LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3081, 11 May 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Representatives .of the coal-mine owners who are in Wellington to meet tho minors' delegates in conference to consider demand's made hy the men for more pay and easier conditions had an interview with momhers of the_ Government yesterday about a difficulty in which all coal-mine owners now find themselves in supplying contracts. These contracts are. many of them long-standing ones, and they are heing filled now at a loss owing to the war increasos in the cost of winning the coal, and' the mine owners asked for \a measure of relief from those contracts. It was arranged in the end that tho Attorney-General would consider the matter and inquire as to the powers of tho Government to deal with private contraots, and that the Minister of Railways should consider the deputation's request as applying to contracts for the supply of coal to tho railways.

"The State coal mines ought to be made.to pay," said tho Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) in a pausing reference to 'this subject yesterday. "Of course, I am stating only my own personal opinion. l I think that any State industry, especially'when it comes into competition with privately-owned enterprises of the same kind, ought to be made to pay. Also I think it is not fair to ask the general taxpayer to make up losses on a State industry of that kind." Sir James Allen added that the offer by a Christchurch syndicate to buy the State mine had rot been before Cabinet.

An additional Medicarßoard is to'be set up in Wellington in order to expedite the examination of men drawn in the ballots. It is hoped that with the additional hoard the lnedicn'.. authorities will be able to deal with 100 recruits daily iii Wellington, asd tins will keep well abreast of requirements. Amended regulations connected- with appointments to the Public Sorvice are published in this week's Gazette. "Appointments," says tho new ride, -'will be made according to tho order of merit in the list of applicants who have passed the Entrance Examination. Provided that if any person is. available and otherwise eligible who has at any time passed the Civil. Service Senior Fxaminalioii, or tho examination hereinafter callod the Senior Examination or the Matriculation Examination .of the New Zealand University, although in any of these cases'ho. may not have passed "tho Entrance Examination, he shall take precedence over candidates who have, passed the Entrance Examination only. Every applicant for examination shall state in his application whether lie is willing to accept appointment—(n) In any part of New Zealand in which a vacancy may occur, or only in somo particular part of New Zealand: (h) I" any Department of the Public Service in which a vacancy may occur, or only in some particular Department or Departments."

Fill Bros, wish to impress upon al! their lady- friends the desirability of always carrying the famous Thinker \pto'Hi"'k, especially as it is given away free with every Is. packet of that wonderful labour-savor—"No Rubbing" Laundry Help.-Advt,

In the course of discussion at yesterday's meeting of the War Relief Association, a member mentioned the rejection of shepherds and miisterers, men accustomed to au arduous life in the open air, on the ground that they were disqualified for military work by "flat feet." Tho chairman (Mr. L. 0. 11. Tripp) said it appeared that the doctors had some arguments on their side. Ho had come across the case of a shepherd who had been passed for service, in spite of "flat feet," because one of the examining doctors knew li'in personally as a man who' worked hard in the open country. Within a few weeks the man was discharged from the Forces, his feet having given nut under the test of training.

Amending regulations made by tho Public Service Commissioner for lhe examination of draughtsmen of the Lands and Survey Department are published in this week's Gazette.

The Commissioner of 'faxes draws attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in to-day's issue that returns of income must be furnished not later than Juno 1. Forms of leturn may be obtained at any postal money-order office: thoy will not he sent to taxpayers from the office of the Commissioner of Taxes unless written application is made for them.

A movement is on foot to form a bowling ohib at Island Bay. A Clonic oof flat ground, on and fronting tho Parade at the southern end, has already boon secured, and a meeting will bo called shortly, when the chub project will be placed before those residents of tho district who are likely to become members; 1

In tho course of the annual report of the Wellington Master Plumbers' Union, it is stated that_ tho union's gold medal competition, open to the Technical School's plumbing class students, has resulted as follows:—Fourth year, H. P. Hamilton; third year, G. H. Adams; second year, A. Bell. Messrs. Jndd and Wells wero authorised to procure the medals, and the presentation was made by the chairman of the School Board. The medals were ranch appreciated, and .the -union's action in donating them proved, a great v incentive to the students in carrying out their work.

