LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3127, 4 July 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Answering a. question in the House of Representatives yesterday the Minister of Internal Affaire (Hon. G. "W. Russell) fitatod that his Eevocation of Naturalisation Bill would not lave general application. It would, simply give the Govornor-in-Council power in, certain cases to Tevoko naturalisation. He could assure tho House that the powor would be exorcised only in circumstances that rendered, action absolutely desirable in the interests of the country and the Empire. People who had. been born in one of the countries now in alliance .with Britain would not. be affected in any way.

Speaking at last evening's meeting of the Second Division League on the subject of tho need for better pensions and allowances, Mr. E. A. Armstrong said that for the year ended March 31, 1917. the excess profits of the New Zealand fat 6tock raisers amounted to ,£5,684,336 (approximately). The.excess profits tax (45 per cent.) would take .£2,557,951 of that sum for tho State. That -left .£3,126,000 for the fat stock raisers. These profits, Mr. Armstrong said, were made possible by the sufferings and tho sacrifices of our soldiers, and they could only Ik) continued by 'tho tearing apart of husband and wife and the loosoning of little children's arms from their fathers' necks. Tho Government said they were going to carry this thing out. The Second Division League was with thorn. _ There was no man with any decent instinct in his nature who would not go, but let the fat. man pay. (Loud applause.)

The greater portion of tho Twentyeighth Reinforcements were transferred to Trentham Camp yesterday, where a portion of tho Twenty-seventh is in camp. The Thirty-first Reinforcements which were mobilised at Trentham last, wook have been transferred to Tauhcrenikau.

Georgo Cooke, a Wellington barman, is to appear in the Magistrate's Court this morning on five informations, comprising thirty-four charges of breaking and entering and theft of goods to th? total value of ,£723. Of the property the accused is alleged to have stolen, about .£3OO worth has been recovered.- Cooke's arrest was duo 'to investigations mado by-Detective-Sergeant Cox, Detectives Mason and Carney, and Constable Black.

Tho closing time of overseas mails— which is pot now published-^was a topic that was freoly discussed by the Council of the Chamber of Commerce on Monday. One member stated that the commercial community, to whom the closing hour of an English, American, or Australian mail was a matter of no small importance, was given no indication as to when such mails were going to close. As it was, someone went along to inquire probably taking some letters -with him, and asked when tho mail was going to close. The answer usually given . was, "Pint late fee on them—they'll go all right!" So, irrespective of whether the mail 'had closed or not, the public were induced to ■ nut late fee postago on letters just to" be sure of their getting away bv that mail. The Secretary of tho Post and Telegraph Department (Mr.W. R, Morris) is to be interviewed to see if a morn satisfactory system cannot be evolved.

The police campaign in Blenheim against those breaking the "anti-shout-in"" regulations is reported to have been very successful. Over thirty summonses have been issued against licensees, bartenders, and private individuals for broaches of the regulations.

A deputation ropresentin? the conference of directors of New Zealand technical schools waited upon the chairman nf the National Efficiency Board (Mr. William Ferguson) yesterday afternoon to urgo tho fuller use _ of Ibo schools in the work of training the young people and returned soldiers to ensure greater efficiency than is at present the case. The conference was in camera. ■

Even, as hatters the Japanese manufacturers are invading tho New Zealand market. Black "Derl>ys" are now being imported in considerable quantities from Tukio, and aro being disposed of at prices ajiproximatng those asked for good English hats of tho same kind. Among tho improvements to bo effected at tho Conrteuay Place tramway junction in tho near futuro will be tho removal of tho fenco wMch surrounds tho plantation opposite tho tramway stopping place. For sojr.o time past the trees liavo been permitted to "outgrow tho situation," to to spcf.k, and they aro now to bo thinned out and thinned down, so as' to permit nioro light and air to circulato among tho -undergrowth. Having removed probably half tho trees that exist, there, it is proposed to clip them suitably, plant lawn grass wherover there is room to do so, ,'aid then surround the whole of the area, with a dwarf concrote wall, only about 18 inches in height, topped "with marblo chips and surmounted by a galvanished iron rail, This, it is thought, will tako away tho diti"V appoaranco of this plantation and make it what it was originally intended to bc-a beautiful oasis in a desert" of wood-blocks.

Tn order to set the whole of tho sidewalk garden plots at (he Basin Reserve planted during tho present season, this work is being pushed forward _at present as rapidly as possible. Ilia stumps and roots of the old trees, which Hves the Tieserve a gloomy frame, liavo already been Temoved. and workmen are i,l present employed in moving tho side-, walk back to its new in Duffprin Street, where some G feel, in width of r<ndw/iy is lining gained by the alterations Ti. is intended that the gaMon shall onlv I>o divided from the .pavement of the sidewalk by H kerbstone raised about 6 inches above the level. Appropriate flowering shrubs and plants have boon selected for the adornment of the new gardens, which should nave a brightening effect on the whole of tho neighbourhood.

Mr. David Eva.rf, a.t present of Lower Valley. Wairarapa. who is an expert sheep" man. has received a letter from Mr H Stanlev Coffin, of Spokane, "Washington! U.S.A.. fluting that, of the W stud sheen which he took away from New Viealand OS were landed in. a good condition, which, considering the length of the voyage across the Pacific, is-con-Fidmed an excellent result. The sheep were forwarded through the agency of Messrs. Murray. Roberts and Co.

