PAYMENT ON RELIEF WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1930, Page 12

PAYMENT ON RELIEF WORK

ARBITRATION COURT FIXATION FARMERS’ UNION OPPOSITION f A protest against the ' suggestion of a. member of the Unemployment Board j that wages under the relief scheme be ] fixed by the Arbitration Court was i made at the meeting of. the South Taya- ; naki executive of the Farmers’ Union ( yesterday by Mr. H.* Thrush. On his j suggestion it was decided to send a re- i mit embodying this view to the Do- 3 minion executive. 1 “I am of the opinion;’ said Mr. 5 •Thrush, “that the Arbitration Court is the cause of half the unemployment. ] If we leave the distribution of the funds i to the court goodness only knows what will happen.” _ . Mr. J. Cocker criticised the sections of the Unemployment Relief Act which ; made, employers liable if their men failed -to register or .pay the levy. In : principle this was wrong and he moved • that the union make a protest along ■ the lines of that carried by the Auck- ; land Chamber of Commerce. ■ ; This was carried unanimously. Mr. H. Hodge stated that no response i had been received from the Patea County Council to the union’s two letters with reference to the bad visibility at the intersection of Ball Road with the Main South Road. He considered that it . showed lack of courtesy on the part ■ of the council. Nothing had been done to improve the corner, which still remained very dangerous. The secretary was instructed to write to the chairman of the council asking ■ for a rfeply to the union’s previous com- • munications. It was decided to forward another protest against the increased bank charges to the Acting-Prime Minister. Mr. J. Cocker commenting that in the present time of depression it was most unfair that the farmer should be hit. again. The banks were getting more ; by the increased charge than they weie losin» by tlm increase in note taxation. The organiser, Mr. C. J. Harris, stated that new members were joining up more freely now in .view of the present hard times. The farmers were realising the necessity of unity at present. A recoinmcndation that the institu* tion of a union paper be deferred in view of the ruling low prices of primary products was carried. A plea for the planting of shelter trees on the western' boundaries of farms was raised by Mr. E. J. Booth. Un a modest scale the work would not be costly and would-' great good, while it need not be done all nt once. Instead of the Government • starting a school of forestry it could subsidise the work. ' A deputation from the Alton branch protesting against the appointment of an organiser at the present time waited upon the meeting. _ It was explained that the executive had protested against the rate of wages proposed. The executive wa(s not appointing the organiser, as that was the headquarters scheme. . . ■ Mr. A. W. King said the position of an organiser was anything but an easy one. At the present time an organiser was necessary. / Mr. W. L. Chambers thought it would be. most unwise to do without an organiser. * Mr. Cameron pta.ted that the applications for the appointment of area officer had already closed. Mr. L. Hunt said he still considered the salary was too high, but it appeared that the deputation was too late. The Alton members then withdrew their opposition to tluj appointment. HAWERA WINTER SHOW. CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REVIEW. The report of the chairman of directors, Mr. J. R. Corrigan, to be presented to the annual meeting of the Hawera Winter Show Company states: This year we attained our 21st birthday and operations have been most satisfactory, as the figures in the bal-ance-sheet disclose. We featured in connection with our last show special displays of school exhibits from the South Sea Island dependencies —Samoa end Cook Islands—and they proved a very attractive and educational exhibit. Our thanks are due to Government departmental officers for thejr valuable help. The tradespeople again co-operated by making Empire window displays, and by special lighting in the town, both adding much to public interest. Mr. L. A. Paisli, British Trade Commissioner, attended and opened the show. The profits from the show were £9a6 7s 4d, an increase of £7O 7s. The year’s operations of the company also show a marked increase. After allowing £595 4s 6d for depreciation on buildings, and plant the sum of £3lB 15s 7d is carried forward into the appropriation account. It is with regret we record the death of Mr. E. C. Barleyman, one of the company’s original directors. He rendered generous service during the 21 years he Yvas on the board, and we extend pur sympathy to his wife and family. To meet the wishes of exhibitors, it has been decided, as an experiment, to make the 1931 show a five days’ fixture. The retiring directors are Messrs. J. R. Corrigan and E. A. Pacey, who are eligible and offer themselves for re-elec-tion. The vacancy caused by the death of Mr. E. C. Barleyman' is also to be filled. BAD FRUIT FOR SALE. PATEA CHINAMAN FINED. Charged with exposing bad fruit for sale in his Patea shop, A. Wong was warned in the Patea Police Court yesterday by the magistrate, Mr. J. H. Salmon, and fined £1 with costs £1 ss. The charge was laid by the inspector under the Pure Foods Act, who stated in evidence that he visited Wong’s shop on November 10 and found bad fruit mixed up with good fruit in a partition exposed to the view of the public and therefore ostensibly for sale. There was no price affixed to the fruit in the particular partition. Mr. R. C. Rutherford, who appeared fo defendant, explained that Wong was absent on the day in question. The bad fruit had been placed in the partition in question prior to removal. "Wong was placed in the box and gave evidence on these lines, being supported by another Chinese witness. The magistrate said that, as it was a. first offence, he would deal leniently with it.