LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2804, 23 June 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

'flio Secretary, General Post Office, has been advised, by the International Bureau of Telegraph Union, that legal time in Portugal lias been put forward one hour from Jane 18. The Wellington i Public Hospital is still short of two physicians on' tho honorary staff, "A hai'sh,- mistaken law," was the description given by several members of tho Wellington Hospital Board yesterday of tho Act which precludes a iuan from occupying a seat on a hospital board if his firm does business with tho hospital. Tho matter arose through the resignation of Mr. F. Townsend, Jb'ecaiiso of the. provision referred to. The only member of the board who said that he thought the provision in the Act a reasonable one was" the Eev. Dr. J. K. Elliott.-, ' - . At yesterday's meeting of the Advisory Board of the Federation of War Belief Associations, it was decided, on the motion of Mr. Dougall (Christchurch) that the Government bo approached to bring down legislation that, in the case of. properties and land donated'to Patriotic War -Belief Associations, no transfer, fees,' etc., should be chargeable. Whether, in view of the shortage of iron, the Government will extend practical assistance in tho development of the iron-sand deposits of Taranaki, was a question asked yesterday in the House of Eepresentativcs by Mr. H. Or. Ell. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, in reply, stated that this question had been prominent .for many years, but latterly several special reports 'had been presented to him, but lie had so far been rjnablo to go into • them or present them to Cabinet. ..When that was done the whole thing would be carefully gone into. An alleged "ring" on the part of the sawmillers of Southland was mentioned to the Prime Minister in the House yesterday by Mr. A. Walker, who asked Mr. Massey if his attention had been called \o the formation, of a combine which had increased the price of timber all round by 3s.' Gd. per hundred feet." Mr. Massey replied that this seemed to be a matter for the Board of Trade, and lie would refer the point to it for inquiry. . "This contribution is one of the finest the Patriotic Societies have made," siid Mr. Geo. Elliott (Auckland) in referring to, the donation of ,£3OOO per month that was being made by .the Federated:_Pntriotic Societies to the War Contingents' Fund in England, half of which is administered by the High Commissioner (Sir Thos. Mackenzie). At the samo time Mr. Elliott said that it would bo interesting and helpful if they wero given an idea as to how tho money was being spent at Home. Whilst they believed tho monoy was Ixiing •well "spent they should know how and where it was being spent. Tho Wellington Hospital Board lias before it tho subject of giving its employees a war bonus. A committee will report to the next meeting of tho '>oard. Tho Postmaster-General. informed tho House last night that he had given instructions that the system in vogue at Home for'the transmission of magazines through the Post Office to soldiers, particulars of which system Intel lately,come to hand, should be :brought into operation here.- The scheme was that peoplo should hand into any post office magazines, not for particular soldiers, but-for soldiers generally,, and that these magazines should be sent forward free of charge. Regulations would bs gazetted at once for the guidance of tho public. To the credit of commercial travellers be it said, "No Rubbing Laundry Help" is selling fast. Is. package sufficient seven weeks' washing. Contains nothing iniurious; ,£lO guarantee. AH grocers.— Advt. Notwithstanding war men can still obtain a hard felt hat at 10s. Gd., high quality, from Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners Street.—Advt.

The question of the nationality of a witness was under discussion at the Supremo Court yesterday, and the witness in' the box said anothor witness confessed lo him that lie was a German, but that lie hated the Germans. "Now," •said counsel, V'is it likely that a man would*''hate the Germans if lie were one?" "I do not think it unlikely," replied the witness. "You are a Scotsman?" said counsel. "Would it be likely tiiat you, as a Scotsman, would hate other Scotsmen?" "Yes; if England were aj_ war with Scotland, and 1 was in an T-nglish country-jit would be good policy for me, perhaps, to hato Scotsmen." And the Court laughed heartily at the prudence that suggested such a policy.

No child under fourteen years of age will in futuro 1« allowed to visit patients at the Wellington Public Hospital, unless by special order signed by tho medical superintendent.

