LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 14, 11 October 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

During the month of .September New Zealand had an excess of arrivals over departures of 15 persons. The excess for the corresponding month of last year was 199. The figures do not include soldiers.

"Of course, we know as, a matter of everyday usage that it is not usual to tako receipts for taxi-cab hire," remarked Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday,' in giving judgment in a caso in which an amount was claimed for the hire of a taxi-cab. "It may be wise to do so, but it is not customary."

Additional regulations governing tho manufacture of cigarettes in New Zealand aro gazetted this week. They provide for the completion of roturns showing monthly the quantity of cigarettes on which the manufacturer is liable to pay duty.

"If lighting were going on here in New Zealand, money for tho Hod Cross would be, directly forthcoming without question," said Mr. P. H. Dpton. in addressing a meeting of Auckland business men. "There would not bo any need for entertainments or other popular methods under which people expect to get their money's worth when they subscribe to the Red Cross! We ought to do for the men who are fighting far away what wo would do so gladly for them if they wero fighting and dying hero in our own country. It should no longer bo necessary for us to go to a man, and, by sheer force of argument, compel him to contribute to this noble fund, nor should it bo necessary for us to try to convince him of a duty which it is his privilege to perform."

Last year the Minister of Internal Affairs placed before Parliament a comprehensive Town-Planning Bill, intended to secure a proper regard for health, beauty, and public convenience in the laying out of New Zealand towns and the subdivision of additional suburban areas. This Bill was referred to ti.e local bodies and various organisations for their consideration and approval. The Minister mentioned yesterday that he had received a long and valuable review of the provisions of the Bill from the Dunedin Town-Planning Society. Mr. S. Hurst-Seager, who was New Zealand's unofficial representative at the recent Town-Planning Conference in Brisbane, is preparing a report on the work done by that conference, which gave much of its attention. to the relation between town-planning and the repatriation of soldiers.

Corrugated iron is one of the scarcest commodities in hardware' in New Zealand at the present time. A member of one of the largest plumbing firms in Wellington informed a Dominjok reporter that they were at their wits' end for a 'supply. "We cannot get a sheet of iron at present-not even enough new 'corrugated' to repair a tank with. There aro shipments to arrive shortly from America, but I-don't suppose there has ever been such a shortage L'oforo in the history of New Zealand." "When asked as toprices our informant said that the price, when there was any iron at all, was on a £95 basis—it ranged up to between £120 and £130 per ton for heavy gauge iron. It will appeal more to householders when it is stated that the ordinary back-yard rubbish tins, which before the war cost Bs. 6d., are now retailed at 21s. 6d. in Wellington.

The election of members of the Wangaiiui Fire Board is to be held on October IS. The Department of Agriculture has received conscience money to the amount of 10s. from some person unknown. A man named Kaernes deary, 25 years of age, jumped off a motor lorry "at the Lambton Station last night, hut slipped, and one of the wheels of the vehicle passed over his body. He sustained an injury to the groin, and it was found necessary to remove him to the Hospital for treatment, deary resides in Winglield Street. The body of an old man named Deniiis Flynn" was found by .T. Foley, a railway "anger, in the creek near the railway hue at Paekakariki, yesterday. The Wellington police were informed, and the- body was brought to town in the evening, and removed to the morgue. An inouest will bo held.

During the hearing of the saddlers' dispute before the Arbitration Court yesterday, Mr. E.. Kennedy, representing tlie workers' union, remarked that the rates of pay demanded by the union for women stitchers and machinists raised the question of "what is a living .wage?" ""We have never had a declaration either from this Court," added Mr. Kennedy, "nor from any other Court, so far as I am aware. There has been no declaration of what is the living wage of a woman. In the present award, added Mr. Kennedy, the pay of women workers was £2 a week. The union contended that £2 a week was not a living wage for a woman in Wellington. A woman could not secure lodgings at a much lower rate than a man. The union contended that under the existing conditions the workers' demand for £2 15s. a week was reasonable. In connection with the proposer] amalgamation with Wellington city qt the adjoining boroughs of Karon, Onslow' and Miramar, a sub-commit-tee consisting of Mr. C. Collins Icity treasurer) and Mr. James Ames (city valuer) was apoointed to go into the matter thoroughly with a view to obtaining all the necessary information for the Citv Council. The boroughs of Karori and Onslow, which have intimated a desire to join up with the city, made the two officers named free of their books, and gave all the information that was desired, but Miramar, which depends on the citv for its water, tramway service, would not allow the borough books to be examined.

