DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH-. —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] COUNTY MEETINGS. BLENHEIM, May 26. At tlio Marlborough County annual meeting, A. M. W. Adams was elected Chairman. For the Awatere County,, E. A. Weld was re-elected. , BLENHEIM, May 26. Marlborough Rugby Union has nominated G. Washington, a forward who has been a prominent representative in the Marlborough. Club for several seasons, for inclusion in tlie South Island team. DULLER CHAIRMAN. WESTPORT, May 26. Mr J. H. Powell was to-day re-elect-ed Chairman of the Buller County Council. EXPENSIVE DRINKS. AUCKLAND, May 26. “One or .two shandies” consumed by Charles Roy Stanley, aged 40, on Thursday last proved exceedingly expensive for him this morning at the Police Court. Air F. K. Hunt, S.M., fined him £SO. In addition, as his counsel put it, Stanley will have to pay for his own car. and the one he collided with in Eden Terrace, both cars being absolutely wrecked. Stan ley was charged with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor car. Magistrate Hunt cancelled his license, hut said it would bo re-issued when defendant produced a prohibition order. ENGINEERS’ AWARD. DUNEDIN, May 25. Tho Arbitration Court has filed its award in the dispute between the IV.. vereargill branch of the Amalgamated Engineering Union and the Southland Power Board. The Court us fixe 1 tho minimum wages ns follows:—. A. Grade Shift Engineers —Fir;t year, £5 15s; second year* £5 17s Gd; third year and thereafter, £6. B. Grade Shift Engineers: First year £4. 15s; second year, £4 17s 6d ; third year and thereafter, £5. In the course of its memorandum the Court says:—“The principal matter referred to the Court was wages. There is no standard for workers of this class, and each station must be graded according to the work and responsibilities of the workers at Monowni and those of the workers at Waipori and Lake Coleridge has decided on the rates fixed by this award, which represent sa substantial increase on the present rates. The wage awarded to a B. Grade shift engineer a£tor two years’ service is only £lO per Year less than the commencing salary for a junior engineer at Lake Coleridge which is a very much larger plant.”

Air Montieth dissented from the majority of the Court in regard to the wages awarded, and desired to record his objection. ALLEGED FRAUD. HAMILTON, May 26. At the Hamilton Court, a charge of obtaining £l7 by means of a valueless cheque was preferred again a young man named Humbert Patrick Smith. The charge was dismissed. On a further charge of obtaining £2O by similar means at Wellington, the accused was remanded to appear at Wellington bail being allowed. GLEN AFTON STRIKE. AUCKLAND, May 26. An official statement to-day notifies the settlement of the Glen Afton strike. A conference will take place to-morrow between the directors and the millers, and work will probably he resumed next Monday. MILL FUTON MINERS AGREEMENT. Mi LLEHTON, May 26. At a meeting of (lie AlilleiTon Miners’ Union, held last night, which was largely attended, the members after hearing the District representatives on the new agreement it was decided by the large majority of 143 votes lo accept the terms of the now agreement. It was also decided to strike a two and a half per cent levy in aid ol tho British miners and two and a half per cent levy for the Glen Afton miners. UNEMPLOYED AT NAPIER. NAPIER, May 26. Unemployed from all parts of New Zealand, including Invercargill, West Coast and Auckland, have come to Napier with the mistaken idea that there is plenty of work to he had in this district. These men have seemingly received information through some unknown source which has lalselv led them to believe employment can he had here, and consequently this town has been visited by more unein--ployed than it can cope with. The Public Works Department lias undertaken to put more men on works in the districts, but this merely serves to alleviate the position in Napier without taking account of men from elsewhere. Tn consequence of the situation. John Mason, M.P.. has telegraphed as follows to the Minister of Labour: “The position regarding tho unemployment here is being rendered more difficult by men coming from various other parts of New Zealand, who apparently have been told that there is plenty of work going on- in this district. As a matter of fact, work cannot he found to absorb all the unemployed here .and I think it is very desirable that a message should be, if possible, broadcasted through papers advising men it is useless to travel from one part of the country to another unless definitely advised through branches of the Labour Department that work is available in districts to which they propose to travel.” There is no shortage of positions for "tea pliers in this district, as appears to 1,0 the case in the South, ill fact, the Secretary of the Education Board (Mr

- U. Dunn) said to-day; “Let some of those without positions communicate with us. and we will place them. Tf we cannot place them immediately in permanent positions, we can probably give them relieving work to do.” A PROTEST. CHRISTCHURCH, May 27. A strong protest against the new regulations for the control of the motor omnibuses was voiced at a public meetiim last night. The Mayor occupied the chair and there was a moderate attendance. The following resolution was carried:—“ That this public meeting of representative Christchurch citizens protests strongly against the recently gazetted motor omnibus regulations, on the grounds that they are unduly harsh, and are calculated to eliminate, private enterprise to the detriment of the public welfare.