LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3141, 20 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

With a view to self-protection, the Second Division League resolved last night: —"That no person of military age ■ be permitted to enter the Dominion and take up positions vacated by Now Zealaiulcrs called for service."

Tho outbreak of diphtheria is farspread. A report presented at yesterday's meeting of tho Hospital Board gave tho place of origin of each of the 78 cases taken in during the month ended July IG. They were as follows;— Wellington, Karori, 2; Seatowi, 1; Petone, 1; Lower Hutt, 6; Herotaunga, 1; Porirua, 1: P.'iraparauniu, 1; Ohau, 1; Xopntaroa, :t; Shannon, 2; and Ngaio, 2.

How difficult it is to escape from.tho loii" arm of the law has been brought homo very forcibly to Michael Francis Carriole. On. Jumo 2'l Curricle was ai- ■ rested in Vivian Street, for being disorderly whilo- dru'ik. 'While being (taken to tho polico station another man carao to tho assistance of Carrick, there was a struggle between tho newcomer and the constable, and while this was going on Carrick escaped, talcing Government, property, in the shape of handcuffs., with him.' Tie was'arrested in Auckland and vosferday he appeared before Mr. A\. tr. Biddell, R.M.. charged with _Itemnr disorderly while drunk in \ ivinn Street, and was fined -ifls., in default seven (.ays imprisonment. Mr. Seymour, general secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association, attended the Second Division Conference last evening, and addressed tho conference on matters of mutual interest to both bodies. Mr. Sevmoiir said that generally ho found tho Pensions Department fain.v administered, but the officials were tied by regulation. He considered there wero many matters retarding which the In dies could work together.

Replying to a question in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Prime Minister said that if it bepamo necessary to reimpose a maximum price for butter this would be done. Dr. Newman said that ho believed butter was being sold wholesale at Is. 3d. per lb., l>ut it was retailed in the leading shops at from Is. 7d. to Is. Bd. He* asked whether tho Government would allow this to go on. Mr. Massey 6aid that he would be able to make a statement on this question in a few dnys.

Recently a firm of motor body builders was fined ,£lB (3G days at 10s.) through being behindhand with tho delivery of a motor ambmlanco contracted for by tho Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Since then tho firm in question has asked for a remission of the fine, but on tlio recommendation of the Hospital Committee it -was decided that the previous decision of tho board bo adhered to. The chairman in explanation staied that there wore ca6es where consideration should bo exorcised, but this frm, though -warned of tho penalties, had not touched the job for nearly four weeks after sccmring the contract.

An X-ray plant to cast iC57n 13s. lias been ordered from Watsons and Sons for tho Wellington Hospital.

A communication of considerable importance was read before the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday. This was a letter from the Public Health Department, asking tho board to consider whether it was not advisable to reduce the membership of tho board. Tho chairman (Mr. H. Baldwin) said ho had made a suggestion four years ago to the effect that tlie membership bo reduced to fourteen, but nothing had come-of it. Mr. C. M. Luke thought it was a very big question. Probably there was a way in which the board could be reduced in numbers. He approved of its reduction, and would be prepared to be one to bo sacrificed. The Aboard had not a titho of the interests to attend fo that tho City Council, with its fifteen members, or tho Harbour Board, wit.li its fourteen members, had. He moved, and it was decided, that the matter be left over for fuller consideration at tho next meeting of tho board.

Yesterday's report of the Charitablo Aid Committee to tho Wellington .Hospital and Charitable Aid Board stated that the total number of new -cases for charitable aid ill .Tune was GB. Tho daily average number of persons in receipt of relief was 209, as compared -with 185 last year; tho number of rations granted was iilo, as compared with 564 for June of last year; the cash grants amounted to £12, as compared with .C 32; and the amount for children mainfained directly by tho board was £21, compared with .£l7.

The following motion by Mr. R. Fletcher was carried by the House of Representatives yesterday:—"That there bo laid before this House a return shewing—(l) tho number of men apprehended who neglected to present themsilves for military sorvico after having been called up in the ballot; (2) the number who after being apprehended refused to don (ho uniform or to drill; (3) the penalty imposed: and.M if imprisoned, the place of confinement."

The grievanco of tlio people of Greymouth and Wcslport that the Union Company will not carry 011 a passenger servico to thoir ports was brought to the notice of the Minister of Marino in the Tlon/se of Representatives yesterday. The TTon. G. W. "Russell said that lie had received a communication on the si.bieet from the AVestport Harbour Board, it should be understood that the Government had no control over the operations of the. Union Company, but he would telegraph to the conraany requesting that these ports should lw given a passenger service suited to their needs. The Mitchelltoivn School commemorated Arbor Day by planting over 130 trees, comprising pohutukawa, oaks, bluo ami rod gums, cabbage trees, Wellingtonia Gigantoa, etc. The chairman, headmaster, and teachers each put in special trees. The children thoroughly enjoyed the work, vieing with each other to excel as' gardeners. Fifty karalca trees, donated by the chairman, wcro planted in the grounds last week. If not destroyed by wandering stock, the school grounds, in addition to the triangular space bein» laid out by the City Council in front, should before long become one of ths beauty spots of the district. The world-famed Stetson hat, in Black, Brown, Slate, Grey, Pawn, etc. Plain felt, 2Ss. Volour, 325. Gd. to 12s. Gcorgo Fowlda, Ltd., Maimers Street.—Advt.

