LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3146, 26 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sir James Allen stated in the Houso of Representatives yesterday that one of tho New Zealand hospital ships had .arrived safely at hor port of destination. Thoro had been somo anxiety, ho said, about part of the Twenty-fourth Reinforcements. They wore all well, but they had not yet reached their destination.

"Have you' ever sued anyone?" said tho . chairman of the Military Service Board to an appellant who was giving evidence as to his religious beliefs. "No, sir, but I would liko to," was the very unexpected reply. "I havo a man in my house," continued tho conscientious objector, "who has not paid his rent for livo years, and when I gave up my business there was something like .£250 worth of accounts unpaid, but I havo not sued for them, yet. Sometimes I feel as if I'd like to, but I don't think I'll start now."

"There is no intention on tho part of the Polico Department to appoint women patrols," said the Hon. A. L. Herdman replying to a question in the • House yesterday. "The Minister of Public Health lias under consideration tho question of introducing legislation providing for tho appointment of women inspectors for duty ns patrol officers to assist and advise young people in certain circumstances."

The Primo Minister stated in the Houso of Representatives yesterday that Instructions had been given that inquiry bo made by tho Board of Trade as to whether the present high prices of roofing iron, fencing wire, and other settlers requirements wcro justified.

A witness, a wharf labourer,. riving evidence in the Magistrate's Court yesterday on behalf of another wharf labourer who was charged with using obscene language, remarked in reply to a question that ho did not know the accused vory well, adding, "I was never drunk in his company. I -have never been seen in a pub with him." This he appeared to regard as tho test of friendship. . ~ ~ Replying .to'a question-regarding tho butter-fat levy in tho Houso of Representatives yesterday, Mr. Massey. said that the 'Government-was endeavouring to arrange a system for tho coining season which would bo an improvement on that which was temporarily brought into operation last year, but ho was not yet ready to make a statement on tho subject. ; '

' Replying to a question in the Hou6t> of Representatives yesterday, Sir Joseph Ward said that" the matter of giving a bonus to Civil Servants this year was under the consideration of,tho Govern-, ment.

Replying to a question in the Houso of Representatives yesterday, the Minister of Customs (the Hon. A. M. Myers) 3aid he would make inquiries its to tho steps necessary to prevent tho importation of goods from Japan or elsewhere which mi"ht contain anthrax germs. Ihe statement had roferenco to the cablegram from Australia that anthrax-infected brushes had come into that country from Japan. Tho introduction of technical and continuation classes into the Martinborough School were approved by the Education Board yesterday.

The Primo Minister, replying to a question by the mciubod for the Bay of Islands yesterday, said that an amendment of tho law was under consideration to aim at the destruction or tho IW W. aud kindred organisations.

At last night's meeting of the Harbour Board a letter was received from the Wellington Chamber of Commorco asking that tho twenty-four hours' grace for storage prior to tho imposition of penal charges be extended to forty-eignt 'hours. It was explained by the chairman (Mr. C B Danicll) that tho rulo was rot n Imrd-and-fast ono, and tliat every case was taken on its merits. Mr. J. fa. Cobbe asked what would happen in the case of a certain overseas vessol s cargo, the papers for which had gone down iu tho Mongolia; That was pointed out by tho chairman as a case in winch the board's officers would exerciso their discretion. Mr. M. Cohen said that there were instances where the merits of the case did not seem to bo seized by the board's officers. It was proposed that tho letter bo received, at which utiige Mr It. 13. Sinclair gave notice that ho Tnteiided to move at tho next meeting of tho board that the tern; of grace lie extended to forty-oight hours. On this intimation boing made uio matter was deferred.

For comfort in boots and .-hppers -\ou cannot buy better than at "i'owltls". Gluco kid, 10s. 6d. to 305.; folt slippers, 4s. lid. to Bs. Gd.—Geo, Powlds, Ltd., Manner? Streot,—Advt

Tho Hon. A. It. Myers, Minister in Charge of tho Pensions Department, stated in tho House of Representatives that tho question of increasing tho old-age ami wjdows' ponsions at present payable was receiving tho attention of the Government.

The position of the school-teacher's rcsidonco at Kongokokako is unsuitable. Tho residence is liable to he flooded, and no teaoher could Ire got to livo long in. it owing to the dampness. On this being brought before the Education Board yesterday it was decided to nsk tho school committee to make a suggestion as to what should bo done.

The secretary of tho Education Board (Sir. G. L. Stowart) reported to the board yeßterday that 68 schools had responded to the offer to supply shelter and hedge trees for tho ornamentation and protection of the sohool grounds. tiffs at the hearing, and Sir John Findlay, those schools that apply subject to tho ground being well prepared, tho trees properly planted, and adequately protected during their infancy.

Those boys attached to tho AYcraroa State Farm who are interested in agricultural science are, tho Education Board decided yesterday, to be allowed the nso of the laboratory of the levin District High School for tho future.

