NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 30, 4 August 1926, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Unemployment in Auckland.

Whether or not the Government is doing all it can to relieve tho unemployment position in Auckland was tho subject of a question raised by Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) in the House of Representatives yesterday. In reply, tho Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) stated that it was a matter of opinion whether everything was being done, but ho could only say that they wore trying to meet the position. He mentioned that 1109 men had been found work. Last week in Auckland 37 were offered work, but only three accepted it. "Probably there is moro to bo said about it than that,' there may be reasons'why they did iiot accept," statod Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West). "Probably there is a. lot to be said about it," replied Mr. Coates. "I am only giving the information as I have it." Everything possible was being done to find employment.. Valuable Publicity Work. Warm appreciation of tho work done by the Publicity Department was oxpressed by Mr. A. L. Hunt at last ■ ovoning's meeting of the Wellington' Chamber of Commerce, while speaking of tho Zane Grey swordfishing film, which members of the chamber had been invited to see. Upon his motion, the chamber adopted the following motion: —"That this chamber congratulates the Minister-in-Charge of Publicity (tho Hon. (J. J. Anderson), and Mr. A. H. Messenger.,, his able officer, on the excellent advertising films now being regularly prepared and sent abroad, which are so calculated to make known the unique scenic beauties of the Dominion, and thus increase the tourist traffic from overseas." He Caught Him. A small boy, a motorist, and a lump of mud were the characters in a silent, one-act drama enacted on the • Hutt road; The lonely occupant' of a light car was rudely awakened from his placid contemplation of the smooth surface before him by a lump .of mud flattening itself on his windscreen.' The source of this sighting shot was made evident by the vision of a small boy ondoavouring to beat Rose's record for the mile in a direction opposite to that in which the car was travelling. Quickly stopping and turning, tho motorist set but in pursuit of his assailant, whose horse-power was insufficient to enable him to retain the lead. The two drew level,.down jumped the motorist from his car, one hand attached itsolf to the boy's collar, and the other was firmly • applied some : half-dozen times in quick succession to that part of thatyoy's anatomy .usually associated with chairs. Only then was the silenco of the drama broken. "Making Up Time/ "I had to do two milk rounds, and was trying to make up time," was tho explanation given by a defendant who was chargod in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon with speeding and with failing to produce his driver's liconsc. "Woll, you'd bettor get your employer to gay the fines," suggested Mr. T. E. Maunsell, S.M. "I can't do that, sir,'" replied the young man ruefully. "He's gono bankrupt since." (Laughter.) In the circumstances the Magistrate imposed a nominal penalty on each charge. Water Main Hearing Completion. Practically the full length of the twenty miles of 21-inch steel piping of the Orongorongo-Karori water main is now laid and jointed, and a good part has been tested under high pressure, but there still remains a gap at the Petone crossing, where the main will bo carried under the railway lines. There is already one culvert under the tracks at the crossing, carrying the old 24-inch and a 21-inch cast-iron main, but {here is no room to spare for a third main, and consequently a second culvert has to be constructed. Sooner or later still another main must be brought into the city from the Wainui Valley, and it was suggested that tho new culvert should be constructed large enough to carry that future main as well as the Orongorongo-Karori pipe line, but owing to the difficulty of securing suitable steel girders without dolay and the general urgency of the work, the Railway Department advised the construction of a smaller . culvert, sft by sft> in place of the suggested double culvert, 10ft by sft. The plans are now complete, and the work will bo put in hand in a day or two. Settlement of Disputes. Tho annual report of the Department of Labour states that the number of industrial agreements filed in the year ending 31st March, 1926, was 21, recommendations of Councils of Conciliation numbering 118, and awards of the Arbitration Court 109. The awards and industrial agreements in force totalled 489, or one more than in the previous year. A total of 133 disputes wore dealt with by Conciliation Councils, and 91.7 per cent, of them were settled, or substantially settled, by them. In somo cases the settlements reached merely followed upon recently made awards of the Court, or settlements through Commissioners or Councils in the samo or similar industries elsewhere. There were 102 industrial disturbances during the year, of which 72. were unimportant or trivial. Three disputes were dealt with under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, and wore settled without the necessity of taking ballots on the question of striking or accepting any recommendation made. Since the inception of this Act in 1913 only 24 unions have had their disputes dealt with under it, and there arc ton agreements in operation. Out of tho disputes filed under this Act to date only four ballots have been necessary, and none have involved a strike.

