DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1919, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

RAILWAY MEN'S GRIEVANCES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland. Last Night. Referring to the railwayman's demands, the Hon. W. H. Herries said that no alteration can be made in the wages of railwaymen except by Act of Parliament The locomotive men comprised one-tenth of the whole number of railwaymen, and he could not deal with them specially. It was unreasonable for locomotive men to complain of the action of the Government in dehu iug the wages question, when they themselves agreed that on their obtaining a bonus their demands would be deferred until the end of the war. How far the department could go in meeting the demands must be governed to a great extent by the duty the Government owed to the public, both as users of the railways and taxpayers. HTKURANGI DISPUTE SETTLED. Auckland, Last Night. A tentative agreement was reached in the Hikurangi coal mine truckers' dispute at- a conference to-day. The agreement will bo submitted to the union on Saturday, and, if accepted by the men, woik will be resumed in the mine on Monday. PROTEST AGAINST TERRITORIAL SYSTEM. Oamaru, Last Night. At a meeting of the VVaitaki County Council it was unanimously decided to support the Ashburton County Council in objecting to the installation of any form of territorial military service not emanating from the people through the ballot-box, and urging that the Government be requested to abolish the present territorial system. INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE. Oamaru, Last Night. The Industries Committee sat here today and heard evidence, principally in support of the encouragement of wheatgrowing and the milling industry, and the establishment of a State farm in north Otago; for the development of the wool, fat, and potash industry, and the encouragement »of manufacture of paints and varnish.