TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1922, Page 4

TELEGRAMS

[BV TELEGnAFjHt—I’. 1 HESS ASSOCIATION]

LEGISLATION BY ORDER-IN-CO'UNCIL. FARMERS’ UNION ATTITUDE, i WELLINGTON, January 11. The motion protesting against the principle of legislation by Order-in-Council passed by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Fanners’ Union was discussed by the executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day. The motion applied particularly to alterations in the tariff effected through Gazette notice. Mr R. D. Duxfield said he thought there was a great deal too much legislation enacted by Order-in-Council. MV Massey himself had been one of the strongest opponents of the system when he was in opposition. The practice was increasing and something should, he done to check it.

Mr W. B. Matheson took the other side of the question. After all, he pointed out, if a Minister exercised his power unwisely he was answerable to Parliament at the next session. The system had been evolved after lengthy and exhaustive debate in the Hoove. Mr J. A. McPherson s aid he thought that a certain amount of latitude was justifiable at the present extraordinary time. Tt b’eboved fanners to allow those in authority some privilege, especially in view of what the Government was doing for the producers. The matter was deferred, the time being considered inopportune for any action. FORGED NATIONAL BANK NOTE. WELLINGTON, January 11. A prominent business man to-day discovered that included in an amount he was paj'ing to his credit at the bank was a forged National Bank note. It was one of the notes stolen from a vessel that arrived from England in 1919 and were freely put into circulation m Wellington.

A WOMAN VICTIMISED. CHRISTCHURCH, January 12. At tho Magistrate’s Court here, Harvey Roland Birch Miles was committed for trial on a charge of obtaining £27 11s b,V means of false pretences. The accused became acquainted with a widow in Lyttelton and he promised to marry her. Miles told her that he wanted to go homo to England to obtain some money that had been left him, and the complainant advanced him the sum mentioned. Subsequently she found that Miles was a. married man. She then took these proceedings. The complainant had had a child by the accused. In addition to being committed for trial, a maintenance order for 12s (xl a week was issued against Miles by the Court. GAME DECLARED ILLEGAL. TIM ABU, January 12. Mr Mosley S.M., to-day decided that the sports and carnival game called “Dart Pool” is an illegal one under Clause 8 of the Gaining Act. He convicted and fined an operator £2. It is understood that this is the first prosecution of this game. •

SEAMEN GET A RISE. CHRISTCHURCH Jan. 12. . Although he lias not received official advance, the Superintendent of Marine, Lyttelton, was informed to-day by the local delegates of the Seamen and Firemen’s Union, that flat ratp of 61 (is Bcl per month increase in seamen’s and firemen’s wages has been agreed to between the shipping companies and the Union. AN EXPLANATION. WELLINGTON, Jan. 12. Fn reference to the cable, Mr W. T. Young, General Secretary, of the Federated Seamen’s Union stated that the Federal Court of Arbitration made the increase in the seamen’s wages £1 6s 8d per calendar month, as from the 21st December inclusive. This arrangement was purely tentative, pending a final settlement of the whole dispute affecting the Australian seamen, about the end of next month. Clause 43 of the New Zealand agreement provides that any increase made in the wags of the seamen in Australia shall be correspondingly granted in New Zealand from the date the Australian increase takes effect. Acting on that clause, a communication was sent'to the shipowners on the 9th. inst., requesting that the wages of New Zealand seamen should be increased as from. December 21, and also asking that those men who had signed off the articles since December 20 should be paid the difference between the rate now ruling, and that which they were receiving. The period of the agreement under which the Now Zealand seamen are working will expire on February 28th next, but, in accordance with the law, that agreement will remain in force until it is superseded by another.

Whether fresh claims will bo made on the shipowners for a new agreement is not definitely known yet.