HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 23 September 1932, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent.) HOKITIKA, September 22. For the air mail service next Wednesday between here and Okura (South Westland) letters will be charged at fourpence per ounce. The plane leaves here at 7 a.m. and arrives back four hours later. The R.S.A. dance last evening attracted a good attendance, and the old time programme was a popular one. To play Stars on Saturday at Greymouth, the Excelsior Club will field the following team: Mitchell, Schroder, Connelly, Staines, Roberts, Hughes, Davidson, M. Kelly, B. Kelly, Eager, Freitas, King, Hughes, Gugich and Palmer. Yesterday a ladies’ six-a-side hockey tourney was played here, and the Newman Cup was won by the Rover A team. In the first round results were: Rover A 4 beat Rover C 0; Kokatahi 1 beat Mawhera B 0; Mawhera A 3 beat Hokitika B 0; Hokitika A 2 beat Rover B 0. In the second round the best game of the tourney was played between Mawhera A and Hokitika A, the former gaining a win after playing extra time by a hit behind, after each side had scored a couple of goals; while Rover A beat Kokatahi by four to nil, and in the final beat Mawhera by a goal to nil. Mr T. R. Saywell drew the ties, and the Rev. Mr Hailwood, Messrs Fleming, Sumner, Stapleton and Patterson were the referees.

The Golf Club on Saturday play a men’s four ball match, for which the draw is as follow: Houston 13 and Cagney 11, Coulson 20 and P. Dougherty 23, Wyles 12 and Wilson 11, Irwin 12 and Cox 7, T. Brown 23 and Fade 29. Robilliard 17 and Mandi 15, Warren .17 and O’Doherty 8, Adamson 3 and Stark 19, Mclntyre 23 and Hazeldine 23, Newman 23 and McKay 23, W. E. Brown 17 and J. Stuart 25, Caliari 16 and Finerty 9, Macfarlane 19 and Langford 21, Darby 10 and Neville 6, Menzies 16 and T. Stuart 19, Cooke 14 and Kortcgast 15, Chesney 2 and Tomlinson 17, Baker 14 and Steel 4, Mclntosh 22 and Morrison 23. The following reductions in handicaps have been recently effected: Finerty to 12—9, Irwin to 16 —12, Menzies to 21—16, Eade to 29—22. The Local Unemployment Committee at its meeting this week decided to hold a ballot among the relief workers regarding the question of whether the present work rationing system or a four-weekly one is preferable. There were present Messrs G. A. Perry (Mayor), 11. Harvey, M. McGavin, J. Peake, T. W. Duff, E. Heenan, L A. Ditely, T. N. Warren, W. Millner, McClusky and 11. W. Lodge (secretary). It was decided I hat the ballot be taken by Mr Heenan among the county workers and by Mr 11. G. F. Coles among the town workers. Mr Warren reported on the interview* which the Member for the District, Mr J. O’Brien, and he had in Wellington recently with the Unemployment Board and Commissioner. It was agreed, he stated, that an im-

position of ten per cent, in connection with miners’ lights be not retrospective. but should operate from August 1. A request that all payments to miners receiving unemployment relief should be made under the provisions of Scheme No. 5 met opposition. With Mr O’Brien he pointed out many anomalies under the present allocation, particularly the flat rate of 30s a week as it affected married men without dependents by comparison with a like case under Scheme No. 5. They stressed the delay which occurs in all applications for renewals. The Board was

asked that the Committee be given power to allow men to go mining under proper supervision. These requests were favourably received by the Commissioner but were opposed by Mr Riddley, and the Board decided to refer the matter to Mr Davies, Greymouth. As to the Local Committee, he (Mr Warren) had cited a South Westland case when Christchurch men were engaged instead of local men. The reply was that this had been arranged by Mr Climie (Christchurch) with Mr Dennchy (South Westland), and that the reason Canterbury men were engaged was because there was a surplus of men offering in Christchurch. The arrangements entered into with Mr Dennchy and the wages paid was not disclosed. Mr O’Brien had given him every possible assistance, and had supported each request. The report was adopted and Mr Warren and Mr O’Brien were accorded a vote of sincerest thanks for their services in this direction. Mr Duff was appointed to represent, the Hospital Board on the Committee in place of Mr T. W. Bruce. The Forestry Department advised that tree planting on the dredge tailings was completed. The Unemployment Commissioner advised that regarding the mining men they could not put in dole time at their claims. On the motion of Mr Warren and the Chairman, Mr Coles was accorded a vote of appreciation of his services as secretary to the committee, which Messrs Harvey and Heenan eulogised. Mr J. B. Warnock asked if anything could be done to provide sustenance on the off week, and pointed out the hardships experienced by the workers, ft was decided that the Committee do its best to improve the conditions of the men during the off week. The new reduced rates of relief pay were communicated by the Commissioner, who advised approval of a request to allow one relief worker to repair footwear for the unemployed. He added that workers employed on their own farms were now required to pay the emergency relief charge on the subsidy they received from the Board, and also stated the maximum amounts allowed for married men. The committee decided to retain its present syste of rationing allocations without taking the children of relief workers into consideration in preference to rationing on the basis of the number of children. Mr Warren stated the Jubilee dam and water race proprietors were prepared to subsidise work up to two days to put the property in order so as to give a constant water supply for claims situated at Rimu. It was decided that this be considered after the miners concerned had been interviewed by Messrs Warren and Lawn.