TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1922, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

[BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] METHODIST C ONFEIIENCE. AUCKLAND, Feb. 24 The Methodist Conference agreed upon a division of Hamilton circuit and increase of the Ministerial staff. It agreed upon the additional appointment being a matter of urgency. Huiroa, Tututawn and Douglas were incorporated in Stratford circuit. The proposal to divide Rangiora circuit was not carried. It was agreed to divide Riverton and Tuatapcre and appoint home missionary to each. Queenstown was attached to Gore circuit. It was agreed to appoint an additional Minister to Auckland East, a probationer to Frankton, Wanganui East, Gisborne, Ivilbirnie, Masterton, Ficton and Sunnier; Home missionaries to Ngatea. Dovedale. Extension work on the east coast to be considered by the Home Mission Executive during the year. It was decided to appoint a Home Missionary to Wairoa (.11. B), with a suitable grant. The following candidates for the Ministry were received —Messrs J. I'. Jack, C. R. Peterson, and E .O. Haddon.

LABOUR CAMPAIGN. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb 24

The Labour Party opened its election campaign in Christchurch to-night, when an open-air meeting was held in Victoria Square, and addresses were given hv Messrs McCombs, Howard, and Sullivan.

It was stated l>v the chairman (Mr H. T. Armstrong), and also by Mr Howard that the Labour Party would not join in with the Liberals. Messrs McCombs and Howard said that the only effective opposition last session was that of the Labour Party.

Tho speakers dealt chiefly with the taxation remissions, the Arbitration Amendment Act, and the Public Service retrenchment.

THE WAGE CUTS. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 24

The Arbitration Court proposes to make a general pronouncement on the bonus question on receipt of certain information from the Government Statistician of next month.

Following upon this general pronouncement, the parties will be given an opportunity of being board before the oourt in Wellington, before a final order is made. Thvi bearing will take place probably towards the end of April, and any general order made by tho Court will operate as from May Ist.

PLAGUE PRECAUTIONS. WELLINGTON, Feb. 24

fn view of the approach of March, the danger month for the bubonic plague, it was stated by the Health Minister to-day that instructions have been given to the Medical Health Officers atall ports that all precautions regarding the berthing of ships must be most rigidly carried out and supervised. It is expected that this will receive the personal -attention of the medical officers themselves though inspectors will be specially detailed for each port for this work.

The precautions include fending off ships at least four feet from the wharves, the tarring for four feet of each hawser night and morning, and the provision of effective hawser discs. “I am enquiring,” added the- Minister, “into a complaint that at one port there has been neglect in noticing that hawser?, must he freshly coated with tar every day, according to instructions.”

RAIDS ON GAMBLERS. WELLINGTON, Fell 24

This evening, Chief Detective Kemp, four detectives, and three constables, raided alleged pakapoo shops, one in Naming Street, and others in Taranaki Street. They arrested seven Chinese •and three white men, who will come before the Court to-morrow. To-day also Sergt Sweeney, and six eon,stables arrested a dozen men on the water front for allegedly playing hazards. STATE COLLIERY. WELLINGTON, Feb. 24 The Minister of Mines, the Hon G. ,T. Anderson, has returned to Wellington after inspection of a property at Waikokowai, in the "Waikato, where it was tlie intention to develop a State coal mine for the North Island. It was originally estimated that rail connection could he provided for £43,000 hut the present estimated cost i« !; 120,000, which with mine development, a small part of which is in progress, would bring the capital expenditure to about £250,000. Mr Anderson states that as the time is not opportune for such a large expenditure the 'Government will meanwhile close down •development work - , leaving it in such n position that Hie value of the work already done will not he lost.