LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2973, 10 January 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Postal authorities advise that the s.s. Moeraki, which left Wellington on January 4, carrying Australian and United Kingdom mails, via Suez, arrived in Sydney on the morning of January 8.

As there was not a full meeting of Cabinet yesterday, the question raised by the Board of Trade regarding the increase of tho bulk price of Wellington's milk supply was not considered. Tho matter will come before the next meeting, probably on Thursday.

C. Turner, a wholesale liquor dealer, was iiued £30 in tho Kotorua magistrate's Courb for selling three bottles of wliisky to a- poljceman in plain clothes. The defendant pleaded guilty, stating that tho man had played on his sympathy.—Press Association. •

Tho agreement -under which tho waterside, workers are employed expired last month, and the terms of a now agreement are being discussed. The negotiations have not yet proceeded far, and no date has been fixed for a conference between the parties. It is understood that the workers are asking for an increase of wages from Is. lOd. per hour to 2s. 2d. per hour, and that the employers are willing to concede.2s. per hour. Proposals have been made for a conference. The issues involved are not confined to the question of wages.

A conference of Hospital Boards will open in Wellington to-day. ' The conference, which was called by tho Wellington Hospital Board, was intended originally to consider a scheme for the standardisation and co-operative purchase of hospital supplies, and this remains the principal subject for discussion. But other topics havo been suggested, including the maintenance of indigent children, the treatment of tuberculosis, the payment of lovies, tho classification of salaries, and the formation of a Hospital Board Association. Thirty Hospital Boards responded to tho Wellington Board's circular letter, and the conference will contain delegates from all parts, of New Zealand.

Our special correspondent telegraphs that a most impudent theft was perpetrated at the Masonic Hotel, Palmerston North, last night. Mr. M'Parrish, the licensee had just counted the day's takings', which for a moment lis had placed on the counter, and as lie momentarily turned away, his attention being diverted elsewhere, a man standing near mado a predatory grab and succeeded in getting away with the money. Tho police aro investigating the matter.

The Napier Harbour Board, on the motion of Mr. J. V. Brown, M.P., has decided to invest £3000 from its sinking funds in War Loan Certificates.

Tho following telogram. dated January 5. has been received from tho officer commanding tho troops at Samoa:— -'33/325, Trooper li\ F. Shaokel has sprained his ankle, but is 'progressing favourably."

Tho Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. W. H. Hngger) was engaged yesterday in investigating the' dißputo between tho "Wellington, Soft Goods Employees' Union and their omployers. The assessor woro Mossrs. F. AY. Mather, W. Sinun, and T. Forsyth for tho employers, and Mossrs. A. J. Humphries and A. W. Croskery for tho jinion. Tho union, asks for certain increases of wagos, abovo ihoso proscribed in the last award. Tho employers submit as their counter-proposals tho terms _of tho present award. At tho mooting yesterday agreement was reached on n foiv of tho loss important clauses, but no definite agreement has been reached on tho wagos sections. After sitting practically tho whole day the mooting was adjourned to rosumo again on Thursday morning.

Two I'otono boys lit a firo on Monday in a paddock containing about 40 acres of gorso and broom. This, fanned by tho strong northorly broozo, soon secured a firm hold, and the paddock became a blazing mass. It was seen that several houses, owned by Mr'. Leo. Gear Estate, and Mrs. Young, situated on the other side of East Street sandhills, Ivor© in danger,, and the firo brigado was called upon. In tho meantime, by the strenuous efforts of neighbouring residents, the firo was beaten baok from the dangor 2,0n0, and on its arrival tho brigade found it was too far away from tho nearest firo plug 1,0 uso the water. Beaters were out and a track blaacd to'prevent'further spread of tho flames. ; Reports from tho country districts emphasise the shortage of labour. Most of the available shearers have now gone to the South Island, where it is stated that their number is far too small to meet tho demands of the farmers. Labour of tho kind required _ for tho harvest is very hard to obtain, and some settlers say that they are 'threatened with serious loss on this account. A certain amount oF unskilled casual labour is still availablo in tho country, and men who possoss fow qualifications for farm work aro finding employment at good wages. A curious feature of the situation, it is stated, is the failure of tho various branches of tho Farmers' "Union to givo definite expression, to the need for farm workers. Resolutions couched in goneral forms have been passed, but tho unions havo not taken stops to provide tho facts and figures on which, representations to tho Government could have been based. "Most of the farmers," said a settler yesterday, "havo preferred to risk some loss rather than accept liaEiTTEy. for the employment of labour of doubtful valuo, such as the Government might bo able to provide from the cities.' A slight fire was caused shortly after midnight yesterday by the fusing of an electrio wire in a six-roomed house at No. 8 Chatham Street, owned and occupied by Mr. T. Byles. The brigade was called out, but its services were not required. Probably tho trouble was duo to the electrical storm.

