and Lionel Vincent Shaw, a fire assessor, were acquitted. The four men weer charged with conspiring, between February and May, 1028 to obtain £2OO by fraud from the Ocean Accident Guarantee Corporation. Prosecuting counsel stated Hint a number of similar cases of bogus claims were involved. It was impossible to discover the total defalcations, but during Leonard Montefiore’s managership the company losses were estimated at nearly £45,000, l THE CONSPIRACY •CHARGE. FIVE TO STAND TRIAL. SYDNEY, February 26. (Received Feb, 27, at 1 a.m.) The conspiracy charge against members of Cheapleys, Limited, resulted in five of the defendants being committed for trial. Originally there were nine, but hose committed for trial are :—Ellisdon, Roden, Levy, Kntner, and Wilson.