MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1920, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

By Electric Telegraph —Cony ighl j .

OFFICIAL VERSION, LONDON) March 27,

The situation between the Government and the Miners Federation is that the latter agreed to accept IV per centage basis in respect to a wage increase, provided the Government increased its offer from 20 to 22] per cent. The executive previously asked for twenty-five per centum. The federation executive ask that a 22] per cent increase be guranteed and il wage in* crease of 3 j- for all exceeding eighteen years, and 2/- for those from six teen to eighteen years, and a shilling for under sixteen. A postponement until the 29th. of March was made to enable the GpJk vernnient to examine the figures preparatory to making a definite proposal.

DECIDING TO-DAY. LONDON, March 25

The miners delegates decide to-mor-row whether they resume negotiations with Hon. Lloyd George, who to-day met the delegates and ljiadq a slightly modified offer. FURTHER CONSULTATIONS. (Received this day at 8 a.pi.) .LONDON, March 25, Contrary to expectations, the Miners delegates at the conference this morning received an invitation to meet iff Lloyd George, Sir Bonar Law and other Ministers at Downing Street. The conference was about to adopt the Executive’s recommendation to proceed with a ballot, but immediately adjourned. The executive had a conference lasting two-and a half hours with Hon. Lloyd George, when it was stated that negotiations still proceeded hut the dele, gates said Lloyd George’s attitude was disappointing and they were not very sanguine. The Minister and confer* ence will resump this evening, Hon. Lloyd George announces he is willing to meet the miners at an v time.

TRIBUTE. TO THE! OTAKI. LONDON, March 27

At a dinner to naval architects Sir Thos. MacKenzie, proposing the toast of the Mercantile Marine, described the Otaki’s fight with the Moewe. At the close of the speech Rear Admiral Sir AA’illiam Nicholson rose and, announced

that in view of the splendid ac.tion the ship fought against the Moewe, the Admiralty had decided to name a. warship the “Otaki.B The Shipping Controller paid q tri r bute to New Zealand’s consideration in presenting requirements for ship r

ment, making the Controller strptcl) the Dominion’s allowance of tonnage fp the utmost. He deeply regretted Sir Tims, MaeKenzie’s term of office was ejid'Ufi,

BRITISH MEAT GLUT, LONDON, March 23. Commenting on the Government officials’ inefficiency in discharging meat, from steamers “Fafrplay” gives' details of twenty-four steamers, with Government owned frozen meat, arriving up to the end of 1010, which were detained in port on an average of thirty days in excess of the normal time, and also twelve that arrived in 1919 and are still awaiting discharge. It is pointed out that loss in the earning power of these steamers presents an almost fabu-

lous sum. SOVIET AND FINLAND. HELSINGFORS, March 25. , L It is reported the Bolsheviks are withdrawing in the Karelian front, indicating that the offensive against Fin- - land has been abandoned. . DEPUTIES AVAGES. PARIS, March 24. The Chamber, after a lengthy discussion, increased the salary of Deputies to one thousand francs monthly to meet the cost of living. Builders navies unions decided, that as the deputies increased their salaries, the workers should claim increased wages.