NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 141, 18 June 1927, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Power Station Loads. - The maximum load on the Mangahao hydro-electriq power station for the week which ended on Sunday last was -20,451 k.v.ar, occuring between 4.30 and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Bth June.. The number of units generating during the week was. 1,827,130. Figures fpr the previous week were: Maximum load, 20,990 k.v.a.; units output, 1,915,640. For the same period the peak load on the Lake Coleridge Station was 21,020 k.v.a,, a record for this station, occurring between 4.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. pn Tuesday, 7th June. The units generated totalled. 1,952,590. The previous week's details were: Maximum load, 20,470 k.v.a., a record; units output, 1,872,905. The report from the Horp Horo (Waikato) Station was not available yesterday. ' Wages By Cheque. The Council of the-Wellington Chamber pf Commerce had.before it at its meeting last week a suggestion from a member that a system of paying wages by cheques would be advantageous and would assist greatly in eliminating the risk of defalcations as had recently been instanced where wages sheets had been manipulated. The Truck Act passed in 1891, and since consolidated in the Wages Protection and Contractors' Liens Act of 1908, provided that wages must bo paid in coin of the Realm or bank notes, and since this was the case, the council did not consider that an amendment of the Act in this connection wns practicable.

Compulsory Military Training. Compulsory military camp training has recently been the subject of discussion by the Council of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Tho points reviewed were the disabilities suffered by employers in being compelled to pay wages, such as in .the caso of apprentices, but especially if undergoing additional camp training as a penalty for not having tittended evening or half-day parades which ordinarily would come out of an employee's time and not out of cm, employer's time. The New Zealand Employers' Federation, which had been communicated with on the matter, stated it had pursued efforts for relief during tho past four years, and had been successful in securing payment by tho Defence Department amounting to 4« per day, but so far had been unsuccessful in obtaining the right for employers to deduct. Tho federation was making further representations to the Government on the matter. Lyttelton Perry Service. . Tho question of recent delays experienced in the ferry service between Lyttelton and Wellington >as discussed at a meeting of the Qounci] of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and the inconveniences experienced by passengers who missed train connections nraa stressed. The council recognised, that the turbine steamers must withdraw in turn for overhaul, but decided to make representations to the shipping company urging that their overhaul should be expedited, that the disabilities sufSb/ *he *raveliing public might be reduced to the minimum period. A suggestion tq advance the sailing time of the slower vessels replacing the faster bpats whije undergoing overhaul did not meet with support, since mail and other arrangements would be interfered

Access to Plinuaerton. The difficulties of access to PlimmerifpTZZ X^t^ °Ut t0 '»• Minister of Public Works yesterday by a deputation from the Hutt County Council. The Minister was asked to assist in providing finance for the construction of a bridge across the Pprirua Harbour from Pareraata, and qf a road from the proposed bridge, through Plimnierton, to connect up with the road in Pukea *&•-*** ™hme W«B outlined by % T'^-37 m' M-P- who stressed the disabilities of the residents of the district in the matter .pf travelling to Wellington, and pointed out that the people of Pukerua Bay had been paying rates for over thirty years, and still lacked road connection with any other part of the county. The cost of the work, including £15,000 for the bridge, was estimated at £30,000, and it was stated that the County Council and tho people were prepared to find half the money if the Government would make n £ for & subsidy. Other aspects of the scheme were discussed by members of the council. The Minister (the Hon, K. S. Williams) stated that he was not prepared to commit himself before conferring with his officers and making a visit to the district, which he would do, if possible, at an early date. It appeared to him that the crux of the question so far as Pliminer, ton: was concerned was the bridge, and unless there was a possibility of it being constructed, it would not bo opportune to do the road work.. The position o- the Pukerua people would be improved when they were linked up by road with Plimmerton. Tho Minister promised the deputation a definite rei ply; as soon as possibla.