DOMINION ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1915, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

WATERSIDE WORKERS UNION. By Telegraph .--Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. In connection with a recent telegram from Auckland regarding waterside union officers, Sir, McCombs, M.P., has received a letter from the secretary of the Auckland Labor Representation Committee stating: "I am directed by resolution to convey to you the heartiest thanks of this body for your sterling efforts to remove the injustices that are being raeted out to unionists on the water-fronts and other industrial centres in New Zealand, and to express the hope that you and those associated with you will he successful In your efforts to amend the Arbitration Act, and thus relegate to the past one of the blackest pages in New Zealand's industrial history." BANKS AND PATRIOTISM. Wellington, Sept. 15. A prominent banking authority, in an if-iervww with a representative of the Pi>.l, rreeritcd the criticism of Mr. John■:,Um. chairman of the Otago Patriotic Assyciiition regarding the banks' attitude towards the patriotic funds. No bank general manager and no director has, the authority stated, any right to give away large sums of the shareholders' money to any cause, however good it may he. The shareholder only could empower banks to donate very large sums for such purposes. The shareholders themselves no doubt had their own nails to meet for funds of the kind in question. It should not have been overlooked by Mr. Johnston that fully 35 per cent, of the staffs of the banks are on active service and they are receiving at least half pay, while their places have to be filled by other men or girls at extra expense to the banks. Another matter also appeared to have escaped .Mr. Johnston's attention. Some of the banks had taken up one million of the English war loan and others £-230,000 of the Commonwealth war loan. Generally the taxation of banks was heavy and was going to be much heavier. "We all realise," the banker added, '-that we must be taxed for the war, but, notwithstanding Mr. Johnston's disgemious remarks, I think it will he admitted by those wiio know that the banks of Australia and New Zealand are doing and will be expected to do, tiiat they have not been so wanting in generosity as Mr. Johnston would have the public believe."