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Otago Daily Times, Issue 21145, 1 October 1930, Page 6

I The Arbitration Court has given judgment on the application made for an interpretation of a clause in the New Zealand licensed hotels, employees' award covering the wages of general hands giving relief or temporary assistance in bars. The court holds that a general male worker may be employed relieving in a bar one day a week at a minimum wage pi £2 7s 6d. He may be employed relieving on two or more days at £2 11 8 a week provided the hotel hours in the bar do not exceed 16 in the week. If this total is exceeded the hand must receive the. minimum barman's wage of £3 7e a week. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the Standing Committee of the New Zealand Alliance, at a meeting held on Monday,.adopted the following resolution:—'* That this committee observes with regret the increase in the expenditure on intoxicating liquor of £550,662 in the year 1929, as compared with £1928, making a total of £8,116,894, and considers that in the light of existing economic depression and widespread unemployment this increase is deplorable. It further notes that increase in expenditure coincides with the increase of 211 in convictions for drunkenness, 135 in convictions for being found on licensed premises after hours, and 63 for selling liquor without a license." Three of the new and improved type of first-class railway carriages which have been built at Addington workshops for the Christchurch-Invercargill section were attached to the through express from Christchurch yesterday. Embodying all the latest improvements for the comfort of travellers, the cars are practically identical with those operating on the Auckland-Rotorua line, and in addition to their handsome exterior appearance, they are noteworthy for the rich comfort which is the feature of the interior furnishings. The coaches have accommodation for 24 passengers in single and double chair seats, and at the end of each car is a compartment to seat six for parties desiring privacy on the journey. A cheerful note is struck by the upholstery of the seats, which is carried out in figured tapestry, each chair having its own linen head-rest, which can be changed for each passenger. Large rimless windows from which all trace of rattle has been entirely eliminated, admit an abundance of light, and sliding ventilators along the top ensure perfect and draughtless ventilation in the event of rough weather. A plentiful supply of hot and cold water is provided in each lavatory, and passengers wishing to pass from one portion of the train to the other will welcome the introduction of the enclosed concertina gangways between the coaches. The springing is of the most up-to-date type, and it is claimed by the Railways Department that the new coaches, which are the first of 20 (seven first and 13 second-class) of a similar type to be brought into operation on the Christ-church-Invercargill run, are equal in riding comfort and interior fitting to those on any 3ft 6in gauge in the world, It is understood that lit will be some time yet before the report on the prevention of flooding from the River Leith will be completed by the three engineers appointed to do the work—Messrs J. G. Alexander (city engineer), J. M'G. Wilkie (Harbour Board engineer), and Mr F. W. Mac Lean (Wellington). A considerable number of calculations have yet to be made. The reclamation of the Southern Endowment is a subject which has figured prominently in the discussions of the Otago Harbour Board, and the negotiations between that body and the Dunedin Drainage Board regarding the drainage of the area have been of a protracted nature. It is likely, however, that they will be siderably advanced in the near future. The total area of the endowment is in the vicinity of 180 acres, and the reclamation of a section of 20 acres has already been commenced. The work is suspended in the meantime owing to a breakdown in the suction dredge, and the Otakou in the meantime is carrying spoil from the Harbour outside the Heads. It has been stated that the drainage of the whole area will cost not less than £IOO,OOO. The opinion is expressed, however, that the Harbour Board will be amply repaid for its expenditure, for it has no other area in which to deposit spoil, and the carrying of the materials outside the Heads is very costly. It was stated not long ago to be involving the board in an expenditure of up to £IOOO a month.

