LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 120, 7 February 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A draft of 104 men from the Now Zealand Forces in Palestine, arrived here yesterday afternoon. The greater number of them were for Auckland, and these will leave for their various destinations tins , morning. Of the Wellington men there were only three oot cases, and physically overy man was vastly improved in health by tho ocean voyage. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) welcomed the returned men back to tho land of their birth, and Mrs. Luke and the lady members of her committee distributed fruit, flowers, and cigarettes among the men. The southern section will go forward today. The names of tho men who returned appear elsewhere in this issue.

At the present time of tho year the attention of those responsible is usually directed to the state of the water supply. The authorities state that those who, with or without meters, uso a considerable quantity of water should be careful not to be wasteful, as during February the inflow into the Morton dam is at its lowest. One curious thing that has been noted in connection with the daily demand for water is tho great difference in the meter reading between a warm day, such as yesterday, and a cool day. The difference at times exceeds a million gallons for the twenty-four hours.

The Postmaster-General announces that the following has been received from the German Post Office for tho information of persons dispatching letters and packets to prisoners'of war in Germany:—"Postal packets for detached prisoners of war in Germany should contain in the address as the-place of destination » statement of the parent camp only. The prisoners having from the first been enjoined to inform in this sense relatives and other persons from whom they expoot postal packets, the receiving post offices on vho frontier have now been instructed, at the request of the competent Army Department, to return all postal packets for prisoners in tho address of which a branch or working camp or a work place is given as tho place of destination instead of the parent camp. Postal packets for prisoners in hospitals are not affected by this regulation. Postal packets without a statement of the place of destination are also permissible." '

According to tho monthly statement of the Returned Soldiers' Information Department, 14,244 soldiers have hoen listed on the register of the Department. Of those, 11,022 have been disposed of by the Department, 1937 arc "under action," and 1285 are "not ready for action." Of the men reported as "under action" only 294 are on the "employment wanted" register, the others being as yet not anxious to go to work, or men about whom inquiries have not yet been made. A proportion of these men will he placed in work as soon as the Department gets into touch with them, or as soon as they wish to resume work. The men "not ready fenaction" aro unfit for work, and many of them have not been discharged from the Army.

Tho Pharmacy Board of tho Dominion has approached the Minister of Internal Affairs and asked him to amend the law regarding tho. sale of poisons to the public They said that at present it was legal for somo poisons to be sold by persons who were not chemists and the board asked that the law should be amended to prohibit tills. It was mentioned tbat one of the firms listed as having the right to sell poisons was a grocery firm. It was suggested that some poisons which ought to bo on tho list of those the sa e of -which was to be under tho restrictions ilnposed should.be added to tlie list Tho crcneral claim of the deputation of the pharmacists was tliat the present law which had been on the Statute Book for very many years was obsolete, and in need of amendment the Minister (the Hon. 0 W. tell) u.ul tliat he would havo the matter -xamnied, with a view to the preparation o fresh legislation, but he was afraid t/at [would not be possible to bring down anything but the most urgent legislation until after the war. "NO RUBBING" Laundry Help, Is, "GOLDEN RULE" Soap, Is. 3d. "GOLDEN RULE" Candles, Is. Ideal for family use. j Thawlev and Son, Upper Cuba Street-Advt.

A deputation representing the School Committees' Association of Wellington waited upon the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. CI. W. Russell) yesterday morning for the purpose of asking whether the Government would be prepared to consider a proposal to import stationery and other supplies cf the sort required by school committees, in bulk, and sell to committees at cost, price. The Minister replied that the question was a very large one, as it would mean a big increase of staff in tho packing and clearing department of the printing office if the Government were to undertake to supply all tho school committees of Now Zealand. Ho suggested that samples of stationery referred to by tho deputation shourcl be forwarded to him, with prices now charged, and he would then consult the Government Printer to see whether it would bo possible for tho Government to undertake the supply of the goods at any material reduction in cost. He further suggested that) it would probably be far moro convenient if they were to approach Education Boards with a proposal that they should eaoli establish a bulk store with the necessary appliances for the work they were asking the Government to do.

