DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

DV TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. FLEET VISIT. WELLINGTON, "April 1. In reply to representations from the Navy League respecting the giving of facilities lor children to visit the lleol, tho Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Bollard, stated that school excursions will ho airanged from places where children can visit the fleet and return Lite same day at excursion rates. The Government will giv<? a subsidy of £1 for £1 up to £59 for providing meals. The Minister has requested the Navy League to co-operate with the Education Department to ensure the successful carrying out of school excursions. WAGES BOARD. GREYMOUTH, April 2. The following motion was carried unanimously at a meeting of the West Const, Branch of the l’ost and Telegraph Officers’ Association:—“This branch looks upon the appointment of Wages Boards as an effort to place the Government’s responsibility on the shoulders of others. We want nothing less than restoration of 1914 spending power for our salaries and prefer that this be brought about by a ieduction in the cost of living—further—if the decisions of the Railway Wages Board are.to affect us in any way we demand to he directly represented on that Board bv our own nominees.”

APPRENTICES ACT. A D.) USTMENTS NEEDED. WELLINGTON, April 1. A request that the Arbitration Court -hould make an order that the employers and employees should set lip eon unit tees for the purpose of going into the question of controlling the Apprentices’ Act, 1923, was made by Mi B. Cornwall, representing the workers. Mr Justice Frazer said that the Act only came into operation to-day, and ihey could not rush the employers and w; rkers into forming committees, which .should consist of sound, moderate mc». of both side*, who would look at the matter from a broad-minded point- of view. They should take into consideration the.welfare of the particular in-■hi-try which they represented, and the welfare of the boys. The committee would be largely responsible for the successful administration of the Act. as all the Court could do was to make anv regulations that were necessary. The spade worlc and work of maintenance would have to be done by members of the committees. It was agreed that the whole question of the administration of the Act should he discussed before the Court on Wednesday, next week. Mr Justice Frap.er said that the Act did not confer on the Court any power to hold such a sitting, hut it was thought desirable that they should have an informal discussion in order to give consideration to the proposed draft orders governing the conditions of apprenticeship in various industries. ROSS SEA WHALERS. WELLINGTON, April I. 'I he Minister of Marine received a radio message to-day Irom Captain Hooper, stating that the whaling ships are at. Campbell Island, which place they will leave to-morrow, reaching L’.ilci son’s Inlet, Stewart Island. on Friday, and will arrive at Port Chalmers on April 9th. SALE OF BOOTS AND SHOES. WELLINGTON. April I Owing Lo complaints recently made as to the sale of hoots and shoes of inferior qualify, or which do not comply with the provisions of tlm Footwear Regulations Act, the Hon G. J. Anderson (Minister oi Labour) has given instructions to officers of the Labour Department to he extremely vigilant in seeing that the laws are strictly complied with, and wherever they find Ilia [.there has been a breach of the Act, legal proceedings must he taken. MAN DIES SUDDENLY.' DUNEDIN, April 2. George Parson Miller, aged GP, died suddenly at the hospital whore he was being treated for injuries he received in jumping from a tramcar on March 23 rd. THE WIRELESS TEST. MR SIIRTMETON’S DOUBTS. WELLINGTON, April 2 ; Mr Shrimpton, Chief Electrical Engineer of the Telegraph Department, states that tho impression which has gained ground that .several wireless listeners in had picked up the speech delivered by Sir Geo. Fenwick, in Chicago on Sunday night, is a mistaken i,lie.■ He points out that time is a discrepancy between the times at winch the supposed speech was heard and that at which it was actually made. Ho considers that the only one to get t. « speech was Mr O’Meara, of Gisborne. “No others,” he says, “could possibly have got it before the time arranged for the test to commence.”