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Evening Star, Issue 22577, 19 February 1937, Page 8

The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. M. J. Savage), who arrives in Dunedin on the afternoon of Monday, February 22, and leaves the following afternoon for Invercargill, has advised the mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) that he will be pleased to attend the Rotary Club lunch on the Tuesday. He will also pav a visit to the health camp at Company’s Bay. “ Wellwisher ” has forwarded £3 3s for the Pipe Band uniform fund. When application was made to the Arbitration Court this morning for the making of an award in a case in which there was a complete recommendation from the Conciliation Council, His Honour Mr Justice Page pointed out that it was not specified that the basic wage should apply when the requisite age was reached. Mr A. S. Oookson, for the employees, said he took_ it that it was not necessary to mention the matter, as the basic wage would apply automatically at 21 years of age. His Honour replied that it did apply automatically, hut it would be as well to make it clear in awards to save any doubts. A malicious false alarm called the City Fire Brigade to the corner of King and Duke streets shortly after 11 o’clock last night. The South Dunedin brigade dealt with a chimney fire in Grove street, St. Kilda, at 2.2 S yesterday afternoon. Many of the replies received by the Southern Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Union in answer to a questionnaire sent to farmers by it indicated, said the president, that rather than pay the extraordinary wages they had been asked to do for labour, and also owing to the fact that they were unable to obtain efficient labour, farmers had been forced to put their wives and children into the milking sheds. Dairying members of the union _ admitted that this was. so, and said it was an extremely serious point. The president said that in the spring, when farmers really required additional labour, the union office had been inundated with applications for labour which could not be supplied.Dannevirke Association message. A man who is full of admiration for the way New Zealand has pushed on its electrical development, more particularly in the rural districts, is Mr E. J. Jennings, of Birmingham, now visiting Christchurch. Mr Jennings is entitled to the letters F.C.1.5., Compn., 1.E.E., and until recently he was secretary and commercial manager of the Birmingham Electric Supply Undertaking. He retired in March last, and subsequently decided on a six months’ tour of the British dominions. After visiting Awapuni, Mr Jennings said he was convinced that the power was carried farther into the rural districts than was the case in England. He said he had noticed transmission lines running to small settlements of six or eight houses, or even huts. Such a comprehensive scheme had not been followed in England, and it possibly accounted for the fact that the charged for power were cheaper there. The electric power undertaking had picked out the cream of the market, largely to the neglect of the country. That matter was, however, now being adjusted. The mishap to the 32ft launch Marata at Macandrew Bay on Wednesday, details of which were published yesterday, was the most serious among the fleet of smaller boats in Otago_ Harbour for many years. After quickly drifting from its slipped moorings on to the retaining wall, the fate of the launch was sealed when it was holed by a culvert projecting from the wall. Lashed by a southerly wind, the sea, which was breaking on to the road, soon completed the damage, and thus ended the career of one of the oldest launches in the harbour.

The Press Conference concluded at the Hermitage last night with the general meeting of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association. Mr C. W. Earle was reflected president. Most of the delegates left for their homes to-day.—Press Association. In the membership campaign contest between the Returned Soldiers’ Associations of Dunedin and of Christchurch the figures at February 15 were: —Dunedin 2,524, Christchurch 2,331. The number of men for whom jobs were found under the Placement Scheme of the Labour Department since its inception in May of last year totals 2,638. Of that number, 1,567 were placed in permanent work, 676 in temporary positions, and 395 in casual jobs. During the week ended last Saturday 126 men were placed in work in Dunedin, and 1,027 throughout the Dominion. Commenting upon the jury’s verdict in the Aves trial, the Minister of Justice (Mr Mason) remarked yesterday that the jury system was so fundamental a part of the judicial system that no change should be made without a great deal of consideration. (Four furies disagreed in a case in which the woman Aves was charged with procuring abortion.) The annual Dominion Methodist Conference, in which 250 clergy and laity are participating, was opened last night in the Pitt Street Church, Auckland, when the induction took place of the new president, the Rev. F. Copeland, New Plymouth, who delivered the presidential address, which is reported under separate headings. Mr H. R. French, Hastings, was appointed vice-president, and the president-elect for 1938 is the Rev. P. R. Paris, of Wellington, a former editor of the ‘ Methodist Times.’ The conference will extend over 10 days. How a resident of New Plymouth became embroiled with British Fascists at a meeting in the Albert Hall, London, because he did not give the Fascist salute, was described by Mr Ralph Wilson, who has returned from an extensive tour of Europe. Mr Wilson said) he went to a Fascist meeting in the Albert Hall to see what Fascism was. When Sir Oswald Mosley, the Fascist leader, arrived there was a great demonstration. Everyone but himself raised hands in salute. Again, after the meeting, he was the only person in the hall who did not give the Fascist salute. This was nearly his undoing. A score of policemen surrounded him and conducted him safely from the hall. They put him in a taxi and sent him home. _ Mr Wilson said he saw the Fascist riots and the Communist demonstration in London. Two of his companions were swept into the ranks of the Communist marchers by accident. They were given red badges and were not allowed to stop marching, whether they liked it or not. They were Communists for the afternoon.

A suggestion to help to relieve the Arbitration Court of the large mass of work with which it is faced was made by Mr J. Purtell at the conclusion of the Dominion biscuit and confectionery employees’ industrial dispute argued in Conciliation Council at Christchurch. He mentioned that much more could be accomplished if both workers and employers were compelled to have Dominion-wide federations, and to approach the Conciliation Council and later the court with proposals for Dominion awards. If this were done he was certain that it would be a good step towards doing away with the congestion of work with which the Arbitration Court was now faced. The air mail despatched from Wellington on January 27 arrived in London on February 17. The Benevolent Committee of the Hospital Board reports that during last month casual cases for relief involving the expenditure of £246 14s Id were approved, and four cases for relief at a weekly cost of £1 7s fid were dealt with. The Hospital Committee of the Otago Hospital Board recommends, in reference to suggestions by the honorary staff regarding increased remuneration to anaesthetists _ and for appointments to be held by junior members of the staff, that the chairman (Mr J. W. Dove) and Dr Newlands be authorised to act and to increase the present allowance if necessary, with permission for dual offices to be held. Eye strain—for eye comfort, for better vision, consult Stunner and Watson Ltd., opticians, 2 Octagon, Dunedin.—[Advt.] Lovers of ecclesiastical art should see the beautiful stained glass window on view in the window of Messrs And. Lees, George street. Designed and created by Kobt. H. Fraser, Rattray street, Dunedin. —[Advt.] The Wembley dances will take the form of an old-time night. Scottish melodies and other attractions will be featured by the band, and the Highland' schottische competition should prove interesting.