LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2671, 18 January 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Up to December 31 last, tlie number of claims received under the Miners' Phthisis Act, 1915, . was riinetv-six.-Eighty-two pensions were granted representing an annual liability of £3859, made up as follows: —51 at £52, £2652; 28 at £39, £1092; one at £50, £50; and two at £32 10s. (Widows'), £65. • Four claims were adjourned or rejected, and ten are still on hand awaiting investigation. Tho following health report, 'dated Samoa, January 15, has been received from Colonel Patterson: "Corporal J. Swann, convalescent; Ptes. A. M'Donald,_ dysentery; R. D. Newbury, l tinea cruris. All doing well." The replies received by the Petone Borough Council from , the various local authorities to the circular letter re the war pensions scheme Sent out by the have been announced, and the result is that three cities, 32 boroughs, 24 counties, and five town boards agreed with the circular in its entirety, and one city, 12 boroughs, and seven counties agree to the alteration suggested, but disagree with the proposal to call Parliament together. Opposed to the; council's idea and of opinion that no action be taken are one city, six boroughs, and 14 coifnties, while one is doubtful. On the figures given, 84 local authorities are in favour of an amendment to the War Pensions Act, along tlie lines suggested by the council, and 21 opposed the amendment or took the view that such matters were entirely beyond th 6 jurisdiction of the council. These figures came before the Petone Council last evening, and his Worship the Mayor stated that a sufficient number of replies had come to hand to warrant the council in going a step further, especially as these replies by a large majority were .in. favour of the council's suggestion. He would move that tie attention of tlie Prime Minister be drawn to his letter of November 23, 1915, and that he now' be asked, in view of the replies received, to state clearly and definitely what the proposals of the Government are in connection with tlie subject matter of the council's circular letter. Councillor Cox seconded tlie motion, which was carried. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), on behalf of the Mayor's Patriotic Committee, directed on Saturday that thirty cases of apples, ten cases of pears, and a gramophone, be sent to the contingent of men in charge of the remounts. Referring to recruiting during a conversation with a Christchurch reporter yesterday, the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) said thefs was no necessity at present to bring pressure on married men for war service, but the present system, would be continued as long as„the war lasted.— Press Association. . . The matter of war ,pensions was mentioned at tlie monthly meeting of tho Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Emphasis was laid on the necessity of- providing widows -and other dependants of soldiers with.every facility for having their claims attended to. If the co-operation of the chamber in any steps taken- in the interests of these ■ dependants could bo of any service it would, the council said, ba' readily forthcoming. _ The secretary would make inquiries in order to ascertain the proper sources at which application should be mtide in regard to pensions. One member pointed o;& that ill the case of a widow, for instance; there should be one individual charged with the duty of .watching her interests right up to the actual settlement of her claim. Tho eighteen-months-old child of Mr. and Mrs. Long (who are visiting friends at Hutt Road, Petone), was taken to the hospital yesterday as the result of having swallowed poison. Tlie Hon. Consul for Japan, Mr. T. Young, has forwarded an invitation to the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce to 6end a representative to an exhibition to he held at Formosa. Tlie council of the, Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce lias been advised by Mr. James Macintosh, Consular agent for France t that arrangements were being made at Lyons for a "sample market" or "exchange," to be held annually, and to be opc-n to merdmnta of Allied and neutral countries. It was remarked at a meeting of the council of the Chamber yesterday that this was a step in the movement for the develop-, ment of French trade with the Allies,and for the capture of markets which had hitherto been largely monopolised by Germany. A meeting of intending exhibitors at the display of British and Allied Nations' Goods, to bo held in' Wellington on February 19 to 26, was held yesterday, Mr. L. T. AVatkins presiding. Tho question of screening moving pictures during tho exhibition was discussed. It was agreed that pictures be shown on one night as an experiment, and that if the executive considered it successful the pictures be continued on succeeding nights. The meeting also considered whother a catalogue or souvenir of tho exhibition should bo produced, and bo available for distribution by exhibitors during exhibition week, and if so the form such publication "should take and tlie method of financing the production, ('eliding tho rt|ituoin« of certain iinjtiiricis definite action was delerrecL

