LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 179, 18 April 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

I he. Prime; Minister had a conference yesterday with representatives 7h coa minois regarding tho strike, which still continues at the Pa.parou mine Mr Massey said after the conference that there, was a fair prospect of a. settlement, but that the result would not be known until the union delegates had had time to convey the proposals lo their unions. _ The export of all electrical material including machinery, instruments and parts, is prohibited by Order-in-Council. The Olngo Education Board ha* nominated its chairman (Mr. D. T. Mowing) for a seat on Ihe General Council of Education.--Press Assn.

It has been a custom with fathers in nil ages lo make it quite clear to all hands that "tho boys to-day are not a.s good as the boys were when I was a lad." A member of the Victoria College Council last evening remarked thaihe had heard the chorus of "blame the boy," but the fact that he was very much impressed with the superiority of the boy of to-day over his lather, "

At the first call for labour on llic ivharvps yesterday morning, about tun dosen men were wealed far cleauiiig the hull of the Hlackbatl Coal Company's steamer Kgaturo, on Hid Patent. Slip, but the men available refined the work. It is understood thai; Ihe men wanted (laymenf as fiom S a.m., although they ivere not wanted until 10 a.m., and as such a. demand had not previously been made, it \va;l refused. The Ngatoro is regularly engaged in Ihe GreymouthWellington coal trad-\ and in consequence of the action .if tho men in declining work slie lay idle all day. It. is hoped, however, that a start will bo made to clean Ihe vessel to-day, and that she will be enabled lo leave for Ihe roast to load much-needed .coal for Wellington. Rumours have been circulated in ihe Dominion regarding the alleged unfriendly relationship and lack of co-operation between American and British Imperial troops in France. In a letter received by Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, Secretary of the Treasury, from Sir Alexander Godley, now in command of a combined British and Now Zealand Army Corps, the question of the fooling between the troops is touched upon. General Godley speaks in the highest terms of the Americans, and says he doubts if the men and material which have been added to the German forces from the submission of Russia and Rumania will counter-balance tho advent of the Americans on the Allies' side. American troops are arriving more quickly than had been expected, and are creating a most favourable impression. The officers are capable, intelligent, and receptive, and nil are most unxious to learn and profit from the experience of those who have been engnged in active operations. General Godley stresses the point that there is a conspicuous absenco of any braggadocio in the bearing of American officers and men. . Further news has been received of one of the crew of the steamer Wairuna, which was captured in the Pacific Ocean by tho German raider See Adler. The High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, has cabled to Mrs. Campbell, Parncll, Auckland, lo the effect that her son, Mr. W. G. Campbell, who was fourth engineer on the ill-fated steamer, is a prisoner, of war at Karlsruhe, Germany. Sir Thomas Mackenzie adds that Mr. Campbell is well, and that his wants are being attended to. Yesterday, members of the Wellington Education Board decided to visit the Berhampore, Kilbimie, and Miramar schools to-day. Tho Church of England Military Affairs Committee has cabled to headquarters in London another .£IOOO for Church Army huts, to help to replaco some of those destroyed in the recent German offensive. The public unveiling of llio Mount Cook School Honours Board will be performed by His Excellency tho GovernorGeneral at 2.30 on Friday afternoon. