LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2745, 13 April 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities advise that the mails which left Now Zealand on March 2 arrived in Lgndon on April 10. .

It is stated in "General Orders" that soldiers who return to New Zeatand and are discharged from the Expeditionary Force, but who remain liable, for service in tho Territorial Force/ G.T.S., or Reserve, and are medically fit, will not be called upon to perforni any military training for the period of the war, except at their own request.

It has been found impossible to appoint dental recruiting officers to some of the smaller places in the Dominion. Consequently the medical officer who examines the recruits in any place where there -is no dental recruiting officer will also examine recruits' teeth, if lie finds that they require treatment the medical officer will sign the dental history sheet as "requiring treatment in camp."

At a meoting of friendly society deta gates', "hold yesterday, the following resolution was passed:—"This meeting of friendly society delegates desires to place on record its • sincore appreciation of the splendid services rendered 'to friendly societies by the Hon. W. Beehan, M.L.C."

The Shakespearean Ter-ccnten&ry Festival Committee has received fifteen entries for the prize of £5 offered for the best design for a souvenir programme to celebrate their three nights' performances, commencing May 4. Mrs. J. A. Tripe, is at present engaged in judging the designs, and her award will be announced in a few days. In. the meantimo the committco is working hard- to mako tho celebration of Shakespeare's three hundredth anniversary a success worthy rf the poet.

Winter is here. Yon can get what you llesirß in overcoats from 82s. (sd. to 305.; Ralngoftti, 15s. to 00s. At Geo, JTowlda, Ltd., Manners St-.veet.—AdvV-

A concession long asked for is to he granted to .."permanent casuals" in the

liailway Service in terms of the recommendation of the Railway Committee of the House last session with regard to certain portions of a petition oftlid A.S.K.S. f] le Minister of Railways proposes to'submit to Cabinet the follow-

ing proposals: Regular casuals paid at a daily rate who were ineligible for apto the permanent staff when they first joined the Railway Service, 01 who, although eligible from the point or age have been unaible to pass the examinations necessary to qualify for a permanent appointment, will, if their cervices are dispensed with through 110 raiilt of their own after having served not less than 10 years' continuous service and attained the age of 61) years, lie leave on.ftill pay For the' foloii inp; periods: After 10 years' service, o weeks: and after 15 years' service, eight weeks. Regular casuals whose services are dispensed with in terms of the foregoing resolution may bo Granted one privilege ticket per month foi themselves and their wives for a specihed journey at one-fourth of the ordinary rates.

, I^ s T7 on 'j' a f®"' weeks elapse between the Easter c holidays and the May term holidays of schools in the Wellington Lducation District, it has been decided uy tho Wellington. Education Board to combine the two holidays .into one long vacation at Easter. Consequently the Schools will bo closed , from Monday, April 17, till Monday, May 1, inclu' sive. It is thought that as the attendances at the schools have been somewhat disorganised of late, the extra long vacation at this period will have r - tendency to bring them up to norm .® • The extra long spell, it is thought, will also he beneficial to scholars andteacher's alike.

At a meeting of delegates of New Zealand Friendly Societies yesterday, it was decided, on the motion of Bro. A Thompson (Auckland) that 1 a United Friendly Societies' - Counoil for the Dominion he established, for the purpose ot safeguarding the interests of friendly societies throughout New Zealand.

According to reports' received by the I Labour Department, there has been even less unemployment for the: week ending April 8 than in the preceding weeks. The Wellington Labour Bureau dealt with 30 applications for work —14 from married and 16 from single men. Out of that number 11 married and 13 single men .were placed,, all save one, in private employment. The six men out of work were unsuitable for heavy manual labour. Auckland had 17 applications, including 14 from single men, and found work for eight. In Christchurch there were 24 applications, and 12 men were placed. In the smaller centres the position was generally satisfactory. The annual report of the Wellington College Old Boys' Association- states: "Again the committee is proud to refer to the part played by Old Boys in the great world war. Up to the end of last year over 800 Old Boys had enlisted in.the various field of activities, and thirty-one nad given up their lives in the Empire's cause. Members who know of Old Boys who have enlisted, but whose names are not included, are requested-to forward particulars direct to Mr. Firth at the college. Special reference must be ■ no.de to Lieut.-Coni-mander B. C. Freyberg, who was awarded- the D.S.O. for conspicuous bravery at Gallipoli, and to Lieut. T. M. Grace, who-was killed in the memorable!' assault of the Anzacs on Gallipoli in August last. '

