BOOK ARCADE. The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 15, 1901. MILLING TRUST.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 187, 15 August 1901, Page 2

BOOK ARCADE.

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 15, 1901. MILLING TRUST.

The combination of millers is exercising the minds of the labor combination, and what is good for the one is evidently not considered good for the other. Our Auckland correspondent supplies us with the following information :

The following circular letter has been sent to the Unions and Trades and Labor Councils throughout New Zealand by the Auckland Trades and Labor Council :—“ Sir,—l enclose an extract from the report of the Trades and Labor Council, as published in the Star, dealing with the Southern Milling Trust. Since our meeting I have had authentic information from Canterbury, stating that the Trust has secured control of the Master Bakers’ Union, and that the Union will not now take flour from a mill unless it belongs to the Trust: also, that the price of bread has been raised. A 1 corner ’ in flour means that the poor are struck at chiefly. Bread is the staple in a working household’s bill of fare, and while a rise in the price of flour may not be noticed by those more fortunately placed, it cannot fail to be keenly felt by the lowly. At the present time a duty of 15 percent, is imposed on flour imported into New Zealand. In some quarters it has been suggested that the removal of this duty would be the easiest and best way to combat this evil. My Council, however, is of the opinion that such a step would eventually prove disastrous to the community at large, for the following reasons That Now Zealand grown wheat in ordinary seasons could not compete against Australian for Californian wheat or flour, That every ton of flour imported means sq much less wheat to be carried by rail, and consequently a,direct loss in revenue to the Railway Department. That less coal would be required, so a direct loss to the mining community. That the wheat grower, finding his occupation no longer a profitable one, would no doubt turn his attention to growing sheep and wool, and dispense with the most of his hired labor, swelling the ranks of the unemployed, require less railway accommodation, and cause the Department ultimately to. discharge a number of hands, and raise freight and fares to make both ends meet at the end of the financial year; require fewer implements, and so affect the manufacturing industries; causa a slump in the market for draught horses; and no matter from what point of view we look at the question of remitting the duty we fail to see where the ultimate benefit would j arise. We would ask your cordial co-operation in urging the Government to introduce such legislation as would make such combinations illegal, as being opposed to the public welfare. This matter should be taken in hand by Parliament, because very ■ strong pressure is being brought to .

1 bear by the syndicate to induce the ! half-dozen mills siiil outside to join 1 with them.” It certainly is not to the | interest of people generally to have ; the price of tlour raised, and the ! general public will look on with inI terost at the tilt between the millers : and the labor organisations.

1 A Times telegram from Mangawoka, ; Wairarapa, states that eighteen cooks hare | struck for higher wages.

i Captain Edwin reported at 12.50 yes- | terday : •• Moderate westerly winds ; ! glass'fall ; poor tides.” Tlie annual meeting of the Kait Bowling Club will be held on Thursday, August 22nd, at 2 pan.

The annual meeting of the Gisborne Co operative Building Society will be heal on Mon lay, September 2.

A party of six co-operative men leave town this week to work on the MaugatuKaralta road. The engineer is Mr A. I, Matthews.

As a result of labor troubles, two business firms in Auckland have recently sent orders to the United States lor 0000 pairs of boots.

A special advertisement appears in today's issue horn Mr S. Earle, who has received some first-class new lines in tobacco and fancy goods.

Messrs Dalgety and Co. have four hundred -1-tooth Lincoln wethers for salo, and also a number of rams from tlic Hocks of the principal breeders hi New Zealand. Mr Evans, a “ hatter ” working in the Moonlight district, Grey, West Coast, found throe nuggets of -lOoz, Oox, and 2oz respectively, the total value of which is .ftioO.

A Southern paper says that for a wager, Mv J. O’Couueil, the Olioka strong man, recently climbed an eight loot laddci with 7001 b weight of sand tied across his back.

