NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 107, 8 January 1915, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

PRICE OF BREAD FURTHER RISE EXPMCCTED. OWING TO INCREASED VALUE OF FLOUR. Notwithstanding what has been done by the Foods Commission, or possibly because what it and the Government have not done, there is every prospect that the price of the 21b loaf will be increased to 5d before the week is out. The scarcity or hoarding of wheat has caused the price of flour to rise gradually from £lO to £l6 10/ per ton, and now the baker in need has not infrequently a' quotation made to him of £l7!

POLITICAL SITUATION. MR STATHAM NOT YET RESIGNED. The political situation is still unchanged, although this week will no dcubt see some development. There are rumours that the Government intends calling Parliament together on January 28, and certain preparations in the Parliamentary Buildings lend seme colour to the story, but official sources are still dumb on the point. lip till yesterday, the official notification from Mr Statham that he had resigned from the Dunedin Central seat had not been received. The procedure adopted in such a esse requires Mm to forward his letter of resignation to the Governor, who is required by th? Act to "forthwith forward sur.h notification to the Clerk of the Writs." Nc thing new is yet reported regarding the petition to be lodged in the earo of the Hawko's Bay seat aganist the election cf Dr MeNab". Opinfof' amc\gst the electoral authorities is Mist 3 petition in this case will have a v*»rv thing chance of succeeding With rcard to Eden and Bay of Ts lands, where bribery charges are in "cl'°'.' the rmnicn in this circle °r nvA .the reMtion* will probably sue eeed and fresh elections be ordered. N.Z. EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION. WELLINGTON, Jan. 7. ■• At a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Employers' Federa tien to-day, delegates were present re presrn'rv? the Auckland, Hawke'r Bay. Taranaki, Wanganui, Feilding .Manawalu, Wairarapa, Wellington Canterbury and Ota'go Employers' As soMati'ns. The New Zealand Federat ed Builder's' and Contractors' Associa ticn the New Zealand P>oot Manufae lurcrw'- Assbci'atif n, the New 'Zealand Sheepownere' Federation, the Nev. Zealand Gas Companies' Association and the New Zealand Shipowners' Federrticn were also represented. Nine candidates, were nominated for the po&i'i&n of employers' representative on the Arbitration Court and ; after being ballotted for until the two most favoured for the position were ■ found, it was unanimously decided tr recommend the industrial unions of employers to nominate Mr E. F. Dm hie lor" the position. A resolution was unanimously adon ted placing en record appreciation of ! he valuable service-; rendered to the Dominion by Mr Wm. Scott as employers' representative on the Court oi Arbitration, and expressing regret that circumstances required his withdrawal from a position of honour and responsibility which he has filled with such exceptional ability. A MAORI TROUPE. ROTORUA, Jan. 7. A Maori troupe to perform at the San Francisco Exposition has left'Rotorua. It consists cf fifteen men and fifteen women, mostly from Whakarewarewa, and was organised by Mr A. G. Annesley, representative of an American firm. Tf will be absent about a year, and will tour the States after the close of the Exposition. PATUTAHI BLASTING ACCIDENT. DEATH OF A VICTIM. GISBORNE, Jan. 7. Archie Budben, one of the victims of the Patutahi blasting accident, died to-night. He leaves a widow and three children. The deceased has numerous relatives in the Timaru district.