" ITS AW ILL-WIND." SOUTH PROFITS BY NORTHERN TROUBLES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1908, Page 9

" ITS AW ILL-WIND." SOUTH PROFITS BY NORTHERN TROUBLES.

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS. [Br TELEGBAr-H.— Special to Tiie Post.] DUNEDIN, This- Day. The serious position in the North Island, in regard to stock and grain crops, brought about by the damaging fives which are ravaging the northern districts, will have both a good and a bad effect in Otago and Southland. At least this is the opinion of several merchants seen, to-day. Chaff and oats, which are expected shortly, will not lireet a rising market, whereas, had conditions been normal, those products were expected to meet with an unsatisfactory sale. In support of this, the point is emphasised that the Waikato growers, who are placing their supplies in the market, havo now withdrawn their consignments. This means naturnlly that they are afraid of the shortage of food. Otago and Southland growers havo magnificent crops of bcflh oats and wheat, the growth being remarkably heavy and thick, while the straw is exceptionally abundant and good. The drawing by Northern buyers on Southern supplies must, it is felt, havo a firming effect on Southern markets. BUTTER MARKET. The butter market shows no signs of further rise — at least of no immediate advance. Tho prophesy that prices will advance to 2s and 2s 6d per 1b is not looked upon seriously by Dunedin merchants. , i , " POLICE SUPERANNUATION. It seems certain that a large number of the police force here, as elsewhere, are opposed to the merging of the Police Provident Fund, with its accumulated revenue of £31,000, > into tho new Civil Service Superannuation Scheme. They do not see what advantages are provided under the new scheme to compensate them (the older senior men) for loss of this revenue. With tho younger men it may bo different. A RECORD. , Mr. Scott, secretary of the dtago Employers' Association, claims to have put up a record iv connection with labour disputes. Ho states that he has conducted 140 disputes before, the court, comprising almost .< every trade, and in all parts of the Dominion. Ho has also prenided over 187 conferences between employers and employee?, and has been successful in the majority of cases. His aim of late years has been to avoid the court as^much as possible, using it only as a last resource. The- greater his experience the more convinced he is that the employers did 'the rij;ht thiug when, some three years ago, they decided m ovrry casn to meet the worker m conference if possiblo, with a view to an amicable settlement.' WHARF LABOURERS. Interrogated a3 to the reason of the failure of the Wharf Labourers' Conference to «nd in a definite settlement, Mr. Scott replied that such failure was entirely owing to the attitude of Mr. Belcher, the wharf labourers' representative. Two conferences were held, and the very best/ feeling prevailed throughout theni, not one discourteous word being spoken by tho representatives on either side. Everything promised well until the second conference, when Mi. Belcher laid clown an "irreducible minimum" in connection with two or three of the principal clauses, and stated that he "wished the employers to distinctly understand that in so far as these clauses were concerned, tha union could not abate one iota. The employers considered that these clauses were in some instances exorbitant, anJ would never be granted by the court, and after discussion decided that they could not concede them. Sir. Belcher, then asked for full particulars of the clauses objected to, but the employers replied that it would only be a waste of time to consider tho matter further, as the- union had really laid down an ultimatum and the employers could not accept it." "My candid opinion," said Mr. Scott in conclusion, "if, that if the Wharf Labourers' Union had Riven them representatives power to settle, as is usual in such cases, the outcome of the-" conference would have been, an amicable settlement in favour of the men. No one regrets more than I do the fruitless result of the Wharf Labourers' Conferences, and provided tiie uliion is prepaied to give their representatives power to settle. I am willing to convene another conference, believing that an amicable settlement could yet be arrived at."

fBT TKtEGBAPII — rEESS ASSOCIATION.] NEW MINE TO BE DEVELOPED. WESTPORT, This Day. Advices received from London by mail by the attorney of the Westport Railway and Naval Coal Company, Ltd. (Cook s lease), intimate that the working capital is available and that development work will start on the lease next month. The lease adjoins the Wesk port Coal Company's Denniston mine. COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET TO HON. W. HALL-JONES. TIMAItU, 21st February. At the banquet to the Hon. W. HallJones to-night the speeches were all of a' congratulatory character, and high praise was accorded to Mis. Hall-Jones for the care that had saved her husband's life. Most of the speakers dwelt upon the diligence and conscientiousness, impartiality, and courtesy with which Mr. Hall-Jones had performed his duties as a Minister, ana his colleagues and representatives of South Canterbury warned him against overwork in the future. Mr. Hall-Jones made a suitable reply of thanks for the kind reception {riven him, for tho unexpected numerous and worm assurances of sympathy he ivccivod before leaving for England, which hud been a great factor in his icroveiy, and for the support ho -had always received from his const it,uonts. The meeting was most, loioial. Mr. Hall-Joues xetuiuj, North on Monday.

