WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18904, 20 January 1927, Page 3

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. (SPECIAL TO THX FKISS.I \ GREYMOUTH, January 19. Mr E. A. Wisdom, \vlio. has been transferred to tho Telephone Exchange, Clhristchurch, was met prior to his departure by the staff of the Greymouth Post Office and presented with a wristlet watch. Mr D. M. Mcintosh, chief postmaster, made the presentation. The Eev. Father Frahcr, of Teniuka, who has been visiting Greymouth; will leavo by to-morrow's express, en route to 'Wellington. Liuwood Bowling Team. The Linwood touring team, which arrived yesterday from Westport, was this morning formally welcomed at the Greymouth Bowling Club's green by the president, Mr W. Cochrane. Mr Allan responded on behalf of the visitors. In a two rinks match between Linwood and representatives of the Greymouth Club, the rinks and scores were as follows, Linwood rinks being mentioned first: —Chivers, Johns, Kamsay, Patts (s) 25 v.. Brebner, Burtt, Peek, Graham (s) 8; Taylor, Muirson, Mazey, Allen (s)ls v. Chalk, Bettel, Cochrane, McKay 18. Another match which was arranged for this afternoon was cancelled owing to rain.

Sunday School Picnic. The Greymouth Presbyterian and Methodist Sunday school picnics were held to-day at Omoto and Kumara respectively. The pleasure of the outings was marred by heavy raiu, which set in towards noon and continued incessantly throughout the afternoon. Greymouth Shipping Returns. The total shipping for the port of Greymouth during last, year was as follows:—lnwards: 298 steamers, 169,528 tons; 5 sailers, 415 tons; total 303 vessols, 169,943 tons. Outward. 300 steamers. 169,785 tons; 5 sailers, 415 tons; total. 305 vessels, 170,200 tons, u decrease of twelve vessels with a tonnage of 4720 as compared with the previous year's figures. The factors responsible for the decrease were the flood damage to the Ngahere-Blackball bridge and the Dobson mine explosion. Greymouth Recreation Ground. The Minister for Public Works has advised the Greymouth Borough Council that he cannot authorise a subsidy for' improving the Recreation Ground, as applied for by the Council, for the purpose of providing work for the unemployed. Moreover, the Minister expresses the opinion that a borough the size of Greymouth should be able to find more than half the cost of improving a public recreation ground. The question of granting some assistance will receive further consideration when the Estimates for next year are being compiled. Power Board's Lines. Replying to representations made by thc Greymouth Chamber or' Commerce regarding the difficulty experienced by the Grey Power Board in obtaiuiug authority to cross- the railway with electric lines, the Minister for Public Works has forwarded a communication from the Minister for Railways stating that had a comprehensive programme, covering all crossings, been submitted in the first place and subsequently adhered to, little delay would have occurred. The Board is blamed for the delay on the ground that it submitted

its proposals for.'.a .'few crossings at a time, anil subsequently' made, a number of amendments thereto. Westland County Council. ' There was a large attendance at the banquet held at Hokitika last evening to mark the occasion of the jubilee of the Westland County Council. Mr W. Jeffries, County Chairman, presided. A lengthy toast list was honoured, the speeches being chiefly in a reminiscent vein. Among the speakers were Messrs W. Jeffries, T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., the Hon. Mr Michel, the Hoii. Mr Mclntyre, Mr G. A. Perry (Mayor of Hokitika), Messrs D. J. Evans. T. Duff, B. Ward, Wells, W. J. Butler, and others.

■ An interesting feature of the' gathering was that among the guests were Mr Vivian Bonar, a son of the late Hon. Mr Bonar, who swore the first Council in; Mr T. E. Y. Seddon,.M.P., son of tho late Eight Hon. E. J. Seddon; Mr A. Dale, son of Mr Francis Date, and Mr H. G. F. Coles, son of Mr J. Coles, whose fathers were all members of the first County Council.

Conciliation Court. A sitting of tho Conciliation Council was held to-day, Commissioner W. H. Hagger presiding. Tho first business set down for hearing was a dispute between the Shop Assistants' Union and the Eetail Chemists, the main question involved being the scale of wages paid to females, male assistants, and qualified male assistants. The Union asked that female workers receive a commencing wage of £1 7s Gd per week with increases yearly of 7s 6d per week up to the fifth year. The wages asked for males were: Assistants £5, qualified assistants £6. The employees were represented by Mr Jas. Goodall (secretary of the Shop Assistants' Union), and tho employers by Messrs W. Cecil Prime (secretary of the Canterbury Employers' Association), and F. J. Parkinson. After consultation an agreement was reached to increase the wage for female beginners from 18s 6d to £1 per week, rising thereafter yearly at the rate of 7s 6d per week for five years. The wage of male assistants was increased to £4,§s per week and qualified assistants to £4 15s (if registered £5 10s. The new award is on the lines of the existing Canterbury award for the retail chemists branch of tho shop assistants, and will remain in force for two years from February Ist, 1927. Anzac Day and the tradesmen's picnic day were added to the list of recognised holidays, whilst Easter Saturday was deleted. An amendment relative to working between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the statutory half holiday, and for Sunday work on alternate weeks was agreed to. The scope of the award was fixed for the Westland Industrial District.

In a disputo regarding wages and conditions between the Westland Boilermakers', Iron, Ship, and Bridge Builders' Union, and the Westland employers, the representatives of the parties concerned failed to reach an agreement and the matter was referred to the Arbitration Court.