A deputation of citizens waited- upon the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) yesterday with the request that he should call a meeting at which tho question of the 6 o'clock closing of hotels should bo disoussed. The Mayor promised to call tho meeting, but has not so far fixed a date.

Councillor Hobbs intends to-move at the next meeting of the Onslow Borough Council: "That a special sanitation committee bo set up to inquire into tho practicability of establishing a sanitary service for tho congested portions of the borough." A. Chambers sitting of the Supreme Court will be held at 10 a.m. to-day.

A five-roomed! cottage at New Plymouth, owned by Mr. Bickers, of Marton, and occupied by Mr. Tunnicliffe, was burned down early yesterday morning (states a Press Association message). Insurances: On the house, £200 in tho South British Office; on the furniture (a total loss), £150 in the Ocean Office.

Peanuts have been grown successfully hr sandy soil near the beach at New Plymouth.- The- "Taranaki Herald" says the seed was put in rathor late, about Christmas, and tho nuts are, therefore, not quite ripe, but', earlier sowing in a nice warm situation would probably .result in quite good crops. The plant runs along the ground, throwing down at intervals rootlets upon which the nuts develop.

The Australian Jockey Club has voted '£1660 towards the expenses of sending twenty nurses to the front. — Press Assn.

A fatal fire occurred in Alexandra Stroet, Palmerston North (states a Press Association message). A house occupied by a man named Freeman, who was away from home, was • discovered to be in flames by a pa«ser-iby. When the debris was searched, the charred body of a woman, presumably that of Mrs. Freeman, was found. Evidently she had attempted to escape, and had been overcome by the smoke.

Of tho 2000 members of the Church of England Men's Society, 552 have joined tho colours./ Mr. John Graham, of Shannon, who was drawn in the last ballot, enlisted and 1 went into camp on Maxell 6, 1916, and was in camp six weeks, after which ho was rejected as medically unfit.

"Do you know: there is a. strong •medical opinion against the_ quantity of cigarettes smoked by soldiers and by wounded men?" asked the military _representative at tho Law Society special tribunal in London, when a cigarette tobacco blonder applied for exemption, "and that pipe smoking ought to be encouraged instead?" "If that is so,' why does the War Office order so many millions of cigarettes?" the chairman intervened. is no harm in smoking cigarettes in moderation." The man was exempted for six months.

• The following resolution was carried, at Tuesday night's meeting of, the Auckland Presbytery:—"The Presbytery of Auokland acknowledges thankfully the letter of Sir James Allen, intimating that the home missionaries of the Presbyterian Church are to be placed on: the same level as other ministers of the Christian Ohurohes for the purposes of the Military Service Act, and begs again to assure him that, consistently with the absolute needs of the work of the Church, it will always bo tho aim of the Presbytery to help the authorities in every way possible in this war." The following temporary appointments have been approved by the Camp Commandant at Featherston :— Corpl. J.'F. Steele, A Company;-28th, to ho lanoe-sorgeant. Twenty-eighth M R —Lce.-Corpls. S. R. Dromgool, F B. Bassett, and W. J. Ward, to be corporals; Ptes. C. H. Gower, F. H. Gilchrist, and G. Modnoli, to be lancecorporals- The following men have been appointed buglers :—Ptes. P. I'. Gapes and H. A. G. Tooley, A Company, 28th. A firo broke out in the operating room in the Town HaTl on Wednesday night, says our Groytown correspondent. Pictures were being shown at the time, and a, slight stampede took place, but tho fire was promptly extinguished.

At a social [unction promoted by the Wellington warehousemen lait ninlit it "happened that one of tho guests was Mr. Clutha Mackenzie,, who, as most peoplo know, lost his sight from injuries received in action at Gallipoli. Mr. Mackenzie spoke of the famous St. Dur.stan's Hospital, the institution established in London by Sir Arthur Pearson for tho training of blind soldiers. Mr. M. Carr, the energetic and businesslike chairman of the Warehousemen's Association, got into touch with somo of his colleagues, and later in tho evening ho announced''that tho association would shortly inaugurate a campaign to raise funds'for this hospital. Ho hoped ho would have tho support of his members, as ho had always had m previous efforts of this kind, and ho believed that tho generosity of the people of Wellington would not fail when this very proper appeal was made to thorn. Beforo. tho Military Sorvice Board at Christclmrch yesterday (says a Pi-obs Association telegram), Goorgo Hickmott, Christchuroh, appealed on behalf of his son. Sydney Walter Hickmott, aged 24, a married man, on tbo ground of undue hardship. It was explained that the vosorvist was the only son of'his father, who had no other sons, and whose other son, Lieut. R. G. I-lickmott (the woll-known representative cricketer), had been killed in acting . The appeal was adjourned l sine die,