The record totalisator figures registered at tho recent racing carnival in Auckland caused tho Auckland Presbytery to-night to pass a resolution regretting the growth of the gambling spirit, and urging the Govornmenfc to take immediate and effective steps to check gambling in connection with racing, even to the extent of suspending all totalisator permits during the course of tho war.—Press Association.

Practically a repetition of the trouble which occurred at Napior on Monday in connection with tho overseas liner Port Chalmers, which was to have loaded 14,000 carcasses of mutton, occurred in Wellington yosterdaj Tho men at Napier insisted that the gangs should lie increased to ten men, instead of eight in tho freezing chainhers. Tho demand was refused, and consequently tho liner camo on to Wellington without picking up the cargo. As far as can bo ascertained, tho men refused to work thn steamer for similar Teasons when she arrived in Wellington yesterday. The matter was discussed by the executive of the Waterside Workers' Union last night, and it is possible that further trouble may bo obviated.

Since the formation of the Karori Borough Council in 1891, last night was probably tho nearest approach to no meeting being held on atcount of a quorum, not being present. ,onc councillor was required to make up a quorum, but ton -minutes after tho 'Luno fixed for tho meeting there was no appearance of the required councillor, and another councillor left to find him. Nearly half an. hour after the time the councillor arrived "just as he was," and oxplainedl that ho had forgotten that tho meeting was to bo held.

The following resolution was received at_ last evening's _ meeting of the Karori Borough Council from the County of Hokitika:—"This meeting, recognising tho necessity for the resources of the county being organised to bring tho war to an early and successful conclusion, favours tho utmost uso of the manhood and wealth resources of tho Dominion, and supports the enforcement of the Military Service Aot, or any additional means to obtain the early attainment of tho Allies' objective." The council decided to forward a similar resolution to the Minister of Defence, and to support the Hokitiki, resolution.

,Yesterday the Mayor (Mr. Luke) met a small number of returning soldiers who arrived by the Main Trunk traiu and tendered thorn an official welcome. Mr. Batten, President of the Returned Soldiers' Association, also welcomed the returned men, and mentioned that the Association had now some 4000 members, while about twenty clubs had been established. Mr. Vox expressed the pleasure .of tho Wellington Club at receiving the visitors, who tlven spent a social hour in the lounge. _ Afternoon tea had been provided by the Mayor. Tho Wellington men of the party were Privates Alexander, Coleman, Clark, Furniss, Leslie, O'Connor, Ryan, O'Sullivsn, Sharkey, Steven, Thomson, Potherick, Wilkos, and Comming. Also there were twentythree South Islanders on board.

Mr. Arthur Sawyer, the Gisborne wireless operator, who was with the Mawson Expedition at Macquario Islands, where all the rigours of the Aretic are experienced', is now stationed in the torrid Marshall Islands (taken from tho Germans during the war). Ho has, according to a letter he wrote_ to a friend, been engaged on a recruiting trip round the Carolines, on behalf of the British Government. Ho was chafing at being so far out of it all, and says that his most exciting experience was the capture of six German native police, who did' not know that the war was on.

