WEST COAST NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3034, 8 May 1912, Page 55

WEST COAST NOTES.

(Fbom Ova Own Cobresfondent.) GREYMOUTH, May 3. A serious slump has taken place in the sawmilling industry, and quite a number of mills on the West Coast have been compelled to close down, thereby throwing a number of men out of employment. In the Hokitika district some of the mills which have been working with half of the usual number of hands are again reluctantly compelled to further reduce their staffs. Various causes are assigned for the slump, but the chief one is that no orders for red pine are coming t<B hand. Those mills which are fortunate enough to have a white pine bush to work are doing well, as plenty of orders ere on hand for the millers. The mills in the vicinity of Hokitika are not so favourably situated, and the further shortening of hands means a considerable loss to the southern town. An interesting point has just been decided by the Arbitration Count. It will be remembered that at the recent sitting in Greymouth the ooumt heard the case of the Inspector of Awards against the Blackwater Mines (Ltd.). The matter in dispute was whether the company could compel miners to work in wet levels ana places not ventilated, as prescribed by the Mining Act and the regulation thereunder. The industrial agreement thai, men shall be paid eight hours for working six hour shifts in the eaid places. The inspector contended that the meaning of that olause was that six hours must constitute a shift, and that men could not be worked longer against their fre* will. Mr Lawry, for the defendant company, maintained that provided the men were paid eight hours' pay for six hoars' work the company was within its legal rights in working tlie men a full eight hours by paying the men overtime for the last two hours. The court gave its decision at Westport in favour of the Inspector of Awards. No penalty was imposed, but the company had to pay costs of court a.nd witnesses expenses. VVESTPOKT, May o. The trade demand for coal at tin* present time is brisk. The staff will take possession of the new brick post office next week. The official opening will take place later on by the Postmaster-general. Sir Joseph Ward will unveil the Seddon memorial clock at the pc.:t office on his return from Australia.

HOKITIKA, May 3. Mr H. L. Michel was reelected chairman of the Hokitika Harbour Board tonight. He stated that the works at present being tarried out by Mr H. P. Toogood (engineer), and which were only, half-completed, already promised to bring about a great improvement to the entrance to the port. He did not see any reason why in the near future the whole of their large production of sawn timber should not be exported from Hokitika direct, and that the anticipated revenue of the board would amply cover the charges for interest and sinking fund without the striking of any rate in connection with the harbour improvement loan.

Two young men have been arrested in Wellington on a charge of forging and. uttering a cheque for £2O lis on the firm of Mark Sprot and Co., auctioneers, Hokitika. They were remanded till th< Bth inst., pending the arrival in Wellington of two witnesses from Hokitika.