MINISTERIAL.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13466, 5 July 1909, Page 8

MINISTERIAL.

THE HON. J. A. MILLAR

The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Railways and Marine, accompanied by his private secretary, Mr Frank Thomson, arrived from the South by the second express on Saturday evening, and left for Wellington by the Maori. The Minister was interviewed by a representative of "The Press," and touched on several subjects of interest. THE FERRY SERVICE. Mr Millar said that whil© in Dunedin he had an interview with the manager of the Union Steamship Company, and discussed the ferry service. The company's representative stated that, owing to the very dull state of the shipping trade, it had been necessary to make an alteration, but it was anticipated that the Patcena would not be long on th© service. It was also stated that the company were running the Maori just now at a very heavy loss, and that if they were simply studying the interests of the company she would be laid up. The trouble was not confined merely to the ferry service, as trade was remarkably dull on th© east and we_t coasts of the North Island. The North Island Main Trunk line had taken away all their passenger trade on the west, and all the passenger boats between Manukau and New Plymouth had been withdrawn. The company had undertaken to send a full return of their, ferry business to him, which they claimed would justify the change recently made. FINANCE. "Finance is improving; it is on the upward grade," said Mr Millar. He went en to say that the railway returns for the past nine weeks were very good, and ahead of the same period of last year. The deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank also showed an increase. If the prices of wool wer© maintained, which from information to hand seemed probable (and possibly they might be higher), it would make a big difference to the Dominion, as a considerable amount of New Zealand wool was to

be dealt with at the sale. He had been informed that, generally speaking, there was a better feeling in business circles. A notable item in connection with the railway finance was that owing to the good grain season, and being able to keep the rolling stock going on full time, the ratio of expenditure to revenue had decreased to 58 per cent, in the South Island and to 60 per cent, in the North Islaml. CONCILIATION COUNCILS. The Minister expressed his gratification at the success which had attended the Conciliation Councils in the settling of disputes. When both sides met and mutually recognised each other's wants the system was more likely to become a permanent method of settling th© majority of disputes which might take place. He was very pleased indeed to see the way in which the unions throughout New Zealand were recognising the benefits of tho system and the services of th© Conciliation Commissioners. The success of the system depended largely on the qualifications, tact, and judgment of fhe Commissioners. "I was very pleased to see that in Dunedin this time a two days' sitting of tiie Arbitration Court completed the whole of th© Dunedin business. This was a great improvement on what formerly existed, when from eight to ten days were occupied in hearing disputes. "The fact that the Judge cf the Arbitration Court'had so little work in front of him that he could take the Supreme Court work in Wellington shows that the Court will overtake all arrears of work. With the breaches of awards- being dealt with by the Magistrates, and the services rendered by the Commissioners in settling disputes, there will be no fear in the future that the Court will not be able to take the disputes referred to it at a very early dateVafter receiving "notice thereof."