DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1929, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

N.Z. WATERSIDERS’ DISPUTE

(By Telegraph—Press Association).

DUNEDIN, March 13

A meeting of the Conciliation Council was commenced this morning for the purpose of adjusting new terms and conditions applicable to waterside work Citations have been filed by the Federation of Workers and by the Assotiqn of employers interested. The proceedings are being taken in committee, but it is understood that evidence is being taken at Dunedin for the purpose of ascertaining ..the conditions of working at Dunedin, Port Chalmers, Bluff and Oamaru. This course has been adopted in the North Island, and when the whole of the evidence concerning the Dominion dispute has been taken, a final meeting will be held at Wellington, to arrange a complete agreement covering the whole ol the ports.

UNUSUAL WILL CASE

HAMILTON, March 13.

An unusual application for an order altering his late wife’s will crought by a billiard saloon proprietor, Alfred Jones, at the Supreme Court . '-day. The will left £7,700 to the n Vs brothers and sisters, but made no me >- tion of the husband. The evidence showed that Jones had received property and money of a total value of £3OOO from his wife during her lifetime. He was also awarded a sum of £9OO as compensation for an accident through which he lost the use of a band.

“What is there to prevent him working? There is nothing more degrading than loafing,” remarked Mr Justice Blair. “If I was >'ut of a job, I would be there at '9 o’clock every morning, not hanging around for two years on the off chance of benefitting by a will.’’

WOMAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL, DUNEDIN, March 13.

Two charges of attempting to procure abortion were preferred against a married woman, named Mary Jane Clark in the City Police Co lit to-day, when Mr J. R. Batholomew C.M. presided. She was charged with on or aboiit September 10th. 1928, she unlawfully used an instrument on Pearl Caroline Hislop with intent to procure a', miscarriage, aiid that oh October 20th. she similarly used an instrument oil Myrtle Eliza Duncan. The charge concerning Duriiah was dismissed aiid on the other charge accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial.

ALLEGED SHEEP STEALING BLENHEIM, March 13

In the case against Fedc'ck Wil'■■liam Haillb: (1) That he stole four half-bred wethers, the property of Christopher Smith. (2) That Jib re- ' ceived sheep knowing them to have been stolen; the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on both counts.

CHINESE FAMINE

WELLINGTON, March 14

The National Missionary Council of New Zealand, in view of the cabled news of the famirte in, China and the fact that the Chinese Consul is collecting money in aid from his compatriots here, also decided to receive and forward contributions. They asked the Prime Minister for a subsidy but Sir Joseph Ward could not see his way to do this. He offered to forward the money free of charge and stated tinappeal would he mentioned in the Gazette.

Revels. Calder and Redgrave, of Wellington, have been deputed to receive subscriptions on behalf of the (t'ouncil.