CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7943, 28 October 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

THE SEAMEN. The conference between tbo steamship owners of New Zealand .and tbe 1 ederatcd Seamen’s Union, to-consider the demands recently filed by tho men, will be held in '\Vellinston on November Sth. Tho laying 'np of tho smaller vessels through tho Merchant Service , Guild trouble has caused a delay in the papers for the proposed cancellation of the Seamen’s Union under the; Arbitration Act reaching some members of the union on steamers affected by tho strike. The result of the ballot cannot therefore bo known until November »£h, a day after tho sitting of the conference to consider the seamen’s claims. BUTTER EXPORTS. The steamer Corinna will take from Onehunga to-day 17,700 boxes of butter from the Auckland district for transhipment to tho lonic. Another 200 boxes will also be shipped by , the Marama for Vancouver. The lonic shipment from Auckland for a corresponding period last year was 10,400 boxes, which shows v a substantial increase for this season of 1364 boxes. Tho shipments by the lonic and Marama make the total export of butter for the present season to date, 4.1,132 boxes, as compared with 43,517 boxes shipped from Auckland district for a similar period last year. Now that showery* weather has set in it is hoped (says tho "Star”) that the shortage of output 1 earlier in the season will soon bo overtaken.. At rates now ruling for butter in London the value of the lonic’s shipment is about <£57,000. the architect-contractor. In the- report of the Otago branch of tho Now Zealand Institute of Architects it is stated" Your committee feels that tho institute should attempt do do something in tho matter of the unbusinesslike practice of the employment of the architect-contractor (if he may be so called) that has arisen amongst us lately. It seems unaccountable that business men even will entrust tho erection of buildings to firms without any competitive tendering whatever, no check or supervision, and pay 10 per cent, on the total cost of tho work. It should bo | a recognised principle that tho architect’s and tho builder’s duties must bo kept absolutely separate, as only in that way can any possibility of corrupt practices bo avoided. Another point that may be noted is that, as members of an I institute, we are pledged to observe tho j rules of professional conduct. Your committee feels that such matters as advertising on buildings, cards, etc., are beneath the dignity of tho profession. Also the preparation of plans without the request of tho outer is a point that is expressly forbidden in tho declaration form that wo all sign, and it is most important that it should bo observed.’’

PRICE OF HOUSE-FEED. ' The following communication from tho Hon, J, A. Millar, under date October 17th, has been received by tho secretary of the Otago Trades Council, through tho Hon. J. T. Paul, in reference to tho allegations recently made of a combine among local grain merchants to keep up tho price of horse-feed:—"Adverting to the petition from tho livery stable proprietors, cab proprietors, contractors, carters, coal merchants, and expressmen of Dunedin, I have the honour to inform you that I have had very careful inquiries made, and find that none of

the petitioners was able to prove that there was anything in the nature of a combine among tho middlemen, such as stock.and station agents. Tho investigation goes to prove that the present high price of horse-feed is due to the price paid to tho producers—namely, the farmers. It was stated by one of tho petitioners that the present price for oaten chaff sold by retail ie ££ 12e 6d per ton, and for oats 3s per bushel. On tho other hand, it is shown that at the beginning of the present season agents of the different companies had bought oaten chaff at .£•! per ton on trucks at the country stations, and that tho price did not come down during tho whole season. It ie claimed that the 12s Cd per ton extra now being paid by tho consumer ie only a reasonable margin for freight, cartage and commission. lam of opinion that these petitioners have a genuine grievance in regard to the high prices ruling; not against the stock and station agents, however, but against tho producers, who practically fix the selling prices. At the present time it is costing about 2s lid per bushel to land Australian oats in the Dominion." MILITARY TRAINING AND FREE PLACES. Under the provisions of the Defence Act* there appears to bo a possibility that free place pupils at technical schools will suffer hardship unless some special provision for their training is made. At last night’s meeting of the Wellington Technical Education Beard, tho Board of Governors of the Technical College in Christchurch forwarded a resolution recommending that the. training arrangements of tho Defence Department should permit of the drills of senior cadets and territorials attending evening classes being taken during the vacations. Mr W. S. La Trobo, director of the Wellington Technical School, explained that unless some provision was made tho free place pupil ran a risk of losing hie tuition. Under the ordinary arrangements the attendances at the technical school, would bo interfered with very largely, owing to the clashing of tho drills and the evening classes. If the free place pupil did not attend school ho would lose his place, and his military duties might require his attention on more nights than ho bad at his disposal. Ho was faced with compulsory attendance at drill on the one ’hand and compulsory attendance at school on the other. It was decided that reijresentations bo made to the Defence Department with a view to having some satisfactory arrangements made. ELECTRICAL WIRE MEN, At last night's meeting of the Welling* ton Technical Education Board, the Eloc- ’ tricians* Board of Control reported having passed tho following resolution s—“That satisfactory technical day school work for two years count as ono year of apprenticeship for wixemen and fitters. The Electricians’ Board bogs to recoin- ' mend this resolution for tho favourable consideration and approval of tho Technical Education Board." Mr W. S. La Trobo, director, explained that tho motion affected merely tho time required to bo served before obtaining tho certificates of tho school which are recognised by the. city authorities for tho licensing of workers. It does not affect the city bylaws in. any way, but brings tho school requirements for certificates into lino with tho by-laws. Tho present regulations require that electrical wiromen shall bo nineteen years of ago and shall have served for three years. Tho City Council by-daws require that applicants for licenses shall hold a technical certificate and shall have served three yearn at the trade. This motion, said Mr La Trobe, merely amounted to making the ! school regulations fit in with tho city i by-laws. After forking two years in th’o ' day school a boy was able to do all the , wiring required. Under tho suggested scheme a boy entering tho trade at fifteen or sixteen years of ago would bo ablo to get his certificate in a, couple of years. It was decided that the recommendation'of the Electricians’ Board be adopted'. s ■