The position of married men who are willing to enlist under B category of the recruiting regulations was discussed with the Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence, on Saturday evening, by a deputation from the Cliristchurcli Citizens' Corps;. The deputation stated that the C.D.C., which has undertaken the work of recruiting in Christchurch, was continually confronted with the objection by - married men, who were

willing to enlist under B category, that they might be called- to come forward at any time, possibly in a week or two, while single men -were still available for

service. The Minister replied that although this contingency was possible, it was not probable. He woild not advise tho Recruiting Board to call up married men at present. The matter, however, rested with the'board, so that he could

not give an assurance that married men would not be called up at short notice, or that they would not receive the call until the single men had enlisted. He would convey the deputation's representations to the Recruiting Be,yd. The New Zealand furniture Trades federation has received advice that Mr.

G. S. Archer, president of the Federated Furnishing .Trade Society of Australasia (New South Wales branch), will attend tlie conference to be held in Wanganui on April 25. At their last meeting of the Wellington Union the president, Mr. G. F. Aers, and vicepresident, Mr. J. Ferguson, -were appointed delegates to the conference, and another representative will be nominated by the country branches. Mr. D. R. Kennedy, union .secretary, will attend as general secretary of the federation. Among questions to be dealt with at the conference will be the matter of the cost of living and the present position of the workers in regard to wages.

The Minister of Defence (Hon. James Allen), Colonel Porter, C.8., and the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke), have accepted an invitation to be present on Saturday evening at the "sendoff" , by the Ammunition Column, National Reserve (Otsgo High School Old Boys and friends),' to their comrades who have enlisted.

"I cannot speak too highly of the patriotism of Slessrs. K. S. and A. B. Williams in purchasing land for the purpose of settling soldiers belonging to Wniapu on the land oh their return from the war," declarted the Minister of Native Affairs, the Hon. W. H. Herries, in Gisborne recently. "I only wish that other large land-owners would follow their example. I shall have pleasure in representing to the Prime Minister tho desirability of . seeing whether there are any other large European estates that- can be purchased for returned soldiers, for, indeed, there are many estates, or portions of estates, which would be most suitable for such purposes. I understand, further, that there is very little Crown land available for the purpose in this district. " In' Hawke s Bay large blocks have been purchased by the Native Land Purchase Board from the Natives, and these are already set aside for returned, soldiers. Efforts should be made to do tho same in this district."

Mr. W. Crawford,- chairman of the "Charley's Aunt" Club, announced at the club's meeting last evening that the not profit handed over to the Returned Soldiers' Hostel in connection with the rccont performances .of "Charley's Aunt" in the Grand Opera House, amounted to £170. He also announced that on account of the Easter holidays and-the Shakespearean Festival, in which the clul) is taking a prominent part, the next evening. will not be held till May 10.

It is understood that tlie whole matter of the dispute between the /Wellington Friendly Societies and the medical profession was discussed at a meeting of New Zealand Friendly Society delegates yesterday, and that a certain line of action, to he taken in the event of an amicable settlement not being reached, was decided upon.

The 2/3-ton Truck now on show at tho Dominion Motor "Vehicles, Limited, Giirage, G5 Courtenay Place, is one of the best American vehicles that has been imported to this country. This lorry combines all the best features of the hisdigradc English makes, and Has many accomplishments which are rarely seen on its best competitors. Inspection is in-, vited, and it is really an excellent opportunity' for, buyers to secure a verv high"•ada loi'tj at moderate cost.—A'dvt.