DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1925, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

Bf TXtiF.OEAPH —PRESS AiS3N’ , COPTRIOHT. A FIVE-DAY WEEK. COAL AI IN ICRS' AIOVEAI ICN'T. WELLINGTON'. October 22. 'The output of coal at the State mines is likely to be detrimentally affected by a decision, not in accordance with the operative industrial agreements, which has been arrived at by tlie miners within the last few days. A reliable authority informed a reporter to-day that for many years the miners of Australia and New Zealand had heen from time to time clamouring lor the right to work live days per week or ten days per fortnight, hut all previous demands had been rejected by the eoalowuors. The West Coast Miners’ Council recently took the matter into their own hands and decided that the mines should not work more than ten days per fortnight or five days per week. The State coal miners within the past few days had intimated their intention of following suit, notwithstanding the fact tintt in respect to both eases awards and industrial agreements provided for the working of eleven days per fortnight. 'The decision meant that the award and agreement were being ignored by the miners.

“It might he pointed out.” added the informant, “that, all ol the mines are practically served by the ports of Greymouth and Westport, both barhours hieing seriously affected at times bv the weather, and consequently great dillieulty is experienced in handling coal. The effect of the new decision to work onlv ten days per fortnight will l.e to seriously diminish the output, because of the imcert.unity of working the bar at each port. It may so happen that the mines might he idle for two days in the week by reason of such a cause, and steamers might he lying in the oiling, as they otten arc. VA ith moderation of the weather a steamer is berthed, say on a Friday, and in order to give the boat a lull load it is necessary to work on the Saturday. The result of the new move, therefore, will he that Ihe steamer will not bo able to get away so promptly. It might he a day or a week, especially when there is a pos-ibility of the bar being had for a week at a time. Surely this is no evidence of co-operation on the part of the minors.” THE ESCAPED LEOPARD. AUCKLAND, October 22. “We have written to them asking how the leopard got out, luit we have ! not got a reply yet,” said ihe lion. it. I F. Bollard at Ttmknu, in referring to i the multifarious duties which fell to j Ids lot as Minister of Internal Affairs, j ■ Unless they give us a satisfactory re- | ply they will not he allowed to bring | any more leopards into tlie country.” I Someone mentioned snakes. I “Yes.” saiil the AUnister, “I will not j allow snakes in the country. .Even if | a showman came to travel the Doj minion to exhibit snakes I doubt if I. j would allow them to land, because one i might get out. 'They say they are | harmless, hut let them keep thoso ! harmless animals in other countries.” TI.MIIER. INDUSTRY. DEPRESSION IN THE SOUTH. , DUNEDIN. October 22. | 'The sawmilling industry is in a depressed condition, and two concerns are in liquidation, according lo the observations of a. Dunedin resident who recently visited the smith, and who ' gave the result of his impressions to a “ Daily ’Times ” reporter. ’ “'The sawmilling industry is not iit a nourishing condition in the Gatlins district,” In* said. “Two milling con- ; .-enix in lha I district have gone into . liquidation. 'Two large mills at Paha- . kopa have closed down through lack ; o|- nrdois. and several others are lindiiin ii vi -j v dilTenlt to make ends I meet.”

| The cause leading up to this unsatisi factory stale of affairs is (he high cost of production, brought about by excessive' royalties charged by I lie Forestry , Department, the high wages which j have to be paid owing to the hazardous I nature of the duties required, and tho 1 very rough country which lias to be j worked, which necessitates the ereej tion of cosily bridges, etc. | To add to the many troubles of tho ! sawmiller be cannot compete against j limber from the Pacific Coast, now | being dumped into the Dominion, and : the pity of il all is that apart from I the fact that many sawmill workers | with wives and families depending ! upon them are out of employment, and 1 in a bad way. enormous sums of money ! are leaving this country annually to pay for the imported timber. Huh- ■ deeds of thousands of feet of Oregon j and hemlock have been used in the erection of the big exhibition, when it ! was once stated that only local timbers ; would be purchased. ! SCHOOL FUNDS. \V ELL I.NOTON, October 22. I New regulations for control over ' payment of Ooveniment subsidies on | voluntary emit riblltioiis to public, 'schools, including (list riet high schools I deliue :: wider list of approved objects i I Iran was iurinerlv the ease. Subsidies ma v n approved on contributions available for Hie following: (I) Fuel for school use; water for .( pool m e. exclusive ol water for school bath- : vacuum cleaners for school use; ule.'i'ils and permanent apparatus used in i cjiinecl ion with the provision for h . finches lor school children. el) Extension and improvement of s-hoo! ground-. '3) Erection and improvement of buPdlll,:- i' - . <1 lor srlaiol purposes. ill IVovi'sion ol special furniture, ■ Ipparclti- and appliances for school u-e ( iiielialtug pictures and works of art lor school decorat ion <. <ol Provision o| apparatus and material tor handwork or manual instruction. and payments of instructors in such subject-, wiio an- not on the regular stall's of schools, PS) Initial expenditure for provision

ol apparatus and equipment of a permanent character for promotion of organised games, physical education and recreation of uiipi!-. (7) Establishment and maintenance | of school and class libraries. Provision of school flags and purchase o! New Zealand ensigns. JUSTICES' DINNER. SUPPLY OF BEVERAGES RAN OUT AUCKLAND, October 22. The menu placed before members of the Auckland .Justices of the Peace Association at the last, annual dinner was eriiiiised at their meeting. The discussion was opened by Mr E. Leydon. who .sail! the bill of tare offered was not wmi h Pi- (id for each [xtsoii. There was no beer and no whisky, and the supply of soft drinks ran out. Some of j the guests could not even get ginger j The president (Mr H. Fray): 1 am Mr R. T. Michaels agreed that the supply- of beverages was limited. "For the mojiey we oaid we should have had wines as well, and sparkling wines at that,” be said. ! Other mem Iters also commented, hutj wore unanimous that they bad enjoyed themselves.