The war has accustomed us to think and talk in millions, yet most pcoplo may still be surprised to hear that S6fl,0OI),0CO sheets of officially headed Y.M.C.A. notopaper have been used since tho beginning of tho war. Mr. A. Varney mentioned that fact to tho annual conference of the National Committee yesterday, and added that when ho gave that figure to* an English officer, he answered flatly, "I can't believe that." "Why not?" asked Mr. YariiDy. "Because." rejoined tho officer, "I'm pretty sure I've censored that number myself!"

The Fire Brigade was called to 86a Taranaki Street yesterday evening- at about (1.15. Tho building was occupied by F. C. Ccdy as a cabinet-making establishment, and W. G. Clarke as a confectionery manufactory. The.confectionery stock was damaged by water, but tho cabinet-making stock was little nd'octed.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., concerning tho death of .Tohn H'Olmn, a waterside worker, whose body was found last Sunday floating in the harbour near tho Kailway 'Wharf. M'Ghan had been living at Young's Private Hotel on Lambton Quay, and was last seen alive on July 5. Tho body, when recovered, was slightly decomposed. There were no marks of violence on it. A sum of X's was found in one of tho pockots. Deceased had no relatives in New Zealand. Ho was a single man about forty years of age. A verdict was returned that* M'Ghan met his death by drowning, there being insufficient evidence to show how tho man got into the water.

The settlement of a claim for £29 for pillaged" goods by tho Harbour Board, reported at last evenings Meeting, brought up the question of tho hoard's responsibility in such cases. This was a case in which the board had given a clean receipt, and was therefore liable. Mr. Jl. Cohen raised tho point as to whether the board would bo liable in the enso of goods of extraordinary value being pillaged. As they could i.ot expect their officers to microscopically ex : amine every nail in each case, clean receipts miglit be given for pillaged ,cases containing goods of great value, in which caso they might be held liable for n considerable amount. The point ho wished' to mako was should they be held liable at all? Could they not alter tlieir bylaws to avoid such responsibility? The chairman said tho law was statutory, and could not be overt'idden by the board's by-laws. The secretary (Mr. H. E. Nicholis) said that receipts were only given for goods apparently in a good condition. Mr. Cohen at once siiid that that was tho point. 'Wero not the goods in this case apparently in a good condition? Mr. Nicholis said that in this instance such was not the cuse. The chairman said that a youth had been employed to examine the cases, and ns ho usually looked after perishable goods he was called "the perisher," which, under the circumstances, was not an inappropriate name.- He had not attended to his work as satisfactorily as I'C might have done, ami was being r-eplaced by a more responsible officer. The secretary stated that during the last financial year tho value of goods which had passed over the wharf was .£7,000,000, and nil tho board had paid out for claims was ,C3-i2.

The Education Board decided yesterday to advertise for an attendance officer to fill tbo place vncated by the resignation of Mr. J. Dineen. Highly eulogistic "references to the services Mr. Dineen had rendored to tho board were made by Mr. A. W. Hogg, who expressed regret that Mr..Dineen was leaving the board's service;to take up a position with the Education Department.

Tho question of tho payment of school teachers attached to lighthouses came under the notico of the Education Board yesterday in the form of a letter from the kocper of the Stephen Island lighthouse, who wrato to the board on the question of tho capitation paid to the teacher there. The chairman (Hon. J. G. W. Aitken) said that the fiystem of capitation adopted in connection with such teachers was inequitable. They were paid at the rate of £6 per child, so that ono might go to a lighthouse where there were six or eight children, and cam .£36 or .£4B in capitation, whilst another, equally competent, might be sent to a place where there were only three or four children, and sho would only earn .£lB or .£24 per year. In his opinion the matter was ono that should be referred to the Marino Department. _ If that Department sent men with children to tho lighthouses, it should pay for the li.tter's education. On tho chairman's motion it •' was decided to write to the Marine Department suggesting that the allowance for teachers at lighthouses 6hould be j£so per annum all round. Recently the' Rev. R. S. Gray, of Iranedin, forwarded to tho Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, a copy of a statement outlining the policy followed in connection with the English censorship of kinomatograph films. In acknowledging its receipt, the Minister wrote stating that ho would immediately, take steps in the direction of having the censorship in New Zealand exercised nlon» these lines. The main provisions of the English policy referred to above are—That the living figure of Christ should not bo permitted; that nudity should not be passed in any circumstances: that nothing should be allowed which brought the institution of marriage into contempt or lowered the sacredness of family ties. Subjects which wounded the susceptibilities of membern of. but religious body, or stories which pictured the progress and surroundings of women leading immoral lives, and rcones showing vice in an attractive form, although followed bv retribution, were ilso objected to; and indecorum of dress, which seemed to lw meant to sneerest Wecency or immorality, were condemned. A "militarv barracks" is being conducted at St. Patrick's College, under the direction of Major J. L. Sleerann. 1.G.5., Director of Military Training. The "barracks," .which commenced yesterday morning, will be continued until Saturday, the pupils being placed, under military control and discipline for that period. The same course of instruction is being given as during the recent "barracks" at the Wansnnui College and (ho Waitaki Boys' High School. In reply to a letter from the School Committees' Association to the Wellington Education Board, urging tho adoption of a uniform set of school books'in the State schools, the board decided at yesterday's meeting: 'That it be pointed 'out In the association that uniformityot school books can be.arranged throughout the Dominion only by general regulation under the Act, and that tho board understands the Minister has stated that the time is not opportune for dealing with tho matter." At vesterdav's meeting of Hie Wellington Education Board the secretary (Mr. C T, Rlewarß announced tnat so tar the sum of ,fß7fi had been received from I he school children of ihe Wellington Education District towards the relief ot the London school children who Buffered bv tho recent German air raid. The sum of £100 had already been cabled Home. Money is still coming to hand, notably from tho M»rllwr"i»*h schools, which were closed for holiday when the appeal was first mode. On Friday and Saturday, 27th and Kth July, persons in Wellington producing on request a Crippled Soldiers' Hostel Art Union tioket, bearing tho words ''.Wizard Light,'-'- wili jscoijo 6s,«s ■ ,

