LIMITED TRIPS THREAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24759, 6 December 1943, Page 2

LIMITED TRIPS THREAT

BUSES ON SUNDAYS DEMANDS OF DRIVERS Unless employers agree to pay bus drivers double time on Sundays, and join with lite Auckland Drivers' (Jnion in an application to the Wages Commissioner for a general wages increase, only sufficient buses to carry essential workers will be run on Sundays on and after December 12. This is the basis of a decision made at a meeting of drivers last week which was considered by employers on Saturday morning. Unless employers agree with the drivers' proposals, buses will be run on Sundays only between the hours of 7 and 9.30 a.m. and 6 and 8.30 p.m. .All other Sunday trips will be cancelled, and, starting from to-day, no passengers beyond the legal maximum load will be carried. Replying to the union's demand, Auckland employers asked for time to consult the New Zealand Omnibus Proprietors' Association, as the drivers' award is a national one. and the whole Dominion would bo affected by any change made, but this request was refused at a further meeting of the men. Ail employers' representative stated last night that the association in Wellington is being approached immediately in order to arrange a full meeting of members as soon as possible to consider the matter. However, in view of travel restrictions, and the difficulty of securing bookings, it might not be possible to hold such a meeting immediate! v. £47,870 COMPENSATION MAORI LAND FOR HOUSING (P A.) WELLINGTON", Saturday .Maori owners of native land in the Waiwetu district, Lower Hutt, bv a judgment of Judge Whitehead, of the Native Land Court, have been awarded £17.870 compensation for 70 acres 2 roods 8 perches taken by the Crown under the Public Works Act for State housing. Included was an area of 12} acres used as a military vehicles park, for which £.5199 was* awarded. The hearing of the case took place in August and September, on an application by the Minister of Works to ascertain the amount of payment due. ARMY TRUCKS CARTING FARM PRODUCE (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday Transport operators from many parts of Canterbury met in Christcluirch yesterday to consider an announcement that Army trucks would be available lor the cartage ol farm produce during the harvest. While no objection was raised to Army trucks being used on farms for harvesting work, a resolution was passed objecting to the suggestion that they may be available to cart farm produce to rail, ship or store in competition with the transport industry, which had to obtain licences and was saddled with heavy traffic fees, the petrol duty and tyre taxation. SHEARER AGED 7.3 (0.C.) WITAXG .VREI, Sunday Still a shearer at the age of 73, Mr. A. B. Miller, of Maungaknrnmca, when working this week at Maungawhati, removed the fleeces from 100 sheep in one day. Although Mr. Miller had retired some years ago, he recommenced shearing three years ago when labour was wanted, and is treating this as his war effort. GAMBLERS FINED (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Saturday Twenty-six men who were found gambling in' premises in Featlierston Street when the police raided the place at 11 o'clock last night were each fined £3 by Mr. Stout, S.M., and Elisha Miles, 35, metal worker, who admitted keeping a common gaming house, was sentenced to a month's imprisonment. Miles was stating to have been carrying on gaming houses in various places in Wellington for the last 12 months and to have been warned. Counsel said the gambling was not conducted in a big way. It. was only silver betting by working men who went there for relaxation.