LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2802, 21 June 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities'advise that the s.s. Biverina, which sailed from Wellington on June 15, carrying maik for the Australian States, arrived in Sydney on Monday morning.

The telegraph office states that Bernß notifies that the legal time in France, Bosnia, and Herzegovina has been put forward ono hour until September 30 next.

A petition asking for the censorship of picture film's was presented to Parliament yesterday by Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh, from the New Zealand Catholic Federation, tho Church of England Men's Society, T.M.C.A., T.W.C.A., Moral and Physical Health Society, W.C.T.U., and the Society for the Protection of Women and Children. The petitioners asserted that many of tho picture programmes included pictures calculated to have a harmful effect upon the community, and asked that legislation be passed this session to provide for the appointment of a Board of Censors.

Notice of a. question to the Minister of Defence embodjing 6erious complaints regarding certain alleged recent proceedings on one of the Now Zealand troopships was given by Mr C. H. Poole in the House yesterday. Mr. Poole read a number of extracts from a letter, which he said had been received from a New Zealand soldier. The writer stated that the food supplied had been "scandalous," but that-he. had been unable to' ascertain who did tho providoring. Complaint was made of the meat, and it was also stated that some Rotorua trout, which the men were looking forward to having for breakfast one morning, had to be 1 sent away and replaced by bully beef. The men decided to petition the officer commanding the ship. . One of the men drew up a petition, and within an hour it was signed by 103 men out of a possible IG9. It was also signed by twelve noncommissioned officers. The letter went on to 6faito that when the men wc*e en fiarade the following morniiig they were ectured by an officer for their conduct, which he described as equivalent to mutiny.' Exception was taken to the strong remarks' of the officer Addressed to the non-commissioned officers. The Prime. Minister«.said that he was 6orry : that the Minister of Defence was not present. The statement that had been made was a very, serious' 'one, and he thouuht that the House should be furn-sji-ed with the. names of the men who signed the -petition. The matter was one that called for a. full inquiry, and he would advise the, Minister of Defence accordingly. The Hon. A'. M. Myers said that reports regarding the food supplied to tlie men wore furnished in regard to all the transports., All the reports received lately snoko very highly of the food 3upplied, which was the best obtainable in the Dominion.

The Masteiton schools, which have been closed for a fortnight in consequenco of the outbreak of infantile paralysis, were Teopened on Monday.'With regard to the protest of the Minister of Public Health. (Hon. G. W. Russell) against the Wellingon City Council including in its new milk control bylaw certain provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, a deputation, consisting of the Mayor and members of tho Publio Health Committee of the City Council, will wait upon the Minister at 3.30 p.m. to-day. .The Tahitian troops, who are making an enforced stay in Wellington for a few days, were taken over the observation car route yesterday morning, in order to give them an opportunity of seeing as much of the city as is possible in the time at their disposal. In the evening they marched through, the streets from the Barracks at Buoklo Street to the Crown Theatre (singing "Tipperary" in their own language), and had an enjoyable evening at the pictures. .To-day they will visit the Zoo, and to-night will be entertained by the Mayoress and friends at the Town Hall. They will leavo for Sydney by tho Manuka at S p.m. tomorrow. ■ In connection with the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, a silver badge of membership is now being issued, and is bei.ng eagerly sought after. The badgo is extremely neat and simple in design. It. consists of a crown, with the letters "N." and "Z." on each side, and below on a bar are the words, "Returned Soldiers' Association," with a space between the two last words for the owner's regimental number. As no returned soldier can become a member of the association unless he is honourably discharged, and no returned soldier can procure a badge unless he is a member, tho badge must be regarded as a guarantee of the wearer's character in tne ranks. Regarding tho Imperial Government's purchase of New Zealand cheese, a private conference between tho Prime Minister and representatives of the National Dairy Association has been held, but the proceedings are not to be made public. A meeting of the National Dairy Association in committee was held in Palmerston North last night, and it is understood that meetings on the subject are to be hold in various centres on July 5. We give £\0 guarautee with everv Is.package, "No Rubbing Laundry Help." that it will wash all clothes perfectly clean, without rubbing or injury. AVardell Bros, and Co.—Advt. Cleanliness is a virtue—it is also a necessity in the home, and you will find the "Daisy" Vacuum Cleaner a great 1 acquisition in your cleaning operations. It thoroughly cleans! and lightens'your daily work to a marvellous degree. The "Daisy" is a daisy, there's no doubt, and if you'call we will show you how simple it is to operate and how low it is. in price. Oscar Hewett and Co., Ltd., 56 Cuba Street (iust below Bank of N.Z.).-Advt.,

