DOMINION NEWS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 46, 17 January 1913, Page 6

DOMINION NEWS.

_ h • i ST. HELENS HOSPITAL. J AN AUCKLAND INQUIRY. * AUCKLAND, Jan. 14. | The Commission of fnquiiy 1 to the admin soration of St. Helens Hos4 p.tal, Auckland, was commenced at the; Arbitration Court this morning before Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M. Compjaints were, preferred by Mrs Emily N£ol (repre--seuted 0/ i)r Bamford) imd by the Auckland Timber Workers .Union (represented by Mr A. E. SkejtoH). Mr Selwyn Mays represented .the Dspart* ment of Hosp.tals, the matron, and ©r Tnc.v Inglis, of Auckland. The T mbor Workers' Union complained (1) that in respect of the death ci Mrs Laura Elizabeth Chamberlain on Septemb?r (J, 1912. Mrs Chamberlain. .'»u<ia ned injuries, but that the matron lailod to send for or obtain the services of a medic.,l practit'oner until the third day after such injuries were sustained; (2) that the matron further failed in her duty to call in medical advice when she discovered that the patient was suffering from puerperal septicaemia; (3) that the matron, without the assistance of a registered medical practitioner, sutured the torn part of the perinaeuni in some three or four places; (4) as to Dr Tracy lnglia, that in his capacity of medical officer to such institution, he declined to allow Mrs Chamberlain to be examined or her condition ascertained by another registered medical practitioner when the request for such examination was made by the husband of Mrs Chamberlain at the time when her life was in great danger; (o) as to tho administration, that the institution or portion of it is uusuited for the purjwse of a maternity home by reason that a portion of it is constructed of wood, and that the walls are papered, thevohv affording opportunity for the fostering of disease and septic germs; (6) that during the confinement of Mrs Chamberlain the matron failed to provide her with necessary and ordinary comforts and r.iiuirementsof such a case and that in consequence Mrs Chamberlain sustained unnecessary pain and suffering. . > Mrs Emily Nicol complained (1) m the case of one Mrs Porch, that the patient was placed in an isolated ward immediately after removal of the body of a woman (Mrs Chamberlain), who had died from septicaemia, and was attended bv the same nurse who had attended deceased; (2) that in the case oi one Mrs Marsh, the relatives of the patient were wrongly informed that she was suffering from scarlet fever, and further, were not notified in sufficient time lieiore the patieut's death to enable them to communieate with her ; (3) that the matron had on several occasions refused to admit patients unless at least £1 was paid and that this practice should be discontinued; (4) that in the case ot one Mrs Reid application made for her admission was refused, althoucdi her husband was in poor circumstances and lives in a congested area (Freeman's Bay), and the case was a proper one for admission. Complainant also directed attention to the following points:—CD The need for the appointment of a resident medical officer; (/) the undesirabilitv of the medical officer being in outside practice as a surgeon : (3) the desirability of appointing a visiting inspector to ascertain the position and means of persons seeking admission to the hospital; (4) the necessity for admitting patients at- an earlier stage than they are admitted at the present time; (5) the unsuitab l:ty of the present hospital and the desirability of re-establishing it as an adjunct to the general hospital. Evidence was taken in support of the charges, and the inquiry adjourned till to-morrow. THE BOOT TRADE. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 15. \. conference of representatives ot the boot manufacturers of the Dominion, which opened on uesday, concluded to-dav. The following official account wassupplicd by the secretary (Mr T Hodgson, ot Auckland): "We have had a two days sitting discussing matters in connection with the trade and the conference has been rerv satisfactory. The result ot o. deliberations is that in future there will be one association tor the Iwot manufacturing trade of the Dominion. At present then- are two associations, which are federated, but in future there will be one association to cover the whole trsde in the Dominion." When asked if there was any mtormotion regarding the conference to consider the tariff, convened by the Minister for Customs, Mr Hodgson said that he hud nothing further t< communicate GELIGNITE AMONG COAL. WKLLINCTON, Jan. 10. The dri.er of a local train from the Hutt reached Wellington recently in mi excited state and reported an extraordinary filid among the coal on his engine. The fireman, when about to throw a shovelful of coal into tlv fire-box. noticed something in lsual, and fortunately for the safety of h mseif and his mate and possibly the whole train, picked it out. it proved to he a stick of gelignite, with luui and cap complete. The explanation suggested is that the powerful explosive was. accidentally left in the coal bv the miners. Railwaymen in the Wellington yards state that gelignite has previously been found in the coal heaps, but not with the fuse and cap. The authorities do not regard tbtj. matter as one showing criminal intent, but it certainly indicates carelessness on someone's part. PLAIN SPEAKING. AUCKLAND. Jan. 15. A charge ihat lie sold New Zealand wine in a Kss quantity than two gallons aga'nst a Swanson winegrower ' named Charles Metcalfe, was mad© the medium oi some rerv plain speaking at the Police Court to day. Metcalfe Was! charged tb.H on Sunday. November 17, he r.-Jid New Zealand widc ; n lee; Quantity than two gallons to Henry Kennedy. When his Worship asked if there were any previous convictions the chief detective said that there were not. hut complaint after complaint had gone to the police against Metcalfe to the { effect that he was systematically selling I w'ne in less quantity than the statutory allowance of two gallons. The drunk-1 enness of men and women lyinir bv the roadside and in the ti-tree in the direction of Metcalfe's place at the notorious Ruck's Cimp, pointed to iheir having got wine thereabouts and in quantities for which they tould pay. while the effect of the liquor indented that it had been fortified. It was known that defendant got schnai- s in considerable Quantities. Mr Eraser commented on the evidence given by--sf:etcalfe himself that the man Kexfte/lv bad not twfc galkmß of vino on Sunday and twa more on Monday.

