LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2785, 1 June 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Primo Minister stated yestei'day tlmt a confidential officer of the Sugar Refining Company had arrived in 'Wellington from Australia to conclude negotiations with the Government and the Board of Trailo in regard to the maintenance of the present price of sugar. 1

Tho Government does not. at present intend to accede to the demand for increased payment in old age pensions. This statement waj made by the Hon. A. M. Mvors yesterday in reply to a suggestion tliat the pension rate should he increased from 10s. to 15s. a week in view of tho increased co.it of living. Mr. Myers stated also that the Government did not intend to increase the p'ension of .£36 per year to Maori war veterans.

Reporting under date May 30 on the health of the troops at Samoa, Colonel Logan, says that Private Grant is suffering from synovitis knee, and Private Rsid from lymphangitis.

No cases of infantile paralysis- were reported in the Wellington Health District yesterday.

Tho proposal to commandeer the whole of next season's cheese output for the use of the Imperial authorities will be laid before a conference of cheese factory pro. to be held on. June 13. The con. ierenco will arrange for a price to be paid which will be fail- to all concerned. During tho season just closing the Government took for the Imperial authorities about one-third of the cheese output of the Dominion, about <£1,000,000 worth, at 7-id. per lb f.o.b. Wellington.

A complaint was-, made in the House of Representatives by Dr. Thacker, M.P., about the danger to the community of keeping filthy banknotes in circulation. Ho urged the Government to tako some action, and. also to ■ sterilise metal coins, in view of the prevalence of epidemics. "I am afraid that: this is not a matter ' which can be remedied at the present time," said Sir Joseph Ward in reply yesterday. "Tho banks are, I am aware, endeavouring to procure new notes for issue, but owing to the war it is impossible to get a sufficient supply printed and forwarded to New Zealand for circulation. Tho banks aro, I am informed, fully alive to the inconvenionce, and are doing their best to remedy it. The honourable mombor will see that on account of the wide circulation of metal. coins it would be exceedingly difficult to give effect to his proposal, but I shall be glad to inquiro into the matter."

The new Nurses' Home at the Dunedin Hospital will be opened by the Hon. G. W. Russell on Saturday, June 17.

Some little dissatisfaction lias become apparent Tately in the Post and Telegraph Department with the line of policy being taken by the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association, and it is stated that there is more than a probability that a rival organisation will be established under the title of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Institute. It is understood that the Departmental authorities are not unfavourable to this new development.

Mr. R. W. M'Villy, the assistant general manager of the New Zealand railways, does not c'laim to be a prophet, but at the Railway Deviation Commission yesterday He ventured, to say that the railway traffic between the capital and Palmerston North would double itself within the next decade. Before that time had arrived, however, the main line would be duplicated.

Tho Government' is at present considering what action should be taken to facili-. tate tho settlement of tho estates of deceased soldiers, when the pay-books of those soldiers are not procurable.

At the conference of the Wellington Provincial branch of tho N.Z. Farmers' Union at Levin yesterday, Mr. Bridge, on behalf of the Red'Crss Society, briefly addressed the delegates, and appealed for subscriptions for his society. He acknowledged with thanks a gift of <£70 odd subscribed by the delegates at a banquet the night previous. Ho asked the members to take with them to their several districts subscription lists, and to thus assist the Red Cross Society. The speaker had a very favourable reception.

Replying to a question yesterday regarding tho advisability of prohibiting tho use of the term "Anzac" as a trademark, tho Prime Minister said that tho matter was "being attended to."

Many and varied wore the motions which' were being passed ns quickly as possible at Tuesday's meeting of the AVellington Education Board, when Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P., ft member of the board, rose and protested against tho-conduct of the business in such a, manner. He stated that motions wero passed so quickly that he for one could not 'follow the business. In explanation, Mr. Hogg said that it was all very well for town members to rush business through because they were able to attend meetings of tho Works and Finance Committees, and they wero ablo to havo a grasp of the particulars of the business. With tho country members, however, such was not tho case. All they knew of the business was that which appeared on the order paper, and he held tho opinion that country members should bo more conversant with tho business transacted. Mr. Kebbell and Sir Walter Buchanan agreed with Mr. Hogg. Ultimately a suggestion 'that the Finance ntul Works Committees should meet ou the evening prior to the ordinary meeting of tho board was adopted. This' will enable country members to be present, and they will 'then bo given an opportunity of having an intimato knowledge of all the business transacted.

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Tlie Hon, ,T. A. Hanan informed the Houso yesterday that the Government's •proposals in connection with friendly societies will shortly be announced.

