CONDENSED NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16875, 28 October 1922, Page 8

CONDENSED NEWS.

A SATURDAY SUMMARY. The Bill enabling a river trust to be constituted in connection with the W aimakariri River was passed, last night. Over 5000 hcres of plantation reserves in the Mackenzie County have been vested in t-lie Mackenzie County Council for forestry purposes. An inspection of the City Council’s plantation reserves at Bottle Lake, covering 800 acres, was made yesterday. A vast amount of work remains to be done before the plantation will be in a state to afford the best possible return for the money expended. The sum of £39 was collected last week by the Unemployment Fund Committee. A serious position has developed as men cannot be put on relief work until the money to pay them is in hand. The total number of men out of work (280) is about the same as last week. Inconvenience caused by congestion in the railway yard at Methven, as well as the inadequate nature of the train service from Rakaia, was inquired into yesterday by the Canterbury District Railway Committee. The Railway Department officials promised careful and sympathetic consideration of the complaints. The Scaffolding Excavation Bill was returned to the House last night with an amendment providing that the Bill shall not apply to any work in connection with a tramway. A prospective inspector must pass an examination by a board to be set up under regulations. The Dairy Produce Export Control Bill has returned from the .Select Committee with several new clauses. The clause for the protection of contracts in the event of the compulsory control of export has been modified to cover dairy produce exported not later than August 21, 1923. There is a provision recognising contracts entered into before October 1, 1922. # The power to impose a levy on exported dairy produce is subject to a maximum of one-eighth of a penny per pound in respect of butter and one-sixteenth of a penny per pound on cheese. Less than a dozen Reform voters in Christchurch South responded to the invitation to attend a meeting in St Michael’s Schoolroom last night to forward Reform interests generally. A resolution was carried, urging the executive to call a meeting for the purpose of nominating a candidate. Mr A. Manhire, whose name has been mentioned as a prospective Reform candidate for this electorate, said that he had decided not to contest the seat.