DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6, 8 September 1913, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

EG MONT BOX COMPANY. At the confirmatory meeting of the Egmont Box Company held at Eltham on Friday (states the Scar), Mr Cdnnett, chairman of the Bell Block Dairy Company, asked the chairman (Mr J. Marx) what the position was in regard to the propo- ed Kakahi-Taurewa railway, as it had been stated in the public Press that the Egmont Box Company had offered to construct the line in question, soma three and a-half miles, and hand the same over to the Government tree of cost.

The chairman explained that such a, bald statement was misleading, and might ho mischievous unless the full circumstances were known. ■ Shareholders, however, might rest assured that should.any.definite arrangements he come to with the Government, it would, while the company asked for no monetary concessions from the Government, be in the best interests of the company.

Mr Comiett expressed himself satisfied with the chairman’s explanation.

CHARGE OF ARSON. [Per Press Association.] Hastings, September 7. The hearing was coiicluded at th - Magistrate’s Court to-day, j before Mr S. E. McCarthy,.S.M., of.tjie case in which. Patrick MaeNamara was charged. on remand with committing arson by setting, fire to a .dwelling-house’ Situated in Treacle : l ane on, August 11 ;■ with; making al false: declaration relating to; certain goods, etc., insujTr, ,ed ; in the, New Zealand .State iFire Insurance Office, for £100,: and partly destroyed and damaged;by hre, by declaring that there was no other insurance on, or extending to the property or any part of it, at the time of the fire; that certain furniture and personal effects set out in the schedule were destroyed and damaged by fire; and that the value of.'the goods destroyed and, damaged wus : ,£J.43 12s immediately before the fire, : he knowing same ,to he false. In,,conjunction with- Nellie Wells, MacNrnmara was : also charged with, on or about. August 5, at, Hastings, conspiring to defraud the Guardian Assurance Co., Ltd., in effecting an insurance against loss by fire ,in respect of certain household goods alleged to be the property of Nellie Wells. Twenty-one witnesses wore called for the prosecution. The charge of conspiracy was dismissed, and on the other charges MaeNamara was committed for trial to the Supreme Court at Napier. Bail was allowed.

. SHODDY BOOTS. Auckland, September 7. The secretary of the Auckland imperative Bootmakers’ Union, acting under instructions from the organisation, wired to the Prime Minister yesterday stating that unemployment is rife in the hoot trade in Auckland, ,due to the importation of fore.gn. shoddy wear. It was added in 'he telegram that the '‘‘Dominion is the dumping ground for boots and shoes containing paper and cardboard. We urge you to introduce legislation competing manufacturers to brand goods, ■stating of what they are made, thus protecting the public and providing work- for all operatives engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes comoosed of solid.leath':'r.” The Auckland members.of Parliament have also been coramunicaLed witli to the following effect;—“Unemployment is rife in 'he boot trade in Auckland. We urge you to redeem your promise at the Chamber of Commerce, and have all boots and shoes branded, showing of what they are made.” Enquiries among employers produced divergent views, some supporting the above statements and others saying that while, things were rather quiet the men had been steadily employed.