DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1921, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

GISBORNE HALF-HOLIDAY.

By Telegraph —Press Association. Gisborne, Last Night. Regarding the half-holiday poll, which resulted in a victory for Saturday by one vote, a petition has been lodged to test its validity, the grounds including that two or more electors did not receive voting papers for that issue.

STORM ON EAST COAST.

Gisborne, Last Night. The storm continued to-day. The steamer Admiral Codrington had to leave the bay and the liner Whakatane is sheltering under the Mahia Peninsula.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Wellington, Last Night. A report dealing with the regulations affecting secondary education was adopted after discussion at the annual conference of secondary schools to-day. The conference expressed approval of the grading scheme. It was suggested that each year of service in the expeditionary force count for two years of superannuation, and it was also suggested that larger grants be made to single men and women with dependents.

SHEARERS’ DISPUTE.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Wellington, May 13.

Hopes are entertained of a settlement being arrived at shortly in connection with the New Zealand shearers’ and shed hands’ dispute. The shearers are asking to be paid at the rate of 35s per 100 and the sheep-owners have offered 20s. The demands of the individual unions have been heard by the Councils of Conciliation in the various parts of the Dominion, but no agreement so far has been reached. To-day Mr. A. Cook, president of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, with which organisation the shearers are affiliated, stated he hoped it would be possible to arrange a Dominion conference with the sheepfarmers, at which a settlement might be agreed upon.

ROAD WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED.

Gisbone, May 13.

The Minister of Public Works stated that he had decided to provide relief work for unemployed in this district in the form of road work at Wharerata Hill on the Gisborne-Napier road. He could offer no encouragement as to the immediate tackling of railway construction here in & business-like manner until he was able to concentrate the plant and labor on the route.

EAST COAST LAND PRICES.

Whakatane, May 13. An important big subdivisional land sale of the Rangitaikei Swamp, at Teteko, about fifteen miles from Whakatane, was held on Wednesday and Thursday. Twenty-eight farms, comprising from 40 to 50 acres, and eight town sections at Teteko were submitted. There was a large attendance of buyers from all over the North Island. The financial stringency prevented any speculation. The highest prices for farms were £47 10s per acre, showing that the prices of land were not sagging, though steady. Town lots of 27 perches realised £29 and £3O. A general view is that the sales show confidence in the East Coast swamp land, where grass is not dried up even in the long drought. Practically the whole offering was cleared either by auction or pssivai*lY e