'There was quite a lengthy discussion 'at.the.meeting of the Advisory* Board of the Federation of War Relief Associations' over tho matter of the payment of the travelling expenses of members of the board. It was found that members were in different positions. Some delegates drew their expenses from their respective societies, some paid their own, othors stated that their societies had not tho power to grant them expenses. ' A resolution was passed to the effect that the expenses of the members of the Advisory Board should lie paid. Notice of/motion was tabled by Mr. J. Dougall, for consideration at tho next annual conference of delegates:— "That theiAdvisory Board should pay the expenses of delegates attending meetings of the board in Wellington, and should make a pro rata levy on the societies for the purpose." It was stated by the chairman that the conference was to be held bofore August 4.

Serious allegations against the quality of milk supplied to the men at Featherston Camp wero made by Dr. Thicker in the House of Representatives yesterday. He said ho had received letters from two men there on the • subject. They say," lie said, "that the" milk obtainable there is direful. . . . The men say that they have to go to the expeuso of buying treacle to lake with their porridge, because the milk is unpalatable. Tlie men know that they are in the vicinity of one of the best sources of milk supply, and they think it a great shame that they can't get good milk." He asked the Prime Minister to have inquiries made with the object of remedying matters.. /'This is the first I have heard of the matter," said Mr. Mossey, "but I will have inquirfes made. When tenders are called for supplies, the milk is always tested, for it is intended that the milk to be supplied 6hall bo first class. First-cUss milk is. being paid for, and it should be supplied."

In the boiierinakers* department of the Pelono Railway Workshops, during the lunch hour -yesterday, Mr. R. Wilson, who leaves with the Hth Reinforcements, was presented by his fellow-workmen with a wristlet watch.

It was reported at yesterday's meeting of the Advisory Board of tho .Federated War Relief audi Patriotic Societies that an application had been made to the' Minister of Railways (the Hon. W. H. Herries) for freft railway passes for members of rthe boan'd. The matter was referred tonhe Hon. G. AV. Russell, who replied that he cotild not see hia / way to recommend the Government to' grant the concession askied for, and he suggested that tho travelling expenses ot members should be mot by a general levy upon the societies represented. The board decided to again ■ approach the Government on the matter. The whole .matter of the payment of delegates' expenses is to bo thrashed out at the next conference. Most of; the members of the Advisory Board believe that members should have their expenses paid, even if they return them .to the fund, as it may happen that the services of good men might be lost through their inability to pay their own expenses.

Regulations as to the registration of nurseries (under the Orchard and Garden Diseases Amendment Act) appear in this week's Gazette. One clause provides that no prescribed tree or. plant raised or grown in Now Zealand, other than indigenous plants that hare not ben cultivated, shall be sold to be replanted unless such prescribed tree ox plant is from a nursery in respect of which a certificate of unconditional registration is in forces

The New Zealand Dairv Facfcorv Managers Association decided, at its "annual meeting, that members of tho association undertake to submit to their respective suppliers for their signature a petition suggesting that the Government bring about legislation whereby it would he an offence to deliver milk' on cream to any dairy factory or receiving station containing added.water or preservative of any kind. . '

