WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

Waiarsida Workars

The Kew Agreement

(Our Special Correspondent.)

Wellington, April 14

The special “stop-work” nu-euog „f <)>,* W..|’w:, T :o W.wbVi-- Work;-s’

U-ho«i held on S:fu.*U¥ motnio* to c insider the taufiiMtion of ihe new

agreement does not appear to have been in a particularly conciliatory frame cf mind. 'lt finat'y decided that as the agreement affected the whole of thy workers a b*l ot of all members of unions affiliated to tbe New Z inland Waterside Federation should bs taken.to day and to-morrow and this ia now in progress.

As far as as can ba ascertained by an outsider the restless section of the local union has gathered some strength from the demonstration by the coalminors, but the general opinion is that the agreement will be ratified and that fattber trouble will ba averted. A good dsal will depend npm the result of the ministerial mission to Westport and it is hoped good news will bB received from Sir Jamas Allen and the Hen W. D. S. Mac Don ild today. PICTURE CENSORSHIP The New Zealand Catholic Federation, which ia mainly responsible for the initiation of the present system of cinema film censotslpp, is dissatisfied, as it has some reason to he, with the working of the system, and is moving for a farther conference of representative bodies with a view ko its improvemetu. One of the reqnised is ihe appointment of some body properly constituted with authority to appeal in the interests of the general public against the decisions of the censor.

Tbe picture show proprietors already have the right of appeal and it is felt this is a somewhat one-sided arrangement waits no representative of the public bar* a similar, privilege. It is also desired to have seme official supervision over picture ebow and theatrical posters which ou occasions are ev6u more unpleasantly suggestive than are the entertainments they are intended to advertise.

RAILWAY ECONOMIES. A complaint that c'.mas from tho south of fortunately-placed Government officials receiving moie travelling facilities than are desirable in the interests of the revenue while drastic economies are in contemplation is not being very widely endorsed here. Rail■-* ay emp’oyn-s and members of their families are given curtain we ldefined privileges, as also are members of Parliament and members cf fhe-r families, bat these do not seriously interfere with the general traffii, and State employees In oihsr departments have to pay 'heir own fares except when they travel on public business. There is a feeling, however, among people who have opportunities to observe that there is some lack of effects vs orgarisAticnfiu the railway service and that the be*t c-a is not always made of all. the hauls emp'oysd about the larger stat'o i-'. It appears passible for men who are nor- very kern about (heir duties to fill in eight, or ni'..e hours without doing a va-t amount of woi k. DODGING TI»E TAX-GATHERER In consequence of lepressntationa made by one of its co?respondents the “Dominion” h s obtained from, the Commissioner ov Tuxes a statement concerning people who appear to have been dodging their liability to pay income tex.

The Commissioner ia aware that “a very large number of farmers who should have paid income tax have not sent in returns of their income*, and so have avoided payment of taxes np to the presanl,” and it ia not intended to allow these man to escape their obligations altogether, and where they are discovered deliberately attempting to evade them (hey will be required to pay tiebla the amount that otherwise would have been demanded from thorn.

Of course, where the omission has been due to palpable inadvertence this penalty will not be enforced, but farmers and others in doubt will do well to send in their returns at once and ao avoid any further misunderstanding.