WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19853, 14 February 1930, Page 7

WEST COAST NOTES

PERSONAL. (SFXCOL TO TBI PEISS.) GBEYMOUTH, February 13. Mr E. F. Hubbard, of the Bailway storekeepers' office at Greymouth, left to-day on transfer to Newmarket. Mr Horace Smith, who has been visiting Greymouth, returned to-day to Wellington. ' Mr W. C. Coqke, Public Works Department plant overseer at Greymouth, left to-day for Blenheim. Mrs Fooler and her wafer, Miss Adamß, yho have been visiting Greymouth, 'left this morning for Christchurch. Mrs D. Oldham arrived from Wanganui to-day to spend" a mouth's holiday with her mother, Mrs Cowan. Mrs F. Waldegrave, who has been visiting friends in Greymouth, left today for Ohakune. . ~ ' , Miss Alya Mcintosh (Hokitika) left this on holiday to ChristMr J. Butler, of the Government Audit Office, iB visiting Greymouth, relieving Mr B. McCullough, who lias been temporarily posted to the WaikatO district. .' Mrs P. H. Woods and Miss Woods, who have been visiting the West Coast, returned to-day to Christchurch. Miss Mabel Moss left to-day on a holiday visit to Taneatua, Bay of Plenty* Mesdames E. Gunn and W. Hamilton arrived from Wellington this afternoon. Miss Faith Herdman, who haß been spending a "holiday with- Miss D. Mc- ' 0

Brearty, returned to-day to Christchurch. Mr E. J. Lemon, for four years Bailway storekeeper at Greymouth, left today on transfer to the Hutt Valley workshops. Yesterday afternoon, Mr J. L. Leydon, Bailway auditor, presented Mr Lemon, with a dinner-set and fountain pen on behalf of the local staff, and extended a welcome to his successor Mr E. S. Colton, from Dunedin. ' t Highway Bridges. The Hon. E. A. Eansom (Minister for Public WorksY has advised Mr O'Brien, M.P., that Cabinet has been recommended to approve of a grant of £750 each for Rough-and-Tumble; Deep, and Camp .Creek bridges, on the BotomanuInchbotmie main road. Hydro-Electric Works Dispute. A conference called by the Grey Electric Power Board was held.this afternoon, in reference to a .dispute which occurred yesterday between the contractors, Messrs Sparks, Ltd., and the employees, concerning the dismissal of the camp cook at the, Arnold hydroelectric works, a number, of the men striking in sympathy with the. cook. Mr James O 'Brien, M.P.',' spoke on behalf of the men who had left. .He stated that the men were willing to continue working, provided there was no victimisation/ and that the cook was reinstated. He trusted that' an amicable settlement would be arrived at. The men stated that their only grievance was that they wished* the cook reinstated. . Outside that, they were quite satisfied with: the conditions. Mr McKay, one of the members of the contracting company, explained the position existing, between the company and the cook. The decision to dispense with the cook's services was only arrived at after careful consideration. It being desired that Mr McKay should give reasons, he stated that the discipline of the camp was suffering through a number of the men being unfit 'for duty through drink. He had found • recently a party of men, including, the cook,, drunk. He had also found that one man had gone across the swingbridge to work, drunk. Other 'of exceaeive drinking were cited. The cook was, according to the agreement, to keep . the surroundings of the cookhouse sanitary. This he had failed to do. - It was quite out -of "the province of the men to interfere. Thirty-one of the men went to work without .taking any part in the demonstration, realising that some of the_ men had acted due consideration. The management was willing to those who desired re-employment, provided there were vacancies to-morrow,'but they had definitely decided not to reinstate the camp cook. He read the contract which governed the cook's employment. Mr O 'Brien said Mr McKay had made allegations regarding the behaviour of the men which he thought the men ought, to refute, as the statements made had not been admitted to him previously by the men, "and he did not wish to appear in a false position. * .

The Board's chairman stated that the reason for the conference was that the men had desired it, and the contractors were agreeable to attend and state their side of the case. Mr O'Brien complimented those who had. stuck to the cook. At the same time, when a man was asked' to represent a grievance, he should be put in possession of the full facts. Mr McKay said, that, speaking generally, the men on the job were a good crew. He had already jßlled the places of some of the men, but the balance would be reinstated as far as possible. Garden Contest. The results of the Garden Competition in connexion with the Inangahua A. and P. Association, were: —Mr H. Cooper (Eeefton) 156pts, l; Mr P. H. Instone (Eeefton) 149Jpts, 2; Mrs P. Black (Block's Point) 146pts, 3. Six entries were received. Swimming Centre. A meeting of the West Coast Swimming Centre was held this evening, Mr H. Kattray (president) presided. A motion of condolence was extended to Mr and Mrs Eric Moss in uie recent loss of their, son by drowning. The Wellington Centre wrote congratulating the Centre on the success of the recent Championship, and thanking the Centre for its hospitality. The Blackball Swimming Club was awarded the Schools' championship. The secretary of the Hew Zealand Association wrote stating that he was arranging a tour for Misses Peggy Robertson and Maria Farquhar, of Auckland, and inviting the Grey Centre to assist in the circuit being arranged for them. It was decided to ask Blackball to join in. The Grey and Cobden Clubs were granted permission to hold a carnival. It was decided that the Centre should arrange a list of clubs-to hold ft schools' championship in rotation, and that the championship be held before the end of February. It was decided that the Challenge Cup, given for schoolgirls' competition, by Mr J. Tennent, be competed for under the same rules as the Hutchings Memorial Shield. . Messrs Rattray, Walters, and Baillie were appointed a Finance Committee to deal with the Championship accounts.