TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

I'PE- PHJiBB ASSOCIATION. COPTBIBHIii OAMARU, Jan. 21. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day J. A. Sutton, of Waitangi station, was finedv the maximum penalty, £IOO, for failing to ;destroy rabbits. The amount constitutes a record, the previous heavest, £7O, being inflicted in the North Island.

The Magistrate stated that the maximum was hardly sufficient. The defendant was probably making a large pro. fit from skins. The station comprised 56,000 acres, and the inspector stated it was over-run with rabbits. The Magistrate stressed the fact that the lease was falling in at the end of March, that soldier settlement on the section* was proposed, and the incoming tenants would be handicapped.

GRAIN CROPS DAMAGED. TIMARTJ, Jan. 21.' Reports from Fairlie state that the snowfall last week badly laid many of the grain crops. Some cannot recover, and others are so tangled that it will be difficult to reap them.

TRAMWAY DISPUTE. WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. In connexion with the tramway dis-' pute a conference was held to-day between the Mayor of Wellington, Mr Morton (general manager), and representatives of the Tramways Federation. Details regarding the running of trams were discussed at length, also the desirability of making the conditions applicable to the whole Dominion. It was finally decided that the Mayor should call another National Conference,, invitations to attend to be sept to the representatives of all tramway concerns. The Mayor agreed that tho date of the conference should be fixed for next Wednesday.

TAILORESSES’ DISPUTE. DUNEDIN, Jan. 21. ,

The tailoresses’ dispute was before the Conciliation Council to-day. An agreement was arrived at. The wages agreed upon' were:—First six months, 10s 6d per week; second 12s 6d; third 15s; fourth, 17s 6d; fifth, £1; sixth, £1 2s 6d; seventh, £1 ss; eight, £1 10s; and thereafter £2 per week. The term of apprenticeship was fixed at two years, and each worker to serve a term of two years as an improver. A 44 hours week was agreed to. The bonus clause in the Christchurch award was also agreed to as follows:—In addition to the maximum wage prescribed, there shall be paid to apprentices and improvers a bonus of 2s per week, and until the Court shall otherwise order. The memorandum added: “It is understood and agreed that the minimum wage of 40s -per week to journeymen includes the provision for the increase in the cost of living in accordance with the announcement of the Arbitration Court made in December, 1919. The term of the award was fixed for two years, to take effect from the 2nd of next month.

WESTPORT MEETING. WESTPORT, Jan. 22. Another large public meeting was held in the Westport Town Hall this evening, when the Mayor (Mr Leavei) read telegrams from the Prime Minister and from, Mr 11. Ei. Holland, M.P. The telegrams requested that a depu_ tation should come to Wellington, as the Prime Minister could not at present visit Westport, owing to stress of political duties. It. was resolved that the Mayor (Mr A. Leaver) and AD 1 Geo. Powell (Member of the County Council) accompany Mr Slee (Chairman of the Harbour Board) and Mr Mclntyre (member of the Harbour (Board and Chairman or the County Council) to Wellington in regard to the Harbour Board question. It was also resolved that the deputation urge the Prime Minister to proceed as rapidly as possible with thi construction of the Buller Gorge railway, so as to make available for the market the large coal deposits in the Gorge.

The meeting also expressed the hope that the Samoan Parliamentary Party would make Westport a port of call on their way to Samoa.

CONSUMPTION SANATORIUM TIMARU, Jan. 21

Dr Makgill, Acting Inspector-Gen-eral of Hospitals, conferred with the Hospital Board in reference to the erection of a consumption sanatorium for South Canterbury. The Board advocates a site at Lake Tekapo, but Dr Makgill said lie could not approve of this on account of the difficulties of administration, it being so far from the railway. AH the local medical men favoured the Tekapo site or as an alternative one near Fairlie. Dr Makgill said he would approve of a site at or near Fairlie, and he asked the Board to get several sites under offer, promising to visit the district near month to select one.