The Dominion.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 83, 22 March 1919, Page 5

The Dominion.

COMING HOME. THE MAORI BATTALION. Auckland, March 21. In regard to the arrival of the Maori Pioneer Battalion, the Mayor has received the following telegram from the Minister of Defence “Advice was received yesterday that the Westmoreland had sailed from Colon on March 15 for Auckland. where she is now due on Aprn 5. one week earlier than anticipated. After fully considering the matter it has been funnel impracticable to ■send the Westmoreland to Gisborne, and she will therefore definitely make Auckland her port of call. »r it is possible to arrange for trie East Coast Maoris to be sent by coastal steamer to Gisborne I will endeavour to arrange accordingly.”

N.Z. RAILWAYS. REVISION- OF RATES. Auckland, March 21. rhe Hon. AV. JI. Herries, Alinister for Railways. when visiting t e Alataniata Show, stated that the whole system of fares and rates was being enquired into and would be altered entirely though he could hardly 7 hold out any great hope that the two ten per cent increases whic.t had been put on to meet war conditions would be taken off. AU depended on the answer he would have to give to the railway servants in the middle of April regarding increases of their salaries. SOLDIERS’ BURSARIES. Wellington, March 2.1. At a meeting ot the National War Funds’ Council the report of the Committee appointed to consider applications for bursaries, recommended that 68 of those who applied should be awarded bursaries, subject to further enquiries as tu health and financial necessities, and also to recommendations from the Registrar in the case of those who were in attendance at a University College, and the headmaster of the last school in cases where they hau not previously attended college. The report was adopted, and the necessuv steps will be taken by telein order that there may’ be no d 1 i.v in awarding the bursaries, llu remaining eases will be further enquired into.

WHARFIES’ DEMANDS. bl FTLEMENT THROUGH STATUTORY CHANNEL URGED.

Auckland, March 21. The Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce to-day the following resolution :— “Whereas this Association has learned that the waterside workers of the Dominion have made a concerted demand for revision of the existing award rate of wages on the ground of increased cost of living and have demanded a conference with the employers for the purpose of coming to a settlement, and whereas it is understood that employers of such labour are contemplating granting such conference, those present would mgst emphatically urge that whatever the merits of the demand, settlement should be made through the statutory channel empowered under special provision of the War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment 1918. to review existing award on the grounds stated, and alone hav ing access to official data as to cost of living, i.e.. the Arbitration Court, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Acting Prime Minister calling his attention to the industrial confusion and unrest, vhieh will undoubtedly follow upon any other form of settlement.’’

INFLUENZA. A FEW CAbES IN AUCKLAND. Auckland, March 21. Rumours ol influenza outbreaks in various parts of the Auckland district have been in circulation in the city recently, but inquiries made irom the Public Health and Hospital authorities show that very few cases have occurred in the district during the present month. Dr. Hughes, District Health Officer, stated that tn e cases had been notified to the Department since Marell 11, and of these four were from the country, all the patients being members oi one household. Two oi the cases, he said, had developed pneumonic symptoms, but no deaths had occurred. Prior to the date mentioned there has been one or two odd eases notified, but all were of a mild type, ft was to be expected that cases would occur from time to time, anil that these might increase with the advent of cold weather. At present there was nothing to cause the slightest anxiety or to indicate that the complaint was likely to assume an epidemic iorm.

BUSINESS MAN MISSING. Wellington, March 21. Stanley W. Horner, a well-known Wellington business man. is reported to be missing. He left his home on Wednesday morning for his office but did not arrive there and has not been heard of since. He has been in ill-health for some months and rather depressed since a severe attack of influenza.

BUTCHERS’ FINED. OPEN Al TER HOUKS. Wellington, March 21. Tn the Mngi-tiale's Court. John Symonds. butcher, was charged with tailing to close his premises in accordance with requisition. In giving his decision. Mr. I’’. V. Eraser. S.M.. reimi.xl to the definition ot “evening. ’ ami stated a magistrate in the south had decided the amendment made in the legislation was ineffective. In his opinion the amendment validated all requisitions for 5 o'clock closing and had put right the defection in the law as determined bv Sir Robert Stout in his decision in tl'ie case, Holdsworth v. Lightfoot. Hie deletidanr appeared to carry on a combined business ami it was difficult t<> classify the two classes. In his opinion the matter was worthy of revised legislation. The distinction drawn between the two trades appeared illogical and absurd. In Auckland, by agreement, the system adopted by the combined butchers was to put their ordinary meat in the freezer at 5 p.in. Illis was an easy solution of the difficulty. ’lhe defendant bad committed a bleach ami would be fined t2 and costs. For a similar offence Howard ami lilcurd were fined .£2 and costs.