DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1927, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

RT rp.LF.C.RAPII —PRESS ASBX., COPYRIGHT.

COOKS AND FIREMEN. WELLINGTON, January 11

Owing to a dispute between the firemen and the cooks and stewards, the Union Steam Ship Company’s intercolonial passenger steamer Maheno, which was to have left Wellington at I p.m. to-day. for Lyttelton. Dunedin. Illulf. and -Melbourne, is now to leave Wellington at noon to-morrow. Shortly before the vessel was to sail to-day. the firemen intimated that they refused to soil if the ship’s cook remained on hoard, as they were not satisfied with his cooking. The stewards and cooks then stated that it the cook in question was put off, they would refuse to sail, and neither party hacking down, a deadlock was reached. Tile officers of both unions intervened and tried to settle the dispute, Hut their efforts were without success. As it seems unlikely that the di'pute will end to-night, the vessel s <■<'• parlure is accordingly postponed until noon Lo-murrow, by which lime the company’s officials hope to reach a settlement.

HISTORIC TRADE. WELLINGTON. January 11. “Yours is just about the oldest industry of which we have historic knowledge,” said the Minister for Lauds (Hon Mr McLeod), addressing the conference of the Master Bakers’ and Pastrycooks’ Association last night. “You have to go right hack to Genesis to find a reference to baking, when Abraham gave an order to prepare three loaves of bread. Ihe industry is just about as old as history. Later on, in the Roman ago. there are lrequent references to the trade, references to the making of broad and to the magistrates who watched the breadmakers. (Laughter.) Later on in history we find the baker who presented false weight and was burned in his own oven. (Laughter.) I do not think we are quite as hard as that, but we. keep a wateliful eye on you all 'the same. A member: A very watchful eye. apprenticeship difficulty. DISSATISFACTION IN DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN. Jan. 11. A serious aspect of the unemployment situation in the City at present is the lack of opportunities offering in respect of apprenticeships for hoys. Daily, regiments of llads parade the City, calling at factories and trade shops seeking positions as apprentices, but tbo jobs are not there. Roys have obtained '.apprenticeships through the good efforts of friends in Hie trades, but the Act has reduced the propor-

tion of apprentices to journeymen and employers are unable to give the hoys a start in the skilled trades. Prior to the closing of the primary schools, lists wore circulated among head masters by the local office of the Labour Department for filling in by hoys desirous of being apprenticed to the skilled trades. The forms were returned, but so far not one employer has made application lo the office for an apprentice. Last year, the employers were circulated by the Department, but the response was poor, and the campaign has not been followed nut this year. Air G. H. Lightfoot, officer in charge at Dunedin, stated to-day that at methodical tour of all trades was being made by an officer, who explains the provisions of the Act. Just at present, 178 hoys are seeking .Apprenticeships in about a dozen of the popular trades, but no opportunities are offering. General dissatisfaction with the Act. which.it is stated, is preventing mam bovs from taking up a trade, is expressed in many influential quarters.

\ DANGEROUS PRACTICE. AUCKLAND, Jan. 11. The dangers entailed by passengers jumping from ferry boats instead of waiting for the gangways to be lowered have been forcibly brought home to more than one traveller on tlie Devonport run during tho past low days. Despite warnings and by-laws people continue to take risks and though tho majority escape with a ducking, one elderly lady was rather badlv bruised on Sunday evening. Sto attempted to jump ashore, and misjudging tho distance, fell, being caught between tho lower deck and one ot the wharf piles.

EXTT THE “NEW ZEALAND TIMES.” A NEWSPAPER PURCHASE. (“Lyttelton Times” correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 1.1. Tho Wellington Publishing Company, proprietors of tho “Dominion.” have purchased the goodwill ami a. substan(gil portion of t-lio plant of the Zealand Times.” its morning contemporary. Tt is understood the result will he. that in duo course the New Zealand Times” will cease publication aitei a low career, running hack to tho flays of the “Wellington Independent, its predecessor, established when tho cats was hardlv out of the village stage.