It seemed to bis Worship that the law did not provide' for the licensing of people who made and sold New Zealand, wine.- If they sold less than two gallons they had to have a license. If > 4 tliev sold more than two gallons they' U d not need to be licensed. Something might be done in the way of licensing fhtt peoole who grew grapes and sold wliiis. Thou the nolice and the court would have a hold over sellers. Deveiidaiv,t had gone into the box and committed .fcross perjury and would be fined £4O. and costs. i : MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. .."'!''■ l . ROTORUA. Jan. 14. Hoii. W. H. Herries to-day visited Mamaku, where he received local deputations. This evening a complimentary social was tendered to him at Itotorua. He will leave to-monow by motor for Morrinsville, where lie will be entertained oh Friday. TRAIN AND CAR COLLIDE. A WOMAN KILLED. AUCKLAND. Jan. 14. News was received at Helenaville shortly before 12 o'clock that the North Tehana-Helensville train, due at Kaukapakapaka at 11.30, had collided with a large motor car at a crossing near Kaukapakapaka railway station and that one of the occupants of the car had been killed. A special train with a doc-tor, nurse and constable pi ceeded to tiie scene. It was found tht„ a car occupied by Mr and Mrs Dudlt.,- Hill, .Mrs Frank Cordon and Mr Deutoii Tanner, of Hawke's Bay district, hu<| run nto the engine, the occupants iwing thrown out. Dr Mcinhold pronou <eed life to be extinct in the case of llrs Cordon. Mrs Hill was not badly injured but was extensively bruised and was suffering from shock. Mr Tauuer received a bad fracture of the left knee and also severe cuts and bruises over the head and body. Mr Hill had two libs broken and severe cuts and finises over the body and head and face. All injured should recover. Air Tanner and Miss Hill, who were seated in the back of the car, state that they have no recollection of how the accident hap|>ened—it was so sudden. Hill, who was driving the car, states that he-was not aware of the crossing. He did not hear the train whistle. Mrs Cordon was seated beside Hill. The party was from Hawke's Hay on a touring trip. Messrs Hill and Tanner arc sheeiKfarniers. Mrs Cordon is the wife of Mr Frank Cordon of Hawke's Hay. Mrs Hill and Mrs Cordon are sisters and Mr Tanner is a brother, their father being Mr Thomas Tanner, one of the oldest and most highly respected farmers in the Hawke's Bay district. The railway crossing where the accident occurred is a very dangerous one. FEDERATION OF LABOR. AUCKLAND, Jan. 14. In response to an invitation by the Federation of Labor about 200 unionists attended a meeting in the Trades Hall, at which Mr Parry urged the advisabilitv of all unionists being represented at the conference to be held in Wellington to discuss the position that had arisen in regard to Lalmr's endeavor to secure united action. He comulained that the preference clause in the Arbitration Act was being used at Huntly and Waihi to the exclusion of members of the Federation from the benefit of recent awards. Militant organisation was impossible under the Arbitration Act in its present form, as it was being used to defeat the organisation of labor. A good deal of general discussion followed relative to the merits of political action and industrial action. The trend of tho speeches was sympathetic towards the object for which the meeting was called, and recognition of the serious aspect of the industrial outlook as concerns active unionists. THE MAPOURIKA TO LIE UP. UNION AND COMPANY. WELLINGTON, Jan. 14. The advice given in the newspapers this morning to intending passengers to the West Coast has proved' to he quite sound in every particular. Anyone who wishes now to reach the West Coast must either travel via Christchurch or wait for the Arahura at the end of the week, for the Mapourika has been taken off the run and is to lie up indefinitely. No men could be obtained to form the vessel's stokehold crew this morning, and the Union Company was forced to pay off all other hands. It was ascertained in the afternoon that the Seamen's Union would not make any trouble or objection if the Union Company were "to put another h.iat. on the run to replace the Mapourika. The secretary (Mr Young) said that the only objection was to the ' heavy work imposed on the Mapourika's firemen on the existing staffing scale. If the company nut on the Te Amui or some other boat it would get a crew all right. The whole matter was discussed at a meeting of the • Wellington Seamen's Union, which passed the following resolution:—"Whereas the Mapourika has become too heavy a shin for one fireman on the watch, and whereas we consider the health of our members is of more imp irtancc than profit, this union recommends to its members and others not to seek employment on the Mapourika till such time as the Union Company agrees to the reasonable proposal of the union to engage an additional band in the stokehold department, which will cost it merely an additional £l2 per month in wages, and will result in overcoming the present difficulty: that a committee of three, consisting of two men paid off the ship to-day and the secretary, be appointed to lay this resolution before the Wellington branch manager of the compativ and discuss with him the advisability of giving effect to our proposal." In accordance with tUe resolution, said Mr Young, be and the two men interviewed Mr Kennedy and placed the matter before him. Mr Kennedy that th» companv had oiad'o un its mmd not to m'-r* from H« decision. From what was said it was clear to the union's representatives that the company had dealt with the matter before tho union had an opportunity of considering it, and In-fore anv arguments had been heard. Mr Kennedy informed a pressman that as th»y could not get firemen tor the Mapourika.- tliev had decided to lay her up indefinitely and pav off' all hands. This includi-d the stewards and seamen who were in no way concerned with the firemen's trouble. in all 36 men were paid off the vessel yesterday. "<>e have made no arrangements for replacing her in the run,'' said Mr Kennedy in reply to b question. "No doubt the union would like very much to see ns nut, another boat on, for it wants to get rid of tho Ma ftriTikt I ,.but we doaat look uVwu it m that litfrt."

