NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1928, Page 8

NEWS AND NOTES.

PUBLIC SERVICE WAGES. That wages in the Post and Telegraph service have lagged behind the rise in the cost of living was the statement made by Mr H. H. Brown, organiser of .the Auckland division of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association, in a plea for higher rates of pay, at an annual reunion of members in the Masonic Hall on Saturday evening. Mr Brown said a wrong impression had been created fey a statement of the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, that the lowest wage paid in the Public Service was £253 a year. The Post and Telegraph Service said Mr Brown, had an average of only £l7O. The increase granted about seven years ago lia‘d been followed by two “cuts,” and the position at present in the general division was that an, increase of 33 ,1-3 per cent had been made on the wages of 1914, to meet a rise of 62 per cent in the cost of living. Whereas the general division should receive an average rate of £2BB, ft was being paid only £240.

VALU-E OF OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE. The Prime Minister, addressing the Rad way Officers’ Inst itute, said there was a certain amount of nervousness about seeding men abroad, but he did not agree with it. He would like to see young men going abroad, not only from, the Railway Officers’ Institute, but., frqpi the Engine-drivers, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association, and AmalgmatedSociety of Railway Servants, and the tradesmen to be given a year’s experience with a railway company. This might fee made the reward of good service, and lie was sure that it would fee worth while. On their return they would go through the country and give the result of their observations and any “tips” which* they could pass on. If they found** that things were in order in New Zealand, so much the better, but in any case they would have the opportunity of checking up the work.

■ ST. JOHN’S LAKE. ; ’V’ r ■' ■ ■•■■■ ' •• C \ . The Onehunga Borough Council lias [been informed by the Auckland City Council that, the offer of the Waia? tarua Drainage Board to contribute £2JO if the work of'- emptying juake St. John , is put in hand immediately-, has been accepted, subject to the council being able to arrange for loading and other works at/VVaiatarua. The City Council, however, is not in a position to definitely state that this work will be proceeded with until,its,arrangements are further advanced.. Mr -F. S. Morton enlightened the Borough Council on the sub- ! ject. last evening, when he explained that about ten or eleven years ago the Wain tarua Drainage Board en-i deavoured to get a clause inserted in the Wasiiingriip Bill, then before Parliament, authorising it to drain the lake completely. Sir James Parr, however, opposed the request, and the clause was not inserted in the hill.

That meant that neither the Cify Council ' .nor the Drainage Board haa any power whatever to drain the lake, and they had np right to do so without the consent of the Onehunga Borough Council. He moved that an urgent protest be sent to'the City Council and the Drainage Board against draining Lake St. John. The Mayor (Mr W. C. Coldicutt) seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

“TO THE BOYS OF AUSTRALIA. ” A group of boys in Auckland conceived the idea of asking the crew oi the Southern Cross to carry a Nev, Zeafand flag across the Tasman for presentation to a group of boys in Australia./ t In consultation with Mr George Adair, boys’ work director 01 the Y.M.C.A., they purchased a largeuzed finer, nacked it tightly in canvas, and addressed it: “To the Boys of Australia, care of Mr Frank Grose, Hoys’ Work Director, Y.M.C.A., Sydney.” The problem arose as to how they were to secure the good offices of the noted aviators. Then- one of the group recalled that he had been kept awake by the music from a party next door at which thr< airmen were being entertained. A denotation was formed with this enterprising young man as spokesman, a tactful reference was mafk to the loss of sleep, and 4 lie snorting instinct dm +V. rest. The flag is to be carried on the Southern Cross, and none will wish more devoutly for hei; safe arrival in Australia than the enterprising youths who thought out this plan for cementing the ties of boyhood in the countries on either side of the Tasman Sea.