LATE DOMINION NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 21 July 1914, Page 6

LATE DOMINION NEWS.

THE EDUCATION BILL. PER UNITED ,FBESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON; July 17./ The conditions affecting the average attendance, tho grading of schools and head teachers, awl the .grading of .'as sistante and l payment of salaries are altered by the new Education Bill., In respect of mixed schools, the average attendance fixe{i) for tho seven grades and their sub-grades is as follows : Grade 1 £IOO to £l4O for lieadleaehers), 9 to 20. Grade 2 (£l4O to £190), 21 to 35. Grade .'in (£2OO to £250), 36 to 80. Grade 3b, 81 to 120. . i Grade 4a. (£260 to £310), 121 to 160. Grade 4b, 161 to 200. Grade 4c, 201 to 240. Grade aa (£320 to £360), 241 to 280. Grade sb, '2Bl to 320. Grade sc, 321 to 300. ■Grade sd, 361 to 400. Grade 6a. (£370 to £400), 401 to 450.

(hade 6b, 451 to 500. Grade 7a (£4lO to £440), 501 to {K« Grade 7b, 551 to 600 and Tho sub-grades do j l "* -iSot the salaries of header., i11'.,.-1. but they wtl' have „i, ' . liiienoe on die Htaifing ~.s--; ^t3ivtl > and' their grade- 5 ! t.tfi't.. For instance, "t.-r' ' . ivir-> k ;v<, : w!l" : ' ,i» two il» 4 V-'-i-v. ind suh-gt adr.s ir i the order giver. can y assistants ,'.s !oli lows: Prom one in grade :■ I 13 .imfctiintß in grade Tli. th« ",—roacsc | !ii e.icSi iirade atir) sii'- • iieinga sinj ./j,. iin'i !• i-.uvided that for everj 1.... ' ... .\irado 7, there shall be juTd'ed I ior .«-ueh fuceeeding sub-grade above •sub-grade 7b an assistant with a salary of sub-grade 1, but in all other respects the staff and "salaries in every such school shall ho the same as in a school of sul>-grade 7.

THE MAINTENANCE OF ROADS. PALM KRSTON N., July 20. The maintenance of roads was discussed by the Chamber of Commerce this evening, when it was resolved, "That the 01ianil>e.r views with approval the Motor Bill now before Parliament, and asks tlvat provision bo made in the Act for hyopthecating thei revenue received for maintenance of roads."

BUILDERS & LABORERS' DISPUTE. WELLINGTON, July 20. A fitting of the Conciliation Council appointed to deal with the builders' and laborers' dispute was held this morning. Tho men, in keeping with the carpenters' award, are asking for a reduction of the weekly-hours of work from 45 to 44, and- demand an increased rate of pay from the existing Is 2d to Is 4d an hour. The balance of the claims is practically the same als embodies in the present award. They request, further, that the new award shall operate within a radius of 24 miles of Wellington, and that it shall be for one year only. Tho employers offered Is 2d an hour for laborers and Is a« hour' for wafFolders, and an agreement was arrived at on all points excepting wages and preference. dw),,hmnEimgetaoinshi*lluicimfwypvbgkq 1

IMPORTANT APPEAL CASE. WELLINGTON, July 20. The Appeal Court had before it today the caso of Francis Harris v. David Hutton, an appeal against conviction and a fine of Is by a magistrate at Gisborne for employing an unregistered barmaid in a private bar. The premises wA'c fully described, and it was argued that they contained no public bar. The court unanimously dismissed the appeal without leaving the Bendi. The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) stated' that bo was of opinion that Mr Justice Sim's interpretation of the Act in the caso Mason v. Kelly, which had beeji] iiuoted, was incorrect on the ground that he held that the word "bar" must mean a public bar. Mr Justice Edwards held that the word "bar" meant any bar in which a female was employed.

Xo costs were allowed in view of the importance of the decision. RIGHT FOOT CRUSHED. AUCKLAND, July 20. While attempting to board a oar in motion at Newmarket on • Saturday night Alfred.'Langwell, a 35-year-olct man, slipped and had his right foot badly crushed, amputation being necessary. Langwell's cheeks were also badly cut and several of his teeth were knocked out.

PUBLIC SERVICE. CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, July 20. The annual conference 'of' the Exe"u live Council'of tlio 'Public .Service As sociation commenced -to-night, Mr J W.. McDonald ■' (Wellington) presiding Mr*A. ,L. C. 'Ross represented South rand." ,

At the beginning o.f the proceedings tho. president.' introduced • Hon. A. L. Herdinan (Minister for Justice) to the conference. j Mr Herdinan said that -lie" was'certain that members were desirous of getting to business and so he did not desire to take up. tlieir time. He wanted to express l ltis pleasure at being asked to open the proceedings. The Public Service Act had been in operation for ft little over 12 months and he hoped that it would ultimately prove a benefit to tho people of the Dominion and to tho Civij Servants themselves. Sir McDonald had suggested that t!r Government would receivo for.u- us' in! hints from tho conf<"vwn con vruing future legislat'' l " He apeed with lm» but + 1, ■: <j;ttv of the Government

"v.i.- >i, y jiyhlio itself. lie wits coniiil- i. that those preseut realised t'hiti were the nervimlt: <if the pit' 'i>o'' Nen : ilI 'v.vio 'he ■ win.r.i'-i'.-'i - a'raoui-t «>r -v.;'. •!.;!. • aa; umiinisxi, i Ino whole of tlie Ai u ji.tu come into force on April 1. antt since umi ume over 5000 Civil Servants in the ordinary brawhes 'and 6000 in the Post Office had been classified, salaries had been fixed, and details of sendee scrutinised, ilr Herdman wont on to say that ho did not. expect tho Act to bo regarded as pcriect when passed. Both the Commissioners and the association had suggested improvements. It was almost impossible to have perfect legislation without years of experience, but the Commissioners had said that ko far the Act had worked satisfactorily, and ho too believed that it had. In due course the conference would supply the Government

with its views, and it was probable that alterations to the machinery of the Act would be made, but 110 alterations were probable during the present session. It would be wiser to let the Act work longer and alfter a lair test amendments could bo mado that would last many years. The Commissioners would probably visit the Australian States to study the Civil fjervice systems there before they suggested 'alterations. It was certain that tho Public Service had derived some benefit from the Act, which: created' a now condition of affairs. It could not hopo to please everybody and new conditions must interfere with the comfort of some members of the association. It was the aim of the Government to make the conditions in the Public Scrvioe as pleasant;as possible and consistent with its duty to the public, 'which should com© first. Personally ho believed in good pay. Tho beet work was got out of men working under the best conditions. "I hopo that the Act will work sucsessful'ly in the future," concluded Mr Herdman, "and I am glad to find that once a. year the conference will consider it. I hope your deliberations will run with smoothness and that your suggestions will be for the improvement both of the Act's machinery and your own conditions of work."

Tho delegates 'accorded the Minister a hearty vote of thanks lor his address.

On taking his departure Mr Herdman laughingly remarked "Don't expest too much; we can only do what is fair." After discussion it was derided to conduct tho business of the conference in committee.

The annual report and balance-sheet, which recorded satisfactory progress during the past year, were adopted, and tho conference adjourned till to-1 morrow.