LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3165, 17 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Proclamations are gazetted .prohibiting tho exportation from tho Dominion, save with tho consent of the Minister of Customs, of chemicals, drugs, and chemical preparations and scrap metal, and «lsc> of postago stamps to any other destination than the United Kingdom and British possessions and protectorates. A slatemont regarding the soldiers who liavo como back from the war was mado by tho Minister of Defenco in the Houso of Representatives yesterday. Tho total number of the men. yestorday. Tho total number of tho'men returned up till July 31 was 10.917. Of these, S2CS had recoived their diecharges, 1211 had returned to duty, IS had died, and 119 were awaiting final disposal; 216 wero under treatment. 3 were in prison, I- had deserted, and 10 were on special leavo.

"That the conference's attention having been called to cases whew advances have been made to returned soldiora and soldiers' wives on which usurious rates of interest have been ohargod, societies' attention bo called to tho matter, and they bo requested wherever possible to notify euch cases to tho Advisory Board and take such action as the board thinks advisable, with a view of checking the abuse."—This :s a resolution passed by tho Patriotic Societies' Conference in Wellington yesterday.

By proclamation in tho Gazette the disease called or known as bilharziosis, or blood-fluko infection, or Egyptian haematuiria, or endemic haematuna, or bilharzia haematobia diseasoi is declared to bo an infectious disease within the mean, ing of the Public Health Act. In order to encourage donations to patriotio funds, tho Patriotic Societies' Conferenco yesterday expressed the opinion that all such donations should be oxompt from income tax; a receipt or voucher signed by tho secretary of tho Patriotio Association could bo attached to tho income tax returns showing the amount donated.

Tho Telegraph Department has been notified that all code addresses registered in the United States of America since January 1, 1917, are not available for use. The notification that telegrams, including oablo messages, are accepted by tho Department at the senders' risk, and that no inquiry regarding the fato of any cable message will be undertaken by administrations beyond tho Dominion is ropeated for public information.

The opinion was expressed at tho Patriotio Societies' Conference yesterday that many men were not making proper allowances to their wives between the timo thoy went to camp and the time they left the Dominion, and it was resolved :-"That it is very necessary that the general rule of married soldiers allotments to their wives not taking effect until date of embarkation should do altered and bo made compulsory for tho men to mako such allotments so soon as they enter camp, and that tho Government bo urged to carry this into effect A Chinaman created a great deal of amusement in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday when placed in tho witness-box. "How do you swear—by tho Biblo or tho match?" asked His Worship. "Oh, any way," replied the Celestial. The Magistrate then proceeded to swear him, and began: "I swear by Almighty Godi" but ho got no further, for tiie Chinaman said: "Not much!" Eventually, an interpreter had to finish tho business.

The following remit was moved at tho Patriotio Societies' Conference yesterday: "That 6trong representations bo mado to tho Government that in the opinion of this conferon:o all reservists; called up and failing to answer the :all to tho Empire's aid be deprived of all civil rights." So many delegates expressed tho opinion that the matter was far outside the proper ycope of tho conference that the mover withdrew his proposal. In fining a Chinaman yesterday £2 and costs for soiling tobacco after 8 p.m., Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., intimated that, next time ho.would bo fined ,£5. Tho Chinaman replied, "I won't do any more, that's enough."

There is a considerable demand at the present time for gramophones and graraophono records for use in the military camp institutes. Tho National Committee of tho Y.M.C.A. would bo glad to receive such gifts to bo forwarded for tho use and benefit of the men.

The gas supply will bo turned on at G. 30 this morning and will be cut rff at 10 p.m.

It was resolved by the Patriotic Societies' Conference to seriously consider tho disabled soldiei-s question with a viow of doing all that is possible to make them physically fit, and at tho saino tirno to teach them something that will benefit tlicm in their future career, in justico to tho individual and from an cconomio point of view of tho country.

"I am not joining in with this cry nbout taxing bachelors," said Mr. Payne in the House of Representatives yesterday. "I think the bachelor is Buffering enough already, poor chap. Any man who has not enough brains to bo married deserves all the misery that is coming to him."

The Patriotic Societies' Conference re> solved yesterday:—"That in view of the number of men who break down while undergoing training and are discharged or are given leave without pay, a recommendation bo mado to the Defence authorities that a moro careful and thorough medical examination bo made before the men aro sent into camp."

Complaints were made in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. H. Poland against.the return to relatives of soldiers killed at the fiont of old' soiled underclothing ns "effects." Mr. Poland mentioned a caso of this kind, and protested that this sort of thin? was distressing to tho relatives. The soldier in this case had a wristlet watch and other things of value, but they were not sent 'back. Tho Minister of Defence said ho ivas very sorry to hear of this being doue, because dofiuito instructions had been given that '.these old clothes should not be sent back, but burned. Trinkets and articles- of valuo were to be returned to the relatives. The fault was not in Now Zealand, aud he would have to coniniMUcato with the Officer Commandin" at the front on the subject.

A largely-signed petition was presented to Parliament by the llou. \Y. If. Berries yesterday, csVmg that the Iloub-o shall consider whether means cannot ho devised (o push on the connection of Tau.ranga with tho railway on tho east of the harbour by construction of the harbour bridgo and tho connection of that portion of tlio East Const railway with the main system at Willi.

At the meeting of tlio Central Chamber of Commerce on Monday afternoon next, 'Mr. L. Ashcroft Edwards will address tho council on tlio subject of the necessity for business men to prepare for

trado after tlio war. Financial assistance for the Topid Baths at thoßoys' Institute was requested by a deputation comprising Messrs. G. Troup, T. Shields, Lem. Walker, and J''.' Boss, -which lias waited upon the Baths Libraries, and Beaches Committee of the City Council. Mr. Troup said that tlio returns from the baths had gono from bad to worse during the war poriod. The institute was prepared to devote £200 towards the -upkeep, but did not anticipate that tlio loss would bo a recurring one. Expenses had now been cut down to bedrock. Tlio committee promised consideration of the request, and in tho meantime a balance-sheet showing the position of tho undertaking is to 1m submitted by the institute.