DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1919, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

VESSELS HELD UP. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, July 18. The ferry steamer Mararoa was held up at Lyttelton this evening owing to her crew's refusal to sail consequent upon the men's desire to celebrate peace in Christchurch. The Union Company was given an assurance by the union that Ihe men would proceed to sea on condition that .they received an extra day's pay or an extra day's leave. Upon the vescel's crew announcing their intention this morning to remain ashore, the Jocai secretary of the Seamen's Union telegraphed to Wellington stating the position to the union's officials, who, in their turn, telegraphed back advising the crew to sail. Nothing, however, would induce the crew to leave for Wellington, some of_ them jocularly remarking .that the King's instructions were that they should celebrate peace and they would, consequently, take contrary orders from no one else.

The Union Company's Tofua, which, was to have sailed to-day, was also held up for the same reason as the Mararoa, but it is understood that the Tofna's men also objected to sail because the vessel was to be despatched for Newcastle, a port affected by the seamen's strike.

SERIOUS STRIKES'. Received July 10, 12.25 a.m. London, July IS. The newspapers deplore the miners' decision, and denounce the levity displayed by the railwayraen in tiie northextern strike—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asan. Received July 18, 5.30 p.m. London, July 17. A strike arising from the rejection of a driver owing to failing eyesight is spreading seriously on the North Eastern railway system. It began at Doncaster on Tuesday, and the whole system is now disloca.ted, causing a serious food

situation in the north-eastern counties.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

CIVIL SERVANTS CLASSIFICATION. Napier, July 18. The telegraph operators, at a meeting last night, unanimously passed a resolution: (1) That .this meeting of the telegraph operators of Napier unanimously endorse the resolution of the Wellington operators that the reclassification of the service has no,t meted out salaries commensurate with work performed by them as specialists; and thai, the list is inadequate, seeing that the average increase gran,ted to officers is not more than 10 per cent., whilst the cost of living lias advanced 35 per cent ; ("2) That it is the unanimous opinion of the meeting that a New Zealand Telegraph Operatives Union be formed throughout the Dominion with the object of protecting the interests of its members.

MARINE DEPARTMENT ENGINEER. Wellington, July 18. Mr Wilford sta.tes that the Cabinet has approved his suggestion that the time lias arrived when an engineer should be appointed by the Marine Department to at,tend wholly to jnarine matters and have the supervision of the money spent, on harbor construction works. Ctisborne is contemplating an expenditure of a million sterling on harbor works and Auckland another million, while the Wairoa people are suggesting a big expenditure at Waikoßopu and there are many river questions such as that of the Waikato .xnd others to l«) dealt with. In the Minister's opinion this made it necessary that the department should have an engineer of its own to do nothing but marine work. TRAMWAYMEN'S DEMANDS. Wellington, July 18. If the power-house men carry out the threat they have made, no trams will run in Wellington during peace celebrations. The men have been oil'ered extra annual leave, but ,they demand double time.