In regard to tho abolition of the junior free place examination, the Senior Inspector (Mr. F. H. Bnkewell) explained to tho Wellington Education Board yesterday thai tho purpose of tho new regulation was to do away with some \mnecessary duplication in tho Department's examinations. Tho interest; of those pupils wild will be over 15 years of age in December next, and who might liavo boen affected by the change, aro safeguarded by the Department allowing them to qualify for a free place in tho Junior National Scholarship examination. A strango experience has iust befallen Mr. James Milne, thrashing null-owner, of Rakaia (writes a correspondent of the Christchurch "Press'). Tho incident is somewhat similar to ono recently reported from Methven. On waking up one morning a month ago he found a red mark and felt a soreness at the back of the large muscle of tho upper ami. As it became worse he thought something iiad bitten him and tho wound had becomo poisoned. He olaincd medical advice, and freely poulticed tho arm. Recently lie felt a pricking f-onsation at the front of tho arm, and Dr. Rolicrts opened the flesh and extracted a darning needle 2J inches in length. It had evidently travelled right through tho arm. Not many days ago some travellers along'a road that passes tlio sea were astonished to'obscrvo the Uisborne bailiff, fully dressed, wadiug up to his waist in the surf, and seizing hold of a man who was also standing waist ocep in the briny. It was not a case of rfescuo from drowning, but it appears tlio bailiff had visited n cottage in the pc-r----ormanco of his duties, and not heing prepared to accept a statement that his man was not at.home, mado a starch ot the premises, and located lnni under a bed. The man was coaxed from Ins hiding-place, but when he went to get his coat ho broke from his cap.ors grasp, and dashed for the beach. the bailiff was accompanied by a fellow oflicer of. the law, and the escapee was rounded up, so that his only m«ins of further escape was by tho sea, which ho attempted. [Nothing daunted, the bailiff followed, and it was at this stage that the travellers appeared. It was decided at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington. Education Eoard that the Frime Minister, the Ministers of Defence, Education, and Finance, bo asked to receive a deputation, consisting of the board, tho Technical Education Board, and representatives from every public organisation in Wellington. In tho House of Representatives yes-, terday Mr. R. A. Wright gave notice to ask tho Minister of Education whether the Government has yet decided •to set apart a portion of tho land now occupied by the military authorities at Mount Cook Barracks as a site for a technical sohool for Wellington? Following is an extract from New Zealand Expeditionary Force Orders -.-"Applications have from time to timo been made bv officers for promotion., i this practice "is forbidden. Promotions are made as vacancies occur, in accordance with tho N.Z.E.F. Regulations.' Applications for promotion aro therefore unnecessary." I "As tho result of a special investigation the Education Department has now a record of over sixhundred cases ot feeble-minded people under twenty-one vcars of age," said the Minister for Education (tho-Hon. J. A. Hanan) in answer to a question. "These aro being examined and classified as quickly as circumstances permit, and about oneJhundred and fifty cases have been admitted. Ihere is still room for further cases at Otckaike, and to a less extent at Richmond, where the institution is smaller, but it will bo necessary to secure further accommodation in the near future. As soon as the cases are investigated the question of establishing in the North Island a school for feeble-minded bojs will Teceive attention." The Postmaster-General (Sir Joseph Ward) mentioned in the House of Representatives yesterday that a proposal was under consideration to sell I.M.C.A. coupons in post offices throughout New Zealand. These coupons would be acoepted for purchases in the Y.M.C.A canteens in England and France, and their sale here would simplify tho transmission ot money to soldiers. Answoring a question in Parliament yesterday, the Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister of Munitions, said that the decision in every appeal lodged on benali ot a Marist Brother called up under thei Military Service Act rested entirely with the Military Service Board that hears it. No certificate had been issued under Clause 9 of the regulations relating to appeals m support of a Marist Brother s appeal for exemption from military service. "I fully recognise the necessity tor making better provision for the education of children of the backblocks settlers," said tho Minister .for Education (the Hon. J. A. Hanan) yesterday. There is no doubt that one of the test means of making such provision is tho consolidation of small schools. This policy, however, cannot be carried out -until the ■war is over. In tho meantime I wish to state that diirimr the past two years a number of schools have been established in tho backblocks. Tho question is now under consideration."