VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1921, Page 3

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS .

[BY TKLEGItAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION']

SELECTION OF DELEGATES

WANGANUI, January 14

A message from Dunedin regarding the election of delegates from 22 Workers Unions to the Australian Convention, J. Townsend, of Wanganui, was originally elected, but being unable to go the next candidate, C. Ei. Baldwin, of Christchurch likewise, S. Boreliain of Dunedin, was finally selected to be the second delegate. A MAN MISSING, i RUNS AWAY FROM WORK.

AUCKLAND, January 11

A man named Samuel O’Brien, employed in a scoria pit at Mt Albert, by Mr Cooley, contractor, disappeared last Tueisda.y evening, 'and has not been seen since.

S 'His behawiour for some time previous bad been accounted rather strange and on Tuesday last at 1 o’clock, he was seen running from the pit on tic further side of the mountain to the Government pit, which lies towards the city. At 7.o’clock in the evening he was again seen running across some paddocks in the direction of his home in Methuen Road, Avondale. Since then he has not been seen again, and although both the Avondale and Mt. Albert police have made a number of inquiries their attempts to find any trace of the missing man have been in vain. O’Brien is 54 years of sge.

AN AIR FLIGHT.

INVERCARGILL, Jan. 13

The most southerly aeroplane flight in the world was made to-day when a de Haviland machine from Timaru made a surprise visit to Stewart Island making a delivery of the ‘•Southland Times” and selecting a site suitable for a future landing place. It was the first aeroplane seen in the island and caused considerable pxeitememt. The machine left, for Dunedin at 4.45 with two passengers.

DUCKING A BOARDER

DUNEDIN, January 14

A case of ducking a hoarder at the Y.M.C.A. came before the Police Court to-day, when five young men were charged with assault. The compiaiuant said the defendants carried him upstairs to the bathroom on '.he second floor, forcibly undressed him, put him into a cold hath, and left him ih'.te. The Magistrate in convicting four of the defendants, said there was certainly a good deal of evidence ihnt Ihe complainant’s habits were objectionable to the boarders, but there was no justification for the drastic step taken bv tbe defendants. A fine of £2 each and rests was imposed.

BACKBLOCKS EDUCATION

WE ISLINGTON, Jan. 14

Tito Minister for Education stared to-day that it was proposed to establish a service of itinerant teachers for the baV'kblocks. At the present the backblocks schools is staffed largi !y with young people who have no better equipment than a standard certificate. Salaries are paid by means of a capitation grant of £ls per head of pupi.L. “The result,” said the Mirestor is that, education in some of the backblocks places is of a rather indiffere.t character. It is now proposed to pay a salary of £250 plus allowances to '.capable experienced young teachers who will go from family to family and give two or three days in each small centre.

PRICE OF FOODSTUFFS

WELLINGTON, January 14

A slight fall in the cost of living as far as food groups are concerned is indicated in the December monthly abstract. This' is accounted for by the fall in prices of items in groceries and dairy produce groups.

SUPERANNUATION (’RITICISM

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 14. -

At the first annual meeting of the Association of superannuated public servants to-day, the following resolution was carried :—We respectfully but most emphatically protest against the Government discontinuing after March 31st next the assistance it is now giving to lower paid superannuants and that we have the same right to this assistance on account, of the very greatly increased cost of living as present members of Public Service who are in every case assisted. Further that we are much more in need of it and that as there is no near prospect of the cost of living being appreciably reduced in the principal essentials of life we claim that the assistance to superannunants should he continued as it is given to those still in the Public Service.

It was decided to write to the Prime Minister as follows“We members of the association of superannuated public servants of New Zealand respectfully request that you will kindly ascertain from the Home Government what has been done by them in granting permanent and temporary assistance to superamtated public servants and convey to us the result of such enquiries. We regret that your Government has not given us a “square deal” as compared with the Home Government in their dealings with their public servants, and seeing that you are thoroughly imperialistic and professedly follow in their steps in these matters, and as you have stated in Parliament that New Zalaiul is in a better financial position than other countries in the world, why this exceptional treatment to Public Servants of New Zealand ? It was decided the time Lad come to ask the Government to consolidate the whole of the Public Superannuation Fund into one Public Service Superannuation Fund.