[rBESS ASSOCIATION.] TWO AWARDS. DUNEDIN, This Day. Tho Arbitration Court has delivered its awards in the General Labourers and Chemical Manure Workers' disputes. In the former dispute the court has decided that all labourors engaged at pick and shovel work other than thoso working in connection with building operations shall be paid not loss ihuu In per hour. Labourers employed ori any other unskilled work shall be paid not less than 10id per hour. Sanitary work and streot-cleaning and the cleaning of channels (but not ditches) not involving work of construction is not within tbe award. In case any question arises as to whethpr the work is or is not within this exemption it shall be decided by chairman of Conciliation Board. In the chemical manure workers dispute the court has awarded 48 hours a week and a wage of not lees than ll^d per hour. Overtime- shall bo rates and a quarter for the first three hours, and time and a half thereafter* double time on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day. Youths may bo employed at not less than the following rates : — First year, £1 per week, second, £1 10s, and thereafter the minimum 1 " prescribed by the award: - , DIVORCE CASES. AUCKLAND, 21sfc February. ' In the Divorce Court Chaflotto Ann Winship, who applied for a divorce from Wm. Edward Winship, stated that she complained of his conduct with a Mrs. M'Lean" in December, 1906. Respondent replied that he loved both, but that Mrs. M'Lean had lived with him before he mairied petitioner. He finally left 'her a year, ago. Evidence of respondent living with Mrs. M'Lean having been given, a decree nisi was granted. Emily Blair asked to be divorced from Wm. John Blair, a juggler, better known to the public as '"Hercules." The grounds of the application were desertion for a period of fivo years. Petitioner stated that they ' were married in 18S6, and there were two" children. Her husband left her on 22nd October, 1902, and had not since returned or provided her with any means of maintenance. Tho case was ad journed "sine die to enable formalities in connection with service to be performed." " . CHRISTCHURCH CANAL SCHEME. CHR.ISTCHURCH, 21st February! Speaking at a public 'gathering last night the Mayor remarked that thb ship canal, scheme would 'be a great stimulus to the progress of the city, and a little bird had -whispered to him that the report on the scheme (in preparation by an eminent English firm; \vould bo favourable, and that there would bo no obstacles to overcome. NEW PLYMOUTH BAND CONTEST. NEW PLYMOUTH, 21st February. Tho town is already commencing to fill with visitors for the. Band Contest and New Zealand Athletic Union's Championship Sports Meeting < next ■week. . PUBLIC INDIGNATION : PALMERSTON N, 21st February 1 . Great indignation in expressed here, at ..ho action of tho Mayor regarding tho curator, Mr. W. W. "Smith", which led the latter to hand in his resignation. A public meeting of protest is to, be called. SWIMMING RECORD BROKEN. AUCKLAND', .'2ls.tr February. At the Waitemata Swimming Club's carnival to-night Mr. E. Champion lowered the New Zealand record for naif a mile by 24 1-5 sec, 1 his timo being 13min. 2sec. J, Grrfufc, who swam second to him, also bea*. the previous record by 2sec, hid time being 13min. 24 l-ssec. Champion appeared ,to, be able to reduce tho* time .-had he been forced. ' '>•■ '-' ■ \ • SUPREME COIJRT ' RETURNS. , , AJJCKIiAND, 21st February.' Tho Auckland Supreme Court statistics for 1907 show that 'lo4 n\&tes and four females were indicted. during the year, as against 99 moles and 4 females* in the preceding year. During 1907 convictions were passed on 64 male prisoners' and two femalo prisoners. An analysis -of the offences shbws that dur-' ing tho year there was ono- conviction for murder, while five persqns were* charged with manslaughter, but there *verc no convictions. There were seven convictions for- sexual offences out. of 2a indictments.. ' Out of 13 indictments lor burglary there were 11 convictions ; fivo prisoners wp re committed from t^ho Magistrate's Court for sentence on similar chwgos, making a total of 16 sentences. During • the preceding year (1806) there were 30 persons sentenced for burglary. • The majority of the sentences were for periods of three years and under, one sentence only being so\cn years. In the civil business, among tJ^ie petitions for divorce, in 3ff cases petitioners succeedecl in getting a dissolution of the marriago tio.. THE, PREMIER IN THE NORTH. AUCKLAND, 21st February. The, Prime Minuter "arrived from 'the Waik&to this cyening,- and later on attended a .complimentary social given to Mr. Lawry, M.P., by th't. electors of Parnell. Sir Joseph ,w,ill ..attend .the Oddfellows' picnip at Motutapu to-mor-row. On Sunday he will leave for' Whangarei and othes u ~ districts in tho north of Auckland. ,7, 7 ' y PILLAGING AT A FIRE. OHRISTCHURCtt, 21st Feßruary. George, Barnes was , found guilty atthc Stipendiary Magistrate's Court today and committed "to the Supreme Court for sentence on charges of stealing at the recent fire drapery, etc., belonging to H. E. Gott (value £'2O), the Wellington vVoojlen Manufacturing Company (£l3), and jewellery, etc., the property of Alfred Henry Oakey (£52). SUPPLYING A NATIVE WITH BEER. HASTINGS, 21st February. At tho Magistrate's Court this morning, on a charge brought under section 46 of the Licensing Act Amendment Act, 1904, Alfred Clayton, for supplying a native *rith two bottles of beer, was fined £10 and costs. The case is the first of the kind. Defendant contended that he gave ths liquor to the native to carry home for him. INVERCARGILL, This Day. The criminal calendar for the sitting of the Supieme Court which begins on tho, 25th comprises only two cases:— John Lloyd, manager of the Nightcaps Coal Mine, charged with manslaughter ; and Daniel Forde, Jas Fordo, William Forde, and Thomas Phillipson, charged with breaking and entering and stealing. The Arbitration Court heard legal argument and reserved its decision yesterday in the compensation case re Walter Rouse, who was injured ip the New Zealand Loan Company's stores at the Bluff am* died. •