LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 28 August 1913, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The postal authorities advise that tho s.s. Marama, which sailed from Sydney on August 25 for Auckland, lias on board mails from Australia, and also English mails via Suez. The Wellington portion is duo on Saturday next per tho Main Trunk express. "l'havo worked on the roads for six bob a day," said Mr. G. V. Pearce in tile House of Representatives yesterday, "and I don't want to do it again." "Hear, hear," said a number of his brother members. Tho matter of amending tho law so that sick-pay can be paid to railway employees when they are off _ duty through illness will recoivo consideration, tho Minister for Railways stated yesterday, when tho regulations which are now under review are being amended. Tho Minister for Defence was asked by Mr. Payne in tho House of Representatives yesterday whether ho would inquire into charges of bungling in connection with tho'ordering of uniforms by the Defence Department. Tho Minister replied: "No bungling has occurred, and no wrong measurements were issued to contractors. Certain samplo patterns of uniforms, both for Senior Cadet and Territorial,. With corresponding measurement scales, wero adopted at the institution of tho. present Defenco scheme, and initial supplies were obtained in aecordanco therewith*. After inspection of various companies clothed in thfiso uniforms the General Officer Commanding decided that certain alterations would make for improvement. These wero accordingly tried, and, being found successful, subsequent supplies were obtained of the new patterns. Although this necessitated sliehtly increased expense, not ono uniform was wasted, tho old patterns being converted to the now patterns."

Asked yesterday by Mr. G. M. Thomson, M.P., whether lie would make provision this session for advances to fishermen, so as to enable them to cheaply obtain boats, nets, and other gear, tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said.that thero would be no alteration in the policy of the Fisheries Department until Professor Prince (a Canadian expert, who is to arrive next month) had reported.

Preparations for the military tournament to bo lield in Auckland about the latter end of December are already proceeding apace. Tlireo teams of six men each have been selected from tho A Section of tho No. 4 Field Ambulance to represent that corps in the first-aid competitions, and those men aro now undergoing special training.

A complaint was ventilated b.v Mr. Isitt in the House of Representatives yesterday that passengers who arrived by a recent steamer from San Francisco were met by a demand for a vaccination feo of 10s. 6d. A cortain number of them, it was added, wero vaccinated by a local chemist at tho usual fee of 2s. 6d. Tho Hon. R. H. Rhodes, in his reply, stated, inter alia, did not see why the Government of New Zealand at the expense of the Dominion should provide free vaccinators for passengers who happen to touch here and no more. The only officer of the Public Health Department who performed vaccinations on that ship was tho Port Health Officer, Wellington, who vaccinated the crew free in accordance with instructions. ,

Gas agreement and minimum guarantee have been matters of moment at Petono and Lower Hutt recently. It is now announced that owing to tho Lower Hutt Borough Council's decision to adhere to its provious resolution, the whole matter has been reconsidered by the Petono Borough Council in committee. The decision arrived at is as follows(1) That the minimum guarantee bo dono away with; (2) that the price of gas as soon as the consumption by tho Hutt reaches 10,000,000 euhin feet in any one year bo reduced to 3s. f)tl. per 1.000 cubic feet, and when the consumption reaches 12,000,000 cubic feet, the price be reduced to 3s. 3d. per 1000 cubic feet. Tlieso proposals will bo considered nt a future meotiae of tho Lower Hutt Council. e

Three hundred ironbark poles wero recently required by the City Council, and ttie successful tenderers wero Samuel Brown, Ltd., £388 15s. Tho other tenders received were Wallace and Co., £399 lis. Sd.; Richardson, Blair, and M'Cabo, £-109 3s. 4d.; P. R. Baillio and Co., £JG3 19s. 2d.; and Sanders liros., £507 Is. Bd.

A'sked yesterday by Mr. J. Payno, M.P., what steps lie had taken to have on inquiry made into charges against an Auckland firm 6f solicitors, tho Minister for Justice said, that tho matter was one in which the Government could »uot interfere, and remarked that if there was a ground of action against tho solicitors there was a remedy at law. When the matter came up in the Houso Mr. Pavno contended that it was one for a Justice Department inquiry, but the Minister mado no further rcfcrenco to it. Tho Minister for Railways was asked in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. J. Bradney, member for Auckland West, whether it was true that Roman Catholic children were not allowed frco railway passes on New Zealand railways to attend high schools in the Dominion; and, if so, would tho Government so amend tho regulations that everyone might enjoy equal political privileges irrespective of crectl, class, or colour. Mr. Herries replied: "No discrimination whatever is shown against Roman Catholic children.in so far as conveyance by rail is concerned. Tho regulations lay down the conditions under which free school tickets are issued, and anyone call obtain such tickets on complying strictly with the provisions of the regulations."

Tho matter of special schools, tho Minister for Education stated yesterday, is receiving the earnest attention .of tho Government, and provision is being mado for the accommodation of ( girls as well as boys at Otekaiko. It is hoped that the institution, will bo ready to receive the girls early next year. In the case of feeble-minded children, school age extends to the age of twentyone. Tho magistrate has power to extend this time in periods not exceeding four years.

It is understood that tjiero is no market for deer-skins in Australasia, tho Prime Minister told Dr. Newman iu the House of Representatives yesterday. Tho High Commissioner is being asked to ascertain whether a market exists in Europe, and his reply will bo published when received.

It) is not intended, the Prime Minister stated yesterday, to reprint tho_ report of the Cost 'of Living Commission. The full report of the Commission (including evidence) is nearly out of print; but there are a number of copies of the report available, including a summary of tho evidence. Tliere is also published' in tho "Journal of tho Department of Labour" a complete summary of tho report. Under these circumstances the heavy expense of reprinting the report is not considered necessary.

The petition for a Parliamentary inquiry into tho causes of the New Lynn railway accident has been considered by tho Railways Committee. Tho committee, after consulting with Sir. J. Bollard, M.l'., has agreed that the inquiry shall bo. granted, and that it shall bo held by the Railways Committee itself. The inquiry is to bo confined to an investigation into tho causes of tho. accident and the question of claims for compensation will not bo gone into. As sooii as tho witnesses reach Wellington the inquiry will bo commenced, aud an. endeavour will bo made by the committee to sit every morning until tho inquiry is completed. Tho proceedings will be open to the press. Tho petitioners, if they so desire, may bo represented by counsel at their own expense.