LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 14 October 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In the Htmso of Representatives yestcrday the Prime Minister notified his intention of moving:—"That the House accepts! on behalf of the Dominion, the offer of Mr. W. Leo Bullcr of the valuable collection of Maori industry and arts associated with the naino of his father, and expresses its appreciation of the fine public spirit which has prompted him to place tho collection at tho disposal of the country." Tho distances of various New Zealand ports from Sydney aro given in a Parliamentary return prepared at tho request of tho member for Taumarunui (Mt. Jennings), and presented to tho House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. The distances in nautical miles aro as follow:—From Sydney to Auckland, 1278 miles; to Wellington, 1230; to Onehunga Wharf, 1172; to Kawhia, 1173; to Waitara, 1151; to New Plymouth, 1111. At a meeting of tho Pharmacy Board of New Zealand hold yesterday at tho National Mutual Life Association's Buildings (Mr. V. Castlo in the chair), a letter wus received from tho Canterbury district of tho St. John Ambulance Brigado suggesting that, as street accident cases are frequently taken to tho nearest chemist for attention pneding the arrival of a doctor, candidates for tho board's certificates of qualification should be required to pass an examination in first aid or hold the St. John Ambulance Association certificate. Tho letter stated that almost every town in Now Zealand had its classes for study, and where there wero none the association's manual of instruction, being clear and concise, enabled a tutor to' be dispensed with. It was emphatically laid down by tho association that no attempt was mado by students lo cncrcach within the domains of tho medical profession, which rather encouraged the acquirement of knowledge of first aid. anil no fear need be entertained that chemists would bo regarded os trespassing beyond their proper functions. As chemists' apprentices were now required to learn tho properties of poisons and antidotes, the knowledge of first aid wa3 merely a step further in. the right direction. The letter was discussed and. held over, far fuitliar consideration.

The 'Wellington Zoological- Society, being highly gratified at the response of the musicians of Wellington and Messrs. Fuller and Sons to provide an excellent programme for its commemorative concert next Tuesday evening, now appeal to the public to come to the entertainment and enable the society to make a (success of its commemoration, and help to improve the Zoo. There is a littlo mora thnn the ordinary spring activity in the building trade at present, and contractors aire meeting with considerable difficulty in finding labour. So marked is the shortage of men, especially of carpenter*, that builders are chary of undertaking contracts for quick completion . It is stated that owing to the refusal of Mr. Justice Sim, as president of tho Arbitration Court to raako nil award for the regulating of labour conditions of workers in private hotels at Auckland, the unions concerned havo decided to lay t'lio matter liefore the Legislature, and Messrs. Long (Auckland), Breen (Dunedin,) and Carey (Wellington) are arranging to make representations to members on tho subject.