DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1921, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

DISSATISFIED CARPENTERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 28. A meeting of between 40 and 50 Wellington carpenters who left their jobs on receiving notice from the employers that in future not more than 2s 9d per hour would be paid, was held on Satur. day. The union secretary said he had nothing to report. Another meeting will be held to-day. It is. stated that a number of men submitted to the reduction and others got fresh jobs at a rate in excess of the stipulated 2s 9d. SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS. Auckland, Feb. 28. “Mr. Massey states that the greatest demand for trucks just now is from coal mines. At the State coal mine last year the miners established a record, and other mines had been turning out large quantities of coal. Sea-borne coal was exceedingly plentiful, and procurable at a price much lower than for years past. Shipments arriving from time to time were an extra call upon the limited supply of trucks. PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEERS. Wellington, Feb. 28. A conference of engineers of the Public Works Department was opened «thi§ morning by Mr. ,J. G. Coates. Throughout a brief address the Minister continually referred to the need for plain speaking and fearless criticism on the part of those present. Much of the success of the Department must rest with the men in charge of districts, and therefore it was essential that those men should give th'eir views frankly on the many subjects engaging the attention of the Department. Even if they had what might be looked on as a fine organisation in t'he Department it could always be improved, and he looked to the engineers present to give any suggestions they might have in this direction. He stressed the need for every district engineer to be in a position to say what was the most urgent work in his area, and he hoped the conference would discuss this matter as applied to the whole Dominion. The trend of efficient organisation was towards decentralisation. while perfect control was maintained by the head office.