DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 January 1942, Page 8

DOMINION ITEMS

I HYDRO-ELECTRICITY I WAIROA, January 21. j With the object of investigating ’the upper development scheme of ’ hvdro-electricity production at Lake ■’ Waikaremoana, the Minister of Pub--1 lie Works, Mr. Armstrong, and the (Minister of National Service, Mr. ' Semple, accompanied by Messrs F. T. ■M. Kissel, chief electrical engineer, 'and W. L. Newnham, engineer-in- | chief, visited the works. Mr. Arm- ' strong said that it was proposed to go I into question of tapping the lake itself, • instead of relying on seepage for the ! water supply. Great care would be i needed, and he and Mr. Semple were making a survey of the position.

BRIDE DROWNED | GORE, January 23, | Mrs. Evelyn Howard Williams, 33, I wife of Second Lieutenant David Williams, of Otane, Hawke’s Bay, lost her life in unusual circumstances at the home of her father, Mr. George Pinckney,, of Glenaray Station, Waikaia, yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Williams ■ had been working in the garden near jthe Waikaia River, and went down to ‘the bank for a drink. She was found (some time later, lying on the bank on 'her stomach, with her head partially 'submerged in the water. Apparently, she had been overcome by a fainting turn when she lowered her head to drink, and was drowned. Mrs. Will Hams was married three months ago.

AUCKLAND DRIVERS. AUCKLAND, January 23. Intimation was received by the Auckland Drivers’ Union from Wel- : lington, that the overtime and holidays suspension order was agreed to by the workers’ representatives on the War Council, and this order would apply to Anniversary Day. Commenting, to-day, the union secretary, Mr. L. G. Matthews, said that unfortunately, the Trades Union movement was never consulted concerning the suspension order. It therefore followed that the workers’ representatives on the War Council had agreed to forego a principle, which decision should not have been made without consulting the workers. Mr. Matthews said the union had received an important communication from the Minister of Labour, which would be considered on Sunday next; He would not divulge the contents.

P.O. EMPLOYEE'S THEFTS. AUCKLAND, January 23. A postal messenger, Colin Hooton, 44, pleaded guilty in the Police Court, to stealing postal packets containing four pairs of silk stockings and a woman’s satin sleeping suit, valued at £3/10/-; also other packets containin 34 pairs of silk stockings, five handbags, and other articles, valued at £ 18 18/-.

The police said that for a year preceding Hooton’,s arrest, the Department received numerous complaints as to non-delivery of packages. Hooton was married, with five children. Defending counsel said that Hooton had a long and honourable record as a postal officer, and a soldier in the last war. He was unable to explain why he submitted to temptation. The S.M. CMr. Luxford) sentenced accused to three months’ imprisonment on one charge, and on the second he was convicted and discharged.

■ WELLINGTON ANNIVERSARY. J WELLINGTON, January 22. I To-day was the one hundred and I second anniversary of the Wellington | Province. Except for the fact that State departments and certain industries engaged in essential war production, remained at work, the day was observed as usual in Wellington. In(Justifies which do not customarily take a holiday on Anniversary Day continued to work, and restaurants and fruit and confectionery shops were open as usual, but all other shops were closed. Because of the war, the Government decided to cancel the observance of Anniversary Day as a holiday, but stated that special payments provided for in any awards or agreements should be made, subject to the Holidays’ Labour Legislation Suspension Order, 1941, which removed treble-time payment for work on holidays. Retail traders, commercial and wholesale merchants, insurance companies, and transporters expressed the opinion that the Government’s proposals failed to provide any means to assist the Dominion’s war effort and imposed greater obligations on employers than did the provisions of acts and awards requiring the observance of Anniversary Day as a holiday. They therefore decided that employers not engaged on essential war production should follow the usual practice and observe the holiday.