Japanese goods, which forged their way into the world's markets by their cheapness, aro now losing that character. A large New Zealand importing house has been advised by representatives in Japan, wider date July 17, as follows:—"Glassware is very firm at 20 per cent, advance; slate pencils, 100 per cent. All china, and earthenware contracts are very much behind in consequence of a strong American demand. Buyers for the States aro taking lines at very high prices. It is extremely difficult to get deliveries of any contracts, ancl some of these were made some months hack. Owins to the threat increase in the cost of rice and its scarcity, the cost of nearly all manufactured goods has increased, and prices are accordingly advanced."

There is to be an aerial service from Svdnev to London established immediately after tho war, according to Mr. Richard Lloyd, a man of some importance in London commercial and financial circles, who is now in Sydney making the necessary arrangements. Mr. Llovd savs that the route is Lniidon-Paris - Marseilles - Pwliira-Tri-pnli-Port Said-Basn-fvarachi-Calcutta-'Ransoon-Penang - Bornco-Celebes-Cape York-Brisbane-Sydney. It is proposed that, tho sorvico shall at first rnrrv mails, and a few and it h Gxnceted to accomplish the journev in 150 flying hours. It. is hoped, at first, to have neronlanes den.irtinis; lor Sydnev and London once a week.

A notice in District Orders states it lias been brought to notice that a large number of returned soldiers are in possession of coats, British warm, alleged to have been issued to them in England in lieu of greatcoats. It has been decided that these British warms may be accepted in lieu of greatcoats for the purpose of the five guinea mufti allowance, provided ■ tho soldier makes a written declaration before an officer that the British warm was issued to him in lieu of a greatcoat. When a soldier brings an alleged British warm, which on examination proves to be, the ordinary issue greatcoat converted into a British warm/ it is not to be accepted on any account, and the soldier will be required to pay the value of the greatcoat, unless ho is able to produce a greatcoat. Tho circumstances of the sudden death of George Harry Waite, a grocer's canvasser, who fell dead at a customer's house on Tuesday, wero inquired into bv the Coroner, Mr. W &. Riddcll, S".M., yesterday. The evidence showed that deceased, who was married, 43 years of age, with ono child, started out at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, when apparently in-good health, to canvass for orders. About 1 o'clock ho called at the house of Mr. F. Lea, of Hungerford Street, Melrose, and, after talking at the door for a few moments, lie stooned down to take a paper out of his basket, when suddenly he collapsed. Death was evidently instantaneous. Dr. W. Kmgton Fyffc, who conducted a post-mortem examination of tho body of the deceased, said that dcatli was due to the rupture of an aneurism in the aorta. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence.

A returned soldier who was charged with having used obscene language informed Mr. F. V;' Frazer, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday that Ue did°not remember what happened. Ho had onlv returned this week, and the few drinks he had had affected him. "I could not stand the drinks " remarked defendant to the Bench. In reply to Mr. Frazer the man said he had not suffered shell shock, but had been wounded. His Worship said that because he had been wounded no doubt his nervous system had been affected. "You must remember that you fellows cannot drink like you could before you went away," observed Mr, Frazer. "Wo have" a lot of you coming back with nerve shock and shock' from wounds, and I think it is best for you to keep clear of liquor till /you find you can stand it. Didn't the doctors tell tou to leave it alone?" "Ah, they tell us so many things," replied the soldier, amidst laughter. His Worship ordered the man to come un for sentence when called upon within six months.

