NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1820, 5 August 1913, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By. Tclefrttph—Press Association.)

Q LABOUR LEADER'S PLIGHT. , ~ Invercargill, August 3. At a meeting of the District Labour Council on Saturday night a lotter was received from tho president (Mr. M. J. l'ordc) stating that, as lie had boon, expolled by tho General Labourers' Union which he represented on tho council, he was no longer eligible for tho position of president. A. letter was also received from Mrs. i ordb, secretary of tho council, resigimig that offico, It was explained 'hat tho complaint against Mr. Forde was that lie had opposed tho Labour Council's candidate for tho recent Town Council by-election. The action of tho General Labourers' Union was endorsed, and Mr. A. Glass was elected president of the council. Mr. Fordo, who was a delegate to tho reocnt Unity Conference, has prominently opposed tlio adoption of the constitution, adopted at that conference.

INVERCARGILL COMPETITIONS. Invercargill, August 4. , Tho ninth annual festival of tho Invwr-\ cargill Competitions Socic.ty was opened ■ this ovening, when tho theatre was pack- ' ed, and scores were turned away. Tho judges—Mr. J. F. Montague (Auckland) for elocution, and Itcrr Carl Saner (Wei-, linsrlon) for music—both congratulated tlio 'society on establishing a record for tho Dominion with 21G0 entries. Mr. Montague said that the size of the audience astonished him. In all his axperienco ho had not soon such a house on tho opening night of a competition festival. Ho 'described tho arrangements for tho festival, as perfect, and addfd that tho management was tho best Hint had conic under his observation. Herr Carl vSaner was equally delighted with tho dimonsiong of tho audience, and added his congratulations. All indications point to an un* exarapled success.

'LABOUR AND STRIKES. Dunedin, August L At a meeting of the Trades ana Labour Council, a motion was passed viewing with regret tho failure,of tho recent cqiigress to bring about' uhity,' and urging unions to take no action in rejoining tho Unity Federation of Labour or Social Democratic Party until the whole position, especially relating ': to strikes, , ia made perfectly clear to members of uuions.

. METEOROLOGY IN SCHOOLS. Waipawa, August 2. Tho most complete Bet of meteorological instruments in Htuvko's Bay wero installed at tho -High'. Sohool yesterday in tho presence of members of tho Education Board •and tho public. .Tlio instruments were imported by tho Education Board, and paid for by tho High and Technical Schools. Tho visitors wero entertained at luncheon by tho pupils of tho. schools. Complimentary speeches wero delivered bj members of tlio board and others.

RAILWAY OFFICERS. Dunedln, August 4. Tlio Railway Ofßcors' lustituto Confer, onco opened' Tho Hon. W. H. llcrries (Minister for Haihvavs): telegraphed tlmt leave and sick leave for first division had been placed on tho samo footing in the railway regulations as prescribed by tlio Civil Service regula' tious.

BRIEF MENTION. Hastings, August 4. •' A four-roomed cottago, owned by llob* ert M'Farlane, and occupied by Thomas Ilarlen, at the corner of Princess arid" Albert Streets, was destroyed by fire on Saturday night. ■ , ' Christchurch, August 4. Tlio City to-night decided to raise the wages of its employees for tlie futuro to £2 Ms. for a 47 hours' week. ,