TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1922, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

(.BY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION N.Z. SEAMEN’S DISPUTE.

EMPLOYERS GO TO COURT. WELLINGTON, March 7. Following tho examples set by the employers in tlie mining dispute, and later in the waterside workers’ dispute, the Wellington shipowners have decided that the Arbitration Court shall he asked to determine the wages and conditions of the seamen. In the past llm shipowners have arranged, at private conferences, a national agreement with rhe Federated Seamen’s Union, hut the tactics of the employers have since undergone a change. The employers last week .submitted to the seamen proposals for a neW agreement, but, as the seamfen’s organisation .has not replied, a dispute Inis been created in terms of tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Claims were filed to-day in the Arbitration Court. It is understood that the shipowners are seeking a substantial reduction in wages, and an almost complete revision of the working conditions. The next step will he a meeting of the Conciliation Council.

POULTRY FARMING. PALMERSTON N., March 7. At last night’s meeting of the New Zealand Poultry Association, at which 60 delegates were present from all parts of New Zealand, Mr J. B. Mcrrett (Christchurch Secretary of the Association) gave notice o'f motion as follows: “That the Government he requested to hold over the cutting up of tho Avon-head settlement for returned soldiers, until Colonel Young and the chief Government Poultry Export visit the New South Wales Poultry settlements, obtain the fullest information, and investigate the desirability of a similar poultry Settlement at Avonhead.”

U XEM P r.O YED EX -SOLB lER S. WELLINGTON, March 7

A deputation composed of representatives of the War Relief Associate)!!, Repatriation Hoard, and N.Z.R.S.A., under the leadership of General Sir A. H. Russell, waited upon the Hons Guthrie and Anderson to-day to place the combined views before tho Ministers in regard to the absorption of unemployed disabled soldiers into various Government departments. It was forcibly pointed out that in many eases the pensions granted disabled soldiers were insufficient to keep the soldier, and a light job at a eoiresponding wage rate was necessary to augment the pension allowance. A scheme tor the employment of such soldiers was submitted to the Ministers by the deputation. Tho Ministers, in reply, staled that lliev would place the whole matter before Cabinet for further consideration.

DAMAGES CLAIM AGAINST NURSES. CHRISTCHURCH, March 7. At the Supreme Court, Annie danet McEwin was awarded £2lO damages, in an action brought by her against Beatrice Frances Williams and Mary Bohelcah Gilkes, proprietors of a private nursing home, for negligent and unskilful nursing. Plaintill had undergone an operation in the home, and ■while recovering from the effects ol the nnaestlietif, had both her heels burned by a hot water bottle.

■BEQUESTS TO PItKBYTBRIAN CHURCH.

AUCKLAND, March. 7

The Peacock bequests include £7OO to tho Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, £7OO to the Home Mission of the Presbyterian Church, Northern Sections.

FATAL FALL. AUCKLAND, March 7. Herbert ,J. Titlier, a refrigerating engineer on the Athenic, fell down the steamer’s bold this evening, sustaining injuries to his head, from which he died in the hospital an hour later. He was an •Englishman, and was between 30 and 40 years of age, and a married man.

TRAIN ACCIDENT INQUIRY. TE AWAMUTU, March 7

The police and official enquiry to-dav concerning last nigift’s explosion leads to the theory that the impact with the obstruction on the rail, which probably fell from the engine itself, caused the steam valves fo relax, giving tlio impression of an explosion. The vail hears -in impression for several inches as though a hard substance had been drag ged on it.

LICENSING POLLS

NINE-YEAR INTERVALS URGED.

CHRISTCHURCH, March 7

The Commercial Travellers’ Conference to-day carried the following remit: “That, whereas the tenure provided under the present Licensing Am is a hindrance to the erection of suitable hotels, and prevents the provision of the accommodation necessary for the increasing population, this conioieiice is of opinion that in the inteicsts of the travelling public, local option polls be taken at periods of not less than nine years.

SUPREME COURT. HAMILTON, -March 8

At the Supreme Court Henry -Maitland pleaded guilty to embezzling £llO, the funds of the Rowing Club, of which he was secretary. Sentence was deferred.

STATE FIRE INSURANCE

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

WELLINGTON, March G. The State Fire Insurance .Department’s report for the year ending Deember 31, 1921, shows that a big business was done. The surplus revenue account, states the general manager, Mr C. R. C. Rohieson, is the greatest yet realised except that tor 19-9. I ho progress of the business also proved quite satisfactory, especially in view of the fact that large qniitifiea of valuable produce in stores during the previous year have now been shipped, resulting in a considerable fall in revenue from that source which has had to he replaced from other sources. The total sum assured, new and re-

nowals, was £35,594,889, an increase of £2(823,938. The gross income from "'all sources was,, £197,839, compared with £183,190 in the previous year. Deducting re-in sura rices and returned premiums there remained a net income of £150,072. After paying losses a'rid working expenses, the gross surplus amounted to £69,554, which will be allocated as follows:—Unearned premium reserve, £4756; investment fluctuations reserve, £1000; income tax, | £24,473; leaving a net profit balance of £39,324. Losses for tRe year totalled £38,125, or 27.95 per cent of the net piemium income. “This ratio,” states the general manager, “may be regarded as something more than satisfactory iii view of the' ■ very serious.run of fires which took place in the early months of the year. The loss ratio is far below the pre-war averages.” Working expenses were 31.07 per cent of income, being a reduction of 4 per cent on the previous year. A further considerable reduction is expected this year owing to the reduction of the cost of living bonus paid the staff. The accumulated funds at Lite close of 1921 amounted to £361,138, an increase of £45,080 over the previous year’s figures.