LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 175, 13 April 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The question of tho exemption of clergymen cropped up for a moment at yesterday's sitting of the First Wellington Military Service Hoard. Appeals for three -theological students were being considered, when Captain Walker, the military representative, remarked that in view of the change in the general position it was-not unlikely that clergymen would bo called on for non-combatant work. The position of the clergy might be reconsidered. ■

At a meeting of tile directors of the Bank of New Zealand, held yesterday Mr. Harol-:! Beauchamp was reappointed chairman of tho board for tho current financial year.

Three companies of the Thirtyseventh Reinforcements inarched -from Peatherston Camp to Kaitoke yesterday on their way to Trentham. The column was in charge of Colonel C. R. Macdonald, and made good time to tile Summit, where refreshments were provided for the men. Colonel C. M. Gibbon, Chief of tho General Staff, and Colonel H. R. Potter, Camp Commandant at Trentham, met the troops on the road and inspected them in bivouac at Kaitoke. The Thirty-sevenths will resume their march this morning, and reach Trent-ham shortly before 11 a.m. The Camp Band will meet them at Upper Hutt and- play tliem into camp.

It is not generally known that smoking on premises where foodstuffs are sold by auction is an offence against the city "by-laws. The by-law was passed some time ago, and there have been prosecutions under it, but so long ago that people have probably .'.irgotten all about it. Yesterday in ihe Magistrate's Court, before Mr. S. I?. M'Carthy, S.M., Charles H. Grouusell, Henry Hnrdwick, Ernest Miles, and Abraham Joseph were convioted of committing a breach of this by-law in that they were found smoking in the Wellington Fruit and Produce Exchange, and were each fined Is. with costs 17s. 6d.

The addition of butter, tobacco, cigarettes, cocoa, and soap to the articles that may not be sent through tho post to soldiers was mentioned in the House of Representatives by Dr. Thacker (Christchurch East). He said that the new'order would not reduce tho quantity of parcels carried by tho ...post, since people would send cakes, tins of biscuits, etc., instead. He asked tho Postmaster-General to withdraw the prohibition. Sir Joseph Ward replied that the New Zealand Government had simply carried otit tho directions of tli9 Imperial authorities as to tho contents of soldiers' parcels. He would be glad to be able to Temove tho prohibition, but he could do nothing. . He had previously made representations to the Imperial Government on the pointy.

A rumour, one of many, about German prisoners at Soincs Island is that they are doing tailoring work for private people in the Dominion, and the allegation' is that this competition with tradespeople is unfair. Mr. Luke gave notice yesterday in tho House of Representatives to ask for a report showing the amount of this work that was being done by the prisoners.

Tho increases in tho prico of New Zealand footwear was the, subject of a question in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. AY right gave notice' to ask the Prime Minister (1) whether his attention has been called to the steady increase in the prico of footwear in New Zealand; (2) 'whether lie is aware that local boot manufacturers are taking advantage of the practical elimination of outside competition, and have raised their priccs undulv; and (3) whether the Government will take steps to regulate prices.

Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of Gunner William Howie, 24 years of ago, whoso parents reside in' Georgetown. He returned to New Zealand with a number of wounded and invalided soldiers, arriving in Auckland on March 16, and reached Wellington in due course. He was seen in this city late at night before the steamer left for Lyttelton, but on the vessel's arrival at that port was not on hand, and be has not been heard of since.

for the soldiers' sports which are to be held at Trentham Racecourse on Tuesday are well m hand. Some substantial prizes are to be offered in the various events, and the variety, of Hie programme is considered certain to bring a f number of starters to the post in all the events. The public will be invited to be present at tho sports. Tho conference of tho New Zealand Drivers' Federation was continued throughout yesterday, Mr. G. Davis <Auckland) presiding. Nothing .was given out. for publication, the business being mostly of a domestic character. The foundation. stono of Scots College at Miramar will be laid at 3 p.m. to-day by the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken.

An appellant before the Military Service Board' yesterday stated that lie already had had four liotices as _ to when he was to go into camp. >'■ The military representative on the board stated that it was probable that lie would get still another.

Mr. Neville 'Mayman, the commissioner recently appointed by the New South Wales State Goverhment to investigate the conditions affecting infantile mortality in tho Dominion, has been engaged- in making inquiries in Wellington during the past fortnight. Mr. Mayman left in the Maori last evening en route to-Dunedin. After visiting the Karitane Hospital and making a tour of various Government institutions in the South Island, Mr. Maynian will return to Wellington to complete his inquiries here, and will visit Auckland and other centres in the North Island before going back to Sydney. Mr;; Mayman is bo far much impressed with the work conducted in New' Zealand both by the Government aiui by private organisations on behalf of the mother and the child. ■

A man named William Gilbertson, emploved bv Messrs. Myers and Co., Victoria Street, had his hand caught and crushed in a lift yesterday, and was admitted to : the Hospital in the afternoon.

"Owing to tho scarcity of benzine," it is stated in Wellington Military District orders, "the issue of benzine on payment under. Government contracts is'to cease until further orders." A suggestion that the Government should allow returned soldiers to travel on the railways at half faro was made to tho Minister of Defence in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. J. C. Thomson.

A conference of- those interested in the local Y.M.G'.A. work is to be held this week-end. The Rev.-L. C. M. Donaldson, of Melbourne (late Victorian Y.M.C.A. field "secretary), who was in Berlin a month before tho outbreak' of war, will be present and give an address on Sunday morning. It is expected that about forty, members will be .present.

Mrs. Austin, a resident of Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, fell down some steps in Willis Street yesterday afternoon, and sustained an injury to the knee, which necessitated her removal to the Hospital.

'"The Defence Department is being put to considerable unnecessary expense in tho payment of medical fees for attendance on soldiers-who could have been treated in a public hospital," says a note in District Orders. "In future, whenever practicable, certifying officers will send" soldiers direct, as out-patients, to a hospital,' issuing a crrtificato the same as for a doctor."

The Minister stated yesterday that petitions presented to Parliament dnring the present short session would bo allowed (o go before the Public Volitions Committee next session without being presented again.

In the House of Representatives, Mr. J. C. Thomson (Wallace) said he believed it to be the case that men who were promoted to non-commissione rank at the front did not always receive the, pay.of thoir improved rank. The Minister of Defence said lie would male© inquiries. He believed that, tlio pay of rank was allowed in all eases, even when the. appointments were only temporary.

Replying to a question in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Minister of Defence said that it was not correct that- there was a larger proportion of sickness and deaths in the military camps than there was amongst the civilian, population of New Zealand.

Jn a question in the House of Representatives yesterday Mr. Okcy suggested'to the Minister of Defence'that the financial rssistance • regulations should bo amended to pei mit tno board paying' life insurance and war loading 011 policies up to £30f! on young men going to the front, without any restriction ns to their position. Many men; he said, were being returned.from the war in such a state that insurance offices would not accept them for life insurance. Monday (April 15) is the last davto invest in the -War Loan. Recognising that time is now' the essence of the contract, Messrs. Carr and Piper an-' nounco in a special notice on page 1 of this issue that'- their office will ho open from' 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. t'o-dav to enable tho public to complete arrangements with the A.M.P. Society for 'securing War' Bonds under their instalment plan—Advt. : '