DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1918, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS.

MINERS STRIKE OVER VENTILATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Greymouth, Last Night. The miners at Paparoa are on strike over the question of bad ventilation in certain places. The management insisted, and the inspector of mines made two tests, it being found there were 750 cubic feet of air per minute at the first test, while in the second test the brattice was broken by a s'liot that was fired, and even then 350 cubic feet of air were shown. The Mining Act provides for only 300 cubic feet, and the inspector declared the spot well ventilated. The men still refuse to return. Mr. O'Rourke, president of the Miners' Federation, visited Paparoa and asked the men to resume, but they refused. Mr. Reid, chief inspector of mines, will make nn examination of the locality on Saturday. The mine remains idle in the meantime. CHRISTOHUPtCH TRAMWAY TROUBLE. Christclmrch, Last Night. The only development in the tramway situation is that the men have agreed to the board's request for a conference, provided it is held not later than tomorrow and the board's decision communicated to the men by noon on Saturday. In tliie meantime the men will strictly adhere to the regulations regarding speed. Under these the whole 1 service has become disorganised, bu the public are good-humoredly putting up with the iuconvenience entailed. NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE CONFERENCE. Wellington, Last Night. At tile conference of the New Zealand Alliance, the secretary's report dealt mainly with the present situation of the liquor trade. Satisfaction was expressed at the improved sobriety of the people, and it was claimed that this was due to the restrictions placed upon the traffic. Police records showed that itonnctiona for drunkenness in 191 "4 were 13,189, and in 1917 numbered only 5837. During the first six months of 6 o'clock closing there were 3622 convictions for drunkenness, against 4930 for the corresponding period of the previous year. The chief work of the Alliance during the year was the petition campaign asking Parliament to grant a referendum on the Efficiency Board's recommendations for the immediate suppression of the liquor trade. The Rev. R. S. Gray was appointed president and Mr. F. Milner was elected vice-president. DUNEDIN TRAMWAY DIFFICULTY. Dunedin, Last Night. A conference is to bo held to-morrow between the representatives of th>s Dunedin tramway proprietaries and t<c emplovecs to consider the men's claims regarding an increase of wages and working conditions. The dispute is being taken under the Labor Disputes Investigation Act, and if an agreement is reached it will be filed in the Supreme Court and take effect as an afjreement under the Arbitration Act. If an agreement is not Teaehed. the M nister of Labor will set up a Labor Disunites Committee. consisting of not less than three rcprecertn tires from each side, and not more than seven.