TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS

RAILWAY WORKERS DEMAND. CHRISTCHURCH, March 6. A stop work meeting of about 500 employees of the railway workshops at Addington passed resolutions(l) On account of the cost of living increasing since the Railway Wages Board sat, we advise our executive to demand at least 5s per day increase, and pledge ourselves to support them in obtaining the demand; also that the Executive be urged to meet at once and decide upon an immediate line of action. (2) This meeting after reading in the newspapers Hon. Coates’ partial denial of the wanton destruction of military garments, still further respectfully request him to fulfill his contract to us as he had payments for articles six weeks in advance; we further ask employees to refuse to accept the return of their money until a final reply is received from Hon Coates. BREAD PRICES. WELLINGTON, March 6. There were ho fresh developments today in the bread situation. The bakeis hope to see the premier on Monday and expect delegates from different parts of the Dominion on Wednesday for a conference. Meanwhile the advanced prices are maintained and no drastic action will be taken unless new prices are gazetted. BRASS BANDS. DUNEDIN, March 6. The result of the Brass Bands contest A. grade is—Kaikorai and Wanganui Garrison, equal with 283 points each; South Canterbury Regimental, - 276 points 3; Invercargill Hibernian BaJid, 270 points 4th. PROFITEERING. DUNEDIN, March 6. Clarke (ex-Mayor), Gallaway, (retired solicitor), Brown (vice-President of the Tailoresses Union, and Secretary of the Co-operate Bootmakers’ Union), have been appointed to consider complaints respecting alleged profiteering. PRICE OF TIMBER. WELLINGTON, March 6. An increase in the price of building timber has been authorised by the Board of Trade consequent on the increased cost of produeton. Ordinary building rimu goes up Is 6d per 100 ft., heart of Rimu, 2s per 100 ft. The rise is equivalent to less than ten per cent, increase in the selling price at the mill. A WAR MEMORIAL. GISBORNE, March 6. General Sir Arthur Russell unveiled a memorial to fallen soldiers at St. Andrew’s Church last night. He delivered an impressive address on the lesson of cheerful self sacrifices given by the men who died in the war. A GENEROUS PROPOSAL. GISBORNE, March 6. In 1917 Messrs Williams Bros purchased for £40,000 a large property in East Cape district and set it aside for returned soldiers. They stocked it, and have since been working it to pay off the purchase price of the stock. They now propose to allot the block to returned soldiers from Waiapu district and have formed themselves into a Board of Trust. They will allocate successful applications such moneys as are requited for stock and buildings at 5 per cent, with the.purchase money which eventually will'be repaid. The trustees intend to provide a capital fund for the assistance of returned soldiers.

GERMAN GOODS. AUCKLAND, March 6. The last Dominion Drapers’ Conference in Auckland representing the retail soft goods trade passed a resolution expressing strong aversion to deal in German goods and requesting Government to state its attitude regarding the resumption of trade with Austria and Germany, and if such goods were admitted that definite words denoting the country of original be decided upon and rigid steps be taken to prevent the admission of German or Austrian goods through other countries, and that a much heavier penalising import duty be imposed than that now enforced under the British preference clause. IN CONFERENCE. AUCKLAND, March 6. The Dominion conference representatives of soft goods trades passed a resolution that some sort of profit sharing between employers and employees in trade is desirable. Tlie order recently issued by the British Board of Trade as a guide to tribunals dealing with profiteering was regarded as conceding what traders had all along affirmed, that in deciding whether the price charged for any particular article is reasonable, regard must be paid to all the circumstances of th« case.

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY. NELSON, March 7. Mr W. A. Stapleton, proprietor of Stevenson’s Hotel, Reefton, and owner of the trotter Palmdale, was the victim of an attack about half-past three on Saturday morning. He was staying with a friend at Brightwater, and his bedroom was entered while he was asleep. He received a severe blow on the side of the head with a heavy object, wliich caused a large wound. He was able to get up and grappled with the intruder who, however, ascapod. Mr Stapleton was about again on Saturday. Robbery is believed bo have been the object of'the assault, but nothing was taken.