Vu the Juvenile Court; vestcrday. before Mr. 1... G. Tfeid. S.M.. a girl 15 vears of age was charged with the theft of'a number of coats from a. retail establishment in Cuba Street. She was convicted and placed on probation for a period of thToo months.

The daughters of the late Mrs. Edwin Meredith, of "Uandaff," have (says onr Ma=terton correspondent) presented a valuable libra.rr to St. Matthew's Church, MaSterton. for tho use of parishioners.

ibout two hundred members have already joined tho Maslerlon branch of the Second Division League, of which Mr. G. Milno is' president, ami Mr. Rue secretary. The league has decided to hold a big rally on Monday nest, and the-niem-bers for Master-ton, Wairarapa, and PahiatM will be os\cd to bo present.

At (ho Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last evening, Mr. Albert Mace, evangelist, of England and America, addressed another good audience, taking as his subject "Tim While Sheet." lie delivered a striking' address, in tho course of which ho discussed the various classes of peoplo reached by the Gospel. Ho made his address tho morn interesting with many anecdotes told in an original way.

The Nelson National Kcservo Band has a. numbt>r of vacancies for pins-el's in its ranks, which ham been depleted by enlistments fur active service. Morn than half of the total strength of tho band is at the front. The band finds employment: for irarlesmen who are bandsmen.

By the last mail, a. soldier in France writes to a friend saying that he did not receivo any letters or parcels from New Zealand for about six months, but felc quite sure that his friends were, writing to him regularly, and on April 10 ho received a. bundle of 37 letters, all in ono mail, also a. parcel containing a. cake, intended for Christmas, but had taken six and a half months to reach him. Fortunatelv the cake was in splendid condition. The writer was out of the trenches for a rest at the time, otherwise lie might not have got sufficient leave to read all his correspondence, which would have been most disappointing. This case should encourage others with soldier friends who complain they aro not, getting letters not to give up hope, as the delayed correspondence will most likely turn up eventually.

Several lengthy petitions in favour of .fix o'clock closing were laid before the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. One petition, signed by'over 3000 persons, was presented by Mr. J. Craigie (Timaru), tvlio asked permission to move that it should bo referred direct to the Government. He said that similar petitions had been before the II to Z Petitions Committee for two years, and all the evidence required had been heard. It would save time and serve the purpose of' the people concerned if the petition was reforred direct to the Government. No objection was'raiscd.andMr.Craigie's motion was carried.

Replying to expressions of regret, from the members, at his retirement from the Technical School Board, Mr. W. E. Field, M.P., wrote to the board that it had been a real wrench to sever his connection with the board, and. of the meetings ho would always have the most pleasing recollections. • Increasing work of both a public and private character had forced him. to the reluctant determination that he would be unable to devote much time to the work of the board as its importance demanded.

Members of Hie House of Representatives have been informed that owing to tho shortage of paper their allowance of Hansards is to be cut 'down from 75 copies to 25 copies per member. A brief debate in the House yesterday afternoon made it evident that.6ome members were concerned about the prospect of having to decide w'hich of their . constituents should oontanuo to read, or at least to receive, the official reports of parliament. Dr. Thacker (Ghristchurch East) suggested that the Government should arrange for the publication of full reports of .members' speeches in local newspapers, "in the interests of democracy." He complained that under present conditions the nowspapcrs published only the- "spicy bits." Mr. C. H. Poole (Auckland West) proposed that the Government should .have Hansard filed at all public libraries and Post Offices throughout New Zealand. The Hon. G. W. Russell, in reply, said that he could not promise to give serious consideration to the idea of paying for tho publication of full reports of members' speeches in the newspapers. The filing of Hansard at Po?t Offices and libraries could bo arranged, but the suggestion reminded him of a certain library whero an incoming committee had found 2}cwt. of' Unopened Hansards. A member: "We ■want legislation to make people read them." Referring to another aspect of the matter, Mv. Russell said that there was a' suggestion that Hansard should be subjected during the* present session to a certain amount of compression, though not in nny essential or important department. The subject was being considered by the reporting and Debating Committee.

The following cable message, dated May 18, appeared in the New York "Evening Post"—Commander E. R G. Evans, who was second in. command of tho Scott \ntarctic Expedition, and was in charge of tho British destroyer Broke when she, with another destroyer, defeated six German destrovers off Dover on the night of April 20,"has teen assigned to advisory duty with the American destroyer squadron iu British waters. He went aboard the-senior American officer's Tessel_ as soon as the American destroyers arrived, and his duties began immediately. Ho will continuo in complete tou/A with the senior officer, giving -that officer practical advice on all matters concerning strategy, technique, and the latest methods of submarine warfare. The appointment of +ho commander of tho Broke to duty with the American squadron was received with the greatest enthusiasm by the American forces, and his selection is reavded as one of the happiest events in connection with the reception of the American units.

Rn far Mr. Joseph Lewis has made no reply to the request that he should withdraw his resignation as secretary of the Wellington Patriotic Society.