LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2803, 22 June 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Minister of Internal Affairs stated in reply to a question in the Houjje yesterday that it is not coilsidered neuossary to interfere Tnth tlie working of the Public Service Act to cause the superannuation of all Civil Servants to be deferred until tho conclusion of the war.

Instances of kcou spirit. of adventure and patriotism were mentioned at Palmerston North yesterday, in the course of an address covering his recent visit to America, by Mr. E. Clifton, of tbe Department of Agriculture. Tho question of the war, ho said, dominated every Britisher abroad, and it was impossible for those here to realise how they away in America consumed-every line of war news in tlie Press, nor what a thrill they felt when they wad of the response of the overseas Dominions. Ho was in Vancouver when a body of -men for the first contingent inarched through the city. They liad come from the out districts oi British Columbia, and even the Klondyke, and had rushed to enlist, fearful that thev might be late for the first draft. The men. came from climates m which only tho very strongest oould endure, and he thought their march the greatest sight he had witnessed. "The Government does not consider it neoessary/' ?p.id the Brimte Minister yesterday, "to reduce by legislation the number of racing day 6."

A most credible authority has, says an exchange, informed,a .tasmess man ol Christchurch that a most" peculiar position of affairs prevails in American shippinir centres regarding the sale of freight space. It appears the agents of a, vessel about to sail advertise so many toils ot freight space for sale, and the highest bidder gets it. Ho,, in his turn, sells to space, in smaller lots, of course, at an advanced rate, and thus the cost freight mounts up. A short time ago the Education Department notified the Otago Education Board that a Departmental instructor in physical training would not able for pupil teachers, probationers, and Training College' students, and that as regards the last named, the Norman School training staff would be required to give the necessary instruction, ine board has now passed a resolution expressing the opinion that teachers who in future should be required to train pupils, should be instructed by the Departmental experts.—Press Association..

In the House yesterday afternoon Mr. Buick (Palmerston) asked the Prime Minister whether he would agree to , the House taking a holiday to-morrow afternoon in order that members might have nn opportunity of visiting the Maimwatu Show at Palmerston. Members, he said, if they went to Palmerston, would have an opportunity of seeing the best dairy show in the Dominion. A member (facetiously): Is this a question or a speech?. Mr. Buick: If members visit the show they will have their eyes opened. Mr. Payne: They will Jiave their mouths opened, too! Mr. Biiick: Some members cannot keep their mouths shut. (Laughter.) Ho 'added that he had t> requisition from members who desired to visit the show. He was quite suro that if they went to the show it would open their eyes and tfieir minds, and possibly, also, their mouths. The Prima, Minister said that he could not givo a definite reply at the moment. When he received the requisition that the lion, gentleman spoke-of lie would be glad to consider the matter. At the end of the sitting Mr.' Massey said that the interruption of 6upply by the debate which had occurred had made it impossible for him to agree to the proposal. He would not, however, find fault with the debate, which had been very useful.