. Hie usual attempt to shift the paving on to someone else," observed' the chairman of the Hospital Board at yestenlays meeting, regarding a Ministerial letter questioning a debt of about .£4OO for the furnishing of Clifton Terrace I nvate Hospital. It was -stated by the board that the furnishing of the Jwspi. tal was done on the understanding that the Government ■would pay the cost, and that Hie furniture had been stamped mi \ the brand of the Defence Department. The chairman mentioned also that the'same Government Department was tow questioning its obligation to pay., tor the plans for another hospital.. When the question of contributions-to the.funds for the benefit of New Zealand .soldiers abroad was being discussed :at -the meeting of the Advisory Board of the lederation of New Zealand Patriotic War Belief Societies yesterday, one delegate stated that the people-at Home, bad not contributed so liberally as they might have done. Mr. Hope-Gibbons • (Waiiganui) nt once pointed out that the people at. Home had .contributed most generously to the erection and equipment of hospitals. Mr. Geo, Elliott (Auckland) referred to tho Belgian Belief I'lind established by the Lord Mayor of London soon ' after ,the. wnr broke out In March last the Lord Mayor presented his report, which gave the "amount subscribed as. about .£1,500,000. Of that amount 061,000,000 had been subscribed by Australia and New Zealand. Mr Hope-Gibbons pointed out how that England had succoured and sheltered thousands and thousands of Belgian refugees and found employment for them in nil parts of England. , Before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, District Coroner, yesterday afternoon, Dr. Gilmer's evidence as to the cause of death <rf the infant Gertrude Ireiio Ryan was taken, and the inquiry was adjourned till Tuesday next at i p.m. A verdict of death from natural causes was given in the easo of Mary Elizabeth Starck. The Alien Enemy Commission, which has been working quietly in different parts of the Dominion, will hold a sitting in Wellington to-day. - The question of making contributions to or financing reinforcement bands cropped up at yesterday's meeting of the Advisory Board of tho Federation of • War Belief Societies. The matter camo up in the form of a letter from the Auckland Society, which had been asked by Lieut.-Colouel dimming to mnko up a debit of ,£7O on the instruments of tho band of the Twelfth Reinforcements. -Tho meeting affirmed tho principle that patriotic funds raised for sick or wounded soldiers should not be used for tho purchase of. band instruments. It was , suggested that there should not bo much ' difficulty in raising the amount mentioned privately. . . . j At yesterday's meeting of tho Advisory Board to tho Federated War Relief Societies. Mr. Hope-Gibbons, in advocating land settlement for returned soldiers, said lie did not know of any man on the land who had gone bankrupt in the Waiiganui district during the past thirty years. There were dealers, perhaps, who had gone the whole hog, and those that would never do any good at anything, but no farmer who knew his business had been unsuccessful as fat as lie was aware. Tho Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company, of Akron, U.S.A., has become tho largest and most successful tyre company in the world, solely by its policy of making only tho highest class of tyres. Seventy per cent, of the new-Motor-cars now imported into this country, especially the better class cars, are fitted with Goodyear Tyres. Motorists 6hould make sure that they buy the genuine Goodyear Tyre. Particulars and price lists can be obtained from The Dominion Motor Vehicles, Limited, 65 Courtenay Place, AVellineton, Controlling Agents for Wellington, Gisbomo, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, and Nel,eon.—Advt,

Mr. F. Townsend, Mayor of Miramar, who was very recently elected to the Wellington Hospital Board to Ml the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. D. Robertson, resigned his seat yesterday because his firm does business with the Hospital, and that fact precludes him from retaining his seat. Mr. i'ownsend states that at the time he consented to take the seat lie overlooked the point, which had since been raised.

The election to fill a vacancy on the Public Service Superannuation Board from among the contributors in the Post and 1 Telegraph Department, will be held on Monday, August 14. Nominations close on Julv 17 with the returning officer (Mr. W. M. Wright).

A notice referring to the alterations of the Hutt River District boundaries .appears in this week's Gazette.

When is a sardine not a sardine? This question is suggested, and, in a measure, answered by a notice in this ■week's Gazette, which notifies that owing to a judgment of the Divisional Court of the High Court of Justice of Great Britain, it has become unlawful to apply the term "sardine" to any fish other than the immature pilchard. Norwegian brisling .or sprats cannot be described as "sardines," and importers are warned that on and after January 1, 1917, no fish wrongly labelled or described as "sardines" will be permitted to be imported into New Zealand.

License fees paid into the City .Council during the year ended. March 31 amounted to .£6356 Bs. 9d. Of that amount the following were the chief sources of revenue:—Publicans, ..£1810; auctioneers, .£1077 10s.; dogs, .£1065 175.; wholesale licenses, . ,£431 4s. 9d.; carta and expresses, .£379 175.; motor-cycles, .£7B 10s.; motor-cars, £148 motor wagons, ,£79 55.; dangerous goous, ,£l7B 135.; hoardings, .£145 18s. 9d.; pawnbrokers, £10.