News has reached Wellington that Mr. Howard Matthews, of Khandallan, a marine engineer, who served his apprenticeship at Cable's foundry, has for the second time been on board a torpedoed vessel, and once more has come through the hazardous experience unscathed. Last year he was one of the engineering staff of the British steamer Minne Tonkia, which was sunk by an enemy submarine in the Mediterranean Sea. This year, about the same time, Mr. Matthews was third engineer on the steamer Minnie Nohber, and was again caught by a vigilant XT-boat, and once mora those saved found a haven in Vnletta harbour at Malta. Mr. Matthews's mother resides at Khandallah. Mr. Matthews left-Wellington-on-the staff of the' Kia Ora at a day's notice, and has had as much experience :ifloat in two years" as would satisfy tho averago man for a lifetime.

The Sydney Stadium at Rushcutters' Bay is now being used as a store for ivool and wheat—matters of more moment than glove contests. It is said that some of those interested in the Stadium are looking round for a suitable building in Sydney, and will run contests if a licence can be obtained.

A troopship- Y.M.C.A. secretary writes that the men are so fond of chess that the limited number of sets on board were in constant use.. There is a distinct shortage of chess sets, says Mr. E. C. Brownell, general national secretary of thoY.M.C.A., and tho association finds it impossible to obtain any in the shops, so that they are unable to meet the demand by the soldiers. The association asks that the position be placed before readers, many of. whom doubtless have sets which are not greatly used. If .any? one who can spare a. set of chess mon, with or without board, will kindly send it to the Y.M.C.A. National.. Headquarters, -Baker's Buildings,. Featherr stop Street, it will be put on a troopship to holp to relieve the monotony of tho long sea. voyage.

At tho monthly meeting of the Loyal Unity Lodge, Feathersto'n, Bro. M. fi. l'ait, P.G., <i past president- of tho Wairarapa Past Grands Lodge, was appointed as the delegate to attend the provincial conference on February 26 at "Wellington. The secretary will also attend, but in the capacity or a district officer. A cablegram" from the Ladies' Emergency Committee, London, was read at Tuesday's meeting of the Navy League, stating • that funds were urgently needed for Royal Naval prisoners' food, and asking for help from the branch. Tt was decided to. transmit an amount of £856, which was in hand to the credit of King George's Fund, to the proper, authorities in London, with a recommendation that £500 of it should be> used for the purpose of naval prisoners' food. It was also agreed that a cablegram should be sent to the Ladies' Emergency Committee, London, suggesting that they should apply to King George's Fund for the amount recommended;

At the Waimate Flower Show, the champion rose and the sweetest-smell-ing rose wero sold by auction on behalf of the Red Cross and Lady Liverpool Funds. They realised £237 13s. 9d.

The unparalleled' number of rabbits to bB Been on our country highways and byways bis occasioned much comment recently, both verbally and in the Press (says the "Mataura Fjiisign"). The pest is not confined to the country districts only. The other day on a Gore resident going home for tea he was somewhat astonished' to find five "bunnies" disporting themselves on his lawn.

A report on Norfolk Island for the financial year ended June 30, 1917, by the Administrator (Mr. M. B. Murphy) was tabled in the Federal House of Representatives last month. An in-crease-is shown in both imports and exports, the former amounting in value to £16,693 and the latter to £8799, compared respectively with £9167 and £1193 for 1913-14. The great increase in the price of lemons contributed to the increased value of exports. Whaling, which was once the principal industry, is stated to have lapsed, notwithstanding that during the season, July to November, numbers of humpback whales could be seen daily spouting all round the island. Extra shipping facilities had been erected. It was disappointing, the Administrator states, to find how little extra land had been placed under cultivation. In December, 1916, the population consisted of 374 males nnd 443 females. The Melanesians in the mission numbered 113. The sum of_ £1153 had been- subscribed to various patriotic funds, whilst £600 had heen invested in the Commonwealth War Loans, and £175 in War Savings Certificates. The Norfolk Island honour roll contains 77 names of natives of Norfolk Island who had enlisted in the A.I.F. Of these, eight have heen killed in action and 14 wounded.

The following soldiers at Trentham Camp having been found guilty by District Court-Martial of disobeying lawful commands given by their superior officers, have been sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for two years:—No. 71,979 Pte. W. White, Dotails; No. 71,980 Pte. E. H. Dowsott, Details.

