VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1921, Page 3

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

THE RAILWAY DISPUTE, THE OFFICIAL VIEW. WELLINGTON, January 20. The official side of the railway dispute re coal is that the men aro paid full wages for all the time they are employed. The Department would much prefer to use good coal, but must use what is availablie. The alternative would he to reduce many trains and throw many men out of employment altogether. Inferior coal is often the means of late wains and the burden of that falls on, the Department. It ’s contended further, that the firemen presented their strike notice without giving the Manager and officers adequate time to consider their claims and grievances. UNIVERSITY SENATE. WELLINGTON, This Day. At the University Senate, the Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) replying to criticisms of his address re the economic instructor (Rev Archer) in Canterbury, quoted from a pamphlet by Rev. Archer, speaking of “legalised robbery,” taking the Government out of the hands of robbers and transferring from private to public hands the business of producing and distributing tho necessities of life. This he (Sir Robert Stout) contended was the revolutonar.v programme. Rev. Archer iurther said we (tho Baptists) have not shrunk from shedding our blood in sacrifice. That was an implication of bloody revolution. He insisted that the statements he had quoted were simply encouraging sedition and tending to destroy the prosperity of tho Dominion. The rbsponsibiltiv rested on the Senate. .He had dono his duty. Professor Benham who had moved that the Senate disagree with the Chancellor’s address, said he' would withdraw the motion, though he thought it unfortunate that the Chancellor’s opinion had been printed in the address. Professor Hunter objected to the withdrawal, hut it was carried by twelve votes to eight.

RUN AMOK EPISODE.

WELLINGTON. This Day

Charles J. Clark, who ran amok through Manners Street in a motor car recently, and seriously injured several persons was brought before the Court. Evidence was given that he was going 35 to 45 miles an hour and dashed into n crowd waiting for a tram. When arrested he was daezd and incoherent and spoke of having a mission like Lionel Terry, but said he was not going to re]>eat his act (if killing a Chinaman. He was committed for trial. Counsel intimating that the defence would rest on the mental state of the accused.

BANKING RATES

WELLINGTON, Jan. 20

The following banking rates came into force to-day:—-Exchange on London, selling rate for telegraphic transfers sixty shillings per cent; fixed deposit rates, three months, three per cent; six months, 3.) per cent; twelve months, 4 per cent; 24 months, 4.) per rent. Advance rates, minimum rate for overdraft, 6) per cent, discounts, 6 per cent.

KAITANGATA MINERS. j

A CRISIS APPROACHING

DUNEDIN, January 20

At a stop work meeting of Kaitnngata miners yesterday, a letter was read from Kaitangata Oil and Coal Company stating that owing to the failure, durng the last three days, of many of the Company’s employees to start work at the proper time, the management notifies all employees that the mine would be open as usual for work to-day, and that any man failing to start at the proper time, except for sickness, would bo considered to have left the Company’s employ. It was stated that lamps were refused yesterday afternoon by many, and no men on the afternoon shift entered the mine. The men are determined to stand firm. Only three or four men on the day shift are working, and if the night shift joins the majority, matters will reach a crisis.