DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 13, 13 April 1917, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

LOCAL BODIES’ LOANS. Per Press Association. Wellington, April 12. A point of interest to local bodies was brought before the Acting Premier to-day. Some time ago the Eastbourne borough ratepayers authorised a loan of £4300 for water and drainage purposes, hut owing to the war conditions the money cannot bo raised within the/,two years allowed by tlie Statute. A deputation to the Hon. Sir James Allen suggested that the Government should introduce legislation providing that for the purpose of reckoning the two years mentioned the war period should not count, and Mr Allen promised to consult Cabinet on the matter, recognising the case as one of hardship deserving of relief, but said the question of making a general provision to cover all loans in suspense would need careful consideration. In some cases it might he desirable tb have another poll of ratepayers.

SHORTAGE OF FUEL.

Hamilton, April 12. At a meeting of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board today the engineer reported a serious shortage of coal supplies, and fiiat the whole power plant was im danger of heibg'Y tapped’*'dii! account' of >sudV shortage. Fifteen'Yobs' of c-bah pen week was e winter. The board resolved t 0 communicate -mM and that, in •'the' ih'bnntime, labor Yie put on to secure firewood'. MAORI PERJURY CHARGES, Hamilton, April 12. In the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr Justice Hoskiug, the hearing of the perjury charges against the Ruaites was continued. The evidence was practically the same as adduced at the previous I, '.'(i:. at, . ... hearing. At 2.30 p.m. the foreman of the jury intimated to his Honor that the jury wished to express their disapproval of irrevelant- questions, and that they were heartily sick of listening to matters not in the issue. Senior Seigeant Cn’Ssells was in the box five arid a-half Hours, and some lively intel'ciliarigbs tbdk “ plbce be■tweeh* 'Jhiiitlon'’ (for tlie^;def^ii^? ;) ■ /'UlMlfOf gaol ,ll w SUNOAY TRADE 1 1N SOFT BRINKS Auckland, April'l2. In the police court to day Magistrate Kettle delivered judgment in cases wherein fourteen keepers of soft drinks and restaurants were charged with Sunday trading, in that they sold soft drinks. The judgment was that, though no objection could he taken to the supply of soft drinks with meals or afternoon tea, supply of sTTch by themselves could not be considered a work of necessity. As the practice had been tacitly permitted for a number of years the magistrate imposed no penalty, entering a conviction only. •