General News.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20234, 12 May 1931, Page 8

General News.

There was an increase of four cases of infectious and other notifiable diseases reported in the Canterbury and West Coast Health districts during the week ended noon yesterday, as compared with the previous week. The total last week was 21, as follows:—Canterbury: Scarlet fever, 7; diphtheria, 1; tuberculosis, fi; puerperal sepsis, 1; pneumonic influenza, 2; hydatids, 1. West Coast: Diphtheria, 2; tuberculosis, 2. There were two deaths from tuberculosis in the Canterbury district.

After discussing, in committee, yesterday, a matter brought up by the Mayor-elect (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.), the chairman of tho Cliristchurch Unemployment Committee (Cr. B. 11. Andrews), reported in open meeting that tho committee desired to emphasise the fact that men arc not penalised for obtaining private employment, up to a fortnight, in addition to their relief work, but it is necessary for them to maintain their registration.

The construction of tho Rapaki road to junction with the Lyttelton-Qovcvn-or's Bay road, as a means of absorbing some of the unemployed, was mentioned at yesterday's meeting of the Unemployment Committeo by Mr E. J. Ecroyd, who asked regarding a report on the project which the Hcathcote County Council had been asked to make. Mr W. W. Scarff said that when the matter was brought up tho County Council had decided to consider making an attempt to find a sum sufficient for the proposed investigation when it was making up its estimates.

"I am not the' Minister for Customs or the head of the Government making a pronouncement concerning tho policy of the country, but the Minister for Labour trying to solve tho unemployment problem," said the Hon. S. G. Smith at last night's meeting called to discuss tho question of secondary industries. His remark was mado in answer to a question why the Government did not prohibit tho importation of foreign -goods and also jnake a retaliation against th& action of the Canadian Government in putting restrictions on trade in New Zealand butter.

At yesterday's meeting of the Christchurch Unemployment Committee,, Mr G. Lawn drew attention to tho lack of shelter, under exisitng conditions, at tfie Unemployment Bureau, in St. Asaph street, and to the necessity for some provision being made for shelter, in view of the approach of winter. Ho suggested that the iisp Pf porno buildings belonging to the Public Works Department might be arranged. The Hon. S. G. Smith said that he would ponsult with Mr R. T. Bailey on the subject. Similar representations had been made in other centres, but, it had been decided not to provide too much accommodation for njon waiting about, because it only gave a meeting plfl.ee for Ccmmunists. At the same tjnie he was not disposed to allow men to wait for hours and hours 'ifi rough weather. Jle would see if reasonable accommodation could bo proTided-

A fine for not paying a heavy traffic license fee for a motor-lprry can sometimes be less expensive than the licenso itself, as there is no provision for making the fees, retrospective. "When an offender was charged with not licensing his motor-lorry, at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, the C'hipf Traffic Inspector (Mr H, Macintosh) stated that tho 3i ton vehicle, for which the annual fee was £4/5, had been unlicensed since March, 1929. "Jt is strange that there has been no legislation to make these unpaid fees a debt," said Mr E. Mosley, S.M., who was on the Bench. ''lt pays these men to pay a fine, and the position is not fair to those who do take oiit their liceuses." The Chief Inspector stated that representations had been made in that direction, anl it was only a matter of time before something was done. The offender was fined £lO and costs.

"Personally, I don't approve of it; but it is a very difficult question to answer," the Hon. S, G. Smith remarked at yesterday's meeting of the Unemployment Committee, when pressed l)y Mr T. L. Drummond, the representative of the Keturnefl Soldiers' Association, for an answer to the question whether the Minister approved of superannuated .civil servants, and wives whpso husbands were ill circumstances that enabled them to keep them, taking jobs. The Minister added that he thought that the people who employed them should be spoken to sharply,: be, cause they must know that there were people out of work who required the positions more than those described by Mr Drummond. He was not quite sure how the position could bo met, except by a publicity campaign. It was a question of public opinion being directed to particular cases. Cr, E, H. Andrews remarked that the Government had gone quite a long way in the matter by instructing Education Boards not to employ married women who™ husbands were in wdrk. Mr W. J3. Leadley said that no superannuated civil servant could take advantage of the Unemployment Board's schemes, unless his superannuation was less than what he would receive for two or three days' work. The cpnvictton that a great deal of unnecessary expense is being undertaken by the Hawke's Bay Education Board in respect of the chimneys in schools throughout the Gisborne district was expressed at the meeting of, the Kaiti School Committee the other evening (says tho "Poverty Bay Herald"). It was pointed out that as a result of the earthquake instructions appeared to have been given for the dismantling and rebuilding of chimneys* that were undamaged by the earthquakes, the chimneys at the Kaiti School being among these structures- The committee took tlie step of advising the Hawke's Bay Education Board to send its architect to make a thorough inspection of the chimneys of schools in this district before proceeding further with the dismantling and rebuilding programme.

Arrangements have been made by the Railway Department for the steamheating of all passenger trains on the north line, commencing to-day.

A settler of Waimato Plains, Tar.ijiujsi, this season planted four acres of wheat and was rewarded with an excellent crop of 50 bushels to the aero, The grain was a good quality Tuscan.

Asked yesterday ( regarding the appointment of a Conciliation Commissioner in succession to Mr W. H. Hagger, who retired at the end of April, the Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister for Labour, told a reporter that owing to the finapoial stringency, the question of Mr Hagger's successor has not yet been dealt with. He added that a number of excellent applications had been received for the position.