"Now Zealand-made Goods." Tho Wellington Manufacturers' Association, which organised an essay competition during its recent successful exhibition, has roiison to bo pleased with tho result, as 141 ossays have been received from scholars attending tho several primary schools in and around ■Wellington. It is stated that the subject, "Why we should buy and use Now Zealand-made goods," appears to have been well grasped by the majority of the competitors, and tho judge's task in deciding the winners will not bo an easy one. Moa Footprints. As a result of the flood waters of the Manawatu River eating away a portion of tho bank at tho Fitzroy bend, there has been brought to light a number of moa footprints in the papa sub stratum which at this point juts out into the stream, says the "Manawatu Daily Times." Footprints of moas, but larger, woro discovered in tho samo locality several years ago, and wer,e out out and placed in the Palmerston North Museum. Tho papa clay bed is at least ton feet below tho present surface of tho ground. Three stumps standing up in tho papa bed as they grow woro also revealed by tho flood. Two Important Bridges. The Public Works Department has called for tenders for tho erection of two bridges of vital importance on tho road which, when formed and completed, will link Taumarunui with Wanganui by a direct route of 130 miles, says the "Wanganui Chonicle." Ono of thorn will be ovor the Ongarue River at Taumarunui, and tho other across tho Wanganui River at To Maire, a distance of 12 miles from Taumarunui. Tho first will tako the place of a wooden structure which hag been in danger of serious damage, during floodtime, and the second will open up the south road to Wado's Landing. From Wanganui tho Parapara road is boing pushed ahead, and in the future Taumarunui will bo little further by road from Wanganui than Ohakuno is at ( present. Both bridges will be proceeded with in tho spring as soon as all flood danger is ovor. "Spirit of the Old Sea Dog*." "The journey which the captain and crew of the Rapaki undertook and the ordeals which they bravely faced in order to bring tho crano to Lyttelton is an indication that the courageous spirit of the old sea dogs of England is still uppermost in the race and that tho sons of England to-day have inherited the bravery of their ancestors," said Mr. M. J. Miller at the Lyttelton Harbour Board's meeting on Monday, when reference was made to :the arrival of the board's 80-ton crane at Lyttelton a few days ago. Mr. Miller went on to express his pleasure at tho safoty of the men and his admiration for the way they had carried out thoir duty (reports the "Lyttelton Times"). Dr. Thacker followed up Mr. Miller's remarks and likened the voyage of the Rapaki to thoso that were made round the Horn in the days of sailing ships. He moved that a letter of appreciation bo sent to the captain and crow of the Rapaki. The motion was carried unanimously. Opening of New Masoni* Hall. . The new Masonic Temple, erected on Wellington terrace, close to St. Andrew's Church, is now ready for occupation. Tho opening ceremony will take place on the 16th instant, and will be conducted by His Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson), as Grand Master of New Zealand, assisted by Mr. J. H. Burnet, District Grand Master of Wellington under the English Constitution. The old Bouleott Street Hall, whioh has been the Jiome of the lodges of "the central part of the city for soino sixty years, will henceforward cease to be used for Masonic purposes. The new social hall was usod by the Wellington Savage Club last Saturday evening. Manners at a Debate. Fault was found at a meeting of the Wellington Navy League Executive yesterday with the conduct of the Victoria University College debate on Saturday evening, tho subject of which was tho Navy League's policy. Mr. A. 11. Miles, reporting on the dobato between the college team and tho. Navy League's speakers, exprosaod deep disappointment at the manner in . which the Navy League was received. He also felt that some of the remarks of both BTieakera and intorjeetors were decidedly disloyal and impatrioti:. The chairman (Sir A. F. Roberts) remarked that if people wished to attend these debates they should certainly listen to. the speakers, and not continually interject. ximaru Bus Fleet., The Timaru Borough Council, at a special meeting held on Saturday night, decided to purchase a fleet of ten new buses, five of tho .latest type, at a cost of £445 each, ana five of tho Federal Knight typo at £495 each. It was further decided that the bodies for the chassis should be built by. Ferguson and Company in Timaru at £350 each, provided the firm named iB able to make them quickly enough (states the Christchurch "Press"). The cost of the ten buses complete at the tendered prices which were accepted will be"" £8200. ■ . Heavy Locomotives. "There are locomotives in this country which it would not be safe to drive on our wharves," said Mr. Cyrus Williams, engineor to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, in reply to Dr. H. T. J. Thacker at Monday's meeting of the board. Replying to further questions, Mr. Williams said that there were locomotives that weighed 80 and 96 tons. Tho wharves were built to bear a 4cwt distributed load to the square foot; tho plans for No. 3 jetty provided for a distributed load of about 6cwt to tho square foot (reports tho Christchurch "Press"). As far as tho strength of the wharves was concerned they could carry sorting sheds, but thero was no room for them. If sorting and Customs sheds were to be built on the. wharves, tho wharves would have to bo rebuilt; they would have to be altered altogether.