LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21001, 1 April 1938, Page 8

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Vital Statistics There were 50 births in Timaru during March, against 20 last year, according to statistics compiled by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Figures for the month, with those for the corresponding month last year in parentheses, are: Births, male 27 (10), female, 23 (10); deaths, male, 10 (9), female, 9 (6); marriages, 23 (23). Four marriage ceremonies were performed at the Registrar’s office, against three in March last year. Not Indispensable Considerable discussion ensued at a meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board yesterday as to whether the Board should employ a female shorthand-typiste or a male junior. In the course of discussion, Mr R. S. Goodman said that members appeared to think that no one was indispensable. “We can get a new secretary, new engineer, or new accountant,” said Mr Goodman. A member: “Yes, and a new board, too.” Social Services Full details of the Government’s plans for national superannuation and health services will be placed before the Special Parliamentary Committee set up to investigate the whole question immediately after it meets next Tuesday. Mr Savage indicated yesterday that the outline of the plans would be lengthy and there would be plenty of detailed material in the report for the committee to examine. It was probable that he would make public before the committee meets a brief precis of the major essentials of the Government’s proposals. Timber Workers’ Conference The first annual conference of the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Union opened at Rotorua yesterday, delegates attending from all parts of the Dominion. Fraternal greetings were despatched to the International Wood Workers’ Association of America and to the International Builders’ and Wood Workers’ Federation at Amsterdam. Greetings were also sent to the Prime Minister, together with an expression of appreciation of the industrial legislation placed on the Statute Book by the present Government. A large number of remits will be considered by the conference to-day. Glen-iti School Reconditioned The quarterly meeting of the South Canterbury School Committees’ Association was held at the Glen-iti School last night. The chairman of the Glen-iti School Committee, Mr C. Morse, extended thanks to the Education Board and to the School Committees’ Association for their co-operation in negotiating to have the Glen-iti School reconditioned. The school was now up-to-date and the children were as comfortable as in a new school. Congratulations on the improvements were extended by Mr J. W. Preen, chairman of the Canterbury Education Board, who said that the school was now one of the most modern in the district. State and Poultry Industry An assurance to the poultry industry that the Government, by purchasing surplus eggs either for pulping or export, would see that there was no disastrous fall in prices, was given by the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, when addressing the New Zealand Poultry Producers’ Federation at the annual conference at Wellington yesterday. Mr Nash added that the Government could not undertake the organisation of the Industry until there was more agreement among the ranks of its members. He realised the Importance of the poultry Industry, with which the State was likely to be more linked up in the future than it had been in the past. As Minister of Marketing, he had several times met the executive of the Federation, but though he agreed with the executive’s views, it was a question whether it was at present possible to do what it wanted. Cycle Mechanics Rates of wages for skilled work in the Dominion cycle industry were considered at Wellington yesterday by the Second Court of Arbitration. Mr Justice Hunter - reserved his decision. Mr W. J. Mountjoy, who appeared for the employers, said a complete agreement had been reached in a Conciliation Council in August. It was agreed that the rate of pay for skilled workers in the Industry was to be the general rate fixed for semi-skilled workers, but it was not anticipated that there would be a margin of 2Jd an hour between the lowest and the highest rates fixed by the Court for semi-skilled labour. The position was that the workers’ union considered that the rate of pay should be according to the higher rate of 2/7 an hour, while the employers were of the opinion that the Court should fix the rate at the lowest rate, 2/6 an hour. Mr Mountjoy called evidence to show that the work of cycle shop hands engaged- in the manufacture or assembly of bicycles was by no means that of a skilled tradesman. Mr Mountjoy’s contentions were opposed by Mr G. T. Thurston, of Christchurch, for the Northern Wellington, Taranaki. Nelson, Westland and Otago ahd Southland Cycle Workers’ Union.