LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 51, 28 August 1925, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Replying to a question in the House of Eepresentatives yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates) indicated that he would make a statement next week dealing with the question of tho onrolment of electors. The statement would deal with the position of electors who were unable to comply with the three months' residence clause.

Notice was givon by Mr. J. A. Nash (.Palmerston) in the Housa of Representatives yesterday 'afternoon of his intention to osk the Minister of Agriculture where ho will take the necessary steps making it compulsory to haye all sheep dips analysed before being sold on the open market.

Further heavy rain fell on Wed. nesday evening in Canterbury, and a big slip occurred on the Akaroa road between Birdling's Flat and Gaton Bay. It will be some days before it is cleared, declares a Press Association message from Christchurch. The countryside is saturated, and the spring sowing of cereals is again at a standstill. Some correspondents report fairly heavy mortality among lambs.

During the visit of the American fleet a considerable quantity of gold •was distributed in New Zealand, and a question relating to this mattor was asked in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill). Mr. Hanan asked the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) if ho would ascertain from tho banks of New Zealand the amount of gold brought into distribution in New Zealand by tho men of the American fleet. Such information would be invaluable from nn economic point of Tiev/. In reply, the Minister said that he would bo \;ery pleased to ha^e inquiries made. Bo far he did not think very much gold had gone through the banks, aa business people were holding on to it.

Judgment was given yesterday by Mr. T. Maunsell, S.M., in a case heard on Wednesday in which Ben Searby, a seaman, claimed from the Holm wood Shipping. Co., Ltd., £7 11s lid, alleged to be owing to him under the award of the Federated Seamen's Union of Now Zealand. Mr. Maunsell said it was evident that plaintiff had been paid less than the wages fixed by the award, but as the vessel in question was a sailing ship she was outside the scope of the award. In view of the fact that over 90 per cent, of the seamen were getting £14 6 8s per month, it seemed repugnant to common-sense to say that the current ruling rate for able seamen was £10 per month. The fact that a small minority were not receiving the award rate did not, in his opinion, obviate tho fact that the ' current rate .of wages ruling at the time was that which was being paid to thp great majority of seamen under the terms of the award. He held, accordingly, that such was the current rate, and would enter judgment for plaintiff.

"I am pleased to report that during the past year, owing chiefly to the fact that greatly reduced fares were offered to the public under the new agreement entered into by the Imperial and New Zealand Governments, there has been an increase of 30.7 per cent, in the number of Governmeiitassisted immigrants over the totals of the two preceding years," states the annual report of the Immigration Department, which was presented to tho House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. The report states that the immigrants' fitness and keenness for work made the matter of their absorption a pleasurable and easy task. It was gratifying to be able to state that, although there was the above-men-tioned increase in numbers, it had had really no effect on the labour market, for throughout the year the demands made to the Department had always been greater than the supply. The nomination system, which was the sheet anchor of the present policy, had been strictly adhered to, and every endeavour had been made to foster schemes for obtaining child and juvenile migrants.

The award agreed to in the Conciliation Council for grocers' assistants and drivers has now been filed in the Court of Arbitration. Hours are to be between 8 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on four days of "the week, between 8 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. on the statutory half-holiday, and between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. on one day of the week. The forty-eight hours shall be inclusive of meal intervals, for which not lesa than one hour shall be allowed, The minimum rates of wages are as follow:— Under 15, 15s for the first year, and yearly thereafter 20s, 255, 335, 435, 535, 635, 735, and 82s 6d in the ninth year, thereafter 92s 6d; 15 to 16, 17s 6d, 23a 6d, 31s, 41s, 51s, 61s, 71s, to 823 6d in the eighth year, thereafter 92s 6d; 16 to 17, 20s, 265. 6d, 355, 455, 555, 67s 6d, to 82s 6d in the seventh year, thereafter 92s 6d; 17 to 18, 22s 6d, 81s, 41s, 52s 6d, 665, to 82s 6d in the sixth year, thereafter 92s 6d; 18 to 19, 27s 6d, 37s 6d, 495, 645, to 82s 6d in the fifth year, thereafter 92s 6d; 19 to 20, 355, 47s 6d, 62s 6d, to 82s 6d in the fourth year, thereafter 92s 6d; 20 to 21, 42s 6d, 60s, to 82s 6d.in the third year, thereafter 92s 6dj 21 and over, 50s to 82s 6d in the second year, thereafter 92s 6d. A week's holiday on full pay and recognised holidays are provided for. The award operates in the' Wellington district from 31st August, 1925, until 31st August, 1927.