VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1921, Page 3

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

i TELEGRAMS. :

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT

THE BONUS DECISION. WELLINGTON, May 29

The Trades Union Organisations’ argument will take place in the Arbitration Court at Wellington on June 6th., in reference to the Court’s recent pronouncement on the bonus question. Mr J. McCombs M.P., will represent the Christchurch and Wellington Unions. Mr T. Bloodworth will speak for the Unions ol Auckland.

WAGE REDUCTIONS

ON PUBLIC WORKS

CHRISTCHURCH, May 29. Owing to the substitution of the contract system on unemployment relief works on the Sumner Road, the men employed there have ceased to work under tlie original conditions provided for day work at the rate of 12s per day for married men, and for single men with dependents; and 10s a day for single men without dependents. This system was changed to the contract system, the payments, however, being equal for a normal day’s work. 0n o factor in the refusal of the men to work under theso conditions is stated to ho that they are meeting with accusations of “scabbing.” The award rate for general labourers in Canterbury is 16s per day and 15s per day for those permanently employed by local bodies.

CARPENTERS’ WAGES REDUCED

AUCKLAND, May 29. The wages for journeymen carpenters have been reduced to 2s 6d per hour as from to-morrow. This is ]pl per hour in excess of the award rate, but is 3d less than the prevailing standard during tho war, when the carpenters’ wages rose to 3s 3d per hour. SUDDEN DEATH. HASTINGS, May 30. Mrs Thomas Styles, wife of the exDeputv Mayor, died suddenly during the night. She complained of illness after retiring, and her husband attended to her. On waking at 6 a.m. lie found his wife lying dead alongside him. OBITUARY. WATMATK, May 30. The death occurred at her residence, Waimate, at one o’clock this morning, of Mrs Phillips, who during her life had an income of £3OO per annum under the will of the late John McLean, owner of Waikakahi station, taken over by Government 25 years ago under the close settlement scheme. Mrs Phillip’s income now reverts to the Christchurch In,me for indigent ladies, known as the McLean Institute. Deceased was .McLean’s housekeeper at the valley homestead for many years. Her benefactions here have been frequent and large.

STEAMERS’ GALLEY STAFFS

WELLINGTON, May 29

The award of the Court of Arbitration in reference to galley staffs employed in the vessels of the Union Company. has been filed. Wages are fixed as follows; —Passenger steamers: Chief cook (inter-colonial and foreign going), £22 10s per month; chief cook, (steamers, other than inter-colonial or foreign going), £2l; second cook, £l7; extra second cook £l6; third cook, £l4; extra third cook, £l3; ship’s cook £l6 10s jnssistant ship’s cook, £l3; baker (inter-colonial and foreign going steamers), £lB 10s; baker, (other steamers), £lB 10s; second baker (where two or more are ('carried) £ls 10s; assistant linker £l4 10s; butcher (inter-colonial and foreign-going steamers), £l6; butcher (other steamers), £l;*.; second butcher (where two or more are carried), £l4 10s; assistant butcher, £l3 10s; sculleryman, £l3. Cargo steamers.—Chief cook, £l7 10s, second cook £l3. Hours of labour.—Ten per day. Overtime. Paid for at the rate of 2s an hour The award comes into force as from June Ist 1921, and remains in operation till March Ist, 1922. Provision is made for a weekly half holiday. In the memorandum attached to the award, the Court says it had considerable difficulty in settling the wages clause, but in view of the fact that many companies’ vessels trading to New Zealand are working under Australian articles, it had been decided to adopt the scale fixed in the recent Australian agreement.

ENGINE DRIVER KILLED. AUCKLAND, May 80

A railway engine passing over a turntable ran into the pit and fell on its side. George Percy Wallace, the driver, married, was severely scalded and died this morning. Fireman W. C. McMillan escaped injury.

AN OCEAN RACE. AUCKLAND, May 31. A race between the steamers Otaki and Tairon,-from Panama, to Auckland, 6511 nautical miles, resulted in an eas.W win for the Otaki. Both vessels clear- ; cd Panama on 7tli May, the Otaki at , 8.16 p.m. and Tairoa two hours later, i for which an average of over thirteen knots on the trip voer tlie Pacific ocean. The Otaki reached port at 9.,30 a.m. yesterday and the Tairoa arrived at 2.30 this morning. HUANUI REFLOATED. GISBORNE, May 30. i The schooner Huaivui, recently strand ed on Waikanae beach, was floated off on Saturday night and berthed at the wharf yesterday. The vessel is leaking slightly There is no sign yet of the bodies of Captains Anderson and Martin. TOOK POISON. HASTINGS, May 30. A married man, William Jackson Griffen, 26, took poison yesterday. He became possessed of a small bottle partly filled witli poison, and on attempting to drink, the bottle was knocked out of his band and only a portion was consumed. He was removed to Napier Hospital ant) is doing as well ns can be. expected.