RATES DEFERRED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25211, 25 May 1945, Page 4

RATES DEFERRED

[ W A ITEM AT A COUNCIL CONFERENCE AWAITED A motion to defer striking the annual rates until the council ascertained the attitude of the Counties' Association regarding the hospital levy was carried unanimously at a meeting of the Waiteniata County Council yesterday. The association is holding a conference in July. The council also decided to forward a remit to the conference advocating the abolition' of the hospital levy. The chairman, Mr T. H. Gibson, said that the remit was being submitted as no result had >yet accrued from the Parliamentary Committee on local body government on the matter of the hospital levy, and the council had adopted a justifiably aggressive attitude .and should therefore carry on. It wan considered that the levy, apart trom its partiality, discouraged farming and restricted production, and should be abolished, in its place a Dominion tax should be levied in a consistent and equitable manner.

WHARFAGE CHARGES WELLINGTON SEEKS RISE BOARD FACES HEAVY LOSS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday A proposal that an approach be made to the Price Tribunal for agreement to increased charges for wharfage and port facilities at Wellington was approved at a meeting of the Wellington Harbour Hoard. Moving the adoption of this course the chairman, Mr W. H. Price, said a loss of approximately £127,(X)() for the full 12 months must be expected on the basis of trading in the past six months. The suggestion was made by some members that it might be necessary to abandon the present system by which the board acted as wharfinger and adopt a system such as that used in Auckland, where ships delivered cargo into sheds. Some criticism of the Auckland system and the facilities provided on wharves and in sheds there was voiced by other members. One member representing n primary industry electorate dissented from the decision. WORKER'S CLAIM FAILS WRONGFULLY EMPLOYED Judgment in fnvour of the defendants has been given by Mr Justice o'Regan in a case in which a worker claimed compensation amounting to £]BB for the loss of a thumb as a result of an accident in the bush. The plaintiff was Edward Ernest Bidois (Mr Lennnrd). who took action against Charles Henry Robinson and Albert Herbert Knnpp. storekeepers and contractors, of Ngongotaha (Mr North). For the defence it was argued by Mr North that plaintiff's employment with the defendants was illegal, as Bidois had failed to obey a manpower officer's direction order to Victor Plasters, Ltd., Auckland, and had gone to Ngongotaha, where he was engaged by the defendants to cut mining timber in the bush. There was, therefore, no liability to pay compensation as the contract ol service was illegal and void. "As the Court is not invested with discretion in the matter, it is beyond question that an illegal contract cannot support a claim for compensation," stated His Honor. The Court was reluctantly forced to the conclusion that plaintiff was not entitled to recover compensation. Judgment was for the defendants, to whom leave was reserved to apply for costs.

INCREASES IN PAY LOCAL BODY LABOURERS An amendment issued by tlie Arbitration Court grants increased rates of pay to al! workers covered by the ! Nortnern (except .tuckland 10-mile j radius) Local Bodies' Labourers' Award. I A dissenting opinion is recorded by Mr \V Cecil Prime, employers' representative. The amendment increases hourly wage rates by 3id. and weekly rates by 10s lOd to 12s fid. The new base rate is now '2s in the case of hourly workers and £5 5s a week in the case of weekly workers, plus the Court's two bonuses in each instance. Meal money is increased to 2s. "Some of the rates agreed upon appear to involve increases greater than are required to conform with the Court's pronouncement," states Mr Prime, in his opinion. "Not knowing the reasons for such increases. I am not prepared to approve them." THKATRK OPKKATORS Increased rates of pay are provided in an amendment to the New Zealand Motion-Picture Operators' Award, issued by the Arbitration Court. A dissenting opinion is recorded by Mr A L. Monteith, workers' representative. The amendment provides for the following increases:—Operators employed in continuous-programme theatres, 10s a week; in theatres giving eight performances a week, 10s; seven performances. 9s; six performances, 8s 2d; five performances, Is 2d per performance: casual operators. Is 2d per performance. Youth assistants are granted increases ranging from 4s to 6s fid a week and adult assistants 10s. The wage rates are subject to the Court's two bonuses In his dissenting opinion. Mr Monteith states that the amendment does not restore and preserve, in some cases, the relative position of the workers but places tbern in a worse position than previously. THEFT OF CHOCOLATE Charged with stealing ten cartons of chocolate tablets and one lib box of chocolates, of a total value of £2 3s lid. the property of Nestles and the AngloSwiss Condensed Milk Co., Cedric William Chissell, aged 39, motor-driver, pleaded guilty before Mr F. T-T. Levien. S.M., yesterday. He was admitted to probation for 12 months.