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Evening Star, Issue 22447, 18 September 1936, Page 8

With tho expressed intention of assisting the Government, members of the Auckland Builders and General Labourers’ Union decided at a meeting (says a Press Association etlegram) to suggest that periodic conferences between representatives of the Government and the workers should be arranged. In this way it was suggested that the confidence and the co-operation of the workers would be maintained. Mr T. Stanley, union secretary, said that much of the discontent among the workers was probably due to misunderstanding. The unidn believed that if the suggested course were followed industry would enjoy smoother progress.

An improvement in the tram service to Logan Park was urged by several speakers at the annual meeting of the Albion Cricket Club last evening. Criticism was levelled against the charge of one penny being made for the third section, which represented a distance of several hundred yards. One speaker suggested that the service would be profitable to the City Corporation if the line were extended to the Art Gallery in the form of a balloon loop, which should run down from the quarry to the grand stand on the main ground and back again to Union street. A bus service was also suggested as an alternative. On the motion of Dr A. Reid it was decided to approach the Otago Cricket Association with a view to that body making representations to the council for an improved service. Surely no more diverse occupations can bo imagined than iron moulding and biscuit making, yet a man who recently registered under the Labour Department’s placement scheme at Dunedin, and stated that he had been making biscuits for seven years, but gave as his major occupation that of a moulder, adding that he had not worked at that trade for 16 years. As there has for some time been an urgent demand from all parts of the Dominion for moulders, the placement officer got in touch with a local foundry, and, regardless of the worker’s long absence from the trade, the manager gave him a trial. The trial period is now over, and the latest report on the man’s work is that “ it is more than satisfactory.”-

The efforts of tho men at the Public Works camp at the Homer tunnel in arranging for the despatch to Dun - edin of the keas for tho Zoo have met with practical appreciation on the part of the well-known German woolbuyer, Mr Bruno Beyer, who was one of those who sponsored the ;proposal to have the birds sent to Germany. Mr Beyer has presented £5 towards the piano fund of the men at the Homer tunnel, and a Dunedin hotelkeeper has given another £5 ss. The men themselves are taking up a collection with the object of purchasing a piano. The Arbitration Court will conclude its sitting in Auckland on September 24, when the members of the court will leave for Hamilton. Compensation cases will be heard there on September 25, and on September 28 the court will hear evidence at Rotorua in connection with an application for an amendment of the passenger transport drivers’ award. The Dominion bakers’ dispute will come before the court on September 29 at Wellington, and the first of the West Coast sittings will begin ip Greymoutli in October. The court will sit again in Wellington on October 19 to hear evidence on the question of the basic wage. Fish is still very scarce on the market, but the general opinion is that, if the weather would clear, the supply would be restored to something approaching normal, as the fish apparently are coming back to the fishing, grounds, especially groper, which ■ is making a reappearance on the market. Groper yesterday on the market brought 82s a case, and to-day the same sized case brought 91s. The usual price for this commodity is 30s to 40s. Soles on the market to-day brought from 60s to 62s for a benzine box, the usual price being 20s to 30s. Flounders were bringing from 5s to 6s 6d a dozen, the usual price being from 3s to 4s. Ling is practically off the market just now. One merchant bought a nice consignment of blue cod which arrived at Bluff from Pegasus during the week, but he had to pay 6]d a lb. A consignment of terakihi arrived from Christchurch during the week and helped tho supply locally. Owing to the wet season whitebait is still very scarce. A small consignment on the market this week brought 5s a lb, equal to about 11s 6d a quart. Crayfish is still coming in in very good supply—about the only commodity that is. The condition of this fish is perfect, and the price is round about 20s, the same as is usually charged, allowing fish merchants a little profit 'A letter has been received by the New Zealand Shipping Company from Mr Bruno Beyer, who was one of thoso responsible for the proposal that led to the despatch of keas from the Hollyford Valley for the Berlin Zoo, and Mr Meyer expresses keen appreciation of the details forwarded concerning these birds. Mr Beyer, who is leaving for New Zealand, on October 2, says that everything will be done to receive the birds in good style at the Berlin Zoo, and he was going to London to take charge of the keas.

The recent episode at a meeting of the Wellington Education Board was referred to yesterday by Mr T. W. M'Donald, who stated (says a Press Association telegram) that the published report was ’ inaccurate in alleging that he did not return to the meeting. “ The true position is that I left the room after the hoard adjourned, and shortly afterwards I returned and remained in the board room until the meeting adjourned. No member of the Police Force entered the hoard _ room either when I was present or during the meeting of the board. The police, even if they wished to do so, and I am certain they did not, could not have lawfully interfered in the circumstances.” The feature of the week’s business on the local fruit and produce market has been the demand experienced from the north for . table potatoes, heavy shipments being made to North Island ports from Dunedin. Prices show a sharp advance, this position having arisen as a result of the increased South American demand for New Zealand potatoes. At the Port Chalmers Court this morning P. Lawson obtained judgment by default against E. G. Ludwig for the sum of £ll 11s 6d, with costs (£2 16s). The headquarters camp of the Public Works’ Department in the Hollyford has been removed from the foot of Mount Christina to within threequarters of a mile of the Homer tunnel. The post office has also been removed, and the postmaster states that he is paid a visit every morning by about 20 keas who are all ‘‘real characters.” With a view to augmenting the funds of t£e Boy Scouts’ Association, the annual Hobbies and Handicrafts Exhibition is to be held in the Pioneer Hall on Friday, September 25, when it will be officially opened by the mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) at 8 p.m., and and address will be given by the president (Sir Percy Sargood). The Dominion Commissioner (Colonel Fenwick) will be present, as well as the Deputy-commissioner (Colonel Cresswell), Air-marshal Sir Robert Clark Hall (Dominion Commissioner for Rovers). The exhibition will comprise every branch of handicraft work engaged in by the movement, and should give the public a thorough idea of the very fine work being carried on by the organisation. The display will be continued on the afternoon and evening of Saturday, September 26, and at each session items will be provided by the various troops. Afternoon tea and supper are being provided by lady members of the group committees. There will also be a display of paintings by leading Scottish and English artists, the collection having been lent to the association by Mr Barnett, of London.

The following resolution was carried unanimously at the general meeting of the South Dunedin Unemployed .Association on Wednesday:—“That we, the South Dunedin Unemployed Association, has the utmost confidence that the Government will do the right thing regarding the defence of New Zealand as it will do with all other questions.” The first local prosecution under the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 1936, creating a 30-miles-an-hour speed limit for vehicles in closely populated areas, came before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the Police Court this morning His Worship remarked that whether oy not the limit was regarded by a driver as ridiculously low, the regulation must be enforced.

Statistics of colds and soro throats, so prevalent during the last few weeks, are improving somewhat, reported the Medical Officer of Health (Dr T. M'Kibbin) to-day. The weekly return of infectious diseases showed that one case of diphtheria had occurred in the Southland district, while Southland and Otago each had one of pulmonary tuberculosis. There were two cases of pneumonic influenza in Otago and six of scarlet fever. Three cases of scarlet fever were also reported from Southland.

A garage has been purchased at Palmerston for the railway road motor services, and will be renovated and brought thoroughly up to date. This will be used as a junction for the Central Otago service, as well as the terminal' for the' main road services.