TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1922, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

[BY TELEQItABH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION

WELLINGTON, April 28

Mack (Secretary of the A.S.ILS.i continued for the employees before the Arbitration Court to-day. Me supported the case against a reduction of the bonus, saying railwaymen who did not all pay such high rent as other workers qnd received part of their clothing were not able to keep pace with the cost of living oil tliir present wages, without overtime.

Evans (Otago), contended that no reduction should come before the Commissioner defined a reasonable standard of living. NEW ANCHOR LINED. NELSON, April 28. The Anchor Coy’s new steamer Titoki, arrived from Glasgow to-day, after a voyage of nine weeks. A fireman tujined Donald MeClemens, a native of Glasgow, disappeared the second day opt. It is presumed lie fell overboard. The Titoki left two of the crew at Cristobel Hospital.

IRON ORE. • NELSON, April 28. The first lot of iron from Onakaka last night is of splendid quality. The expert in charge is very satisfied, everything running smoothly.

A SUDDEN DEATH. HASTINGS, April 28. Mary Alexandria Frame, a bank clerk of Dunedin, aged 32, on holiday, collapsed on retiring to her bedroom at the Grand Hotel last night and was dead on arrival of a doctor. She spent the day at the races and in the evening went to Napier.

ARBITRATION COURT. WELLINGTON, April 28 At the Arbitration Court, Mr Armstrong on behalf of Canterbury Unions, protested against any reduction, saying that the 1914 standard of living had not been sufficient and that th*c wages of to-day did not enable them to live up to that standard and if a commission were appointed it should go absolutelv into the question of rents. A reduction of wages would in no nay improve the prosperity ot the country. Mr Maddisou dealt exclusively with the subject of a fair standard of living saying that if a proper standard were set up, it would result in ail increase 1 output, a great industrial peace and increased national wealth.

LYSNAR LOSES CASE. WELLINGTON, April 28

The Court of Appeal continued hearing argument in the eases between Gi-: borne Harbour Board and George Henry Lysnar. The latter’s counsel (Mr Buriiard) cited further authorities in support of bis argument that section 57 of the Harbours Act did not compel the Harbour Board to call public tenders for work of the type referred to in the Board’s contract with Lysnar. After Mr Mvers bad replied, Sir Robert Stout stated the Court was of opinion -that section 57 ot the Hai hourAct, 1908, was mandatory, but the rea sons of Court would be put in writing. The result of this expression-pf opinion by the Court will be that the appeal by Gisborne Harbour Board will be allow oil and the contract between Lysnar and the Hoard declared invalid.

A DERRICK CRASHES. WELLINGTON, April' 29.

An accident occurred on the liner Durham last night. A heavy cargo derrick was taking the weight of a sling of cheese, when the shackle carried away and the derrick crashed across the coamings of number three hold. Fortunately no one was underneath, hut a wntersidcr, Michael Rnrry, at the winch had his hand caught between the derrick and the winch lever. The hand was badly crushed and bis fjidc and back bruised.

EDUCATION BOARD AND DEPART--51 ENT. WELLINGTON, April 29 The Secretary of the Education Department wrote to the Wellington Board, stating the Department objected to the Board paying interest on investments, into the general fund and insisting that interest must follow the capital, and be credited to the account from which it was derived. Exception was also taken to the expenditure on the general account exceeding the receipts by two thousand. The -Chairman said the practice with regard to interest was of long standing anti had the the approved of Government auditors. He also referred adversely to the new regulations regarding technical and life saving classes. They had eight small technical centres, and four of them would not now be able to carry on. They should protest strongly against the attitude of the Department. \\ ith regard to the general account the grant to the Board had been umvarrantly reduced, in spite of increases in the costs of all sorts. Members of the Board were practically unanimous in condemning the Department’s attitude. One declared it was about time a Royal Commission was appointed to investigate its methods, for the results would astonish the community. It was decided to return a reply that the Audit Department had for years held the Board’s procedure with regard to interest to be correct.

A CHARGE FAILS. WELLINGTON, April 29. The first prosecution under the Act making it an offence to demand a bonus for letting a house, was heard here, hut fell through, as the defendant said ho had not asked for £5 bonus but for £5 rent to ho paid ill advance. The magistrate said there was room for a mistake, and dismissed th.o case, hut said had a conviction been obained ho would have inflicted a fine of fifty pounds.