TELEGRAMS. VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1921, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

j r_V iiLEGIIAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] ! UNEMPLOYMENT. i CHRISTCHURCH, April 15. I Unemployment among the skilled workers is now increasing here, according to the Labour Department. ! Twenty men applied to the Depart--1 ment for work this week, the majority j being general labourers, with a few | farm labourers and storemen, j The Trade Union official state there are signs that unemployment is likely in a number of trades in the near future. i - 1 THE PLUNKET SOCIETY. WELLINGTON, April 15. Giving evidence before the Hospital Commission, Dr Troby King, Govern- ' ment Director, speaking on child wel- j fare’, traced the history of operations of the Karitane hospitals. He said: j , “The Plunket Society strongly object . to being brought under control of the Hospital Boards in the various districts.” He thought that five years; from now the Society would need ncai- , ly 100 nurses. The Society was asking for a total subsidy of £IO,OOO m year. -Sir Janies Wilson, chairmaii id the 1 Palmerston North Board, stated that his Board collected 49 per cent, of the patients’ fees against an average of 22 per cent. When a patient came in his money was put in the safe. When the patient was leaving he was asked how much lie was going to pay for his maintenance. The good percentage of fees, collected last year might he due to the fact that a good many patients were soldiers, for whom the Defence Department paid. ; POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK. CHRISTCHURCH, Auril 14. j It was rumoured in Christchurch , that depositors with the Post Office Savings Bank wishing to make witlij draw als were being limited to £1 tirtj less they could show shine very good 1 reason why more should he given them. 1 It was stated that a young man who wished to draw sufficient to enable him to go for a fortnight’s holiday, found himself uha.ble to obtain more than 20s. 'Pile Chief Postmaster, Air R. D. Kelly, Oti being questioned last evening stated, however, that there was iio truth, whiltever in the rumour which was absolutely without foundatioi*. ESCAPEE STILL AT LARGE. AUCKLAND, April 15. The escaped prisoner, George Keys, is still evading arrest. The escapee was located in the Waikumcte district, ft is presumed that lie is surrounded by a cordon of police and warders and up to the present he is uncaptured. PREMIER IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, April 15. 'l’lie Premier arrived at Wellington l>v the express. Air and Mrs Alassev I are guests at a mayoral at home evetilinK Hon. J. Coates, D. H .Guthrie, C. -J. Parr, W. Nosworthy, Sir R. H. Rhodes and Dr. Poinare have arrived and will remain till the weekend.

COAL CONFERENCE. PROCEEDINGS AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, April 15 The State Mines Department put in a statement showing that the cost ol coal f. 0.1)., Greymouth, was 22s 6d and 42s per toft. Air Peter O’Rourke (President of the N.Z. .Miners’ Federation) addressed the conference» He spoke on the main points of the miners’ demands. Special reference wits made by him to the risk of the miners. He held that there are Fetter organisation and holidays and conditions elsewhere. Mr William Reece said lie regretted that Air O’Rourke had not given the conference sound arguments. He said be was relying on sympathy. Reference was made to the recent trouble at Pukemiro. Opinions differed as to whether the time lost was the result of a strike or a lock-out. Reference was also made to Lite causes that led to the Huntly trouble.

NEW COAL MINE. CHRISTCHURCH, April 14 The Commissioner of Crown Lands for Canterbury, Air G. H. Bullard, sat as Warden to deal with an application for a coal lease in the Hororata district. The applicant was Edwin Clement Llewellyn Derrelt, of Whitecliffs, humor, who applied for a coal lease in respect of 30 acres of a grazing run (92A). . . _ Mr Pascoe appeared for plaintiff." It was stilted that the marking out had been completed and a year’s rent paid. No objection being lodged the M aiden said lie would grant a provisional lease, subject to a report from Mr Green, Inspector of Mines, Dunedin. The matter could be brought forward again on May 3rd. Applicant in the meantime to comply with certain formalities required by the law. MEAT PRICES FALL. CHRISTCHURCH, April 15. At a conference between the Prices Investigation Tribunal here and the .Master Butchers, reductions in the retail prices of meat were agreed upon. They range from twopence to threepence per pound in regard to beef, and one penny to a penny-halfpenny on mutton. The new rates operate from Monday. THE MEAT CONTROL. WELLINGTON, April 15 In a letter to the Prime Minister, Sir Thomas Robinson, of the Imerial Meat Control Department, says he is glad to report that progress has been made in the settlement of outstanding items at between the suppliers of the British Government. He speaks in terms of highest, praise of the Department of Imperial Supplies, and says the excellence of arrangements greatly facilitated the settlement of a somewhat difficult matter.