DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1927, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEQRAFH —FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

RAI MV A Y MMX'S PROTEST. INVERCARGILL, Feb. 2.

At a large meeting of the railwayint'ii at midday a resolution strongly protesting against tile dismissal of married workmen and the breaking of Air Coates’ promise that there would bo no reduction of staff, was carried unanimously and also demanding the withdrawal and urging Southland members support.

A FIRE RAISER. CONST-VBEE’S PROMPT ACTION. iCHiRJSTCfI URCH. Feb. 2. A deliberate attempt at incendiarism was mlnle at Geraldine early yesterday morning, hut fortunately it was frustrated by the prompt action of Constable Callanan. At the corner of Talht Street and ’Wilson Street is an old building that Rul been occupied by Mr Cairns, and next it in Talbot Street are the bicycle shop and repair works of Messrs Proliant Rrotheis. At the rear of the first-named shop is a. porch with a door leading to ' the front of thiit building and another door leading to Messrs T!reliant Brothel's s h—>. On the flooring of this porch had" been placed an empty oil barrel and inflammable material bad been put round the outside of the barrel 'and set alight. The constable was walking down Talbot Street, and. when passing the Crown Hotel, he smelt a fire. He detected a glow in Wilson Street, and running in that direction, found the fire burning in tlie porch at the back of the shops. It happened th.nl a. good stream of water was flowing down the side channel, and Constable Callanan. having found a. till, soon extinguished the fire, which had spread on the outside of the oil barrel, burned through the flouring and igilited the door nearest it . This occurred at about 1.2.40 a.in., and. had the constable readied the spot a. few seconds later, the oil within the barrel must have become ignited, and the flames would then have spread rapidly and endangered the main busi ness block of the town. SHUNTING RISK'S. T)GNEDIN, February 1. "That Palmer died from shock as Hie result of injuries received through being accidentally crushed between two railway waggons,” was the verdict ol the Coroner (Mr •). R. Bartholomew. 5.A... at the inquest concerning the death of Percy Nathaniel Palmer, a storeman, who was latally injured at Dalgety’s siding in the Dunedin railwav yard on December 21st.

“ i do not know whether it would he reasonable in nractice lor the tiucks to 1,;. inspected by railwayman before shunting operations commenced, continued the Coroner. “ hut there seems some duty on the part of storemen to keep some look-out. It seems, in view of. the e vidence, that the working conditions could he improved on, ami a lurther safeguard provided. It could he arrang'd that the work about the trucks should be completed before the shunting started, or otherwise a special InoK-out should be provided. If either ol these steps were taken it should provide a complete saleguard.

PORTAL C.O.D. SYSTEM. AUCKLAND. Feb. 2.

Opposition to tlio casli-on-dclivery system of sending parcels ol floods from England was expressed at the annual conference of the New Zealand

Retail Watchmakers’ and Jewellers’ 'i.ssoeiatioii. A resolution was passed expressing the hope that tae Government would shortly abolish the procedure.

Air M. '• 1 ■ Heinmanu said the annual value of the parcels being landed in New Zealand was rapidly increasing. In 1929 it was £4,217; in 1924 it was £ll,OlO and in J 920 it was £02,9.72 while the figures for 1920 would he in the vicinity of £90,0(49. The traders wore suffering severely, and, in his (.-pinion the system was very unfair. The local traders Lore the burden of the trade losses, they paid income tax, and generally they subscribed to the country’s revenue, and yet the Go-

'.eminent was aiding retailers Ll England to ti.se the Dominion as a .sort of clearing house where they received

value for the goods landed, or, in the event of payment noL made, a guarantee for the return of their goods. A deputation had recently waited 'upon

.nc Hon \Y. Xosworthy, PostmasterGeneral. who. however, had stated that the increasing figures pointed to the fact that New Zealand traders were anxious to purchase goods under 11 to

“-C.0.D.” system and that it was the (ioveriinient’s duty to assist them. A representative deputation then waited upon the Hon \V. Downie ,Stewart, Acting Prime'Minister, wlur promised to go into the matter and see whether tne system could he stopped.

MASTER PAINTERS OBJECT. INVERCARGILL, Feb. 2

The action of the Public AYorks Department in taking over all the work on the Government .Buildings and doing the work by day labour, instead of letting contracts to the trade, was strongly condemned at the Conference of Master Painters and Decorators today.

Mr I’ratt (Wanganui) suggested that the individual associations take the matter up as it was a serious thing for the trade.

Air Anderson expressed" the opinion that efforts should he made to prevent this principle being extended. Tie quoted cases of work costing considerably more under the new method than under the contract system. The principle, lie asserted, was a most vicious one, and was unfair to ratepayers, and their trade.

Air Lockwood moved: “That this conference disapproves of the principle nt the Public Works Department in not merely overseeing its work on public buildings, hut in carrying out such work by day labour instead of letting such wealth by contract, irrespective of the cost, which in many cases is higher in ease of day labour than of contracts; and further, that the Executive he requested to go into the question with a view of the trade.” The motion was carried.

RAILWAY NOTICES. A\ ELLINGTON, February 2.

The executive of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association waited on the Acting- -Minister of Railways (Air Rolleston) to-day, asking that the matter of the dismissing of a number of railwaymen on whom the Board had served notice, he held over till Air Coates returned.

The General Secretary (Air Ingram) said the Board last year proposed to reduce the staff by 200. but Air Coates on representations made, cancelled the arrangements. Since Af,r Coates hits been abroad, the Board had served notice of about twenty men, some with as much as twenty-five years’ service. The others were returned soldiers of several years’ service with the Department. Air Coates had definitely promised that returned soldiers would not lose their positions. ATr Rolleston gave no definite answer hut assured the delegation that he would go into the matter with the Board. LINER STEAATS NORTHWARD. GISBORNE, Fob. 2. The damaged liner Northumberland, in company with the tug, Terawhiti, left for Auckland at 10.30 this evening. The vessel is expected to proceed at about 5 knots an hour. j