DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 June 1925, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS

(Per Press Association.)

COMPENSATION AWARDS WELLINGTON, June 26.

The Arbitration Court to-day was occupied hearing compensation cases. Charles Edwin. Lang for a broken wrist, had' compensation ordered at a rate of 58 per cent. Albert Edwards a. watersider who was struck with a heavy weight and lost the sight of his left eye claimed compensation. Judgment -was given for defendants, the Court stating that plaintiff had failed to prove his case.

SOUTHLAND POWER BOARD.

INVERCARGILL, June 26.

The Southland i Electric Power Board’s rate to cover a loss on its operations estimated at £lOO,OOO, is to be collected; by' the local, bodies. At a meeting of the local body representatives, exception was faken to this. A deputation was appointed to wait on the Board. ■ ■ '

A resolution? protesting against its provision in the Act allowing the Board to make other bodies collect its rates was also passed.

BOTTLE’S LONG DRIFT. WELLINGTON, June 27.

The Marine Department has received advice that a bottle thrown overboard from the- schooner. Coronation off Matakawa Point, near East Cape, on May 21, 1922, was picked up recently on the beach of Green- Island, 'fourteen 1 miles east of Cairns, on the Great Barrier Reef. The bottle thus took pver three years to drift 1500 odd miles. A light south-easterly breeze was blowing when the bottle was cast overboard.

HOUSE ON FIRE. : x STRATFORD, June 26.

A house in the borough owned and occupied by Mrs. Knudsen, was partially destroyed .by fire early this morning. The -fire had.ml, good hold when- the alarm was given. A strong wind wat blowing, and; endangered the adjoining properties. The brigade made a good save, though the back portion of the building was destroyed and the contents of’'the front.portion were ruined. The insurance on j the building is £7OO, and on the furniture £2OO. Other furniture'owned-by her son-in-law, who also occupied, the house, is covered by a small policy.

P. AND T. APPEAL.BOARD , V< WELLINGTON,- June; 26.

In accordance with the regulations under the Post and Telegraph Department Act 1918, the term of office of two members of the Post and Telegraph Board of Appeal elected by the officers of the service recently expired and an election was held on: Wednesday for the purpose of electing successors. The-election resulted: in -Mr. R. B. Reynolds (Wellington), a sitting member, ' being returned unopposed, as postal representative and in W. H. G. Brown (Napier) being elected as Telegraph representative by a majority of 325‘ Over’ the sitting Telegraph member Mr. R. H..(Brown (Auckland). The figures in connection'with the Telegraph ballot are as follow: Brown, W. H. G'/ (Napier) 2008; R. H. Brown (Auckland) 1683; informal 19; majority for W. H. G. Brown 325.

FARM ASSISTANTS.’ DISPUTE. DUNEDIN, June 25. An unusual.positjpn arose at a Conciliation Council proceeding ■ in the Otago and Southland Agricultural, Dairying, Fruit and Pastoral Assistants’ Union dispute, wheir no assessors appeared to represent the employers. Mr Cookson, who appeared for the latter, stated that a conference of farmers and fruitgrowers objected to any award for farm workers. Their objection was so strong rthat an attempt to force conciliation proceedings would only delay an appearance before the Court. There never had been a farm hands’ 'award and the matter vitally affected the whole Dominion. »; The Conciliation Commissioner stated that the matter could not be referred to the Court until it had been dealt with by a Council. If the employers failed to appoint assessors, -he must appoint them himself. There was nothing in the Act to compel (hern to at. tend, and the matter could be rsferred to the Court without a recommendation. The .sitting was adjourned until July 2. ■ •