MINISTERIAL VISIT TO CANTERBURY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 220, 10 June 1908, Page 5

MINISTERIAL VISIT TO CANTERBURY.

CHRISTCHURCH NEEDS. DEPUTATIONS TO PREMIER AND MINISTER, FOR LABOUR. (nr lELEGCArn—rauss ■ ■ Chrlstohuroh, June 9. The Hon. J'. A. Millar, Minister for Lab our, received several'deputations to-day. Representatives of. tho Tramway Employ- i ees' Union asked the Minister's, assistance . in getting the traihw'ay dispute heard before tho .Arbitration Court, during the ap- ' proaching session. It is understood that the . * Minister, without giving any undertaking,' , said that ho would commuiicato later with tho Union on the matter. : A deputation from tho Hotel Employees' : ■'Union asked that clause 20 of tho Arbitration Aot bo amended in the direction of socuring to night porters.and others tho weekly ' , half-holiday from- 2 p.m. They also preferred another request , that the hours of female employees in hotels should bo limited to 52 per week. The Minister promised -to . consider tho matter. . _ ■ ■ A number of deputations also waited on Sir Joseph Ward.; . ' . ■' The Mayor and representatives of tho City Council and the Canterbury Chamber ;of . ; Commerce urged that the railage between Lytt-elton iind Christchurch oil tho steel pipes '.: for tho Municipal Water Works should bo ■ ■■•, charged according to dead weight, and not , by measurement. It was stated that at prosent the charge was' 255. per ton, whereas the. Drainago Board had been charged only 6s.'per ton dead weight for the carriage of . heavior pipes.. The Minister for Railways had refused to sanction 'the chargo. The Premier said ho would bring tho matters brought up by "the deputation before" the:, Minister and ask him to look into them from. the City Council's point_of view, and recon-. sider his previous decision. . A deputation from tho School Committees Association brought under tho Prime Minister's notice the necessity for the medical examination of school children, and for .tho ~. introduction of singlb desks. ..With regard , . to tho latter, tho Prime Minister' said it V would bo difficult-to/say whother ho could meet the l wishes of tho deputation; .As to, , tho medical 'examination of school children; \ lie had some years ago stated-that it ought ~ : to bo dono inlthis country. Ho looked upon it as being of very great importance. Other countries -were doing it; and Now. Zealand .. . should not lag behind in such an important mutter. Ho knew that Mr. Fowlds had boon ... looking into the matter,' and it would re-, ceivo careful consideration. . Tho PHmo Minister visited the Canterbury,.-' Museum and Canterbury College in conncc- .-. tion with the proposals or tho Board of '; Governors to make additions to tho museum and to build a chemical laboratory. It was | pointed out that the proposed additions to ; tho museum would cost £12,000, ajid tho new chemical laboratory ££000, of which £3000 was in v hand. ; Government-assistance • was asked for! Sir Joseph : said ho thought that the Government might: give favourable consideration to a contribution to. the cost of ono of tho buildings. 'Ho ■ thought; that , Christchurch was entitled to considerations., What had been dono by tho people hero under ' the old form of Government was exceedingly. ' • .creditable ;to . them. He fully endorsed all tho statements mado as to-the importunes : of the museum, but as .he understood : from what tho Chairman had said that the 'chomical laboratory was tho moro; essential. ■ he would put it on tho list for considers--tion. •. , ~ - ,• Another deputation asked that some modification of tho regulations regarding, riflo . clubs should be mado' to permit university V shidents forming rifle clubs,; which could not, be done at present. Sir Joseph said ho waa ■ glad to have had the peculiarities •of tho situation .placed before him,.and ho recog- •, nised the difficulties that existed. Ho would •look into tho matter and see if regulations " could bo drafted-to meet the requirement! ■ of universities. ; ' ... - ■ ' The Primo Minister and tho Hon: J. A. Millar left for Wellington this evening.