The chairman of the Unemployment Board (the Hon. S. Cr. Smith) mentioned at j'osterday's meeting of the Chvistohurch Unemployment Committee, that already 3600 unemployed men were engaged on developmental work on the farms of the Dominion, and lie hoped that before the winter they would have 2000 or 3000 more, and amongst them many young men between 18 and 20 years, similarly employed.

Traffic control signals given by inspectors on point duty are meant for cyclists as well as for motorists. This I act was illustrated at the -Magistrate's Court yesterday when a number of cyclists wero fined for failing to pay attention to signals. One of them," it was stated, had passed under an inspector's right arm when motor traffic had been held up. One of the inspectors said that further charges wore yet to be heard, and that there was tieed for cyclists to be given a warning about their conduct in this matter.

The secretary of the New Zealand Golf Association reported at a meeting of the Council that a very large number of clubs are opening subscription lists for tho assistance of clubs which had suffered in the earthquake area; and that nearly 100 per cent, of the replies received had been favourable to the Association voting up tp £IOO from jts general funds towards earthquake relief. It was decided to ask tho captains of tho Nnpier, Hastings, and Pnrkvale Golf Clubs if they woijld act as a conimitteee to advise tho Association as to the losses suffered by clubs as a result of tho earthquake.

"It is distressing to see so many cases of working in harness old and decrepit horses, said the Rev. 11. Northeote, at a meeting of tho Canterbury Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals yesterday, when the Society's Inspector reported that in five of thesa cases the horses had had to be destroyed. Tho Inspector explained that at this time of tho year liorscs were in generally poor condition. Many of tho offences occurred among hawkers of apples and potatoes, which work had been taken on by a number of the unemployed. "Wo have to allow a little latitude where tho people concerned are in financial straits," stated tho chairman, Mr .T. 0. Jameson.

To encourage original research, and the collation of miscellaneous material one of the history wasters at a Christchurch secondary school has given the boys in his l'orm some months to work up a small thesis op some historical subject. Occasionally he has allowed a school period also for tho boys to work on their own particular subject. Most, of the subjects chosen hare to do with local or at least New Zealand history. Among; tho essays or "theses'' arc somo dealing with the history of Banks Ppninsiiln, Auckland, Wellington, Westland, (Hago. and Canterbury provinces, tho New Zealand Jlailwavs, Christchurch Cathedral, cricket in New Zealand, and the Christchuich Tramway Board. Other topics include art and aviation.

A roaring noise like that made by the escape of steam from a high-pressure boiler awakened a number of residents in Harrington street, Spreydqn, about four o'clock yesterday morning, whon the bursting of a largo water main provided a rare spectacle. It vfaa over an hour before the supply was turned off, and during that time tho main continuously sent up two great columns pf water to more than twice the height of the adjacent house?, upon the roofs and front gardens of two of which the water cascaded. No resulted, however, and not long after daylight a repair gang had mended the break, and filled in the large hole in the road made by the escaping streams.

Regarding the telegram from Wellington, printed in yesterday's issue, regarding the action to be taken by the Labour Department against employers of men, and against men who have not paid tlieir unemployment levies, tho Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister for Labour, told a reporter yesterday that jt had been decided to "insist on payment of the levy, and action is to be taken throughout New Zealand. The fact had been overlo »'fud that the registration of 495,000 adult males was a task in itself, and that until registration was complete and the true position ascertained, prosecutions could not take place. Consequently, sonw imagined tlmt no action was to be taken. Now that registration was complete and the position ascertained, action was to be taken, especially i» those cases where men wore able to pay. Regarding the registration of payers pf th© levy and the compilation of tho register, the Minister said tjiat hp could not speak too highly of the manner in which the postal Department's officers had carried out their duties.

"I received a call to cease manual work," said John Stevens, who appeared in tho Magistrate's Court, Duncdin, yesterday, to face a charge of failing to maintain his wife and 12 children. Stevens told the Court that he was working for the Public Works Department at the new post office site in August of last year. One morning as he waft going in he heard a voice say, "Collect yoiir pay." Ifc was somewhat concerned, but tho voice went on: "Do as I say. I command you." Stevens'added that he and a friend had known that this "work" was coming for eight or nine years. Asked the nature of the work, Stevens said that it was more or less evangelistic. "Do you realise that giving up vour Avork practically amounted to leaving your wife and children to starve'" asked his Worship. Stevens said that such was not the case, and spoke of work he did about the house and the garden. He -\yas remanded in custody until next Friday for medical observation.—Press Service. •

I'sssengera by White Star Buses ask fci fn?VnM |jl, °V e fo r a Gold Band lfixi ioi ,you, nucj insist on ffnftim-r one, as vou '.vi)l savo money t and V, on t u be - b l ufM by Abel's in Lvinr feYw r s s? & s«v , w We curry oil luggage. p rnm!

Men, women, and children nhoMgraplied perfectly, inc.xpensivelv.satis. iactonly. See samples of onr'finished work. .Steffano Webb, 252 IJiclf street 'Phone. 35-457. . wgn ptree^.

rI A ? O' lP °. f U ' e , largest employers in r h M 'Rnni C T' - the . l )l °Pf'etor of tS Gold Band Tusis wafoei it to be known that he has no intention of anXm / toe 10 per cent, cut on the wSffor szE%totf&r« i®? Gold Band Taxis and help to Lei the wages and commission no 'Pbn,V« 34-075 or 354372. Thanky™.