The Prime Minister, replying to. a question by Mr.. Veitch in the House, yesterday, said that the question of whothcr legislation would be introduced as the result of recommendations mado by the .Board of Trade would depend upon tho recommendations as they come to land. The Wairarnpa Presbytery is taking action to raise funds on behalf of the United Institute at Featherston Camp. ' Replying to Mr. Hindmarsli's question about tho conduct of Captain Eraser and Lieutenant Potter towards StaiT-Sergeant-Major Archer and another staff-sergteant-majoTat theXamibton Railway Station, the Minister of Defence saidj that the whole matter was still the subjoct-of a Court of Inquiry. New Zealand's representative at the | Panama Exposition, Mr. .E. Clifton, claimed in a speech at the Palmerston North Show 'that New Zealand did realise the attitude of America on the war. The great heart of America was with the Allies. The Germans, of course, commanded'a section of the blatant Press, but .there was the great American Press, which gave perfectly fair accounts of things concerning the war. Ho had heard the chief leaders of;the United States deplore the fact that their country had not-entered the war as' a_ protest against such acts as the German invasion of Belgium. On the' question of British interference with American trade, one American put it this way: "He had reckoned tho value of the whole of the cotton crop, and he weighed it against the safety of one American child at sea, and lie thought they could afford .to lose the crop, but could not. imperil the child." The matter of issuing concession tickets to the men at Awapuni Camp on week-end leave is under the' consideration of the Government. "I have often seen men-in New Zealand who have been referred to a's' successful farmers," remarked Mr. E. Clifton, of the Department of Auricnlture. in an address at Palmerston North Show yesterday. '"Yes," I have said, 'and where is his farm?' .'Sold,' is the usual 1 answer. And I have como to think that it would almost seem that to seH & farm is to become a successful farmer.' Tho Taliitian troops, now in Wellington, were taken to the Zoo at Newtown_Park yesterday morning, whither they-were accompanied by. Councillors G. Frost, W. .T. Thompson, and W. H. P. Barber, of tho Reserves Committee, and Messrs. J. Crewes and .T. Castle, of the' Wellington Zoological Society. The parly were shown all over the Zoo by tho custodian (Mr. Lmigridge). Commandant Sptiz, who is in charge of the visiting troops, desires to convoy the thanks Gf himself and his men for the hospitable treatment tliev have received during their stay in Wellington. It is popularly supposed that Juno 21 ia tho shortest day in the year. That is not so this year, as yesterday was exnetly one second longer than to-day as far as solar light is concerned. There will be no appreciable difference an time as to tho rising of the sun until tho end of the month. There is no need to pay fancy prices for Records by Caruso, Afire, Rosina Buckman, Chorniavsky, Ada Crossley, Peter Dawson, Jamieson Dodds, or other artists of special merit, as PATICEPIIONE RECORDS by these artists are procurable at UNIFORM PRICES, according to size, lOin. at 35.; llin. at 55.; Min at 7s. fid.; all double-sided. Call at OSCAR HEWETT AND CO., Patho Showroom, 5G Cuba Street (just below Bank N.Z.), and hear the finest records tho world produces.—Advt.

Last week Mr. Okey mado a. proposal to tho Prime Minister that th© Government should enter into negotiations with the object of diverting some of our frozen meat commandeered for-tho Imperial authorities to supply the shortage of meat in Australia. Mr. Massey, in tho course of his reply yesterday, said that neither tho Commonwealth Government nor itho State Governments in Australia had communicated with him on the subject, and ho understood Queensland had again commenced its export of meat to Great Britain, so that apparently the shortage is not 60 serious as it was some time ago.

Statistics taken out by Mr, J. Brown show that a given area of Taranaki land is carrying nearly ttvico as many sheep as Auckland land, and , half as "ninny again as "Wellington land.

At a meeting of motor-car. owners (who object to some of tho new City Council motor by-laws) yesterday, it was decided to wait'as a deputation on, the By-laws Committee o'f the council to-morrow afternoon at 3.30 o'clock.

The National Sweet Pea Socioty of New Zealand announces that trophies to the value of 90 guineas have been allotted to, tho Wairarapa this year, and are to be competed for in November next. The last competition was held in Auckland. At a social meeting of the Masterton Borough Council on Tuesday evening it was decided to take a -poll on a proposal to raise a loan of .£32,000 for the extension of tho drainage system, .£SOOO for extending tho gasworks . and ,£3500 for completing tho municipal buildings. The Mayor stated that he had been, offered the .£32,000 by the Public Trust Office at 5J per cent., with 1 per cent, additional as a sinking fund. One councillor expressed the opinion that the money might be raised locally.

An interesting case was set down for hearing at the sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Eketahuna this week. A settler saw a line of stock advertised by an auctioneering firm, to be sold on behalf of a certain owner. He travelled some distance to lie present at'the sale, and found that the stock were not offered under the hammer. He thereupon instituted proceedings against the auctioneer and. the owner of tho'stock for liis travelling expenses. As tho owner paid tho travelling expenses before the sitting of the Court, a magisterial decision on the interesting legal point could not be obtained.

