FROM OTHER PAPERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 126, 20 February 1908, Page 9

FROM OTHER PAPERS.

A witness giving evidence at the Conciliation Board at Culverdori, reports'-the Christ-! chiirch "Press,"- stated that lie received, threo shillings a-dozen for rabbitskins, and it was ■ suggested that this was contract' work. . Mr. Kennedy, one- of tho farm labourers' representatives,' asked: "It is not 1 contract ; in the ordinary meaning of the word?" "You would find it a contract if you had to catch them," was tho witness's prompt and apt reply. ' The irony of fate was remarkable in at least one case ill connection with. tho Otckaike ballot (says tho "Otago Daily Times"). A husband and wire decided aftor much deliberation to apply for a section, tho fornier being only half-hearted in,the project and, tho latter openly opposing it. Yet'it foil to tho wifo to draw the marble which made her the les3eo of a section she would rather bo without, but which dozens of others would- have snappod up with avidity. '. i: '_. "I can't keep tho. visitors from coming up,"-said tho office boy dejectedly. "When I say you're out, they don't beliovo me.' They* say they must see you." "Well," said the editor, "]ust tell thorn 1 that's what theyall say., i. don't care if you check them, but I must have quietness." .' That afternoon thore collcd at tho office a lady with hard features : and an acid expression. She wanted to see tho, editor, and tho hoy assured hor that it wa3 impossible., "liut.l must see him!" she protested. "I'm his wife!" ."That's what they all say I" replied the boy: ; ■ 1 A lad of, seventeen was; giving evidence in tho \Vaipara Hotel case at. Amherlcy, , according to the "Lyttelton Times," and tho sergeant of police was questioning him regarding, his. ability to form an opinion as to whon ■a' man was drunk. His. reply was rather inconclusive, and the: sergeant said: "Your father was licensee of tho Waipara Hotol for some years, and do yon, wish the, Court to believe that you do not know when a man is drunk?", "I never, saw any drunken men at tho hotel when my father kept it,", was tho promptfroply of the lad. v , The Mackenzie County Counoil last month rocoived sn i application from its working gang 3 for an increase of pay, and decided to raise the pay of pick «nd shovel men only, by sixpence per day, as their wages wero lower than those of gangers and drivers, and they were not paid "wet and dry," while the others .were. The horsemen and gangers then sent iii' a second 'application, saying that the partial incroase had caused-/groat discontent in the camps.' The Council .discussed the matter at some length, and declined to alter its previous decisipn. Councillors saidj that tho wages.paid were higher-than tho highest paid on farms and first-class .farm-hands had to work more hours at more difficult work, and the pitmen deserved the increase becauso theirs was the hardest Work. A number of local butchers complained bitterly to a Christchurch "Press" reporter, at tho Addingtou Yards recently concerning the condition of tho :mcat lately received by, them from the Municipal abattoirs. Thoy stated that there was no cooling chamber at the abattoirs, and that the recent- hot weather made it impossible for tho carcases to bo properly cooled after killing and dressing, the consequence being that-early decomposition sets in, and the meat is rendered, unfit for human consumption. On Monday week several of tho butchers sustained severe losses on this account, large quantities of meat having to be thrown away. Tho butchers were "strongly or opinion that a separate cooling chamber should ho provided at tho abattoirs, which would enable them to have killed as many animals, as they chose, sunt they would be able to draw supply to suit their requirements. The meat,"would then be thoroughly cooled after corning from the shumhterhouse, and its keeping properties would be increased considerably.. .At present orders for .Monday' have to bo delivered at tho abattoirs before 10 o'clock on. the preceding Saturday morning, and if Saturday's sales fail to come up to expectations a large quantity of meat has to be carried over, and the shops aro overstocked on the Motidiiy. The butchers claiin that slaughtering should bo done on Sunday, which: would giro them an .opportunity of ordering just what they required for Mori-. ,daY. . . -