NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1814, 29 July 1913, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) * COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS, MAGISTRATE'S POWERS. Duncdin, July 28. It is stated that tlio Magistrates' Courts Amendment Ml contains il provision which, if adopted, will materially curtail the powers of the Arbitration Court. l)n. dor Clause 6 (d) of tlio Bill, jurisdiction is given to stipendiary magistrates to hear and adjudicate on cases under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act without any limit. This clause, it ia understood, is . being criticised by both employers and workers. The employers maintain that there woulll not bo any unanimity amongst magistrates in their assessment of dsuuages ia such cases, and there is also a fear that the new clause may have tlio effect of putting up tlio insurance premium rates. As the law now stands, tliero is no appeal from tlio judgment of tlio Arbitration Court in compensation casos, and workers do nut view the new clauso with any enthusiasm ill that in tlio proposed Clause C (d) there is nothing to provxsnt an appeni to tlio Supremo Court against tlio judgment delivered by tlio magistrate, and further appeal to tlio Privy. Council. It is claimed that the rights of appeal would bestow a. very unfair advantage in favour of an insurance company as against a worker who might be making a claim. LOST PORTMANTEAU. "LIFTED" ON RAILWAY STATION. Auckland, July 28. A week ago last Friday an intending passenger by tlio south, express lost hia luggage, which bad been placcd on b'lia platform of the Auckland Station in the afternoon, but was gone when tlio owner camo to look for it just prior to tlio departure of the train. It contained, in addition to a. valuable outfit of clothing, eight debentures (each of issued by a certain company, and a number of legal documents valued at about X 39. On Saturday afternoon Dctectivo Quartcrluan arrested a man named James HoKan, aged 35, on a charge of having stolen a truiik and-Contents, the property of Percy Arthur Hadley. Hogan was arrested on suspicion in consequence of. the rale of several of the -articles that had 'been in the portmanteau. The debentures, which were not negotiable, were recovered thrown carelessly on a shelf in a room occupied by Hogan. At tlio Police Court this morning accused was remanded for a week, bail being fixed at two sureties of ,£75 each. ROUGH USAGE. AUCKLAND AND THE P, AND 0. SERVICE. Auckland, July 28. In view of the announcement from Sydney which would make it appear that the suggested conclusion of tho P. and 0. Company's service to Auckland has not yet been confirmed, the chairman of tho Aucktand Harbour Board (Mr. J; H. Gunson) on Friday dispatched the following cablegram to tlio head offioe of th# company at London: "Regret to learn Uiat tliero is a suggestion to cease tho extension of the service to Auckland. Strongly urge reconsideration in view of tho steady development of New Zealand interests by which the oompany may increase tho traffic. Thfe Auckland Exhibition, December to April next, also affords good prospects. Tho service is much appreciated and if continued tho company can rely eventually upon building up a profitable connoction. Kindly advise it' this pioneer scrvioo will be continued as heretofore"

•MAN WHO "MISSED A DRINK." Auckland, July 28. Thomas Madden was discovered landing on a plank unffr?r tlio Ferry lcity on Saturday night liaviim evidently been in tho water. Ho had a bad cut on the back of liis hood and iiis nose wag broken. Madden states he was drinking with, several companions, ono of whom was offended because he missed a drink. Ho alleges that subsequently on tlio wharf this man struck him several times and pushed liim into tlio harbour. Ho declined to givo the man's name, assertins that he would settle with him later on. Madden is in tho hospital; his conditio! is not dangerous. PEDAGOGICS & PAY. Stratford, July Tho annual meeting of the TaranaM Teachers' Institute resolved: "That if pupil teachers arc to be employed tho salaries paid shall not bo lower than those paid to cadets of similar standing in other branches of tho Government Service; that the institute is 6trongly of opinion that the improvement in teachers' salaries should be taken in hand during tliis session of Parliament; and that thn system of payment on attendance or roll number should 1 be aboLishod." • "

OTAGO SLAUGHTERMEN. Dunedin, July 28. The Otago Slaughtermen's Union dispute before the Conciliation Council was fixed for to-day. The conditions asked for were similar to those of the expired award, except as to wages, in which h-alf-a-crown extra was sought, this being tho present current rate. The employers' representatives refused to discuss with or make any agreement ..with tho union, and matters stand referred to the Arbitration Court. LESSON TO MILKMEN. Auckland, July 28, Two milk vendors named .Alfred Aldred and Edward Coppina were charged to-day with selling milk deficient in fatty solids. Tho former, who had sold five gallons with 20 per cent, excess of water, was fined .£2O. Coppins, who explained that owing to a Bhiortage he had to get milk from an outside source, and had not tampered at all with it, was fined .£lO and costs. \ STABBED IN A SCUFFLE. Invercargill, July 28. On Saturday, two youths named Robert James Blackmore and Arthur James Simpson, employed in a woodwaro factory, quarrelled, and in n Bcuffle Blackmore received a deep stab in tho back with a knife. His condition is serious. Simpson has been charged with wounding with intent, and has been remanded. BAND CONTEST DATE. Invercargill, July 28. ' Tho band contest committee met tonight. It was resolved to hold tho contest from November 17 to November 22. Tho entries are to close on August 9. Mr. Sutton (judge at Ballarat) wroto accepting the office of adjudicator at a fee of 50 guineas. SOLICITOR 4 TRUST FUNDS, Tlmaru, July 28, Tho prosecution of Walter Shaw, solicitor, , for malversation of ,£9OO trust moneys of C. E. T. Hall was commenced privately, but has now been handed over i to tho police. Sub-Inspector Cruickshank to-day asked for a remand till August 7, which was granted. . BRIEF MENTION. Gisborne, July 28. Harold James Miller, on two charges of false pretences at Gisborne and Wellington, was sentenced to fhrco monthe® imprisonment. Gore, July 28. A seven-roomed house at Jlataurcowned and occupicd by Mr. 11. T. Ma»i shall, was destroyed ly fire pn Saturday, Tho cause of the fire is unknown. Auckland, July 28. Tho Royal Artillery Band, Woolwich, has been engaged (o tome to Auckland to provide the chief music for tho Exhibition. Tho band is reputed to ho one of the finest military bands in England.