The Premier’s optimistic utterances in the House yesterday, that he believed by the end of the year employers and employees would be again living in harmony, will be cheering to many who have had grave doubts about the trend of things. Dairy farmers are reminded of the meeting to be held in the Matuwhcro schoolroom this evening to discuss the question of the formation of a co-operative factory. It is expected that there will yD a largo attendance. His Worship t- - Mayor will preside. Tho team to represent Kaiti on Saturday will he selected from the following : ■ Witty, Ngatai, W. Gibson, Halbert, Reynolds (2), M. Murphy, Eaton, Colcbournc, Robinson, Bright, McKcllar, Hansen, K. Harris, Brophy, Moore, Loach (2), Coleman, and Cooper.

A correspondent suggests that after the action of tho Whataupoko ratepayers in rejecting amalgamation, and in reference to a remark about “ aggregate asses,” tho Whataupoko bridge should bo named the “ Pons Asinorum.” The suggestion is referred to tho amalgamation conference.

A meeting of the Ballancc Tent of llecliabites was hold last evening, Bro. JDods, C.R., presiding. It was decided to establish a library in connection with the Tent. Two now members were initiated, and two proposed. At a meeting of tho Gisborne Tent hold the same evening, one member was also initiated, and another proposed. Mr Kettle, S.M., has come to the conclusion that it is no use indicting small fines from drunkenness. In dealing with a first offender in Wanganui he intimated his intention of issuing prohibition orders against all persons who were brought before him and who were proved to bo drinking to excess. It was no use, he said, fining a man ss; a fine was no deterrent.

At a social gathering at Toanga, a pleasing ceremony took place, a presentation of a silver cruet being made to Aliss Alice Bach and Mr T. Witty, on the eve of their marriage. The gift (which was presented by Mr J. Gcorgcson) was made on bebalf of a circle of friends who attend an annual picnic gathering, and was given as a mark of esteem. Hearty good wishes were extended to the recipients. A hearty laugh was caused at the last meeting of the Hutt County Council by the denial of the ranger that a certain road was overrun with cattle. “ During last month,” lie said, “ I have only been able to catch one cow and ono horse; in the previous month I impounded about 85 head at different times belonging to the one owner, and I lost the best customer I had.” An old man, William Cornell, who suicided at Hartley Vale, New South Wales, by jumping into the river with a hundredweight of stones tied to bis neck, was crippled with rheumatism. Tinned to his hat close by the river was a letter addressed to the coroner, stating that as ho was crippled, past work, and old, he was going to leave this old planet by the easiest way he know of. He requested that the letter he given, with the coroner’s report, to the press, and he would feel more comfortable and obliged, as he could thus say good-bye to all. He asked anyone whoso feelings he had hurt to think of the word “ Forgive.” A verdict of suicide was returned. No one knows better than tho Premier when the psychological moment has arrived for crying “ Halt ” to a section of his supporters who may bo driving him too far in a particular direction. That moment has unmistakably arrived in the case of tho labor unions, whose influence in politics has in tho past been out of proportion to their importance, numerical or otherwise. The revolt of the small farmers, which has of late been very marked, is a plain indication that even a Government that has, as it were, created tho small farming class and elevated it into the position oi a serious political factor, cannot depend upon the support of those it has in so many ways benefited unless its legislative enactment and administrative doings presorve a. fair equilibrium in the State. —N.Z. Mail. Tho Wellington correspondent of the Hawke’s Bay Herald telegraphs : -The Secret Military Commission at present sitting in Wellington, finding tho local drillshcd very draughty and uncomfortable, and more than capable of containing the witnesses who have so far come to give evidence in regard to tho mismanagement of tho local camp arrangements during the period of the Royal visit, which led to what has become so notorious as tho Newtown Park Scandal,” has shifted its quarters, and secured a sound, tight compartment in the departmental buildings. Instructions having been given to commanders of companies which were present at the encampment to send along each a squad of witnesses, the Commission is now kept quite cheerfully busy asking each man his opinion about Colonel Fenton's capacity as a commandant and an administrator, and other cognate questions. Of course, the bill of expenses for giving those young gentlemen a holiday will bo very substantial, and when it is totted nn it will probably cause some comment even amongst those to whom “ money is no object.”