A. resident of Auckland who is well over the military ago yet feels the call of war in his blood, and is ardent in his desire to make some sacrifice for King and country, has -written, to the Mayor of Auckland, offering to subsidise soiuo younger man who, ivliilo eager to servo, is yet deterred from enlisting by reason of his responsibilities. The letter tubs as follows:—"I am 68 years of age, and therefore unfitted to go to the- front. It is probable, however, that if financial aid' were forthcoming many younger men with dependants who could not live on the available military pay, would consent to go as substitutes for such, men as I. IF such cases exist, as I am informed is the caso, and if such mencannot obtain assistance from tho patriotic or other fund, I propose to give £1 a week, to be added to tho military pay of a man for a year or until peace is concluded and the return of my substitute to New Zealand. The payment of this money will bo conditional on tho man leaving all his available pay to his dependants, and not counting upon the money I pay to draw a larger amount than usual while abroad. I api ready to pay £52 to you, to bo paid out weekly." Tho writer concludes by expressing tho hone that other old! and unfit men in his position who desire to help and feel a similar call will come forward with similar offers.

A statement concerning public works has been made by the Hon. W. Frascr in Auckland, lii reply to,» question as to the relative proportions of money on the Estimates and the expenditure, of it in tho North Island, the Minister said: "There appears to be a good deal of misapprehension as to the Teal facts. I might montion that, in regard to railways, two-thirds of the whole amount appropriated by Parliament for this class of work were -allocated on tho Estimates to the North Island, tho other third going to works in the South Island. TW same proportion was authorised and expended up to November 30, and will bo couturocd till tho end of this financial y«ar." The Minister added that progress with tho works was affected by the war to somo extent, and nothing fresh concerning tho East Coast and North .Auckland railways could ho said, except that tho Government was doing its best in tllo circumstances. On being questioned further as to other works within his Department, Mr. Fraser stated that with regard to roads and bridges a somewhat larger proportion of ilio sums appropriated was allocated to tho North Island, and was being expended there. "The facts I have given," Baid tho Minister "should serve to dispel tho illusions attempted' to be created in certain quarters that tho North Island is being unjustly treated by tho Govornmeut in the expenditure'of public moneys."

During tho course of an address at Motucka, tho Hon. James Allen, referring to tho graves of New Zealanders, said tho greatest care possiblo was takou of tho plots on Gallipoli whoro Now Zealanders were buried. All that could bo done was being done, and after the war tho Mother Country would tako all possible steps in connection with tho caro of tho graves. Tu France, in England, and in Egypt also every caro was being taken of tho graves. As to the graves in Now Zealand, for tho most part relatives took up the work, hut whero there were no relatives or friends tho Government would consider it its duty to look after tho .graves. Tho Hon. Mr. Russell had taken this matter into his own charge, and tho people could rest, assured that the Government would do all .that was necessary in regard to the graves of soldiers buried in Now Zealand.

In juiothor column of this paper, will bo found a full report of the proceedings at the annual mooting of members of tho' National Mutual Lifo Association of Australasia, held in Molbourno on December 20 last. Wellmarked progress is shown in every department. Now .business shows an in-, crease of £107,000 on the previous year's returns. Tho annual income shows au increase of over £106,000, and now stands at £1,661,648. The accumulated funds havo been added to by £730,000, and now amount to £10,204,296. Payment- to members and their representatives, inoluding war casualties, total £763,000. The rate of interest has been well maintained, an average of nearly 5 per cent, being obtained on investments. The expenses of management have been considerably reduced, and the ratio of expenses to total income has also been reduced, and now stands at 10.37. The actuary is now working on the triennial investigation, and members may look forward to receiving their bonus certificates early in April at latest. It will be noticed that tho chairman 6tated that members may look forward to receiving substantial additions to their policies. The members now total 123,000.

Use the most up-to-date method for washing clothes, that is "No Rubbing Laundry Help," as it cleanses clothes perfectly without rubbing, and wo guarantee it not to injure the most delicate fabrics.—William Campbell, Ltd.—Advt.