TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1917, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

Per Press Association.—Copyright. COAL MINERS’ CONFERENCE, Statement of Position.

WELLINGTON, May 15. The Miners’ Federation Executive concluded its deliberations to-day and will issue a statement setting forth their justification of the men’s claims. This will contain no hint of future plans to meet the next move of citing tlie men before tho (Conciliation Council. The matter is to bo referred to tho miners for decisoin. WELLINGTON, May 15. . A statement has been issued signed by Jones, President, Coppersmith vicepresident, and Arbuckle, Secretary of the Miner’s Federation, replying to tho Employers statement regarding last week’s conference. The Federation does not dispute the employers statement so far as relates to happenings when the employers and men’s representative met, but denies that any conference was held. The Federation declares that the employers positively refused to confer with the Employee’s representatives. The meeting resolving itself into a form of deputation, the employers merely delivering an ultimatum and then refus-

ing to say anything further, though the miners’ strained every point in the endeavour to pursuade the employers to discuss the men’s grievances in detail. The Federation does not oonsider th» employers offer as liberal as the emplo.vei’si statement claimed. It granted 2i% advance on the former offer, but the employers refused to discuss tha changes which the miners consider necesyary in working conditions, and imperative in some mines for the preservation of life and limb, which comes before any consideration of increased wages. The Federation points out that tho cosh of production increased eight pence per ton, and consumers! are asked to pay eight shillings per ton more. The Federation criticises the Government’s attitude toward the miners and urges action under the War Regulations to compel coal owners to properly discuss the matters' in dispute, instancing the fact that the Government stepped in to secure wool at a fixed price, when there was a danger of a stoppage of supplies needed for the clothing of the troops. Interesting Operation.

'Wellington, May 14 The surgical operation on a long term prisoner, took place to-day. It is hoped that as a ro3nlt of removing pressure from a portion of hia brain the man will Io?o the f. bnormal tendency which occasionally caused violent criminal outbursts. The Hon J. A, Hanan, Minister of Justice, states that the operation was completed satisfactorily. The doctor found bone pressure, viz., intra-oranial pressure, due to fluid and meningeal adhesion* This trouble was removed. The patient stood the operation fairly well.

Red Cross AppealInvercargill, May 14 Since His Majesty the Kiog’e appeal on behalf of the British Red Orof>s Society, eubscriptioaa from all parta-of Southland have been coming in steadily. The final instalment, remitted to-day, brings Southland’s total contributions to £5270.

Breach of Promise Action . Auckland, May 14 la th? Supreme Court, lima Eileen Pegler claimed £5Ol from George Thomas Coxhead, farmer, for breach of promise to marry. The case for the p’aintiff was that about a month before the date proposed for the marriage, defendant broke off the engagement, offering no excuse. Defendant’s counsel denied an allegation by opposing counsel that Cixhead’s family had been agreeable to the engagement oniy eo long as it proved a bar to bis being compelled to go to the war, and that their attitude changed on the introduction of the Military Service Act. Ojausel stated that defendant, finding his affection waning, had taken the course of breaking off the relationship rather than risk marriage. In the oircumstances this, counsel suggested, was honorable. The jury awarded £2OO.

Accidentally Shot. Rotorua, May 14 Edward Pope, a motor owner, of Rotorua, was accidentally killed by discharge of his own gun while shooting at Whakatane on Sunday, the trigger having caught iu the fern. Out of Danger. Rotorua, May 14 William Herbert Hayden, who was seriously injured while repairing an electric light wire at the Pos-master Bath on Friday is now out of danger

Supreme CourtChristchurch, May 16 The trial of Charles Busier, charged with tha murder of Henrietta Foster, on a farm near Oxford, was commenced to>day in the Supreme Court. The prisoner pleaded “not guilty.” The evidence given is on the lines of the preliminary trial. The case for the Crown will last all day. Further Adjourned Christchurch, May 16 The sedition charges against P. O. Webb were further adjourned in the Police Court till next Wednesday.

A. and P- Show Invercargill, May 15 The Southland Agti cultural and Pastoral Association Winter Show opened to-day in beauti ftil weather. The Industrial sectioi is very fine one, and the entries con stitute a record. The display of th teohnical college pupils is a featur and contains a most interesting collec tion of woodwork. The exhibits o fat stock are the bast yet, seen at thi Invercargill show. The oats exhibiiet ar? very fine and bear evidence of tbi splendid season Southland h?s experi enoed.

The Show wes opened by Mr J C Thompson, M.P. who mentioned ihsl Southland's exports last year totalled elm oat £2,000,000. I Despite the restricted train "ervice, non-issue of excursion tickets, and the absence of the Agricultural Department's exhibits, the success of the Show from every point of view is absolutely assured. Teacher Soldiers

Wellington, May 14 An important question raised in

various parts oLthe Dominion is that of the position of public-school teachers absent on active service. The Hon J. A Hunan, Minister of Education, asked whether auy provision had been

made for safeguarding their interests, said th".t tbe appointment and promotion ofteachera was entirely under control of Education Boards, who generally are fiMiDg vacancies by temporary appointments, and in some instances bad promoted teachers absent

on active service. He hoped that all the boards would adopt this attitude in order that tho men may not s,uff6r in consequence of their patriotic action in serving the country. So far as the Department wsb concerned every care would be taken that they do cot suffer with respect to their position ob the grading list. Under that scheme teaobera engaged on m.ilitery service are beiDg raised in status aa fu'dy e* if they were still employed in the profession. They will thus more than maintain their position on the grading list, which it is thought will, in course of time, bocorae the promotion list.

An Appeal Dismissed. Dunedin, May 12 Before the first Otago Military Service Board to-day, George Frederick Dans, of Dunedin, egad thirty-five said that he did not appeal on religious grounds, as stated on the appeal form, but rather on conscientims grounds. He bad been advised by the group officer at Auckland to appeal with a vi6W to being drafted to the Ambulance Corps. Appeiiaut described himself as a “registered speaker of the Spiritualist Church of New Zealand, and defined this for tho benefit of the board as one who was able to conduct services and to give..messages from the world beyond to this woild. His engagement with hia church would terminate on July 15:h ntxi. The appeal was dismissed.

A Suspicious Fire Auckland, May 16 A fire destroyed Wilson and Cauham’s feilmougsry at Panmure, together with all the wool belonging to the Government, valued at £4,000. The outbreak occurred some hours after the men had ceased work. In view of a similar fire at Feilding and strange happeniuga in another Auckland fellmoDgery, oitcumstancps are suspicious, and are being investigated by the police. Superannuation FundWellington, May 12 The quarterly meeting of the Publio Service Superannuation Board granted annual allowances totalling £4287 to twenty-three contributors, retired under aeatioa 35. Six, retired as medi-

cally unfit were granted allowances aggregating £3BO. Sixteen widows were granted a statutory allowance of 14/ per week totalling £522, A policeman retired as medically unfit, as the result of injuries received in the execution of his duty, was granted an additional allowance. In consequence of retirements under seotion 35, accrued compensation

amounting to £10,376 h a ® become a liabiliiy of the Saperannvation Fund. The amount at credit of the fund to April 30 was £956,226 an increase of £126,732 on the previous year.