A gallant exploit by Major Evelyn H. W. William, of the Hussars, who has received the D.5.0., is described in the London "Gazette" as follows:— "He led a mounted charge along the hostile line after the infantry line had broken back, taking the line in flank, and in the face of the heaviest machinegun fire lie carried out the manoeuvre successfully, sabring nearly 100 of the enemy, and taking 100 prisoners, although his own troop was only 150. His fine action rallied the infantry, who advanced and recovered oyer 3000 yards in depth of the whole line."

A Wellington Central branch of the New Zealand Labour Party has been formed.' The. following are the oflicers elected:—President. Mr. A'. Agnew; vice-president, Mr. AV. H. M'Cullough; lion, secretary, Mr. H. "Denby; committee, Mesdames Carbody and Lawlor, Messrs. J. Stewart and H. Abbott; delegate to the Labour "Representation Committee, Mr. S. Gordon. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has received an interesting communication from Mr. Clinton R. AVoodruff, secretary of the National Municipal League, of Philadelphia, U.S.A., soliciting information as to the nature of, work being done municipally during the_ war, and what steps are being taken in regard to progressive work after the war. The Mayor says that the. communication is evidently one of those wise movements doubtless initiated with the idea of gaining informative knowledge in the domain of municipal works. From the community of ideas many good ones would be given expression to from various parts of the world which may be helptul to those in other towns and cities with parallel problems to solve. A suitable reply will bo forwarded to Philadelphia, giving particulars of the programme of works that wero approved immediately before the war. There was also the municipalisation of the milk industry, the proposed reclamation works, and the establishment of a Greater Wellington- to record as matters of interest concerning "the borough of "Wellington."

The new buildings at Miramar are, expected to be ready for the boys of Scots Collego early next year. The Board of Governors, with the concurrence of the Presbytery of Wellington, intend to open early in February a day and boarding school for girls in the promises in Ilobson Street at present occupied by the boys. The board lias received a large number of ai>plications for the position of lady principal, and it is expected to come to a decision in the course of the next few days.

The Surveyors' Board of New Zealand has concluded its September halfyearly examination of candidates for a surveyor's license. Eleven candidates sat, several of whom, in view of their military requirements, were undertaking partial examination only. Two candidates, Messrs. J, H. Vivian, of Auckland, and C. D. Truebridge, of Wellington, were successful in completing'and passing the whole examination.

No. 90,001 Private R, Gould, CI Details, found guilty of disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer, has been sentenced by court-mar-tial to -undergo one year and eleven months' imprisonment with hard labour.

Donations to the -Wounded Soldiers', Sailors', and Dependants' Fund to date are:—Amount previously acknowledged, £19,116 lis. 9d.; Dr. J. IT. Kemp (two months), £8 13s. 4d.; staff Wellington Harbour Board (45th instalment), £4 Bs. Gd.; Karori district (monthlv), £10; Dr. J. H. Kemp (monthly), £4 '6s. Bd.; total, £19,144 os. 3d. '

Proposals for altering the control of the Pay and Allotment Departments ami the erection of' a new building in consequence at a cost of £12,000, invtlving also the closing of a public street, were discussed at Inst night's meeting of the Second Division lesgue Executive. . The members present scathingly criticised 'J;e eloventh-hour policy of the authorities in '.he matter, and the following resolution was carried for forwarding to the Minist n r of Defence:—"That, in the opinion of the National Executive of the Second Division League, the proposed, change to direct military control of the pay and allotment branches is not in the interests of soldiers and their dependants, as tending to the imposition of red-tape methods, involving disabilities on those who have to these Departments; and that a- protest to entered iitninst the alteration at this late stage of the war and against the unnecesf'-v and unwarranted expenditure of public money involved in the building proposal when so many more urgent claims are overlooked."