DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1919, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS.

WATBRSIDERS ANT) STEVEDORING CONTRACTS. By Telegraph.—Press As»ociation. Auckland, Yesterday. The watersdders held a atop-work meeting to discuss a circular, the main proposal being that the unions and federation take over the work at the Various New Zealand ports now done by stevedoring contractors, to be carried out on a co-operative scheme of daily or ho'jrly 'wages, with the alternative that the unions and federation take charge of tie worK, engage labor, and appoint foremen, the companies to pay wages and a percentage bonus on all wages, the »urplus being used as the unions and federation decide. A ballot, is to be taken to decid* whether either scheme shall be adopted. The utmost secrecy is being observed with regard to the proceedings at today's meeting.

THE TAINUI INQUIRY. Wellington, Last Night. Captains Felix Black and A. Jackson have been appointed nautical assessors and Mr. Le Cren engineer assessor at the Tainui inquiry. The date of the inquiry has not yet been fixed. SERIOUS CHARGES. ' Taumarunui, Last Night. \ Before Justices to-day John Joseph O'Donnell pleaded guilty to three chargji of assaulting Elizabeth Alder and bjßt daughter with intent to commit raptl and indecently assaulting a girl named Agnes Alder, at Maticre, on September 14. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. MILK BELOW STANDARD. Auckland Sept, 29. For selling milk below the prescribed standard several milk vendors appeared in Court to-dajK In one case a fine of £25 and costs was imposed. In another case, where the vendor had mixed condensed milk with water and added thia to his supply of fresh milk, fines totalling £:!0 and costs were imposed. The Magistrate warned this defendant that he was liable to a fine not exceeding £2OO, and also three months' imprisonment.

BALE OF FARM LANDS. Whakatane, Sept W. Two interesting iancl sales occurred at Whakatane during the week-end. Eleven hundred acres on the Rangitaiki PlailU, about six miles from Whakatane HartKfi were auctioned in about 550-acro lot*, before 150 buyers. The best plecfl, described as good land in the fetched £fi6, £SO, and £45 an •«• downwards. High reserves impeded business in most cases. Twenty-three aidgi* reclamnlion lejiseliolda, some b«Pvt brick building conditions, were aurtkWtl. There was brisk competition for all at mi average of 25 per cent, above upset prices.

ORCHARDS FOR SOLDIERS. Nelson, Sept. 20. Stoke fruit-growers passed unanimously the following motion: "That tha association regrets the lack of encouragement being given to returned soldier* for settling orchard areas, and urged the . Government to facilitate matters by Immediately establishing soldiers' orchard areas, including bee-keeping, espeeialry as fruit-growing in suitable loealitlM would give better returns, acre for acre, than dairying, sheep, or agriculture."