It is understood in tho south that the Federated Minors' Union has presented a claim to tho Mine Owners' Federation, in which they ask for an increaso in wages of 20 p'er cent., and that a conference between the parties will ho held in Wellington about tho middle of the month. "Tho owners do not look with any great favour on tho latest demand of the men (says an exchange), as tho men Agreed when they received an increaso in wages about six months ago that they would not. demand a further increaso for a period of two years. Moreover, the owners cannot understand how an increaso in the cost of living requiring another advanco in wages of 20 per cent, can have taken place in the space of six months. If the increases "are granted it simply menus that the employers will pass the increaso—cither a portion or the whole—on to the general public. A section of the workmen consequently benefit at the expense of their fellow workmen."

Science is much in evidence nowadays. But it hasn't succeeded in reducing lwggnso to tabloid form yet. Meanwhilo save trouble handling by getting the New Zealand Express Co. to check it. They colleot, cheek on frail, soa, or both), deliver on arrival. Reliable. Reasonable. 87-91 Customhouse Quay.Advt.

Brigadier-General C. G. Johnston, lecturing at the United Service Institute in Melbourne recently on the canabilities and limitations of modern artillery, said that siego artillery had to bo drawn by tractors, and could not travel off the road. Owing to the difficulty of moving tho heavy guns ho did not think that any sensational "break through" would bo made by the British on tho Western front. The Germans had from time to time been driven back for a. distance of several miles, but they had always made a fresh stand as soon as they reached strong positions. But when tho nature of tho country was taken into consideration an advance of even a few miles represented a big victory, and every advance brought the end of the war nearer An auxiliary branch of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce was formed at-Petone last night.. The Mayor of Petone (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) was in the chair, and there wore some thirty gentlemen present. Addresses on the objects of tho chamber were delivered by Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, and Mr. L. Ashcroft Edwards, after which a resolution was agreed to that a branch of tho Wellington Central I Chamber bo formed in Petone.

A peculiar position in regard to tho freezing industry was revealed at tho sitting of the Military Service Board in Wanganui yesterday (says a Press Association telegram). A man named Bertram James Prosscr appealed against being called up on the ground that lie was an expert slaughterman, and slaughtering had been declared an essential industry. Appellant stated that he was formerly engaged at the Castlecliff works. Ho took part in the strike of 1913, subsequently joining n new union and resuming work. However, he had been compelled to leavework fifteen months ago, because other men refused to work with him. The companies all over New Zealand were willing to give him work, but tho employees took tho stand that if any company employed him they would have to take the consequences. He was an expert slaughterman, and had spent £300 in fifteen months looking for work. Captain Walker said the position was most peculiar. Appellant was asking for exemption as an expert in an essential industry, but ho was not engaged in that. If his statement was correct, the action of the slaughtermen was an outrage. The case was one of blackmail. .The military authorities did not object to the exemption of expert slaughtermen, but if an expert was.to be kept out of work by other men, what would be the use of exempting themP Such action on tho part of slaughtermen would lead to the country soon being in the position that there would not be sufficient slaughtermen to carry on the industry. Mr. M'Laren said the board should report to the Government, that the whole matter should he gono into by a tribunal, as the position of the industry was most unsatisfactory. His opinion was that there was one continue ous feud between different factions, with faults on both sides. The board adjourned the case in order to make further inquiries.

The Defence Expenditure Commission will sit at 2.30 p.m. to-day at Parliamentary Buildings.

As the guests of the management, a party of over 50 Maori soldiers, with their officers, attended the performance at His Majesty's Theatre last evening.

Owing to the great shortage of boys at the "present time the Telegraph Department has decided to employ girls us telegraph messengers. The Department has had girls at the Kilbirnie, Northland, and Brooklyn Post Offices, and they are said to have proved themselves quite competent to do the work. It is proposed to keep the girls on a separate staff, under the charge of a lady, and it is intended to give them the same, chances of promotion as the boys get. Inquiries show that seven girls will start in the General Office next week, and the Telegraph Department is quite willing to employ more. The Fire Brigade received a call at 11.15 last night to a iive-roomed house in Coromandel Street. The house and the contents, owned by Mr. Thos. Underwood, was slightly damaged. Both the house and furniture wero insured in the Commercial Union Office.