TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS

fpEH PIIESS ASSOCIATION.— COPYBIOIIT.')

PROPOSED WOOLLEN MILLS. DUNEDIN. Dec. 20,

At a public meeting the question of establishing woollen mills at Balclutlia was considered, the desirability of such a project affirmed, and a committee appointed to obtain further information. A speaker said there wero in New Zealand eleven such mills altogether. Two could be classed as very small, six were of medium size, and, two might lie regarded as very large, hour of these were public companies, paying from 10 per cent to 13 per cent on their capital, and 5 per cent to G per cent on the present market values of the shares. That showed how good the proposition was from the point, of view of Balclutha. Some of the mills bad not been success- ! ful at first- because they started on too small a scale, and it. was not till they increased their scale that they made progress. Ho would strongly advise ! against anything being done unless j .€50,000 worth of shares had been taken ! up, and €IOO,OOO worth was in signt. ! ft would he at-least three years before ! the mill would be in a position to sup--1 ply the finished article.

i RAILWAY MEN DELEGATES. | WELLINGTON, Dec 20. I The election of delegates under the system of proportional representation for tho triennial conference of .the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants lias resulted in the return of the following .South Island representatives: j Northern district —M. Connolly, guard, Greymouth; W. J. Elliott, gangLyttelton; T. J. Stokes, pointer, Addington. Southern district.—ll. Todd, electric lineman, Invercargill, W. Sullivan, tinsmith, Hillside; A. Duncan, guard Dunedin; T. (). M’Clellan, fitter, main- . tenanco workshops, Dunedin.

APPEAL ALLOWED. | - WELLINGTON. Dec 20. , In the appeal case in which the Ashburton High School Board of Governors were the appellants and Hugh M’Lean Urquhart the respondent, the Court allowed the appeal. . This was a case in which an appeal was made against the decision of Mr Justice Herdman, who awarded Urquhart .€BO,O damages for injuries sustained through on explosion of chemicals at the school, at which lie was a freelance pupil. I VERDICT OF SUICIDE. ! AUCKLAND, Doc 20. ! At the inquest into the death of William James Granville. (former employer of Thorn, who was executed to-day) a verdict was returned that deceased died from a. gunshot wound, self-inflicted, while under the influence of liquor and i mental strain, due to financial worry. : Evidence showed that deceased had tried to commit suicide on numerous occasions. WATER SI DEBS’ PAY. j WELLINGTON, Dec 20. ! The conference of waterside workers and employers of waterside labour was resumed to-day. At previous sittings ( the question of increased payment on ’ account of the increased cost 'of living . had been postponed pending the decision of the Arbitration Court in regard | to tho 9s bonus. Delegates to-day discussed tho cost of living and the jndg- : ment of the Court. ! The conference will be continued tomorrow .

I THE LAW EXAMINATIONS. WELLINGTON, Dec 20. The results of the New Zealand UniI versity November examinations in law and accountancy will not be available until about the middle of January. • The work of the examiners in several subjects is unusually heavy this year. 1 ' ‘ \ HOTEL WORKERS. ! WELLINGTON, December 21 j The Arbitration Court awarded a 48- ; hour week to the Wellington district hotel, club, and restaurant employees to-day. 1 A memorandum attached to the award states that a reduction was | strongly opposed by the employers, but j in view of the. fact that the 48-hcur ] week is practically universal in Ausj tralia as the result of awards and I agreements, thd ’Court saw no reason why it was not equally practicable in New Zealand. The hours being so reduced, the Court was not able to grant a material increase in wages, which are adjusted by increasing the basic wage. Not more than 10 hours may be worked in any day without payment for overtime. Except under special j circumstances, workers are not to he | brought hack after the day’s task is done until after an interval of at least 10 hours.

A six-day week was granted, w ith one lull day holiday per week and one week’s holiday per year on full pay after 12 months’ service, with a proportionate allowance for shorter service. Ray is to mean wages plus the allowance for board and lodging. The minimum wages are: Chef £5, second £3 10s, third £2 7s 6d; all others £2 where five are employed or more. Where four are employed : Chef £3 17s (id: second £2 10s; all others £2. Where three are employed : Chef £3; 17s 6d.; second. £2 10s; all others £2. Where two are employed: Chef £2, second £2 2s fid. The minimum rales are increased by a bonus of 10s per week for male and os for female workers. Waiters £3, head waitresses £1 15s, others £1 10s. Barmaids £3

The award also provides for casual workers. Work at race meetings is to he paid for at overtime at time and ahalf rates.