LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 17085, 2 July 1919, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A conference of delegates from various local bodies -and chambers of commerce in Wellington province, convened by the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce, was Opened yesterday. The following resolution with respect to the. surface as to ■rived when the Government should construct tho main arterial roads of the Dominion, with a. view to tho formation -of permanent highways; that all local bodies bs urged to co-operate in the work of putting main roads in such a permanent condition with respect to tho surface so as to carry with safety the rapidly-i.nGiea.sing ■number of motor-driven vehicles. Two women appeared before Air Wilson, S.AL, at Auckland yesterday on charges of stealing a quantity of drapery from various shops. The AJagistrate convicted the accused, and put them on probation for two years, with the conditions that they should not he.out after 6 p.m, unless accompanied by some person approved by the probation officer, and that their associates and amusements should also bo subject to the probation officer’s control. They worn ordered to make lull restitution, and were warned that a breach of any one of the conditions would mean a sentence of six months’ imprisonment. . A conference of West Coast local bodies and the saw-milling industry met Sir Francis 801 lat Hokitika yesterday. Lengthy addresses were made, and the whole question of the forestry regulations was discussed, the position from the West Coast point of view'- being strongly urged Sir Francis 801 l was decidedly hostile to tho ncpi-csentat-ions for a revision of the regulations, but was more favorable in reference to tho question of tho royalties affected. His statement of the position was received with disapproval and dismay. The conference subsequently re sololved to enter a strong protest, and to make every -endeavor to secure tho repeal of those portions of the regulations which are considered certain to strangle the sawmilling industry on the West Coast. Following upon a notice that fresh ciders for coal would be received by the ■State Coal Department's office at Wellington, a lush set in to book up as soon as the office was opened, and so insistent were the crowd on getting into the office that tho assistance of a constable had to be procured to prevent the people from rushing the doors. At the annual conference -at Christchurch of the New Zealand Federated Association of Tramway Workers it was agreed to urge upon the Government a channel by which a Dominion union in one industry oould be established. It was also resolved that, as Ilia complete organisation of tramwaymen had; been accomplished since last conference, tha time had l arrived when a national agreement should govern all tramway work in tho Dominion, and that steps bo taken to obtain such an agreement. It was agreed to alter the constitution in the direction of making Wellington the headquarters of tho association. Air C. Hobbs (Wellington) was appointed president and Mr J. Hutchison (Wellington) secretary and treasurer. Asked at Wellington yesterday whether the Labor Department had taken any defi nite steps to relieve the scarcity of miners. Air F. V. Rowley stated that tho position had never been referred to tho department. Alining companies almost invariably engaged their own labor. The Labor Department had, inquired into the statement that ihauy miners had relinquished their usual calling and gone over to other ocoti pationa which they thought more concental. Very little justification for such a, .vcmark was found, Mr Rowley stated that negotiations in connection with the proposal that miners should be brought to New Zealand from Australia weyo proceeding. However, it was impossible to say anything definite about that matter ■until normal passenger traffic was resumed.