The business before the members of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon included consideration of the following resolution, adopted by the committee of the Australasian Merchants' Association (London): "That as the action of the German Government with regard to submarine activity has inflicted considerable losses upon the British people here and in the Dominions beyond the seas, this committee of the Australasian Merchants' Association respectfully suggests to tho British and Colonial Governments that steps should bo taken immediately after the war to levy upon German and Austrian vessels each time they enter a port within the British Empire a differential and special charge for port (lues over and above tho customary port rates, tlio proceeds so obtained to bo used as the Governments concerned may determine. This association is of opinion that the suggestion made will, if acted upon, in course of time, reimburse the people for some of the losses inflicted upon the community." yThe chairman (Mr. C. M. Luke) said that-a conference was to be held in 'the Old Country to deal with .the question of trading with tho enemy after the war, and tho aspect of tho matter referred to in the resolution would of course be discusscd. A united conference of re-' presentatives of the Chambers of Commerce of the Empire was being convened to deal with cognate matters. The suggestion embodied in the resolution would, it might be assumed, receive consideration'when the terms of peace were being discussed. It was agreed, on tho motion of Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, seconded by Mr. J. Reid, to refer the matter to the Associated Chambers of Commerce. •The newel-aims which are being made by the Drivers' Union consequent upon the expiry of the old award on October 18 last, were discussed before the Conciliation Commissioner '.(Mr. P. Hally) yesterday. The assessors for the union were Messrs. A. Parlane (secretary), W. Evans, and F. Bentley, and for the employers Messrs. E. A.. Craig (Auckland), A. J. Curtis and A. E. Brown (Wellington). Mr. W. A. W. Grcnfell appeared on behalf of the Employers' Association. The basis suggeste<f"by the union for a new award provides for some important changes. _ Instead of the 48hour "week (exclusive of eight hours for necessary attendance upon horses), a 47i--liour week is suggested. For men driving and attending one horse the union asks £3 a week in place of £2 8s;; and £3 6s. a. week instead of £2 12s. for those driving two or more horses; while Is. per day extra per horse is also claimed for those driving more than two horses. A new clause asks the ordinary rate of pay per hour up to eight, hours per week for men required to attend horses outside the hours laid down, and overtime rates after the eight hours, in addition to the weekly wage. Another clause, not inserted in any previous award, refers to the wages of men who drive transport motor vehicles. The union claims for drivers of vehicles carrying up to lOcwt". £3 ss. per week; over lOcwt. and not exceeding 30cwt., £3 10s. per week; and over SOcwt., £3 15s. per week. A picnic day is proposed as an additional holiday; and Is. 6d. instead of Is. 3d. per hour is asked for overtime. It is suggested also that the preference clause should be amended, and that the hours should be restricted to between 7.30 a.m. and 6 p.m., instead of from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The dispute affects general carters only. No progress towards an agreement was made, and 'lie Commissioner said that ho would suggest to both parties a Dominion conference, and if no agreement was arrived at within thirty aays, he would refer the matter to the Arbitration Court.

Openings for trade between New Zealand and Chile were discussed in a oommunication' from Mr. F., J. Stratford, Castilla, Valdivia,' Oliile, which was read at a meeting of the council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday. The letter , dealt with the question of the export to NewZealand of railway sleepers from Chile, where, as back loading, there were markets for coal, fruit, and dairy produce. The chairman (Mr. C. M. Luke) said they had already brought under the notice of the Prime Minister the matter of developing New Zea-. land's trade with the Southern States of America. A copy of the letter might be sent to members of the Government controlling the ' Departments which were conoerned, and Mr. 'Massey could "be invited to consider the advisableness of sending Mr. E. Clifton to South America to report on trade openings there. Mr. R. Hall remarked that he was hoping to make a trip there himself. The suggestion made by the chairman was agreed to. At the last meeting of the council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce complaints were made with reference to delays in the transmission of telegrams between' the North and South Islands. At yesterday's monthly meeting of the council a reply was received from the. postal authorities, to whom the complaints had been referred by the chatnber. The reply stated that to increase the number of cables, would involve a large' expenditure, which under the'present circumstanoes was not considered justified. ' The authorities added that the average time taken in the transmission of telegrams was, they were informed, noij unreasonable, but any instance of excessive delay should be brought under their notice. _ It was stated that a mechanical device had been installed in Wellington which ii was .hoped would materially reduce the pressure. It was further pointed out that there would be serious difficulty in regard to the manufacture of the cable at the present juncture, even if it were decided to provide it. The chairman Olr. C. M. Luke) said the. department liad been obliged to admit there had been instances of dolays with which they were endeavouring to cope. A shortage of operators had been admittedj this being due to enlistments. _ Mr. J. Reid remarked that no complaint had been made by the chamber that there were not a sufficient number of cables. They had simply made their complaint, leaving it to the department to find the remedy.

AN ENGINEER'S IMPRESSION OP. THE 1316 STUDEBAKER. Mr. Allan H. ll'tcan, chief engineer and a director of the Tourist Motor Company, Hawke's Bay, agents for some years past for Silent Knight Minerva and Studebaker motors, recently went to America with the intention of securing the agency of one of the real top-notch American cars, whatever the price. He gives his impressions and the result of his investigations in a letter to -us, from which the following is an extract :-"I have examined practically all the _ leading American cars, my intention being to secure the agency for a high-priced automobile Bnt after seeing the new Studebaker motors being manufactured, riding in one of them, and thoroughly investigating them, I consider it a waste' of time to look for something better, which cannot be found. . . . . The new Studebaker engine is the cleanest motor manufactured in America. Its power is a revelation, and the material is second to none. For quietness it. is equal to the Silont Knight Minerva. All the improvements, without exception, which were considered necessary from our previous experience, have been incorporated' jn this new Studebaker, and I could not Bud a single detail that I could suggest ns an improvement. _. . . The starter and lighting equipment is, in my estimations the simplest and most reliable made. . . The bodywork this year is excellent, and the cabrotolet and limousine are magnificent pieces of work, equal in finish and appearance to anv of the Minerva cars that we have imported." We need only add that the price of the 191G Studebaker 4-cylirtder touring .car is .51345, and of the 4-cjlitider 3-seater roadster, J6335. Adams, Ltd., N.Z. Importers of Studebaker Motors. Ohristchurch, Palraerston North, and Wanganui. Agents: Tourist Motor Co., Hastings: J. Tombs and Co., Hamilton; Auckland Motor Co., Auckland; Newton Stratford and New Plymouth. We nre open to .appoint agents for Wellington and WairaraM districts.—Advt,