LATE NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1845, 28 August 1906, Page 2

LATE NEW ZEALAND.

PRESS ASSOCIATION

Wellington, last night. The Premier to-night received a deputation from the Central Executive of the New Zeal md Friendly Societies’ Association, which placed before him some of the resolutions dealt with at the recent conference held in Wellington. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said it was intended to appoint a head of the Friendly Societies at an early date, and to make the department an independent one. The existing system had probably been too slow, and required galvanising into life. He hop ad to place the department in touch with the Colonial Executive. If there wbb anything unfair about old age pension payments to members of societies in recoipt of sick pay it would be looked into. The pension eoheme was not meaDt to be admioistered in any Darrow spirit. Where a man had been contributing to a Friendly Society, and place! himself beyond need of charitable support, that ought cot to be mixed up with tho broader and greater scheme of old age pensions. Hs thought it would be a good thing if there were some Bystem of arbitration between tho societies and the Medical Association.

The advisableness of removing the customs duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem from potatoes was brought under the notice of the Minister for Labor to day. Mr Miller said lie recognised the hardship of the duty, but once the question of tariff revision was before the House requests would be made for many other items to be placed on the free list The question must be deferred until Government was in a position to submit a comprehensive scheme of revision, A change is taking place in the directorate and management of the New Zealand Times Co, Messrs Bobert and Montague Bannister having disposed of their interest in tho paper, have resigned the positions they held. Dr. Findlay becomes Chairman of Directors, and Mr Wardcll Managing Director. Greymoutb, Let night. The first hockey match of the Canter-' bqry tour took plaoe to-day, when the combined Grejmauth team were defeated by two goals to nil. Tbe weather was unfavorable, light rains falling all day. Tbo ground was in a heavy, sloppy condition, whioh prevented a scientific die play, The teams wrra entertained at afternoon lea by tbe ladies, and to-night the visitors were entertained at a smoke oouoert.

The coal export for tbo week ending Saturday is 7031 tons 3 cwt. made up as follows: Sate mine, 3619 tons 8 cwt • Tyneside, 1819 tons 8 cwt; Blackball’ 1595 tons 7 owt. Too Brunner mine exported 40 tons of b icks and 45 tons of ook>.

A Chioaman was fouod dead in his hut at Ooekabully, near Marsden, on Sunday, and at an ir queet to-day a verdtot of death from natural causes was returned. D.orated was 65 years of ago, and had been over 35 years in the district.