DOMINION ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1931, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS

SHEARERS' AWARD,

(Vv Telegraph—Per-Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 23

No agreement was arrived “at at the conference yesterday afternoon between Sheep Owners’ Federation and -Shearers’ •Union in regard to an agreement covering the rates of pay for shearers’ work, and application is to be made to the Arbitration Court in September for an award. The award and -sliding scale agreement which have been in operation for three seasons, have expired. FRUIT CASE ORDER. WELLINGTON, July 23. The New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation lias placed an order for 650,000 fruitboxes in Nelson, witli piuus insignus sides and ends and white pine tops and bottoms, and 150,000 in the Hastings district, besides other orders. It is pointed out by the manager, Mr H. Napier, that local manufacturers were given the chance, despite'the fact that imported cases were cheaper, and purely to ease the unemployment. Commenting on Hon. de la Pen-elle’s statement that the drop in timber output was due to the failure of fruit growers to place orders for boxes in New Zealand, Mr Napier says, the Minister’s information is out of date.

POLITICAL. HAMILTON. July 23. In resnonce to an enthusiastic gathering of Reform supporters at Morrins. ville to-day. Sir James Parr acceded to a request to stand for Wa.itako seat at the general election. DIPHTHERIA OUTBREAK. CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. As a result of Health Department investigations, four carriers, one child and three adults, have been located and are isolated. The Department -says that the outbreak is mild.

RAILWAY FREIGHT INCREASE

CHRISTCHURCH, July 23

Due to the increase in radway freights that occurred some months ago, the retail price on certain lines of West Coast coal has been raised by three pence a bag, but the State Depot lias nor yet taken any action. The freight is now 18s 7d a ton instead of 16s 7cl.