DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1919, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

FASTEST-GROWING TOWN-IN DOMINION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Whakatane, May 6. Mr. Banks, chairman of the Education Board, reports officially that Whakatane is the fastest-growing town in the Dominion. Discussing this report, the headmaster told the committee last night that he had admitted 23 new pupils last week. Housing problems are serious. One teacher is living in a tent, and another has been six months trying to get permanent lodgings, but is still homeless. [ln 1910 the population of Whakatane was 2954.] < THE COAL SHORTAGE. Wellington, May 6. Coal-miners on the West Coast did not work on May 1. This stoppage is regarded by the employers as an aggravated breach of the agreement under which the mines are nominally being operated. It will be remembered that recently the Coal Mine Owners' Association drew the attention of the Miners' Federation to the repeated breach of the agreement. The loss of a day at all the mines at a time when the coal shortage is critical is a serious matter for the whole community. The Miners' Federation has not yet made any official reply to the recent demand of the Coal Miners' Association that the agreement should be observed at the mines. The federation acknowledged receipt of the association's communication, and stated that the matter would be considered. The agreement provides that there shall be no stoppages, and that all disputes' are to be referred to the Disputes Committee. i PETROLEUM BORING AT GISBORNIL Gisborne, May *. Boring operations are about to hi resumed by private enterprise at Waitangi Hill, the site of the Gisborne Oil Company's bore, in order thoroughly to teat the oil flow struck at the 665 feet level. TAILORING TRADE CONFERENCE. Wellington, Last Night. The conference of representatives of all branches of the Journeymen Tailors' Federation and Clothing Trade Workers' (ov tailoresscs) Federation adopted a proposal that all unions of employees in the tailoring and clothing trades Should amalgamate. A deputation representing the clothing trade workers waited upon the Acting Minister of Labor (the Hon. W. H. [Jerries) to-day, for the purpose of urging him to consider the evils arising out of the registration of put-workers under the Factories Act. The Hon. J. T. Paul stressed the abuses to which the present system had been put, and stated that certain definite evils which had arisen in the clothing trade system encouraged a degree of sweating almost equal to that of earlier days. "He urged that the practice should be cither prohibited or made subject to more strict regulations. The Minister was sympathetic towards the deputation,, but urged those concerned to submit to him definite proposals on the lines advocated, and these proposals would receive his consideration. THE FLOUR SUBSIDY SCHEME. - Wellington, Last Night. In answer to a question as to the operation of the flour subsidv scheme to maintain the present priee of bread, the Hon. Mac Donald. president of the Boar.l of Trade, stated to-day that the millers were mow entitled to receive a subsidy according to regulations where they imuie ■claim for it. Thorough investigation was made and a decision given accordingly. *