TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1922, Page 1

TELEGRAMS

[by TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] I ARBITRATION COURT. • WELLINGTON, August 1. At the Arbitration Court, on behalf of the Freezing Workers’ Union, a number of applications wore made for exemption from the general order of the Court, particularly that there should be no reduction either on the percentage basis or on the flat rate. Judge Fraser said that similar npplicasions made by other unions had been withdrawn. Generally the intention of the Court was that skilled workers in an industry should receive wages over those of a general labourer at the ratio prevailing in 1914. The Union representatives argued that the rate of wages should be higher in the Wellington district than in the South Island where work was done at an hourly rate. The effect of the order at Christchurch would lx? that a total reduction since November 1921, would he over £1 a week in the ease of slaughtermen anl 12s lOd for freezers and 11s lid for general hands. Mr Grenfell asked for an opportunity to consult the employers in the district before presenting a reply to the courts.

An adjournment was made to a date to be fixed. CHRISTCHURCH, August 1. According to a statement made by a unionist to-day, the strike of the freezing wroks employees is to be maintained in the South Island, and the fight is to he continued in the North Island on the opening of the season in November, when no Unionist labour w ill offer itself.

It is stated by the Freezing Companies’ Representatives thnt in both Islands the Freezing Companies will be as ready and able to deal with the position when it arises as the South Island Companies proved ot he when tho trouble arose in Juno.

! AN EASY SESSION. I WELLINGTON, July 31. Tt has liecomc evident that the Government does not intend the House to work at high pressure on legislation this session. This is not unusual in the final session of a Parliament, as the lnrgci (he Legislative, output the greater possibility of raising awkward and unexpected issues for the coining election. , However, there is another important reason for predicting a small Statute Book on this occasion. The law drafting office is short-handed owing to ill. ness and arrears of work, as last session’s record outputs were followed by tho compilation of numerous regulations. involving heavy work during tho recess. , Tt has been evident to old Parliamentary hands that tho Government’s legislation, modest as it is intended to he, is not in an advanced stage, therefore members look forward to comparatively easy times and a short session

A PHOTOGRAPHIC TELESCOPE. WELLINGTON, .July 31. It is hoped that the visit of Dr W. W. Campbell, Director of the Lick Observatory University of California, will awaken interest throughout the Dominion in the offer of a 24-inch photographic telescope to Now Zealand for £20,000 made by tho Yalo Observatory.

Dr Adams, New Zealand Government Astronomer, stated to-day that the teloscopo would have to he erected by New Zealand and she would have to pay her share of tlio administrative and other expenses, the instrument being used half-time by two astronomers sent out ami paid by the Yale University, and half-time l>v tho New Zealand astronomers paid by our Government. The £20,000 referred to would cover the cost of establishing the teloscopo and the annual running cest was estimated to he about £SOOO.