TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1922, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ABRN., COPYRIGHT,

MINERS’ APPEAL. WELLINGTON, May 2

At the Arbitration Court, Justice Frazer Mr Scott (Assessor for employers), and Mr Reardon (Assessor for the employees) sat to-day to lieai an appeal from the decision of Air AY. Aleldrum the Stipendiary Alagistrate, at Greymouth, lining AY iHi am Hal dotstone, Union Secretary at Blackball, £25 and posts for breach of a Section of the Industrial Conciliation and Aibitration Act, by inciting and instigating an unlawful strike of workers employed in the Blackball coal mine. The case was heard in Greymouth and the following facts were proved | or admitted: -That the defendant had worked as a coal miner during 1* months preceding the trial. During that time and previously, he held the appointment of Check AVcigher. Under section 86 of the Coal Miners’ Act a reduction was made by the company from the miners’ wages for tile payment oi the Check AYcigher. The defendant, on December 12th, 1921, and during the preceding 12 months, had not been r worker under the award. The Alagistrate held that the defendant wn> not a worker within the meaning of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and lienee was liable to a penalty not’ exceeding £2OO imposed on “any person other than a worker,” by Section 6 of the Act as for a breach of that Section. Accordingly, the Magistrate gave judgment for the plaintiff, tho Inspector of Awards/ for £25 and costs. Mr P. J. O’Regan appeared for the appellant, and Mr R. T. Hailey for the Inspector of Awards, the plaintiff at the original hearing. . Mr O’Regan, submitted, that, within the meaning of the Act, if the penalty inflicted was found to be incoirect, it was not conpetent for a Alngistrate to inflict a fine on a worker exceeding 910. Afte r hearing argument the Court reserved its decision.

TIMBER TRADE

DUNEDIN, May 2

There have been no importations to New Zealand of Baltic timber since the war. Advices have been received in Dunedin that Russia, and 1‘ inland have large stocks, and these have been thrown on the .London market, with the result that prices in England receded about 30 per cent. Ihe Baltic ports were, at last advices, closed oin account of ice. To compensate for that blocking, the manufacturing from timber was being carried on in both (Russia and Finland, and as soon as the ports are blessed with open water, these goods will be shipped to British and other ports, and probably cause a further reduction, which will further bring down the price of this muchprized timber. Like serevsil other industries, the hardwood trade in Western Australia is suffering from vicissitudes of the times. The State is affected in ' its export trade of jarrah largely in the British, Indian, and South African markets. Advices from London are that the timber trade in Gi-eat Britain is in a particularly depressed state, and pending an improvement in the position the outlet for Western Australia is restricted. ANGLICAN SYNOD. AUCKLAND, May 2. Tho Anglican Synod rejected by one vote a bill to centralise the Anglican Primacy at Wellington. The Primate said he could see difficulties in the way, and, in view of the divided decisions of the,.diocesan synods, three for three against, he wouldn’t pass the hill,

TAKE EFFECT AT ONCE. WELLINGTON, May 2. ' At a meeting of the Rugby Union Executive held this afternoon, Mr Slailo being chairman, it was decided ‘that the affiliated unions be officially notified that the new rules shall take •effect immediately. Ten reinstatements at Auckland and 'eight at Napier were approved. The proposed visit of a New Zealand team to South Africa next season was abandoned. CHRISTCHURCH, May 2. The new rule concerning kicking into touch will be adopted by the Canterbury Rugby Union in its competitions commencing next Saturday.