It was mentioned at the last'meeting of the Horowhenua County Council (says an exchange) that many llaxmill hands were malting some 20s. to 30s. a day, while no man received under 12s. a day, and somo were almost unite inexperienced. A .lad of 15 year* secured lis. a day in one mill.

Tho following have agreed to act as oxamincrs for tho forthcoming examination of the Sunday School Union: — Mosdaines A. It. Atkinson and T. 11. Gill, Miss C. E. Kirk, Messrs. T. 11.' Gill, M.A., LL.B., and J; B. Hopkirk. The first meeting of the newly-elect-ed Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard commenced with a "storm in a. teacup." When nominations worn called for the position of chairman of tho board, Mr. H. Baldwin was nominated, andi following upon his nomination Mr. Geo. Nash put forward Mr. C. M. Luke as a candidate. That gentleman declined the honour, whereupon Mr. Nash said that Mr. Baldwin had no business to occupy the chair until he was elected. Mr. Baldwin said he had a right to occupy it until his successor was appointed. "You're quite wrong," said Mr. Nash. "At a meeting like this the secretary should he in the chair until the chairman is elected." Mr. Baldwin again stated that it was his right to sit. as chairman until he was duly succeeded. 'Ww-sec-retary then interposed, and said that as there was only one valid uomination—that of Mr. Baldwin-he would duly declare him elected to the position of chairman of the hoard for the ensuing two years. \ _ ' A" meeting of dairymen was held at Christchurch recently, when about 100 dairymen, at the imitation of the Board of Industries, met Mr, A. W. Jamieson and discussed a proposal to initiate in Christchurch the block system of distributing milk, and the coupon (cash) system of collecting payment for milk distributed. The proposals aimed at a method of co-opera-tion under which the time occupied in delivery would be economised, and. competition controlled,. placing the-indus-try on a more efficient and satisfactory basis. After an interesting discussion tho mooting appointed the •executive of the Dairymen's.Association a. committee to consider the proposals and report to a future meeting.; the proposals are adopted, the National Efficiency Board will be asked to approach Parliament with a view to obtaining legislative protection for the system during the period of the war. A. Merivalo (Christchurch) resident has had an unusual experience with one of his pear trees this season. He showed a, reporter of the "Press" a blossom from tho tree, the third time of ! blossoming. Some time ago lie burned i some rubbish undor a portion of tho itrce. with tho 'result that the,leaves j on the particular part above where' the I fire was frizzled up., Now tin* portion of the tree is/ iii blossom for the third time, but there are no hlossoms on the other part of the tree, which is about 30 years old.

At last, evening's meeting, of the Mayor's Food Economy Committee one member asked if the question of. growing mushrooms could not be considered. Ho also advocated the growing of Capo gooseberries. Tho suggestion was received with smiles, the Mayor remarking that the articles mentioned would, he thought, come -under the heading fancy foods.

Sir Robert Stout. Chief Justice, presided over the last meeting,of tho Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society. The report presented to the meeting showed that the. sooiety had'been carrying on its good, work as usual. Among those relieved were fifteen men who had been supplied with beds and meals, nine men and women who had been given various sums of money, and others who had received clothing. Thirty-three women prisoners had been given a Christmas entertainment at the gaol. It was very hard, the report .stated, to .limit tho aotivities of the society, when so many calls for assistance came to it even from those whose cases should bo dealt with by the Women's Protec-, tion and the Charitable Aid Societies. (

The annual general meeting, of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society wijl be hold in the Chamber of. Commerce, Customhouse Quay, onP Wednesday, May 30, at 8 p.m. Under the new rules of the society tho-register of membership closes fourteen days before the annual meeting, and all license-holders who wish to exercise a vote must make written application to the secretary, ■505, Lambton Quay, for election to the membership.roll not later than Wednesday, May 16, 1917.