VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1921, Page 4

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY XEBEC,HATH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

FARM WAGES REDUCED

! BLENHEIM, May 30. | The general meeting of the farmeis * of Marlborough, convened to discuss the question of reducing the scale of wages for farm workers, was attended by only about a score of producers, but the gathering was fairly representative of the various' branches of farming. The justification for a reduction of wages was affirmed, and steps were taken to acquaint the farmers with the reduction effected in other places, the matter then to be left to the individual discretion of the employers. The general tone was sympathetic to the genuine rank and file of farm workers, the chairmaan saying at the outset’: “I want it to be quite clearly understood that we are not here unmercifully to cut down wages.” He suggested that farm labour should be classified. married men with families to have first consideration even to the extent of sacrificing the single men with dependants. The boy class, which had grown up during the scarcity of labour, was paid utterly out. of proportion with the work the young fellows did, or rather did not or would not do. The Ikjvs knew but little of what was required of them, and would not condescend to learn, so could bo dispensed with.

EAST COAST RAILWAY

STATEMENT BY HON. J. G COATES.

WELUNGTON, May 30

Referrng to the East Coast railway the Hon. J. G. Coates said he would not he able to tackle anything like progressive work there for a couple of years. He hoped by then to have cleared enough lines to be able to tackle the East Coast line in earnest. The Waikokopu construction .should be finished in twelve months. In connexion with the Napier end, if they could make satisfactory arrangements with the Harbour Board, and as soon as material arrived for laying the line to the men now at work at the northern end would be brought back to do the platelaying up to Eskdale. Only sufficient men to keep the machinery going would be left at the northern end. The balance of the work would be available for relief work. The first essential would lie the construction of roads. At present. the place had no’ outlet at all.

i COST OF BUILDING U A LUNG. WELLINGTON. May 30. Within the last few months there has been a tremendous failing off i building operations, attributed to the difficulty of raising money, even at such a high rate as 7.J per cent, i A prominent contractor in Wellington stated to-day that building costs were certainly coming down. It. was probable that on an average the fixed tender to-day was 15 per cent lower than it would have been on January 1 I last. This Was due in the main to ! lower costs of materials. Tn making up j a tender to-day the contractor did not ■ have to provide for uncertainties as to | price, which was the case six months 1 ago That was the main factor which j counted to-day. It seemed quite likely ! that there would he a further drop in J lenders. However those who had waited for the favourable change now in sight, found that they were unable to proceed with their building programmes, because they could not raise money. If money could only he arranged for at- a reasonahl figure an enormous amount of building would he proceeded with .

UIMvWERA LANDS. WELLINGTON. May 30

Within the Inst couple of weeks the Hons. I). IT. Guthrie and J. G. Coates have been visiting [Trewera respecting a scheme for the settlement of that area.. Yesterday the Ministers said tlie scheme was one l of land consolidation. wliich was recognised a< the only feasible method by which the land could lie expeditiously settled. The Maoris now recognised that it was to their interests to have the land consolidated in blocks. At a meeting at Ruatoki, the natives agreed to adopt the suggestion. In order to carry out the scheme the Government is appointing a representative of the Lands Department and another of the Native Department to go into all details with the natives at a meeting at Rnaoki on July 18. The, Hon A. T. Ngata also will be present.

FIRE AT NEW PLYMOUTH. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 28. A fourteen-rootned house in Avenue Road, owned and occupied by Mr J. W. Gardiner, was completely destroyed by fire at an early hour this morning. The family narrowly escaped in their night attire. BOILER, EXPLOSION. AUCLANI), May ‘JB. Ambrose Wilson, aged 18, who was camping on a steam yacht with the owner’s permission with another youth, was killed by a. boiler explosion while asleep. The explosion was persuinahly caused by some unauthorised person firing up, while the youths were at the pictures in town. RIDER AND HORSE KILLED. AUCKLAND, May 28. John Sutherland, farmer, of Piikurangi, who went to bring in a herd of cows, was found with his horse in a ditch. Both were dead with their necks broken, evidently’ by a fall due to the slippery ground. Deceased was previouly employed by the Railway Depart mont. A HOSPITAL DISPUTE. AUCKLAND, May 30. The Hon C. J. Parr, Minister in Charge of Hospitals, announces that the Government has appointed Mr Poyntoo, S.M. to act with Colonel Collins. Auditor-General, fo investigate tho claim by the Otago Park Hospital against the Dunedin Hospital Board for a share in property of the latter to the value of £41,000. Tho Commissioners will take evidence at Dunedin and report to tho Government, who will then issue tin Ordor-in-Council.