DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELKOIIArii —I’ETt PRESS ASSOCIATION.] COLLAPSE IN A PADDOCK. ASHBURTON, May 11. An old and highly respected resident of Flemington, Mr William Edward Bond, agey sixty-six, collapsed while walking in a paddock, and died before the arrival of a doctor. Mr Bond enjoyed good health up to the time of his death. Burn in Denvonsbire, Mr Rond came to New Zealand over forty years ago, and in the early days drove the royal mail between Longbeacli and Ashburton. In later years, and at the time of’his death, he was an orchardist and apiarist. Mr Rond was a widower, and L survived by two daughters, Mrs Luseombe and Mrs Cowan, also of Flemington. TERMS REJECTED. WATERSIDERS’ DECTS 10X. CHRISTCHURCH, May 12. The Lyttelton watersiders, at a stop-work meeting held yesterday morning, rejected the proposals for a settlement of the recent waterfront dispute arrived at by the conference of delegates from both sides held at Wellington last week. Although the basis of settlement 1 as not at any time been officially made public, it is common knowledge that the decision -arrived at by the conference was that the men should consent to work on Saturday afternoons, and they would receive an increase of ltd per hour, the increase to be made retrospective front November last. The men were asked to consider the* proposal and ballot on it. The meeting, however, decided to turn down the proposal without a ballot. They are evidently determined to keep the Saturday half-holiday, and have said, in effect, that the employers cun keep their increase and retrospective pay.

It is expected that officials from the Watersiders’ Federation in Wellington will journey to Lyttelton to pul the position again before the men.

In the meantime there is much speculation as to what "the effect of the men’s decision will be.

TOO MANY .MINERS. WELLINGTON, May 11

Mr L. B. Reale, British Trade Commissioner, is the latest to speak on the situation in Britain. Mr Reale lias no doubt that the day of coal is passing, if not past. The figures relating to tlio use of oil, mml the number of tankers and turbine-fitted, ships, show an enormous post-war increase, and is, in brief, that less coal is required, and there arc more miners to get it. The issue is a much bigger one than the mere question of wages, and the Commissioner believes that the only solution is to get many of those men on the land.

“VTo are not a pastoral nation, yet much of our land has reverted to pasture.” lie said, to-day. “We cannot afford to have it remain so. We mo faced with the problem of gradually absorbing the labour of those superfluous men in other fields.”

A BSCONDEB SENTENCED. AUCKLAND, May 11

Nine charges of theft of goods were admitted in the Police Court to-day by James Bryson, a watersidor. When lie first appeared some time ago accused was remanded on bail, but absconded to Sydney and bad tu be. brought back.

On bis counsel to-day stating that Bryson was a first offender, the police produced a list of several previous convictions which accused denied, but later admitted, saying that they wore twenty-eight years ago.

The Magistrate said he would not take notice of the list, but the tbelts were deliberate and accused taught others to steal. Accused was sentenced to six months on each of two charges, the sentences to he cumulative.