LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 969, 9 November 1910, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

"Girls go in for factory work because it enables them to, stop'work at five o'clock and parade the streets dressed up," said the Hon:. Sir George McLean, M.L.0., yesterday. H.M.S. Powerful, flagship of the Australasian squadron, is to leave Melbourne for Wellington direct to-mor-row. A candid expression, of opinion came from Mr. L. S. Humphries at tho mooting yesterday of tho Builders' and Con--tractors'. Federation. Referring, _in passing, to the politico-industrial activity of tho workers, ho said: "Sooner or later they will have preference in spite of what wo call do. And let them have it, but let us have preference too, and the right to stop incompetent people coming in on our preserves." Under such an arrangement, the speaker continued) the builder would have to undergo some form, of examination, some trial, some test, to show that he was fit to carry on the work. If this were done they would not have all sorts of people, shoemakers and chemists, putting up buildings. "Let us become unionists," concluded Mr. Humphries, "but they will have to give us preference." ,

A warning against the practice of making one's will on a printed form was uttered by Mr. Justice • Cooper when one of those documents came before him in Chambers yesterday. "These printed forms are very dangerous," ho said. "Hero is a largo blank space, which a dishonest person could fill up with other matter. Fortunately, very few people who have the opportunity would do such a thing. Another thing is that in many of these printed forms the attestation clause'is insufficient."

With tho approach of Christmas-tide, the committees of tho Wellington Musical Union and tho'Wellington Choral Society have considered tho question of giving a performance -of Handel's great Christmas oratorio, "The Messiah," and each has also considered, at the instance' of tho Committee of tho Musical Union, it is understood, tho question of joining forces and producing tho work upon a scale which would make tho performance a not-able event* Tho splendid choruses would bo sung with that breadth and fullness of tono which is essential to tho expression of the characteristic music. However, tho Committee of tho Choral Society, it is stated, has been unable to see its way to entertaining the proposal, and the result will probably bo fiat Wellington conccrtgoers will bo invited to attend two performances of "The Messiah," for eacli society has declared its intention of producing tho work. A man, recently arrested in Fiji, arrived in Wellington yostorday in charge--of Sergeant foully, and will appear at tho Magistrate's Court this

morning charged with a breach of the Chattels Transfer Act.

Mrs. Rolleston, Hair Physician and Toilet StJCCinlisf. -lins returned. Appoint, inents may bo booked for tho lalost and most scientific Ilair and Faco Treatments, Klectrolysis, 010. English, Amori. can, and Continental experience, i "ty'ji, lis Street* Wellington. 'Pliorio 1503 — AUrt.

The executive of tho Builders' and Contractors' Federation state in their annual report that .'several applications have been made to both tho Minister of Labour and Arbitration Court to have tho branches of the building trade declared related, but the "powers that bo" have decided not to grant requests in this respect, It therefore rests with each centre, the executive- remarks, to endeavour to secure as near uniform conditions as possible in each award affecting tho building trade. The preparing of a model award would no doubt prove of materia! assistance to the centres in securing the uniformity so much desired. . "The Pressure of Light" is the subject on which Professor T. H. Laby is to lecture at tho Victoria College' on tho evening of November 15. The lecture is to bo delivered under the auspices of the Astronomical section of the Wellington Philosophical Society. Probate of tho will of tho late Ada Thyno, married woman, of Wellington, was granted by Mr. Justice Cooper, in Chambers yesterday, subject to an affidavit being filed showing that Mrs. Sarah Ann Bezzant is the only sister of the testatrix, and is known as Mrs. Annio Bezzant. The application was made by Mr. F. G. Bolton.

Tho recent experience of our Auckland builder 3 (remarks the annual report of _ tho Builders' and Contractors' Federation, adopted yesterday) in'connection with the plumbers' dispute comes as a warning to the trade, and emphasises the need for closely watching proceedings in all trade disputes and for a better -understanding between all classes of employers. It is to he deplored that any body of employers should make common cause with workers against another section of employers, and should endeavour, by. secret conference and legal procedure, to obtain a Court decision that would rob others of a well-established right, and would set up an unfair barrier to freedom of contract, and be a further restriction of the.'liberty of the people. Tho adjourned case of May EthelPagni v. John W. Collins and others, a claim for damages and trespass in connection with tho placing of spoil on a vacant sectaon at Island Bay, will come before the Chief Justice at 10.30 a.m. to-day. Further proceedings in the Allardice will case before tho Court of Appeal are adjourned until to-morrow.

The conference of representatives of the professorial hoards of the four University Colleges— at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin— convened at tho request of the Recess Committeo of the New Zealand University to consider the report upon the Imi i" ld B ■^ C • degree courses, assembled for the inaugural. session at Victoria Collego yesterday morning. Professor I\ D, Brown, of Auckland, was elected chairman of the conference. The proceedings were not open to the press. It is stated that the etiquette of the conference, which has been constituted as an advisory body to the Recess Committee of the University, renders it necessary that its decisions shall be submitted to the latter body before being mado public. The conference will sit again to-day,. and to-morrow will meet the Recess Committee.

There is somo talk now and then about shifting tho seat of Government," said Mr. S. I. Clarke, at tho smoke concert of the Builders' Federation last evening. "It is heard even in Auckland. They must have their little- bit of'fun." Wellington should he indulgent, concluded Mr. Clarke, and let people who talked in this wav eniov their little joke.