During the Ayrshire Breeders' Association meeting at Palmerston North yesterday afternoon, Mr. F. Mills, the president, said he considered that the Government should be asked to take effective steps to deal with the alien trouble. It was common knowledge that in parts of South Taranaki aliens there revelled in tile news of Earl Kitchener's death and other events that should appear to bd favourable towards the. enemy's campaign. This matter should bo taken in hand without delay, and the applause that followed the observation showed that tie meeting was in full sympathy with tho sentiments expressed.

"There was something like dismay at the Panama Exposition when it was known that, against -the whole ot Canada; and America, New Zealand had gained a grand prize," said Mr. E. Clifton, New Zealand's representative at the Exposition, in an address delivered at Palmerston North yesterday. "However," he added, "the State of New York, by some arrangement, also got a grand prize subsequently." A very great deal is heard from time to time of New Zealand's prospects of trade with America. Mr. E. Clifton, who visited America Tecently as New Zealand's representative at the Panama Exposition, advises that New Zealand should strike at the Eastern markets of the United States. Speaking at Palmerston North yesterday, ho j'ointed out that in the east of America were ' the great centres of population, the great manufacturing cities, and that there food products were' being sought for more and more. Two-thirds of Amerioa's great population lived toward the East. Among the mone'tary donations received by tho Mayor yesterday for the Navy League Fund was a cheque for Jl5O from Messrs. Macky, logan, and Caldwell, Ltd., and one for «E35 from the Orphans Club. ■ ■/ •'

An unusually large number of . passengers—about 300—travelled from TrentEam to tho City yesterday by the 3.15 p.m. train, which is a mixed goods /and passenger one, connecting at. Lower Hutt with a passenger train. 11l spite of a delay caused by the attaching of extra carriages to the train, the connection was duly made, ajid the passengers spoke in terms of praise of tho promptitude and courtesy shown by the railway officials in managing this. Had the connection not beon made, a wait of half an hour at the Lower Hutt would have resulted. The law offices will close for holiday to-morrow, in honour of the Prince of Wales's birthday. ,

• The leport to be presented 'at the annual meeting of the Brooklyn cipal Electors' Association states that many improvements in the district havo been completed during the year, whilst others are in hand or will be undertaken as soon as the funds of the mty Corporation permit. Owing to the war,' the committee liave refrained i,from, pressing the council to proceed with works other than those considered urgent •and not raiuiring-'extraordinary expenditure. Chief amongst the improvements is the duplication of train track from the top of Brooklyn Road, through Central Park, to tlie G.P-O. TI "J work has enabled a vastly improvcd arid quicker service to be/instituted. Onl} a small section at the , top remains to be duplicated. Street : lights! liave been extended in various localities, and Brooklyn Road is to havo street lights installed as Mon as the material is obtainable. The committee express their thanks to Councillors G. Frost and. .L. M'Kenzie. and the officers if the wty Council for their assistance and intormation in regard to the City's affairs. 1

A return presented to the House yesr terday showed that the amount-of gi'aduated land-tax paid: on uijau land in the year 1914-15 was £80,121, as against <£83,101 in 1913-14. The amountpaid in similar tax on. rural. land was £177,913 in 1913-1-1 and, £171,561 in 1914-15.

TIIO Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company, of Akron, U.S.A., has become the ftrgest and' most-successful, tvre■ company in the world,'solely by its policy of making only the highest class- of tyres. Seventy per cent, of the new Motor-oars now imported into this country, especially the better class cars, are fit led with Goodyear Tyres. Motorists should make sure that they buy the genuine Goodyear Tyro.'Particulars and price lists fian be obtained from The Dominion Motor Vehicles, Limited, 65 Courtenay Place, Wellington, Controlling 'Agents for Wellington, . Gisborne,: Hawke's' Bay, Marlborough, and Nel6on. —Advt. • . .