THE SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE

WORKS TO CLOSE.

''WfifcttNCflXjtf.-Jwi'." 14. There is evtry* likelihood of a stubborn tight at hand'between the slaughtermen and the meat companies operating at Petone and , Ngahauranga. .'•mW companies, seeing that the men are determined to cease work on Monday next, as intimated by tho formal notices sent in last week, have both decided to close their works on Monday. Thus each side has taken up a definite position, and the stoppage mav to be of considerable length, as neither men nor companies give any indication of yielding. The works were very busy up till to-night, there being full boards employed and some overtime done, but from to-day onwards there will be a slackening off, until at the end of the week things will come to a standstill. The companies will have an adequate supply of sheep and cattle for the week, but buying has been stopped, so there will be no animals left in the pens when operations stop. The decision of the companies to close down is regarded by the slaughtermen as a clear indication that the talk about getting farmers to man the killing boards was really a bluff. DOUBLE DROWNING FATALITY. TRACED! AT NEW BRIGHTON. CHIUSTCHURCH, Jan. 14. A double drowning fatality occurred at New Brighton this afternoon. A married woman named .Mabel 32, wife of Mr Gihh Highet, of Christchurch, was bathing in the River Avon at Herring Bay when she got out of her depth and into-difficulties. Her brother-in-law, Mr John Highet, aged fb,. who was bathing at the time, went to her assistance, but was dragged under, and Iwth were drowned. Mrs Highet's two children, aged five and three years, were on the bank of the nyer when the tragedy happened. Dragging operations were commenced, and shortlv after the bodies wore recovered.