TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1919, Page 1

TELEGRAMS

Piiit muss ASSOCIATION. —COPYUIGHT.] MAiHENO DELAYED. DUNEDIN, September 16. The Mahcno, wh/ch was- to have sailed for Sydney to-day, is still held up at Port Chalmers. The delay is understood to be'due to the action of the firemen who, except five or siv, have all refused to sail unless beds arc provided for them free of charge. Under the award governing seamen and Bremen, it l\ad been a- custom for many years for men to pay a small sum for beds as they were averse to using old ones and sought clean and newly issued bedding. :

It is stated the old agreement., provided for this custom, so the action cf the men comes unexpectedly.

MAHENO’S HOLD UP. DUNEDIN, This Day. The Malieno was expected to leave j Port Chalmers at 4 p.m. yesterday for I Lyttelton, Wellington and Sydney, but just before sailing time it was found I that five members of the crew were not on the ship. There was some dissatisfaction regarding the free issiie of beds, but the conditions under which the men signed the articles provide they must supply their own bedding. The necessary men were engaged this morning, and the Maheno is expected to leave Port Chalmers at noon.

election campaign. WELLINGTON, September 16. Mr J- Read, the Labour candidate for Wellington Noftli, opened his campaign to-niglit. He charged the Tory-Liberal combination with having extended their term of office unconstitutionally, and with having passed law's for which they had no mandate for the people. They had allowed profiteering on an unprecedented scale, and without hindrance Ho said the Government had inflicted conscription on the people of New Zealand without consulting them. The Labour Party, he said, stood uncompromisingly against conscription in any form.

He drew attention to tlio danger underlying'the'fact that it was proposed that New Zealand should have only two represenatives in the Imperial Parliament;, but yet that that Parliament should have the power to declare war and to determine the whole of the Empire’s policies in regard to citizenship and to nationalisation.

Ho denounced such a state of affairs as a menace to our freedom.

MUNICIPAL COAL QUESTION 'CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 15. The City Council lias decided to extend its coal enterprise by further capital expenditure, and by importing Newcastle coal. ' According to a statement presented bv the Town Clerk, the Municipal Coal Venture shows some loss on its first 58 days. He points out, however that tin's position ought easily to be reversed now.