DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 19 September 1945, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS

MONEY REFUNDED TO GOVERNMENT.

F.A. ■ NAPIER, September 18. The somewhat unusual course of voluntarily refunding moneys granted by the Government as a loss* of trade subsidy to meet estimated losses was adopted by the Napier Harbour Board. The amount involved was £6OOO. The chairman (Mr E. J. Herrick) commented on the favourable financial position, and added that a substantial financial surplus was indicated from the current year’s operations. The Board members expressed the view that it was only proper the money be refunded to the War Expenses Account in view of the circumstances. - BOOKMAKER IMPRISONED. WELLINGTON, September 18. Joseph Cohen, 48, tailor’s cutter, who was lined £l5O for bookmaking two months ago, and had previous convictions for bookmaking, was sentenced by Mr Stout, S.M., to three months’ hard labour, without the option, on a similar charge. The police stated that when they entered the premises last Saturday, defendant ran upstairs to the bath-, room, and got rid of betting material. AUCKLAND BUS TRIBUNAL FINDING. AUCKLAND, September 18.. A finding in favour of the Union in its claim for a working day of eight and a-half hours, spread over eleven hours, was returned by the special tribunal on the dispute between Auckland bus drivers and the companies on working hours and payment for work on four statutory holidays, the Tribunal also rejected the employers claim for a continuation of the existing practice of nine hours a day spiead over 12 hours. The Union’s claim for overtime payjnent for working on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Anzac Day, and Labour Day was not granted. Ihe parties had previously agreed to the drivers receiving an annual holiday of three weeks in nine months, and the employers opposed any concession of statutory; holiday payments on the ground that the annual holidays offered were sufficient compensation. The Tribunal had a sitting last two days. The Chairman, Mr J. A. Gilmour (Industrial Magistrate) at the conclusion, advised the parties of the findings, and also communicated them to Hon. J. O Brien, Acting Minister of Labour, on whose authority the tribunal was set up.