A Gazette notico prohibits 'tie introduction to New Zealand of pear, apple, (|iiinco, or stone-fruit trees, or of cuttings, buds, or other portion of these trees (except tho fruit) from Australia, becauso of a clanger of introducing; tho diseaso of hairy root, crown gall, or root knot.

It was notified iu last night's Gazette that tlio Minister of Customs has granted general permission for tho exportation of hemp to tho United States.

Tho thirty shillings allowanco for soldiers' suits does not find favour with tho Second Division League. They rcsolved yesterday to aak for J25.

At tho Y.JI.C.A. last evening a good number of friends and supporters of that institution gathered to welcome Mr. j\. Varney on his return from Kngland. Mr. A. J. Smith who is joining tho Forces, was to be farewellcd. Mr. Peck, the secretary, who is to assume Mr. Smith's duties was to bo welcomed. As Sir. Varney had riot arrived it was decided to tender a welcome to him at a later date. Jlr. George was in tho chair. In connection with tho membership campaign it was stated that tho object,' to secure 500 hew members by August 1, will probably be achieved. During the evening musical items were given by Messrs. Doutie, Peck and others.

On the motion of Mr. I?. Fletcher, tho Houso of Kepresentatives ordered yesterday a return schowing tlio number of Gor mans interned on Somes Island, li.o cost per head of those interned, and tho number employed in useful work.

The interesting collection of specimens of mineral ores produced in Nov/ Caledonia, which were exhibited to the members of the Wellington Philosophical Society, were presented to a Wellington resident by Private Paul Legras, one of the French soldiers now recruiting his health after being wounded at the Soinme battle in France. The specimens included nickel, chrome, mercury, manganese, copper, and nmgiietique. The most valuable deposits in the island are the nickel and chrome ores, which havo been mined successfully for many years, mostly by companies influenced by Germany.

Regarding England's dependability on Chile for nitrates, Mr. Robert G. Skerrett, in the course of an article in tho Philadelphia "Saturday Post" says:— "Tho performances of tho German commerce raider Moowe are fair evidence of tho difficulties that would confront us if wo liad to depend upon Chile for the major part of our nitrates, .Two or three vessels of this sort loose in either the South Atlantic or the South Pacific could utterly demoralise shipping bound to us with saltpetre. It was undoubtedly to prevent the Entente Allies from obtaining nitrate supplies that Admiral von Spec lurked with his squadron off the coast of South America; and his two memorable battles with the British shov;ed hoiv desperately determined he was to hold his station along tho. trade routes to Europe."

Tho practicc of the Defence Department of charging a man for any article in his kit on which that mnn writes his name was condemned by Mr; T. M. AYilford in the House of Representatives yesterday. Ho mentioned the case of a mail discharged from camp because of injuries received in training. The mail was given, a temporary pension, but ho had to pay for articles in his equipment because he had written his name upon them, and tho authorities would not take them back.

A referendum is toeing taken among the members of the medical profession in Australia to <lecido whether tliey should be conscripted for service abroad. If <three-i'ourtlis of the votes favour the suggestion the Federal Committee of tho British. Medical Association. ..proposes to ask the .Federal Government to i'|troduco legislation upon the lines indicated. A letter recently sent by tho Acting-Premier of Koiv South Wales to the Federal Friino Minister referred to tho practice of tho Defence 'Department in culling up medical officers for activo service without apparently giving adequate consideration to the relative importance of civil requirements, it was mentioned that tho Minister of Public Health held the view that medical service for homo requirements was hardly less valuable, in the circumstances of the moment, than servico abroad. In hia opinion' there should bo adopted some form of mobilisation that would ensure tlie apportionment of tho services available; first for service abroad, and secondly for home service. Tinder conditions now operating the -military requirements seemed to be met by a combin g-out proces-s, which was having a detrimental effect upon tho welfare of tho people.

What is said to be a New Zealand record for expenses paid to a reservist for attending for medical examination was put up at Hokitika on Monday (says the "Grey .Hiver Argus"). The man, who attended from Copper Creek, below Okuru, claimed and was,paid eighteen pay and expenses for attending at Hokitika, and after all his long journey and trouble ho was passed as fit tor home servico only.

