DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

nr telegraph—press assn., copyright,

-MYSTERIOUS LAMB DISEASE. GISBORNE, -March 21, A mysterious malady amongst the lambs: is causing considerable mortality on the low-lying country. PUBLIC AVORKS .MEN. NAPIER, .March 23. AVhile conversing with a deputation of workers on the Tilth a section of the East Coast railway in the Esk Valley to-day, the Minister of Railways, the Hon, J. (1. Coates, said.

“ Generally speaking the men employed on our works have stuck to us splendidly, in a manner not known before in the history of this country. AA'e are getting from them an increased number of miles of work each year and increased efficiency. 'l'hey are giving u.s good service ail over the country and we are now getting results. They are taking care of the Department’s property and their liehnviour in camps is satisfactory and exemplary. I think the public recognise what they are doing and we are prepared to do something for them.”

MR LYSNAR’S CHARGES. AVELLINGTON*. Alarch 24

Hearing evidence in regard in the charges made by .Air Lysnar concerning the sale of the Poverty Bay Fanners’ Meat Company’s works, was icsumed to-day. Evidence was called as to the value of the works. •Alexander James, architect, considered the works to be thoroughly up-to-date, well equipped, and capable of dealing with KJitO sheep and I'd fend of cattle per day. The value was usually computed according lo the killing. The buildings were valued in September, 1921. at £.22!),H0t 1. The total valuation. including plant ami machinery, was £401,892. In 1923. he made a. further valuation, and considered the works could not be replaced raider £IOO,OOO. To Air Myers: He would be very surprised to learn that the total cost ot land, buildings, plant and machinery was only about C 22.090, which Mr Myers said was a fact. -

A (ICELAND SENTENCES. AUCKLAND, Afarrli 25. Air Justice Herdman sentenced Harold Keith Jones, for forgery and uttering, to 18-months’ hard labour, concurrent with his previous sentence. Harry Skelton, for forgery, received two years’ probation. Janies Luxford Slmip. for breaking and pilfering a dwelling by night, and thelt, was sentenced to twelve months’ hard labour from the’ expiry of his previous sentence. Kenneth Fairlie Egcn, for breaking. entering and theft. 2 years' reformative treatment.

TAA’O AY KST COASTERS INJURED. CHRISTCHUURCH. .Afarrli 25. William and Harry A'oungman, ol Inchhonnie. \Ye-t (.'oast, were admitted to the hospital both, suffering from compound fracture of the skuYl. AYilliam Youngnian’s ei.nciitiou is critiiul. The accident was 'caused by the collapse of Hie wheel of a motor on the North Road. A PLASTERER'S SKILL. HAI) NOT served APPRENTICESHIP. WELLINGTON, March 21. The Arbitration Court to-day decided to give a written decision ill the «aso in which the Inspector of Awards claimed a £lO penalty from Granilitc, Ltd., for employing a man in fibrous plastering who fixed the work with solid plaster, he being other than a solid plaster journeyman.

The mail was being paid considerably more than the award rate for journeymen plasterers, hut he had not served his npprentiee-hip as a plasterer. The action was taken to protect those men uho had. The objeit of I lie award was t > no .-billed workmen. For the company it was urged that no man who had served five years oil solid plaster work was so qualified as the man in question to do fibrous work. The action involved a stupe' dons interference with the rights of employers and men. in that it endeavoured to prevent a skilled man doing the work he was skilled in. He was solely engaged in fibrous work. Mr Justice Frazer said that the Court must hold that the award covered solid plastering only. It was a matter of importance and the Court would give a written dc ision.

EXCHANGE RATES DISCUSSED

WELLINGTON, March 21

“No prospect whatever,” replied a well-known hanking authority when asked the question whether, in view ol financial developments in Englandthe rate of Exchange from London to New Zealand is likely to show an improvement in favour of our exporters. ‘There is not likely to he anv material change in the position,” continued Lois authority. “until the gold standard factor comes into the question. The po,,it.ion which causes high exchange is still evident —large nceunilntions ol our <' H '- dils in England—and we are not, shinning gold from England. Though goal lias been recently shipped from Ameiiea. to Australia, it has not. alieeted to exchange rates from London to ,-iusli. 1 -

11.1. . , “Will the position improve when our imports moiV nearly balance < sports, as the exporting season declines?” was

the ne.xt question . , . , , The replv was that wnilst soinments of wool were drawing to a close, our meat shipments are scarcely in the “flush” and the temporary ol shipping ill. New Zealand has Dir Dior delayed’ the getting away ol Die season’s produce, throwing the ■ merniies of ships out of gear, ami extending the export period. Imports, the banker agreed, were more likely u> halamt the position as the winter approached, but he did not think the exchange position would alter for that reason, judging from experience, “ibere "•'•s m. chance whatever in the rates d exchange between November, 102-, and Alarm, 1921, and then the next (hangdid not occur until October, 1024. when tilt-re was an increase in the buying rates on London. Thus it is .'ear thai. seasonal operations have not had an iflfeet on exchange rates.’

MILLING WHEAT REDUCED. CHRISTCHURCH, March 25. Another drop has been recorded in the price of milling wheat here, the millers yesterday deciding to reduce their offers to growers hv Jd a bushel. A SUICIDE. WELLINGTON, March 25. A single man, aged 45, Eddie Merry who resided with his mother. was found dead yesterday hanging imm. a rope suspended from the bannisters m his home. No motive has yet been found tor the tragedy. Merry is said to have been in comfortable e.rvnmstances and his usual state ot health.

THE OB AAV A CASE. WELLINGTON. March 25

The case, wherein, Eektord and ( ompanv (Blenheim' brought a suit, against the Seamen’s Union for CIOO damages for alleged job control, was concluded in the Magistrate’s Court, judgment being reserved. The action arose through the company being unable to secure a crew for the Opawa owing, it was alleged, to the Union instructing members not to accept employment the vessel because two hands were non-

unionist. . Mr Young, representing the Union contended the Opawa being propelled by an internal combustion engine did not come under the award,