LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Indecent Assault Charge. A charge of indecent assault on a boy of 12 years of age, at Carterton, was preferred against Gerald Murphy Bourke when he appeared before Messrs E. G. Eton and L. J. Taylor, J’s.P., in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court this morning. The accused, who was arrested in Carterton last Thursday evening, pleaded guilty. After evidence had been heard, the accused was committed to the Supreme Court, Wellington, for sentence. DetectiveSergeant W. Kane conducted the case for the police. Application for More Wages. The workers’ representative, Mr A. McLagan, made his final submissions to the Court of Arbitration in Wellington yesterday in the application of the New Zealand Engine Drivers and Firemen’s Union for a 7.8 per cent rise in wages to cover the increased cost of living. The application affects all awards, industrial agreements and apprenticeship orders. Mr McLagan said the general policy of stabilisation was approved by the organised workers of New Zealand, but for the reason that retail prices stabilisation was not effective, the present application did not conflict with general policy. The court reserved its decision. Youth Loses Both Arms. James Parkinson, aged 18, Maddison Street, Hastings, lost both arms as the result of an accident with a tractor on Jull Bros.’ property at Tikokino on Saturday. Parkinson was working a caterpillar tractor and plough for his employer, Mr J. Tuck, agricultural contractor, and it is believed that one of his feet became jammed with one of the- pedals and he lost control of the machine. The tractor went over a steep bank, throwing the driver clear. Then it turned a complete somersault, and before he could get out of the way it 1 ran over his arms. The injured man was brought to the district hospital in Waipukurau, where both his arms had to be'amputated.

Doctors and Lodges. The Wellington branch of the British Medical Association has appointed a committee to meet the friendly societies and try to come to some agreement. This information was given last night when an inquiry was made as to whether there was likely to be an agreement reached between friendly scoieties and doctors in Wellington similar to that announced from Christchurch. In Canterbury doctors have agreed -with the friendly societies to accept the rates laid down under the Social Security Amendment Act in full settlement of their accounts, the societies to pay the doctors and then recover the amount from the Social Security Department. The arangements affects about 12,000 members, who, with their families, cover about 36,000 persons. It comes into operation on March 1.