At the meeting of the Court of Directors of the Royal Humane Society of Now Zealand, held on Tuesday afternoou to consider awards, Mr. E. C. Bishop said that in the past the society had been inclined to bestow higher awards than was granted by the parent body in England for similar acts of bravery (state 3 the "Lyttelton Times"). The statement was made in reply to a suggestion that in one case .a silver medal should be awarded. Mr. Bishop instanced the case of a man who had jumped from a steamer on the high seas to effect a rescue, and, on the aot being reported to the Home authorities, ho had been granted a bronze medal. The Rev. E. Eliot Chambers supported Mr. Bishop's remarks, and said that the bestowal of a silver medal was rare in the Old Country. The deed had to be very meritorious. The proportion of silver medals to bronze awarded at Homo would be about one in a hundred. The bronze medal was considered a very great honour. The Court made special reference to the bravery displayed by Reulxm Hutchings, a youth of eighteen years, in stopping a pair of runaway horses "winch were without winkers, and rescuing a littlo girl of nine years of.age.

art. W. H. Feld (Otaki) lias givon notico to ask (lie Minister of Defenco whether it is not correct that even now there are mon engaged cn fatigue or other , home service .duties in. the camps and elsewhere 'urnler the Defence Department who are fit for active service; and, it' this is true, whether ho will not take steps to see that the places of such mea shall ho filled by jeturned soldiers; , or by others who aro unfit for active service, and thus relievo to soino extent tlio serious depletion of men engaged in rural and other essential industries.

On tho motion by Mr. Finney (Nelson), tho Second Division Conference resolved yesterday: "That the Government bo asked to provide all business men on active service with an official bign to display on his business promises, to indicate that he is serving at tho front."

"The danger of-tho electric iron in connection with lire hazards requires greater stress than has yet been given to it ltcally," says Superintendent Napier (of the Dunedin Fire Brigade), in tho course of his annual report. "Perhaps the best means," suggests tho superintendent, "is to ask the insuranco companies to warn their clients, and to request the City Council to caution all users, who, I understand, have to apply for special permission prior to tho installation of the iron and its fittings. The danger is ever present in all concealed power-heating, and should be guarded against by the supplier, .the City Council, and as it may bo taken that tlio present types of electric iron are most potential fire-raisers, it is tho undoubted duty of the lire Board to emphasise tho risk. Electricity is the most convenient means of heating that necessary evil, the hot iron, but tho possible danger should bo videly stressed, not to do away with tho iron, but to exercise care. My advice to the user is to make it a practice not only to switch oft' the current, but Ik? very careful to remove the plug. The best means of being certain that this will be dene is to have the iron stored-well away I'iom tlio ironing board."

Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East) has suggested to tho Minister of Defence that ho should arrange-that when soldiers aro returning to New Zealand their applications for pensions shall be Riled up on board, thus avoiding annoying delays in the granting of pensions.

"NO RUBBING" Laundry _ Help is what wo recommend for washing all clothes clcnD. Shilling packets always in stook— Advt.

The Defence Minister has been asked by Mr. W. H. Meld (Otaki) if it is correct that promotions of non-commis-sioned officers are made entirely on tho recommendation of officers commanding companies, which recommendation is invariably approved by tho higher military authorities, and whether, if this is the method of promotion, it would not bo fairer if the men were put to a test by examination as to their efficiency.

The facts that during the past fivo years the imports of salt into tho Dominion have ranged from 19,000 to 21,000 tons, of an indent value of .S3 per ton, and that solar salt works at Goolong, Victoria, havo been in operation for some time, and are reported to bo a very profitable concern, have Iwl to a pioposai having been, made by Mr. 7,cslio 11. Macarthur, F.G.H., for the establishment of marine electro-solar salt works in New Zealand (says an exchange). Six sites have been critically examined in the North Island: Kaipara Harbour, inner harbour, Napier, and Porirua Bay; in the South Islaud: Blenheim, Kaiapoi, and nfc the estuary, near New Brighton, Christchurch. Each site possesses the necessary factors for the economic and expeditious manufacture of salt from sea-water, and tho final selection will bo determined according to the practical and financial support accorded in the different localities. Jlr. Macarthur has brought tho project and its national importance under the notice of tho Primo Minister, the liight Hon. W. F. Massey, and has suggested that, in order to encourage the establishment of the industry, tho Government should grant an equitable subsidy, also that, as soon as tho industry has been established, some protection in the way of imposition of an import Jury should be provided.

An amendment to the Old-Age Pensions Act providing for the doubling of the present old-age pension during the war is suggested by Mr. T. M. Wilford (Kutt) in a. question to the Hon. A. M. Myers. "This is of vital and urgent necessity," says Mr. "Wilford, "and all must realise that an okl-age pensioner cannot live on iho present old-age pension."

A 6eries of robberies has recently been carried out in Sydney, and, as a result, over 4J1500, which was being transmitted by taxpayers to the State Income Tax Office, has been stolen. Scores of letters containing ; cheque's and mor.ey in other forms disappeared, and investigation revealed the fact that tho thieves had taken tho precaution to remove only open cheques, postal notes, and money orders. All unnegotiable money was left behind. To realise the cheques, the thieves opened accounts in three city I>anks in different names, and the cheques and other moneys were paid in. No suspicion was aroused in tho banks, and the accounts wero operated on freely by means of cheques. The thefts and the operations on the bank accounts ceased suddenly, and the banks were abandoned with only smali 6ums to their cralit. One account was left witli a balance of about .£ls, another, which reached a little over .£6OO, with M, and tho third with only a few pounds.