His Worship the. Mayor has received advice from Messrs. Wilson and Canham, Ltd., Auckland, that the firm have promised £1000 to tho Navy Relief Fund for the four centres, the "Wellington proportion being £300. for which sum a cheque is to be sent by the Wellington office of the firm.

During the year ended March 31, 556 cases of infection's disease were reported in "Wellington. They were as follows: —Scarlet fever,' 376; diphtheria, 110; tuberculosis, 18; enteric, 5; blood-poison-ing, 9; meningitis, 6; infamtilo paralysis, 82. One result of the outbreak of infantile, paralysis (says the City Inspector in his annual report) was that an extraordinary number of complaints were received, many of which were beyond the inspector's powers to deal with. Honse-to-house inspection goes on continuously under all circumstanoes, and action is taken, if necessary, without waiting for instructions. •

Referring to the condemnation of buildings in the. city considered unfit for human habitation, the Chief Inspector (Mr. Jas: Doyle), in his annual report, says:—"l would like to point out that there are quite a number of houses in. the city which might be considered as relics of early Wellington, and which', to the ordinary observer, present an appearance calculated to convey a bad impres- ? sion of the city, but that does not necessarily menn that they come within the definition of buildings unfit for habitv ■ tion' or dangerous to. public health. Where any doubt exists wo get the advice of the building superintendent and the District Health Officer. In the meantime it is as well to remember that ft'O have no power, as far as I know, to require an owner to keep his house in ' repair, nor have we power'to require a tenant to keep his premises clean, -unless the condition of tho building renders it unfit for habitation, or the. condition in ~ which it' is kept by the tenant causes, a nuisance or a danger to health." >

Ten out of nineteen State school committees were represented at a meeting held last evening, when the question of ft Belgian Children's Day in the Bchools was discnssed. Mr. Poster, president of the Headmasters' -Association, and Mr. Bary, secretary of tho association, were present, and put before the meeting a suggestion made by the Headmasters' Association to observe Belgian Day. It was decided, after some discussion, that the suggestion could not be adopted, and no action is to be taken,' Until committees are circularised by the Education Board, who-i each committee will decide separately * hat it will do. The nomination of members for the Education Board election, and matters in connection with the School Committees' Association were held over until a meeting to be held on July 4. .

The Polone Borough Council has passed tho following estimates for Hie current year:--A- special rate of approximately Jd. in the £ will.bo levied, to cover the borough's proportion of the Hutt Road construction and maintenance charges. It will Lo necessary this year to spend about ,£5600 on new plant and additions to buildings at the gasworkß, bnt It will be unnecessary to vnako any demaud upon ratepayers in this' rospect. The water rate will bo tho same as last year, and no new works aro to be-under-taken this year.

Two men wero arrested by Plain Clothes Constable Thompson vesterday, one on. a'charge of theft of four singlets and the other on a charge of theft, of four singlets and a pair of boots. One of tho men, it is alleged, gave Constable Thompson a rough handling, and he will be further charged with, obscene language and assault. Constable Wallace also arrested a man last evening on a charge of the theft of a bicycle.

Detective Carney arrested a man yesterday charged with assault and robbery at Auckland.

At the last parade of the Hutt and Petone Railway Unit of the National Reserve, Lieut. Simons was the O.C. An official;;visit was paid by Lieut-Colonel Troup and Major Wild, of the Headi .quarters Staff, who, after reviewing the .evening's work of the platoon, which consisted of knotting, splicing, etc., delivered addresses on matters relating to the iieserve movement. - At its last meeting, the Wellington ' Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Eailway Servants passed the following revolution :-"That the Wellington Branch of tho Amalgamated Society of Hallway Servants strongly protests against -any attempt being made in Parliament whereby the ruling rate of pay for any branch or grndo may be reduced. Wo demand wnsal pay for equal work, and urge upontit* Executive Council of tho Society to use -every endeavour to resist any attempt to Olace non-tradesmen on any work at less'-than the ruling pay."