WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1923, Page 6

WESTPORT NOTES

WESTPOET, July 24. At its meeting to-night, the Buller Progress League decided to support the objections raised against the increased telephonic charges. It also decided to support the endeavour of the Industries Department to secure reduced fares and other facilities for visitors to tho Empire Exhibition in England. CI ho League passed the following resolution: —“That this League enters a most indignant and emphatic protest against the action of the gentlemen who convened a conference at Greymouth in connection with the opening of the Otira Tunnel, but had no business to place before the delegates. The League protests also against the allocation of tickets which has been made at the instigation of the West Coast Celebrations Committee, as the Buller district has been most disgracefully treated in the matter. 11 Mr Morrison, an expert of the Forestry Department, is at present inspecting lands in Buller district with a view to the Government launching a series of experiments here in the planting of trees upon the Pakihi lands. This is a very hopeful venture. The beautification of the Buller mining towns is another project that promises well for the district. labour leaders, like Mr P. C. Webb, long battled for this reform. The 'flu continues to be very prevalent. Out of a committee of 16 for the Fire Brigade Ball, all but three arc down 'with the ailment, and the Ball has therefore had to be postponed for throe weeks. The shortage of coal at present has slackened down tho local shipping activitics. (Our Own Correspondent). Several ambulance eases from the country were admitted to the Buller District Hospital on Monday. Mr Frank Munson was an outwrrd passenger by tho Komata on hot last trip to Wellington. Mrs W. T. Sleo left by the Komn“ on a visit to relatives in Wellingt on. The new band, which has not yet decided on a name, includes a good many of the former members of the old Federal combination. They had a muster of 16 at their last practice. Twenty, I understand, makes a fairly wellbalanced band. The newcomers hope to give the public some music in a month’s time. Mr Stan Wheatley is leader of the official opposition. Healthy rivalry is an excellent stimulus to pro-

tress. The Technical High School closed down on Monday morning as a result of the influenza epidemic. Just when people reckoned we had got over the crisis of the ’flu and the disease was on the wane, the annual winter scourge gave another kick, resulting in the primary and secondary schools closing their doors for a further period. The Buller District Hospital Board held a special meeting on Monday to consider a lighting scheme for the institution. Members will no doubt recognise that the question is one of the most important involved in the progress and good name of our hospital. Tho water-logging of borough property contiguous with private residential sections is causing our City Fathers considerable concern. Residents complain that they can’t go to and from their houses in bad weather without becoming wet-footed. To do away with the nuisance the council is faced in many, instances with the necessity of having to make a footpath from one end of the affected block to tho other. An instance of this is to be seen in Lower Peel Street, where the borough workmen are at present engaged. The extension of the domestic portion of the hospital and rear fittings of the Children’s Ward h"s necessitated the temporary removal of the secretary’s office to the Technical High School across the way. At a meeting in the Town Hall the other night, the brick area and the Borough By-laws were the subject of discussion. It was explained that any new structure intended to be used for public purposes, or on a place of amusement, had to be built in brick. An interested party wanted to know why it wasn’t compulsory for tho new English Church to be built in brick, and if that edifice about to be erected wasn’t a place of amusement! WESTPORTONIAN’3 NOTES. It was pleasant to read that the chairman of tho Board of Governors of the Technical High School intends to move at the next meeting of the board that “the remuneration of the caretaker be increased.” It will also be pleasant for tho caretaker when the increase eventuates/ I noticed that over 40 hours per week were being worked for 40/-, so there appears little chance of a surplus. Now that the chairman has taken a load, we may expect the workers ’ representatives to give it a go. There is a relieving officer in charge of the Railway Workshops, during the absence of Mr Taylor, on holidays. Some of the older hands reckon that it puts them in mind of old times in one respect. My sympathies are extended to the staff of the “Evening Star and Times,” who have been having a rough time with the ’flu. The “News” came to tho rescue and ran off Monday’s edition. To make matters worse, I understand, the linotype machine went “crook.” However, let us hope for a speedy end of their troubles. The waterside workers have not been doing tpo well of late, so the following paragraph may perhaps convince them

that there are countries just as good as “God’s Own.’’ In Queensland they have an Act, entitled the “Unemployment Insurance Act.’’ Its general principle is thrt a worker must be a contributor to the fund for six months before becoming entitled to any benefits, but it provides that the Unemployment Council may distribute sustenance on a pro rata scale, where circumstances have made it impossible for the worker to have contributed for the full period above-mentioned. To this end, special regulations have been issued with regard to waterside workers, and Forgrn Smith, the Minister-in-Charge of the Act, has assured the Waterside Workers’ . Union that its members will participate in the distribution of sustenance to a greater extent than any other class of workers, because of the casual nature of their employment. The following seems to hit the mark: The law of supply and demand has become the law of the profits. It is no longer production that governs prices, but absorption. It has become a matter of minimum production for the maintenance of the maximum price. Everybody is doing it to the stultification of text books from which students of political economy are supposed to suck wisdom. So soon as these students go into trade, they will find that the law of supply and demand is a struggle to control the supply, in order to demand what one likes. There are many workers who take little heed of the arguments set up by their comrades as to the desirability of linking up in the industrial union, governing their particular calling. To such as these, the following sentiments as expressed by Theodore Rooseveldt, may have a little effect. Rooseveldt says: “If I were a factory employee, a labourer on the railroads, or a wageearner of any sort, I would undoubtedly join the union of my trade. If I were opposed to the policy of the union. I would join if for no other reason than to help rectify tho mistake. If I took exception to a dishonest leader, I would join that union to help remove him. In short, I. believe in the union, and I believe that all men who are benefited by the union arc morally bound to help to the extent of their power in the common interest advanced by the anion.’’