DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 December 1944, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

FACTORY CONDITIONS. DUNEDIN, December 12. In an address on industrial hygiene to the Manufacturers’ Association, Dr. J. M. Davidson, who is on loan ’by Britain to the New Zealand Department of Health, said that New Zealand’s legislation was often too detailed, minute items swamping more important factors. The Dominion was less advanced in its factory legislation and in general the housekeeping in factories was disappointingly low. “No young person under 14 is permitted to work in a British factory, no matter what the circumstances,” said Dr. Davidson, “but in New Zealand it is possible to employ a girl of 13 for up to 56 hours. That is not leading the world, and it is not good enough.” There was a common tendency in the Dominion to blame the war for the conditions he had met, but English standards had not been lowered one iota on that account. TEACHERS’ SALARIES WELLINGTON, December 12. With a view to improving the financial position of married men teachers in primary schools an approach has been made by the New Zealand Educational Institute to the Stabilisation Commission for a cost of living bonus of £5O a year for married men teachers and others with dependants. “Some oi these teachers,” said Mr. G. R. Ashbridge, secretary of the institute, “in order to balance their household budgets have been compelled to seek "holiday and overtime employment, and in other cases to borrow on insurance policies or sell personal belongings. The survey which disclosed this disturbing position also revealed that surprisingly large numbers of teachers are operating on bank overdrafts.” The first objective of the institute, added Mr. Ashbridge, was an increase in the cost of living bonus to married men teachers, and the second was the reclassification of the primary school service to bring 4 he scale of remuneration up to a more adequate standard. OLD MAN’S OFFENCE. WELLINGTON, December 12. When sentencing an elderly man who had pleaded guilty at Masterton to a revolting sexual offence, the Chief Justice, Sir M. Myers, again commented upon' the need for some institution other than a prison or a mental hospital for the reception of such cases, which had presented a repeated problem. Prisoner had been deck-red by an alienist as not certifiably insane. His Honor said he was inclined to ah opinion that prisoner was insane, but m view of the medical opinion he could not send prisoner to ‘a mental hospital. At the same time he was satisfied that the case was not one for prison, but there was nothing else to do. Sentencing prisoner to prison for reformative purposes for a term of two years, His Honor said lie would be in the bands of the Prisons Board and possibly something might happen which would enable them to recommend that he be dealt, with in some other way. TRIBUTE TO JUDGE. WELLINGTON, December 12. The Bench and Bar, to-day, paid a tribute to the memory of Sir Walter Stringer, eulogising his qualities as an eminent advocate and Judge and as a great gentleman. The Chief Justice (Sir M. Myers) said it was so many years since Sir Walter Stringer retired from the Bench that to many he was little more than a name, but those who knev; him would share the deep regret that members of the Bench lelt at his demise. Since he retired there had arisen a new generation of Judges, none of whom had had the pi ivilege oi sitting with him as colleagues, but some members of the Bench had haa the privilege of practising bcloie him. As a Judge Sir W. Stringer had displayed infinite fairness and impartiality and courtly urbanity, qualities which gained him the respect, esteem and admiration of the public as well as the profession. He had left memories of which his family might well be proud. r , Mr. H. G- R- Mason (Attorney General) and H. F. O’Leary, K.C. (President of the New Zealand Law Society) associated all members of the profession with the tribute.

WATERSIDERS’ APPEALS. AUCKLAND, December 12.

Exemption from military service was sought by 17 category A waterside workers at a sitting of the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal. Board. Appearing on behalf of the Waterfront Commission, Mr. W. J. Cuthbert, the Auckland waterfront controller, asked lor an adjournment of the cases to enable evidence to be given by the chairman of the commission, Captain R. E. Price. “In view of the Governments policy that all men with three years’ overseas service would be returned to New Zealand it was not the intention of the Waterfront Control Commission to prosecute appeals on behalf of these men,” said Mr. Cuthbert. “However, on account of a recent statement to the effect that the shipping position in the future warranted the retention of all waterside workers, I ask lor an adjournment until December 20 to allow Captain Price, of Wellington, to give the Board the benefit of his knowledge of the future requirements of the industry.”

The Board granted an adjournment, and the cases were set down for hearing on December 20.

RAILWAYMEN’S CLAIMS. WELLINGTON, December 13. The R. 0.1. claims for increased pay were placed before the Railways Tribunal by J. S. Roscoe, Secretary of the Institute, to-day. He said that subsequent to the reduction of 1921-22, the R. 0.1. had at intervals sought a return to parity with the modest salary scale of 1920. A general scale had been worked out to produce approximation to the net salary required in 1942 to assure purchasing power parity with 1921. While al lother sections of the community had to pay war and other direct taxation, the R. 0.1. claimed it should be exempted from this burden because their salary rates had fallen relatively to others. A railway clerk with 25 years’ service in 1942 received. 29 per cent, more than his prototype of 1914, whereas the ■retail price index was 76 per cent, higher. While incomes in general had increased over 80 per cent, since 1936 to 1942, railway officers, without overtime or Sunday pay, received only 18 per cent. more. A substantial number earned no overtime. The time was approaching when overtime would not be worked and it should have no bearing on the salary scale. The percentage increase sought ranged from 22 at the bottom to 39 at the top, with a median of 30 for the group represented by those with 25 years’ service.