GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1915, Page 2

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

TIIEFT FROM TUJiSTIIAM. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. Nicholas iMaddren has becu sent ;uc. d to ono month's gaol for the theft of l'/ilb of butter from Trentham Camp. The Magistrate said that a previous warning had evidently not had the desired ell'ect. I'OUUER &E.VTEXCED. Auckland, YestM'd-v. - . In the Supreme Court, Peter Coleinbc, alias Alexander, was sentenced to four years' hard labor for forgery. Prisoner acknowledged a long list of previous eonvi. tions. IPACIFIC CABLE STAFF. Wellington, Yesterday. A question was recently asked in Parliament as to the number of men from the Pacific Cable Board's stall' who have enlisted, and as to the conditions of enlistment in relation to their civil employment. The manager in the Pacilic for the Board, in a statement, points out that the Pacific cable is one of only two routes l>y which communication between Austria, Xow Zealand and various parts of the British Empire can be maintained. Their staff is already working considerable overtime and seven days a week, and it is impossible to rc■place them; therefore, in the best interests of the Empire, they remain at their posts. The Eastern Extension Company makes a similar explanation. GLIM LANDS AS FRUIT FARMS. ~v , .■ . : liitorviewed this"hioniirig'ori' the proposal to open gum lands for fruit farms for wounded soldiers, Mr. W. Stewart, 51. P. for the Bay of Islands, dec!ar<*.l himself a strong supporter of the scheme. He was on the Gum Lands Commission last year, and knew tIU-M were thousands of acres of gum lands suitable for fruit land. They required turning over to permit them sweetenin».

SHORT-WEIGHT BREAD. Wellington, August 18. The Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. G, W. Russell) informed a New Zealand Times reporter to-night that, the Government proposes to take measures to protect the public against the sale of short-weight bread. Many complaints have been received under that head, especially since (he rise in the cost of living. "We intend to enforce the law rigidly with regard to tlic weight of bread," said Mr. Russell. "The general rise in the cost of living has made it absolutely necessary that the consumers should get full value for their money, and we are going to see that they io got it, as far as we are able to deal with the matter. The importance of th:! point is understood by the people whose incomes are limited, and who are hard put to it at the present time to make ends meet."

PRICE OF BUTTER. Wellington, August 18. The wholesale price of factory butter was reduced tb-day from Is fid to Is .'id per lb, which means Is ful per lb retail, it is considered in business circles that prices for butter are still so high in Sydney and Melbourne that if butter could be exported there prices would soon rise again in the local market. It is probable that permission to export butter may be granted towards the end of the month. TRENTHAM COMMISSION REPORT. Wellington, August IS. The Trentham Camp Commission has not yet presented its report, but it u understood that the document will lie ready within the next few days. T'.ia Commission is making one report only, (he presentation of an interim report not having been thought desirable. The men of the Eighth Reinforcements have been ordered to report at Trentham Camp, for the commencement of their training, 011 Monday next., August 21, and the Defence authorities do not anticipate that the Commission's report will cause any alteration in this arrangement. The men will report at Trentham, and receive their equipment there, even if they are going to another camp later.

SHORTAGE OF FARM LABOR. Wellington, August 18. A serious shortage of farm labor is reported throughout Waikato. A largo percentage of young men who were previously engaged in farming pursuits are either at the front or in training, and agriculturists and dairymen view the approach of the productive season with some apprehension. Land-owners who had retired from active operations on the farm will again buckle to, in order to prevent their lands and herds going back, and in some cases wealthy men are to be seen driving their own stock over lengthy journeys, while women who had foresworn the milking shed are again busy with the pail. The coming season promises, in fact, to be fraught with great difficulties from the standpoint of labor',', and tlnv Hamilton and Cambridge branches of the Farmers' Union are already starting to organise a labor recruiting campaign. The Compulsory Registration Bill is considered by them an excellent measure,- for it will give an idea of what labor is really available in the dominion. The Labor Department is co-operating with the Farmers' Union in recruiting efforts, and it is probable that the Government during the coming session will be urged to. bring in an empowering Bill to euabio boys and- girls of suitable age to be. employs}, on tarn*, especially during the harvesting season.

ARBITRATION COURT. ' Wellington, August 18. The Arbitration Court was occupied for some time to-dav in bearing the Wellington Soft Goods Employees' dis]'ute. in which the Union sought increased wage--. Eventually a suggestion by the Court that the parties meet again in conference was accepted, on the understanding that any agreement reached would be made an award of the Court.