In tho course of examining a witness during tho hearing of evidenco before tho Railway Deviation Commission yesterday, Mr. Myers asked him if lie looked at the river (the Manawatu) casually or had mado an inspection of it. The Chairman (Sir Hobert Stout) said tho witness looked upon it with the eye of an expert. "The expert eye could see that which it wished to see." (Laughter.) Experts seem to have advantages not possessed of by ordinary mortals, but close acquaintance with them seems to have made the Chief Justice somewhat cynical in regard to their extraordinary accomplishments.

Competition between sea and railcarriers cropped up during the hearing of ovidence at tho Kailway Deviation Commission yesterday. Mr. M'Villy, assistant general manager of railways, stated that tho competition, of the Sanson tramway with the main line between Foxton and Feilding had resulted in tho greater quantity of sugar, kerosene, and benzine being carried by water to Postal, and thenco by tramway to Sanson and delivered by cart to its destination. If the proposed junction With Marton were made, it was obvious that tho competition would become keener, and tho Railway Department would suffer.

It in intended that the War Regulations 6hall fee amended so as to enable constables in charge of country stations to issue permits for tho 6ale of arms and ammunition.

The Hawke's Bay Farmers' Co-operative Association, Ltd., has purchased an acre of land with frontages to Dickens, Dalton, and Emerson Streets, Napier,' tho price being about £15,000. It is stated that a universal providers' emporium- will be erected on the site.

Tho Attorney-General stated in reply to a question yesterday that the Government proposes to ask Parliament during the present session to legislate in tho direction of giving the police greater power to deal more effectively with prostitutes and persons concerned in sly grogselling.

"That all drivers of motor-cars he required to pa6s a test as to proficiency, and that regulations be brought in to limit the speed of driving on dangerous' '.country roads," was a "remit passed by the Farmers' Union Conference at Levin yesterday. ' ' '

Replying to a question in the House yesterday, the Hon. G. W. Russell said: "The decision of the Governjaait regarding a war bonus to Civil Servants will be announced in due course. In the event of a war bonus being granted to members of the permanent staff of the Public Service, it is proposed to suitably adjust the pay of temporary clerk 6."

Heaped on the deck and pacKeu in tho holds of the steamer Suruga, which arrived in port from New York yesterday ■ tliore were 560 American motor-cars. By the Waitomo, which- arrived at Auckland from San. Francisco recently, there also came 200 cars.

The Minister of yesterday that when soldiers, disabled and pensioned, are engaged in thff Civil Servife the amounts of their pensions are not to be deducted from their salaries.

A set of medals, with gold shields attached, wilL bo presented by the Wellington Football Association to the team which wins the schools championship for 131 C. Up to the present Mr, W. Auld, a member of the Management Committee of tho W.F.A., has collected a suiii of money for this purpose, _ but he is still seeking further contributions.

At 5.28 p.m. yesterday the City Fire Brigade received a call to a seven-roomed house, No. 1, Haining Street, owned and occupied by Mrs. Agnes Grant. On the arrival of tho brigade the outbreak was suppressed quickly, damage being caused to tho walls and one room. The fire resulted from a child playing with a lighted candle. The building and its contents are insured in the National Insurance Co. •

A man was arrested last evening by plain clothes Constable Wallace, on six charges of having stolen certain articles from tho Base Records Officc. It will, be alleged that tho accused rifled the kit bags and effects of soldiers who have given their lives for the Empire. These bogs have been returned to Base Records for Ihe purpose of having them distributed to the next-of-kin of the deceased men, aud when they were opened it was found that certain articles were missing.

The Auckland branch of the Seamen's Union on .Monday received a letter -from the Hon. fi. M'Nab, Minister of Justice and Mariiie, in answer to the representations of the executive of the Federated Seamen's Union to the effect that, while there was a shortage of seamen owing to the war, there were some of the latter confined on Koto Koa Islaiul (says the "New Zealand Herald"). The executive suggested that it would be wise to release these men so that their services could be utilised on board ships. The seamen at Koto Roa numbered seven or eight, who had served from three to nine nionths of tlieir respective terms of committal. The Minister's reply stated that ho was prepared to consider at any time the necessities of oversea shipping resulting from the war. If need be he would consider the question of taking the seamen from Koto Roa and putting them aboard ships. It is tho intention of tho union shortly to ask for the release of. certain of the men. , ,

Lieut. G. B. Hull, who is leaving for, the front with the 15th, Artillery Reinforcements, was met on Monday last by liis brother officers 'in the Motor Service Corps and presented with a Colt 32 revolver. In making the presentation, Major Bullock, the acting, district senior officer of the Motor Service Corps, stated that the corps was proud of tho' fact that another member had offered his services for his King and country, and_ asked Lieut. Hull's acceptance of the gift tendered. He hoped that if Lieut. Hull ever got into a tight corner that the revolver would help to extricate him, and wished the recipient 011 behalf of tho corps every success as an officer, and a safe return to the Dominion.

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