New Zealand News.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 February 1918, Page 6

New Zealand News.

TROUBLE "AT HUNTLY.

MINERS STOP WORK,

AUCKLAND, Feb 7

The miners at the Taupirl Coalmine Company's extended mine at Huntly did not work to-day. Inquiries at the company's Auckland office indicate that the question at issue "concerns the safety of the men. A little firedamp was found in a section of the mine about a week ago, hut the general manager reported that he had had an inspection made, and the mine was rendered safe again. On Wednesday the manager received a communication from the newly-elected president, of the union, asking that all the men be withdrawn from the~mine, alleging that prevailed. This the manager refused to do, pointing but that 'the constitutional procedure would be for Tile union to request the local Inspector of the mine to'visit and report on the mine. Following an interview with the mine the president, it is stated, chalked up a notice at the pithead that there would be no work on the property on the following ffayf ana calling a meeting of the union for this afternoon. The company telegraphed the inspector, who arrives al Huntly to-morrow morning. A rumour to the effect that the Extended Mine is Sure is officially contradicted.

CLOSING OF MAILS.

PUBLICATION TO BE RESUMED

The publication in the Press and at the Pest Office notice boards, of the date and hour of the closing time~of

overseas mails is to be resumed. The serious inconvenience tbat has been caused to the public by the prohibi-

tion of the overseas mail notices, re-

sulting from tbe censorship regulations, was recently brought under the notice of Sir Joseph Ward vrhen in Auckland a fey,- days ago. Sir Joseph "Ward said that the restrictions had •been imposed by the direction of the Imperial Government, but the way had toen made clear in regard to the publication of the times of the closing of outward mails_ No mention' will, however, be made of the name of the steamer

BETTJENED MEN FORGOTTEN.

WHEN VACANCIES OCCUR.

A WORD TO EMPLOYERS

A report deserving of some attention from employers generally* was presented to the Auckland Patriotic Association executive on Wednesday, afternoon by Mr. E. E. Fen-ton, chairman of the discharged soldiers' employment department of the Association. The report was as follows: "I regret to say that the number of unemployed men on our list- has increased considerably, there being now nearly 100 names, though a large proportion of these have come on since Christmas, There appears to be rather too much retrenchment amongst employers, looked at from my point of view, so many positions hitherto filled by men being filled by girls and boys, or not filled at all when a vacancy oceurs. For instance, one discharged man, who had been a storcman Tor a grocery firm, who had been told ho could return to his job, was told that ithe position was ,noVv done away wirh, the work being done by the counter hands. Many employers also, through thoughtlessness probably, advertise a job that would very well suit a returned man, instead of first ascertaining whether one could be procured here. Of. course, ithe returned men can and do apply for these jobs, but they do not get the same chance as they would if applying through this agency. Some firms have been very good in taking on returned men, whenever possible.

THE SHORTAGE OF POTASH

A paragraph going the rounds of the New Zealand papers tells of a shortage of that very useful product, potash in the world's markets. Apropos of this shortage, California is experiencing some sensations. Wonderful bitter springs have been discovered in that southern State, and millions of dollars are being made out of these alkaline springs, obtaining potash. The frantic excitement to secure a little , of the wealth is said to be reminiscent Of the old days, of the gold rush, or the oil boom. Towns have sprung up practically in a night, and 30 large plants have been erected in one district, Bootblacks and waiters have been making £IOO,OOO in a few days out of stock. The principal bar-room is spaced off, and a table ar- 7 chair space is let at £5 a day to bakers •with wild and exciting gam I '?s lin stock, the place going nighfc and day selling shares . This potash be~n i s described as the greatest moncy-mak-ir"* in •the United States at present. # • ; "VlJ.'-ip"':