LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 18817, 16 December 1924, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

As the result of a raid at Clirislchureli a youth, Thomas Robert Glover, aged eighteen, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court charged with the theft of two bicycles, lie was remanded, Hie police stating that a large, number of charges .were pending. When making an application at. Auckland to have the firm of Armstrong. \\ hitworth, and Co. made a party to an award, Mr buthnrliind, secretary of tlio Ironworkers’ Union, said: “I can't sec .for the life of me why Armstrong, Whitworth, and Co. want exemption. If they aro granted exemption, every empbrer in New Zealand could apply. There are any j amount, of men in New Zealand able to 'carry out the work and comply v.'ith the existing awards, too.” Messrs Armstrong, Whitworth, and Co. are coni rumors for 1 the Arapuni dam. and have entered into lan agreement with the New ZeaMnd 1 Workers’ Union, an unregistered body, | in which it has been agreed that overtime ; rates are not to Ixs paid until a week's work of forty-eight hours lias been put in, whereas the various Arbitration Ciurt awards provide for the payment of overtime after forty-four hours have been worked in any one week. Because the Christchurch waterside workers and railway hands refused to unload phosphate in bags without extra, pay, discharging operations at Lyttelton on ttie Kakapo on Saturday afternoon were suspended, but work went on yrs-?;day morning. The extra, money was fiiio to the laborers under protest. A civic reception was extended to the Samoan Faipules at Wellington last evening. The mayor (Mr R. A. Wright), who presided, in welcoming the visitors cu behalf of the citizens, referred to Samoa's misfortunes of the past and the prosperity which would surely be hers in the future. Ho believed the Maoris and the Samoans originally belonged to the same race, and he hoped they would soon take an equal place with the Europeans, oven to sending 1 representatives to the. Now Zealand Parliament. Mr Toelupe, in reply, thanked (ho citizens for their cordial reception. Ho said they were, strangers, but the same flag which flow over the dominion flew over Samoa. It was like visiting a rew world, seeing things they had hoard <>f previously. They know they were related to the Maoris. Their love and sympathy of the people of New Zealand had touched them deeply. Samoa had never progressed, owing to the many changes which had taken place, mostly without the people's consent, and Great Britain had taken the Gospel to them, and they hoped would lead them to prosperity. They vwj particulrrlv satisfied with the present Government, and especially with I General Richardson. They would do their \ nest to follow the teaching New Zealand I afforded them. While remembering the beauties of the dominion, they maintained that Samoa was the pearl of the Pacific. At the sitting of the Arbitration Court at Auckland Air F. Barter, secretary of the Amalgamated Society of the Engineers’ Union at Auckland, said that as a result | of the publication of a statement in the ' newspapers in which Mr Justice Frazer was credited with saying that many of the immigrant engineers arriving from England were specialists and not all-round men, and therefore should bo granted underrate workers’ permits, he (Mr Barter) had received several applications for such permits. Mr Justice Frazer said that, so far as he. knew, the papers had reported him correctly, but in Wellington there 1 was apparently some misunderstanding. What lie said fit tho West, Coast was that mnnv of tho engineers coming out from England were specialists, and did not have the” all-round general knowledge required of engineers in the dominion. Unfortunately New Zealand had not, reached the high standard when specialists were, required for every branch of trade; but, so far ns he could see, there should be, no objection to a man who was a, specialist in one particular lino being granted an underrate worker’s pay until such time as lie extended his knowledge. “Nobody for a moment sugaests, because the trade might be slack,” added Ills Honor, “that they be. allowed to work at cheap rates, but'simply that these specialists .should ho paid what they ore worth until they get the all-round knowledge necessary."

The Port Chalmers Fire Board’s quarterly meeting yesterday evening was of brief duration. The report staled that the Fire Brigade had attended three grass fires and a chimney on fire during the past three months. The motor was in good order, and the balance of the plant in Fair order. The chairman (Mr S. B. Macdonald) was authorised to see to procuring uniforms for two new members of the brigade. The hoard gave permission for the brigade to hold a children’s party on Christmas Evo. The exchange of Christmas greetings included the dona I ion of a Christmas-box to the secretary (Miss I>. Montgomery) in recognition of her work. Tho north end Druids (Lily of the Valiev Lodge) assembled at. their hall, Miller, street, North-east Valley, A.D. Bro. Campbell, sen., presiding over a fair attendance, a. start having been made at 7 o'clock to enable business to be got over for tho children’s night. Some, hundred and fifty children, accompanied by their parents, assembled at 8 o’clock, when the evening was opened by a welcome, from A.D. Bro. Campbell. Piano solosrecitations, fancy dances, duets, and dialogues, were contributed by tho following: Misses E. Crawford, Stewart, Robertson, Andrews, Stentiford, Rethnne, and Master Edgar. At Die close tea and cakes, etc., with toys, were handed round by tiro officers of the lodge, and a pleasant evening spent. A hearty vole of thanks was accorded to those who had contributed, to the entertainment. At the adjourned meeting Bro. Campbell presided over a, good attendance. Four candidates sought admission, and were received into the order. Afterwards the nomination and election of officers for the current half-year resulted as follows: —AT)., Bro. Campbell, jun.; V.A., Bro. Henderson; secretary, Bro. Watson (rc-elecicd); treasurer, Bro. Robertson (rc-elccted); 1.G., Bro. Thompson: 0.G., Bro. Thompson, jun.; A.D. Bards, Bros. Freeman and Winter; ViceBa.rds, Bros. Green and Trimrnell; M.C., Bro. Reid (re-elected) ; D.P.s Bros. Bradshaw and Faulds. The A.D. in closing the, meeting extended good wishes to all for tho coining season, and declared January 7 as tho dale, when business would be transacted. D.P. Bro. Walker, assisted by P.A.. Bro. Faulds, ably installed the officers and received a hearty vote of thanks. P.A. Bro. Cook was elected G.L. representative; sub., Bro. Lethaby. The U.F.S. delegates, Bros. Reid and Lethaby, were thanked for their report. The month of November was a rccor'd one as far as the output from the Kia Ora Dairy Company’s factory is concerned isays tin- ‘Poverty Bay Herald’), no less than 248,1211 b of butter being manufactured during the month. This quantity is 21,6891 b in excess of the output from November last year, when 226,’"4521b were made. The season so far has proved a record one, and up to date twenty-one and a-half tons more butter has been made than during the corresponding period last year. The total pay-out for the month of November was £17,616. The company is once agaiu adopting the policy of a uniform pay-out for (he, season, and suppliers receive an advance pay-out of Is 4d per lb each month. An experience of a most, unusual nature befell a Gisborne motorist while retunv ing home the other afternoon. Tho day was fairly calm, but now and again there was a slight breeze. Suddenly the car ran into a small whirlwind, anri the. hood was torn right off the car. By the time tho surprised driver had pulled up tho hood had been completely smashed, and tho whirlwind, had passed over.