NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1887, 23 October 1913, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) $ FIRE AT TAIHAPE. Taihane, October 22. 'Ait unoccupied boardinfthoiise of twenty rooms at Mataroa, owned by Peter Gallagher, and a billiard room adjoining, owned by Patrick Drag, and occupied by Wright, wore rodiioed to ashes at 11 o'clock last night. The insurances on tho house are not ascertainable. The billiard room and contents were ipsured for £200 in the Standard Office. The origin of the fire is (i mystery. MILK-VENDORS FINED. Auckland, Octobor 21. ■ Two milk-vendors wero found guilty at the Polico Court to-day of selling milk with less milk-fat than is permitted by tho regulations. The Magistrate remarked that tho fact that there was no trace of watering was in favour of defendants, and he would therefore make the line what ho considered should bo the minimum for such an offence—£5. WORK LESS LABOURERS. Chrlstchurch, October 22. Mr. Howard, secretary of the General Labourers' Union, stated to-Jay that thoro was still a largo number of untmployed in tho city. Tho men wore ready to go to the country, but were informed work was scarce there pending operations of the shearing stations. Asked regarding the statement that the farm workers were holding out for higher wages,' Mr. Kennedy, secretory of tho Canterbury Agricultural Labourers' Union, said that many of tho men wero determined not to accept less than 255. and 275. 6d. weekly. Farmers wero paying 30s. to have the pick of tho men. THE LIBERALS. Hawara, OctoGcr 22. A largely-attended Liberal "rally" was held at tho Opera House last night, addresses being given by Messrs. J. C. Thomson, H. Atmore, and E. M. Isitt. A resolution was carried congratulating Sir Joseph Ward in assuming the leadership of tho Liberal Party. THE ARBITRATION BILL. Dunodin, October 22. At a representative meeting of members of various industrial unions of workers, held hore_ this evening for the purpose of protesting against tho < provisions of tho Industrial Conciliation Bill now before Parliament, the following resolution was unanimously carried:—"That this meeting of unionists enters its most emphatic protest against tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill introduced by tho Hon. W. F. Massey (Minister of Labour) ' being passed into law, and urges all members of Parliament to strenuously oppose tho measure now before them." Tho meoting was addressed by Messrs. R. Breeni, R. Slater, and J. D. Smith, each of the speakers attacking vigorously tho various clauses that were deemed unpalatable, to tho workers. TEACHERS' EXTRA DUTIES. Wanganul, Octobor 22. In response to a circular letter conveying the teachers' protest againßt tho extra duties' imposed by the Government Hi regard to medical inspection of school children, the Wangantii Board of Education to-night resolved that hea.d teachers bo informed that the board is not responsible for any instructions given in regard to medical inspection cf children, and that they aw not expected to curry out such work if it interferes with their school duties. z