LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1806, 19 July 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

All officers of the Reserve of Officera and on- the Retired List are requested to communicate their names and addresses to tlio officer commanding the district in which they reside. Any officer who fails to communicate his address in writing to. District or Regiment Headquarters, by May 1 each„year, will be liable to have his name removed from the list. According to a return presented to tho House of Representatives yesterday there were issued in the Dominion in the last financial year 76,435 money-orders, valued at .£190,1G9 17s. 3d. on Australia, and 81,007, valued at X2G2.944 9s. 7d„ on tlie United Kingdom and foreign countries. "There is no doubt that the thing lias overgrown itself," said a delegate at the Farmers' Union Conferenco yesterday, referring to the length of tho order paper. There were IGO remits sent in to be considered by the conference, and it was suggested tliat in future something should bo dono to keep remits within- reasonable limits. "What is the advantage of passing all three?" asked Sir. E. Campbell. "We ask for tlieso year after year, and only a small number go before the Minister." Mr. ,T. G. Wilson (president) replied that every one went before a Minister. Ho and the secretary went through the remits after tho conference, and referred every one to a responsible authority. Mr. C. H. Ensor was of opinion, that they were giving a lead to public opinion by discussing tlie remits. He did not favour restricting remits, but where they overlapped the loading one should to considered. It was decided that tho executive should bo given power to summarise tho remits. "Wireless telegraphy" is not eo far a commercial success in Now Zealand, although tho intercolonial and tho Home steamers are now all fitted with plants. It is not to bo expected that what might bo called a revolutionary idea would bo accepted at once for ordinary commercial uses, seeing that up to the present tho only communications regularly established aro between our laud stations and •vessels at sea. Shortly Wellington will be ablo to communicate with Sydney by day and night by wireless, when a more general uso will probably bo made of tho new service. Another reason why wireless is not so general as it might bo is the cost. A person sending a message from shoro to a steamer has to pay l(kl. per word, and the samo plus telegraphic charges (if same aro necessary) for a nuessago sent from a vessel to a shore station. The charges aro a deal moro reasonable at Home, where Maroonigrams may be dispatched to any part of tho United States, Canada, and for 4d. per word in plain language and Bd. per word in code. Easter Saturday was discussed' by tlio Racing (Conference in 1912,_ and a resolution was carried instructing tho Dates Committee not to allot any totalisator permit for that day in. dealing with the 1913-1914 dates. This was given effect to by the Dates Committee, but when presenting its report last Thursday, but yesterday Mr. W. T. Hazlett (Otngo Country Clubs) tabled a motion:—"That the resolution instructing the Dates Committee not to allow the Saturday before Easter Sunday as a day of any race meeting be resoinded." This was seconded by Mr. E. W. Alison (Auckland Country Clubs). In tlio discussion that followed, several members opposed the rescission of the resolution. Among them was tho president (Sir Geo. Clifford), wlio considered it would bo unwise and impolitic to race on Easter Saturday. On the question being put to tlio meeting tho motion to rescind the former resolution was carried by IS votes to 13. Mr. H. J. H. Okey, member for Taranalri, gave notice in tho House of Representatives yesterday to ask tho Minister for Industries and Commerce whether, seeing the rapid growth already ap- . paront in New Zealand trade with Canada, and tho possibilities of future development, the Government will consider tho advisability of appointing a Trado Commissioner to reSido in Canada. At tho Farmers' Union Conference yesterday a proposal that threshing millowners should be compelled by law to insure their employees against accidcnt was considered. ' It was pointed out that it had never been defined who was the responsible party, the farmer or tho millowner, and in many cases a double policy was taken out. Tho important point was: Who was responsible? Tho matter was referred to tho Dominion Executive.

Tho residents of Plimmerton havo formed an association to promote tho municipal well-being of the locality. An appeal is also to bo made to (he Suburbs Railway League to urge on tho Minister tho necessity of speeding up some of tho suburban trains. There is at present an interesting collection of oil and water-colours from tho brush of Mr. H. D. Kirkwood being exhibited at Headnall's, Manners Street. Mr. Kirkwood has been painting New Zealand scenory for many years now, font there is no falling away in his technique or tone sense. His work is always delightfully clean a-nd attractive, and it should attract the attention of buyers. At the Fanners' Union Conference yesterday tho following remit was considered in committee: —"That the time has come when the Farmers' Union should affiliate with the New Zealand Employers' Federation with tho object of combining forces against tho unjust claims of organised labour." An announcement was made later to tho press that tho remit was lost on the voiccs. A remit rejected at the Farmers' Union Conference yesterday asked that the Government should bo requested' to pass legislation so as to mako tho weekly halfholiday on tho same day throughout the Dominion. Two arrests wero made by Dotectivca Lewis and Andrews yesterday. One of the suspeots is to bo charged with tho theft of jewellery from Mr. J. Caims, a Christchurch resident; and the other is accused of-, having stolen a bicycle, tho owner of which is not known. A now class of radiotelegram, wliich shall foe known as the "Ocean Letter" will be accepted at tlio inquiry office, says tho "Ocean Times" (published anywhere in tho North Atlantic). Tho rato for tile message will be ss. 6d. or 1 dollar 37 cents for the first 20 words, including postage and registration fee, and one penny or two cents per word thereafter up to a maximum of 100 words international counting. These "ocean messages" will not bo transmitted when either of the ships concerned is within range of a shore station, and will only bo exchanged between ships proceeding in opposite directions, also only one ship -to ship will be allowed. Tlio receiving ship will post such messages at her first port of call. Tho sender of an "ocean letter" may not cliooso a ship to which tho message shall bo sent. Its disposal will depend solely on local conditions, and will bo effected in accordance with the" above regulations. At a meeting of tho Mauricoville West School Committee, held on Monday, tho following resolution, proposed by Mr. E. W. Neilsen and seconded by Sir. A. E. Clarke, was earned unanimously: "That this committee respectfully begs to call the attention of the Minister for Education to the injustice done by asking teachers in schools, which, through a fall in attendance lose their grade (1) to move at their own cost, or (2) to submit to a reduction in salary." It was pointed out that, as was locally the case, a teacher might have given efficient servico and improved his certificate, ycli through no fault of liis own, he was liable ■ to be penalised in the way stated in the motion. A meeting of the members and supporters of tho Women's League Bible-in-State-Schools will bo held in St. Johns Schoolroom, Willis Street, on Monday, at i p.m.