When the Government this year added to the burden of taxation carried by banks throughout New Zealand, the banks decided in order to meet part of the levy to increase ,the charge, for keeping. accounts from 10s per annum to £l. This extra charge comes into force to-day, and at the expiry of six months customers will be required to pay 10s instead of the customary five shillings. It is interesting to note that as a consequence of the new charge a fair number of the smaller private customers of the banks have closed their accounts. Business accounts, however, are not affected. A meeting of some Wellington picture exhibitors in connection with the film crisis was held when the pros and cons of the situation were discussed 'mainly from the point of view of the film supply. It is not anticipated (says a Press Association message from Wellington) that any action will be taken as a result. of the meeting, as it is expected the situation will be determined within a few days. So far no film shortage has been experienced, a fair supply of programmes coming to hand regularly, from Australia. What is the position if a house is damaged by an aeroplane? ’’ asked a member at the annual meeting of the Wellington Aero Club. The president (Mr T, C. A. Hislopq said the proprietor of the house would have an action for damages. He added that up to the present it had not been possible for aero clubs to be covered by the insurance companies for such a risk, or to be covered in respect to the passengers they carried. - Another, member said he understood that householders could be .covered against damage to their dwellings by aeroplanes. Mr Hislop: You want me to say that they should insure themselves against aeroplanes? The mem-l her: “It might be handy for them to know.” “ I want to tell you girls a way in which you can become even more attractive than you are," said Mr P. S. Pope at the annual meeting of the Young Women’s Christian Association in Wellington .(says a Press Association telegram). "It is by cultivating pleasant speaking voices.” Mr Pope said that he had noticed girls’ voices apt to get a little lees pleasing and mellow, indeed, harsher and more strident with the active life they led. “Exercise a little care,” he said, “ and do not shriek and yell and speak in a coarse, ugly, nasal voice. A pleasant speaking voice is a great asset in a girl and a greater one in a grown woman.” The committee of the Dunedin competitions, having ascertained that His Majesty’s Theatre is available on Saturday, October 11, has decided to hold a matinee that day in order to give the public an opportunity of hearing the clever juvenile competitors who have been competing at this . year’s festival. A final demonstration concert will be held on the Saturday evening. This will enable the committee to include -more ■ of the prizewinners on the demonstration programmes than would be possible if only one demonstration were held, and will, it is hoped, also materially increase the receipts to the festival. Provided a good measure of public support is received during the remainder of the festival and at the demonstration concerts, the society should be able to keep its flag flying. In the report of the address by the orchard instructor (Mr Lloyd Williams) to the .annual meeting of the Co-operative Fruitgrowers of Otago, Ltd., at Alexandra on Friday, through a . misunderstanding it was stated that his investigations with regard to the carriage of fruit from Central Otago to Christchurch were in respect of apples, whereas, in reality the experiments were;made with cases of apricots.' It was further stated that Mr Williams could not recommend the continuance of the practice of railing fruit , to Christchurch,' but the report omitted to state that Mr Williams referred principally to the continuance of the investigations in their present form, which consisted of accompanying truckloads of fruit during the journey and, taking temperatures en route, and which he considered should be discontinued until further research in the orchards was carried out with regard to the pre-cooling of fyuit and the best system of packing. . Predictions that no Transport Bill would be introduced this session were given official endorsement in the House of Representatives yesterday (says our parliamentary reporter), when the Minister of Transport (Mr W, B. Taverner) was replying to an urgent question. Mr W. E. Barnard (Labour member for Napier) had asked whether the. Government intended to proceed this year with a Bill to coordinate the road and rail services and thus prevent the heavy losses now being experienced, “It is not the intention of the Government to introduce a Transport Bill this session," replied Air Taverner. A case of considerable interest for farmers was heard in the Morrinsville Magistrate’s Court the other day, when Percy Rushton, of Tatuanui, a farmer in a big way, claimed £lO from F. M. Dodunski, farm worker, of Tatuanui, as damages for breach of contract. The magistrate awarded the plaintiff £7 damages. The plaintiff’s evidence was to the effect that on May 6 he advertised for a family to milk on his farm at. Tatuanui and received over 20 replies. He interviewed the defendant, and the parties came to an agreement whereby the defendant was to receive £7 a week and one-third of the receipts from' pigs. As the result of this he advertised advising applicants that the position was filled. Witness then received a letter from the defendant advising that he had decided to take a position with a’ neighbouring farmer. In consequence of this he had; to engage casual labour for a fortnight until he could get another family of milkers. The' plaintiff stated that he was bringing this action as a test case. The defendant denied that he had contracted to work for the plaintiff, saying he had merely asked to have the job kept open for him until he consulted his family. The magistrate, Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., was satisfied that the defendant had accepted Rushton’s job and then managed to get the other farmer to offer £1 more. ‘ He took a job at £7 a week and failed to give his employer a week’s notice,” added the magistrate. “I give judgment for £7, the amount of a week’s wages, for breach of contract.” Costs, £3 8s 6d, were allowed. The Black Orpington heif Te Kawau Princess, which broke all the world’s re-* cords in the Normanby egg-laying competitions by, laying 361 hard-shelled eggs in 365' days, has been sold to an American fancier. .Advice has been received by Mrs M. Waddell that the fancier with whom she has been negotiating has accepted her terms. The price for the hen is £125, aud Mrs Waddell has also agreed to sell a cockerel from this hen for £25. Both figures are f.o.b, Auckland next March. The. monthly dance of the Early Settlers' Association will be held in the Early Settlers’ Hall to-night, when prizes will be given for the most original fancy dresses. On this occasion dancing will continue till 1 a.m. On Monday evening at 8 o’clock, Messrs ,Chas. Begg and Co., Ltd., will conduct another one of their most popular musical recitals. On this occasion the new record releases for October will be played on the Re-Entrant His Master’s Voice gramophone. No charge is made for admission, and all music lovers are welcome, W.. V. Stumer, G.A.0.C., D. 5.0.1.. optician. Consulting room, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. Most modern scientific equipment for sight testing.—Advt. A.. E. J Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office) Telephone 12-359.—Advt. Your eyes! It will pay you to take care ol them why not call now and learn their true condition? I will not suggest glasses unless absolutely necessary.—§ E Ferguson, optician 45 George street.— Advt. We succeed by successful testing.—Peter Dick, jewellers, watchmakers, and opticians. 490 Morav place Dunedin.—Advt