NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 July 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

OLD MAN KILLED BY MOTOR/CAR, HAWBRA, this day, A sad fatality occurred last evening on the Main South Road, about threequarters of a mile from town, Thomas Morgan, 73 years of age, and a re-

spected resident, was returning at about six o’clock from milking his cows, and was wheeling the milk in a handcart, accompanied by a 3«oun§ nephew, who was walking ahead. The lad heard a crash, and looking round saw a motor car zig-zagging across the road. The car had overrun Morgan, who had received terrible injuries; both legs were broken'and he had a gash on his head. He died a few minutes afterwards. Deceased leaves a widow and a grown-up family. He was well-known and a war veteran, and was present at the recent Tuxuturu Mokai celebrations. A SERIOUS PREDICAMENT. GISBORNE, this day. The Blackball steamer Ngahere on leaving port this morning was caught by a sea and thrown across the channel at the entrance. A heavy sea was coming in and the vessel for a time ■appeared to be in a serious predicament, but was ultimately drawn back. It is understood she has sustained no damage. 1 THE COAL-MINERS’ DISPUTE. EMPLOYERS’ MANIFESTO. WELLINGTON, this day. The Coalmine-Owners’ Association, in reply to the miners’ statement, recites lengthily the negotiations which last year resulted in the miners accepting an additional bonus of ten pef cent to shift workers, and seven and a-half per cent to contractors for a term of three years ,or till six months after the war. A'. t This agreement is still operating. ‘ These terms refused by the Miners 1 Federation represents-

tives bur accepted by the individual unions. Therefore the owners now fel justified in refusing to meet the Federation representatives, whose present attempt to disturb the existing binding agreements and awards whereunder the unions have been working amicably indicates the Fed. eratiou is Still adopting the “go slow” policy "which led to prosecution In Auckland iast year. The Owners* Association is prepared at any time to meet the representatives of the Workers’ National organisation when it is demonstrated indubitably that its officials have abandoned the policy of creating industrial strife! The employers opine that up to January 10th, when the Miners’ Federation demanded a further twenty per cent increase on pay, there was no .sign of dissatisfaction among the miners, who were working well ana giving a good output. The owners are thus confident the workers have not originated the present dispute. Therefore owners feel more strongly justified in refusing to meet the Federation. The employers have made an offer to the Miners’ Unions to pay an additional bonus of five per cent to wages men and two and a-half to contractors and piece-workers for -working the full available time in any fortnight. The bonus is not applicable to any special contact wherefore tenders have been called. The Federation representatives immediately instructed the unions to refuse the offer. Returns of wages show if full available time had been worked in 1917—1918, no worker would have earned less than three pounds weekly, and it would have been possible to earn nearly seven pounds per week. The proposed additional hours would increase the miners’ earning power from 8/7 to 23/5 weekly. Production could he increased ton per cent, so that all essential requirements could be mot and householders not put to hardship in being loveless, as many have been during the present cold spell. Referring to the cost of living, the owners pont out the increase heroin has been loss in mining centres than elsewhere, in the Dominion

SPOETING.

TIMA.RU, this day. Th» Timaru Hunt Club’s meeting was held today in fine weather. Re, suits:— Hadlow Hack. —Golden Prince 1, Silver Shield 2, Seville 3. Also started: Prenez and Garde. Pareora Hurdles.— Master Hamilton 1, Luigi 2, Land Ashore 3. Across and Transfer also started.