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., C.M.G.) will preside, nnd addresses will bo given by tho Right Hon. W. F. Mnssey, Sir James Allen, Lady Stout, the Hon. A. M. Myers, and tho Hon. ,T. A. Hannn. Tho headmaster (Mr. C. Barv) will rend tho names of old boys who have lost their lives, and Bugler C. F. Hester will sound the "Last Post." Messrs. J. H. Bethune and Co., at their proporty auction yesterday, under instructions from tho Public Trustee in the estate of Frank Harrison, sold a freehold property, No. 3 Glenbervio Terrace, being land with a frontngc of 'lift. 7in., with a 1-roomed. cott'ago, Hie purchaser being Mr. William Haydon, and tho prico £2V\.Tho export of hides and calfskins to any destination is prohibited save with the consent of Hie Minister of Customs. It is notified in tlio Gazette that tho Government has ceased to purchnso hides .and calfskins. In the Christchnrch Supreme Court yesterday (says a Press Association telegram) he Canterbury law Society proceeded to have n ruin nisi made absolute. Rtriltinjr Robert Daniel M'lver, of Kaikoura.'off the Roll of Solicitors. Mr. Justice ITerdman ordered the rulo nisi to' bo removed to the Court of Appeal, M'lver being suspended from practice meantime. A ballot was conducted at the meeting of tho Education Board yesterday to determine which two of tho city members should retire in July next. The ballot decided that the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., nnd Mr. Thomas Forsyth should retire. The following nominations have been received for the Newtown School Committco election:-Mossvs. H. Baillie, J. Castle, J. Oreives. H. Crompton, E. A. Eyres, J. H. Gilchrist. A. R. Hornblow, F. Laughton, C. E. Luxford, J.iW. Salmon, C. Webster, W. Wiles, W. A. Worth. Emma J. Webb, 'ind Mary A. Wright. Tho Central Chamber of Commerce last evening sanctioned changes in Ihe articles of association lo enable the branches established at Petono and tho Hull to have representation on the Council of the Chamber. The following appointments havo been made by tho Wellington Education Board:—Mangamahoe, sole teacher, Miss H. Sprngne; Tc Aro, infant mistress, Miss D. L. Whitbread-Edwards; Johnsonvillo, assistant, Miss M. Whitcombe; Hukanui, assistant, Miss M. Honwood; Petone, assistant (war appointment), Miss A. D. ITawloy; Mnranui, assistant. Miss R. Martin; Mangarama, sole teacher. Miss M. Hughes; Pahiatna District: High School, secondary assistants. Miss V. C. Farnie. M.A., and Miss E. M. North, 8.A.; Castle-point, solo teacher (temporary appointment), Miss R. Levien; Rangitumau, sole teacher, Miss V. .1. Shand; Korokoro, head teacher, Mr. J. E. Fanning; Upper Hutt. assistant, Mr. A. H. Tockor; Upper Flutt, assistant (temporary appointment), Mr. J. Casey; Oniaka, sole teacher (temporary appointment), Mi6S P. Cress-well; Ugbrooke, solo teacher (temporary appointment). Miss R.' Blair. During the course of bis remarks at the Central Chamber of Commerce last evening, Mr. C. J. Ward said that there was a great deal of talk about efficiency in New Zealand, but very little actual practice. Wo in New Zealand seemed to begin at the wrong end, and he instanced the "wretched" practice wo perpetuated of placing people, on back-block iands, remote from anything and everybody, without giving them proper Toads and the means of communication, which was the best method he knew of wasting human effort. Mr. Ward considered this method of breaking in Ihe land a pood example of dodging or "going slow," and advocated that (he land should be settled on intelligent lines. In endorsing the remarks of Mr. C. J. Ward at the meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce on tho Government's failure to encourage local industries, Mr. Thomas Forsyth said that the reason whv tho secondary industries suffered was'very apparent. It would need a very small'piece of paper for anyone to int down the rallies of tho* members of 'Parliament who represent*! tho primary industries, alongside tnose who look ar.v interest at all in local industries. Tho result would show at once whv nothing was done for tho latter. Mr. Ward in rcplv, said it. was nothing to him if this year we sent Homo a million moro sheep than last. What he wanted lo seo was a happy, contented people. He failed lo see why. all this pampering was done for the primary industries, and them alone. Tn giving evidence before the Defence Expenditure Commission on Tuesday morning, tho Chief Executive Officer of the Munitions and Supplies Department eulogised the valuable services rendered by Mr. M. P. Cameron, hardware expert for the Customs Department, in assisting the Minister in Charge of tho Munitions and Supplies Department and his advisers during the last two and a half years as hardware buyer. In this capacity Mr. Cameron's expert knowledge has been of considerable value to the country.