A. meeting of tlie Advisory Board of tha federation of New Zealand Patriotic War Belief Societies is to be hold in No. 1 committee room at 10 a.m. to-morrow, A considerable amount of business is set down for consideration. A disloyal liftman in a Sydney restaurant paid' the penalty for indiscreet utterances concerning Earl .Kitchener (says the "Sun"). Ho was mobbed by nine waitresses and dipped, clothes and' all, in a cold bath.' Tho Perano party were successful in ' capturing three whales in Cook Strait last week (says the "Marlborough Express"). On Tuesday morning of last week the Bolina made fa6t, and the whale, in its violent struggles, managed, to get tho rope round the propeller. The whale tried to sound, ana overyone thought tho Bolina would bo towed under. She prepared to go down stern first. The water was pouring into the engineroom, and Messrs. Perano and Toms, with coats and boots off, were just ready > to dive into the sea when the rope snapped. The Crescent nest made fast, and again the rope became entangled round the propeller. Luckily, before any damage was done, the propeller cat the rope. The cachalot then, made fast, ?ad tins time the party were successful in killing their quarry. The Bolina was_towed in, and is undergoing repairs at Picton. One of the greatest difficulties to efficient management (6ays the annual report of the New Zealand Public Service Association) has been the transferred member. If he were to notify his transfer to his section secretary all would bo well. In most cases he fails to do this, however, and complications in accounts and membership records follow as a matter of course. Tho general secretary has now made arrangements to secure periodically lists of transfers, etc. These will be submitted to section secretaries, who ■will be expected to make the necessary alterations in their records, inquire as to the state of the member's subscription, and ensure that a transferred member receives his "Journal" and remains "financial." In referring generally to Service condi-. tions under Commissioner control, the annual report of the New Zealand Public Service Association says:—"From what recently took place in Wellington in conneotion with' an incident in the Lands Department, the Commissioner has shown an inclination to take notice of information conveyed to him by indirect means, and he has also brought before the Appeal Board suggestions," without proof, as to an appellant's habits. Such thingg as these cannot be conducive to the welfare of the Service, or to the upholding of the dignity of the Commissioner's posi- . tion. It is to be regretted that the- position is as stated. The association has always aimed at giving to the Commissioner all the assistance that lay in its power, and set out with the view that anomalies would only require to be pointed out to be remedied, and that the association could be a channel through which such matters would reach the proper quarter. Events have, however, resulted in these views being considerably modified." ' A movement has been on foot for some time to amalgamate certain Wellington unions, the - members of which are engaged in closely-allied occupations. The Building Labourers' Union, at a meeting on Monday night, decided to approach the General Labourers' Union with a view to amalgamation. Bacon factory workers aTe considering a proposal to unite with the freezing workers, and taxi-cab drivers have a suggestion before them thatthey should join forces with the Drivers' Union. A ballot -was taken recently by the Metal Workers' Union on a proposal to amalgamate with the boilermakers, but was defeated by two votes. It is intended to reopen the question at an early date. Mr. E. Kennedy, who is secretary of the Metal Workers', Building Labourers', Bacon Factory Workers', and Taxi-drivers' Unions, has (resigned his positions in order to facilitate nffiaTgamatlon.