LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 18 October 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Letters from anti-militarists form no inconsiderable part of tho correspondence reoelved nowadays by tho Hon. J. Allen, Minister' of Defonco. Some of the letters show a rathor strange point of viow on the part of tho writers, as tho following extract from one such letter boars wltnoss: "You often quote the remark, 'What would you anti-militar-ists do if tho Japanese' came to our shores f" My reply is that we could not do anything at all, for when once tho said raco become civilised and organised they have such numbers and such mineral resources that thoy would Bweop us off the face of the earth, even in. spite of our so-called Defence Acts. , . . There is no danger in a barbario tribe organising itself sufficient to conquer New Zealand, and I am only afraid of unoivilised peoplo, for the socalled civilised aro just as good and even better than tho so-called civilised who livo in our own shores. My point is that tho present Government is equally as bad as any German . Government could be, and it is the oppressor from within that I am afraid of and not the ono from without, for I welcome him. Hoping you will think and ■ meditate over these matterß and seo what a wilderness you and your clasß live in." It is perhaps hardly necessary to add that the writer of the letter lives in Christchurch.

Shipwrights in the employment of the Union Company, Wellington Harbour Board, and Messrs, H. Wood and Sons are asking for an increase in wages. Their union is affiliated to tho Federation of Labour. At present the men are receiving' Is. 6d. per hour ordinary time and thoy ask for Is. IOJd. .They have also requested a corresponding rise in •tho overtime rate. The owners have offered the men Is. 7d. an hour overtime. The deputation on Thursday night to tho City Council ro lawn tennis grounds on the Pirio Street Resorvo was composed of representatives from the clubs of tho city. A tally was taken of those present, and tho total was over 800, 52 being ladies. The overflow were forced to invodo tho portion of tho oouncil room reserved for tho general publio, and when that was full the remainder had to be content with being in tho passage. Local headmasters of schools are being advised 1 by tiho secretary of tho local branch of tho Navy Loaguo that the subjcot for this year's league essay will bo "What Naval Disaster would mean to tho British Empire and to Now Zealand in Particular." Mr. Palmer advises that about 10 per cent, of tho best essays should bo sent in to tho office not lator than November 30. The members and officers of both Ileuses of Parliament, the private secretaries of Ministers, and tho members of tho Press Gallory wore entertained at nil oyster supper at Bellamy's last evening by tho Leader of tho Opposition (Sir Joseph Ward). Tho Local Bills Committeo of tho House of Representatives foportcd upon tho City of Nelson Loans Conversion and Empowering Bill, recommending that it bo allowed to procced with tho amendments made by tho committee. Most of tho amendments are technical in character, but a provision that tho Public Trustee should act as agent for tho Nelson City Council for tho purpose of managing the loan of £200,000 authorised in tho Bill has been struck out.

Oil-cooled polo typo-transformers ars to bo supplied to tho City Corporation by Messrs. Tolley and Sonß, Ltd., wild have signed a contract for a fixed number at £51110s. Unsuccessful tenderers were tho National Electrical and Engineering Company, Ltd., £505, and Messrs. Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., £648 ss. A contract for tlio supply of wood blocks to tho corporation has now been signed by Millar's , West Australian Hardwoodß Company, tho prico being £1808 12s.'. Gd. llio Now Zealand Powell Wood Process! Ltd., tendered unsuccessfully for this contract at £1874 18s. <ld. The Eduoation Committee of tW Houso of Representatives reported yen terday that it had 110 recommendation to make in tho petition of Joseph Southwick ; of Wellington, praying toil , a compassionate allowance in recognition l of twenty-three years' sorvico as a school teacher prior to tho TeachersSuperannuation Act ooming into foray Allegations of "child slavery" in th« dairying distriots wore made by Mr. T. M. Wilrord. member for Hutt, in thai Houso of Representatives yesterday of* ternoon. Ho said that this "slavery I *, was still rampant in some districts and ho read tho report of a case that had been brought bofor© tho Magistrate's. Court at Foilding by tho truant inspec l tor recently, hi this casa, ho said, 4 woman who had nine children, with thj assistance of her two oldest ohildren#' was milking 24 cows for an employer#! The two olnldren—a boy agar 18, and-' a girl aged 11—beside milking soven,! ana five oows respectively, did otheS work before and after Bohool, and all', that tho woman received was a m&ii-1 mum of SOs, a week. No food, boyopd) milk, was 'supplied by tho employer. The 1 ! Inspector, Mr, Wilford stated, had aeW; ed the magistrate to bring tho case foro tho Minister of Justice. The position respcoting tho protection; I afforded to opossums in Now Zealand* approachos tho Gilbertian. . According! to the president of tho Wellington A J ohmatisation Society, Mr. L. O. H/ Tripp, who has fought sturdily for tho' littlo furry animal from tho outset of' the trouble, tho opossum is now pro-> teotod in the South Island, but bo far!that protection has not been grimted to its co-matos in the North, and anyone' may go forth and kill without boingj called to acoount for it. Proof in plenty! has boon supplied that the animal {si commercially valuable, and even in! fruit-growing countries, Buch as Tan! mania, it is protected for that reason* l Now, Mr. Tripp states, tho fruitgrowers l of Paraparaumu (whero most of the* trouble started) haro passed a roeoW tion favouring protection of tho muchpersoouted "Brer 'Possum." A deputation of Otago membora, oom sisting of Messrs. G. M. Thomson, Oi E. Statliam, R. Scott, E. H. Clark, PJ H. Smith, and E. P. Leo, waited upont tho Minister of Publio Works (tho Hon? W. Eraser) yesterday afternoon to reV commend that Oamaru stone should ro4 oeivo consideration for use in the tion of the now Parliamentary BuildV ings. Tho Hon. W. Eraser said that if) possiblo granite would be used in thd building because it was part of thai whole schemo. Tho deputation ho sidored had, oomo a littlo lato in tlief day. Tlioy should havo como beforo the tenders had been, advertised.' No define ite decision, ho added, as to the ston# would be coind to till tho tenders were opened and tho best one selected., ThoaJ a Tenders Board would bo sot up and! tho question of tho stono gone into. Atfc that tlmo tho representations of tho de«| putation would be possiblo, but at pre-.; pent,a request that tho tenders should include Oamaru stono could »ot bo conJ sidored. When tho question was boingfj considered he yrould aeo that the Oam^ 1 aru .stono reoeivoa consideration on merits, If it was practicable to usS Oamaru stone it would got a chanoe. Cigarette smokers who appreciate a good' sirioko aro advised to try th<p VWinfred" brand, manufactured by thai Ardath Tobacco Co., Ltd., London, When theso cigarettes were first brought, out, it was round thoy were packed rather too tight for this market, buti this slight dofeot has since been remedied. The "Winfrod" brand is now a nice free snioko, draws easily, and oK account of its purity and excellent qua 14 ity is fast becoming the loading brand in this, Dominion. The doctors reoonw" mend i(i on acoount of it being free from! any added matter. *