LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 60, 5 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Some eojdiers who had been on leave from camp at about the time when demobilisation commenced, and who, because of the epidemic.have been unable to proceed to camp at the expiry of their leave, have since been summoned to return to camp. At tho time when demobilisation was'commenced it was announced that men on leave teed not return to camp, but that men who ware absent from camp without leave would have to return. This would apply to the man who had already overstayed his leave.. Tho Minister said in the House of Representatives yesterday that if a man was prevented from 'eturning to camp on the due date owing, to the epidemic ho need not now return to camp.

"I don't know what the Public Service Commissioners are going to do now," said Mr. AV. A. Veitch in tho House of Representatives yesterday. "The Post ami Telegraph Dopartment has been taken out of their control, but we have still two Public Service Commissioners, highly paid, and they have only a few minor Departments under their control. It will ba for tho Government very shortly to say what is to bo done with these Commissioners."

Answering a question in the House of Representatives, the Minister of Munitions (Hon. A. M. Myers) said that if the Defence Department had surplus clothing and stores to sell, firms in the various centres would be given, an opportunity to tender for their purchase. He mentioned that much of the material at present in hand would be required by the troops during the period that had still to elapse, before mobilisation could be completed.

The report of the Public Health Department for tlio year ended March SI last shows that the number of births registered in the Dominion during 1917 was 28,239, or 25.69 per 1000 of the mean population, as against 28,509 in 1916, or 25.94 per 1000. The deaths numbered 10,528, or 9.58 per 1000 of the mean population, as against 9.64 in 11116.

The Sunday School Union has arranged with Mr. W. B. Howe to undertake organising work in the sparselypopulated districts. Mr. Howe will commence his mission in February. The union hope that sufficient support will be forthcoming to enable the work to be carried on until all tho districts havo been covered at least once,

A correspondent writes:—"ln your paper yesterday morning there is published a letter in which tho writer asks why Government War Bonds at i per cent., free of income tax, are in the open market already selling at a discount, and you publish Sir Joseph Ward's reply to that inquiry, The letter pnls the position quite clearly. Upon, the resumption of normal conditions, and tho demands that will inevitably arise for large sums of money for industrial and other purposes, it is quite conceivable that tlie above stock will then be offering freely at a. discount. With, n view to steadying the market as far as possible, I would suggest that the Minister of Finance should take power t> r-nable the Government or the Public Trustee to employ sinking funds attachable to loans —war or otherwise—in thp purchase of that stock whenever it falls appreciably below par. In addition to steadving tho market, this suggestion, if adopted, would Pliable the country to find a Teady market for the investment of its pinking funds at a, satisfactory rate of interest, and wild al*o have the effect of permanently reducing our indebtedness on loan."

In' reply to a reqiiwt from Hataitni that that district should 'be made a sepirnte school district (the school there is now a branch one of tho Roseneath pchonl). tlie Wclliimlon Education Board decided yesterday that in the meantime t.he status of. the Uatnitai school bo not chanjred, and that consequently the application for the creation of a separate district be declined, but that the petitioner? be informed that Ihe board may rpconsider tho -question at the end of 1919.

The Wellington Education Board decided yosteaxlay, on tho recommendation of the Appointments Committee, that applications be invited for the positions of junior instructor in agriculture, home science instructress, and chief instructor in drawing.

"[ am not Warning the Minister for this. It is only one of those pin-pricking things that come from,the Department, for which the Minister has to suffer all Ihe blame," sind Mr. Statham in the House of Representatives lesterday, and several menibors called ''Hear, hear." The grievance was not a very great one. A vmrn residing in Central Otago had not been able to persuade jhe officers who had assisted at his demobilisation from camp to give him expenses for a night's residence in Dunedin on his journey home', iind he- could not travel to his homo without spending a night in Diuiedin. Other members said that cases of tho kind were common in other parts of Xew Zealand. The Minister was asked to see that when men were sent home they be provided with all transport warrants lo take them to their homes without cost lo themselves. Sir .Tames Allen said Mint ho would have investigation mailtj into the case- if he were furnished with'tho name.

The swimming season this year ia a lato one. It can scarcely be said to have commenced yet, though wo ere within three weeks of the longest day. the weather so far has been a wretched apology for summer. There have been violent changes, and an almost ceaseless succession of gales, which have made even tho most optimistic believe that "the summers of. to-day are not'those of yesteryear." So far this year there have been few surf-bathers out at Lyall Bay. Thanks to tho epidemic everyone has ft fear of taking- a chill, eo fhe long stretch of sand overlooking Cook Strait is being neglected. For tho same reason the attendances at Te Aro Baths are very poor indeed. Nov'eml>er gave the poorest returns on record for that mouth, which, perhaps, was only to be expected. Ladies who love a swim are reminded that during the winter the drewing accommodation lm-s been extended, a fine sun-iiUtform has been provided, and an artificial beach of clsvin Rami has been made at the cud of tho ladies' bath nearest tho road.

An enterprising young man in the suburbs of ChristchiM-ch recently conceived the idea of protecting his father's orchard from trespass by concealing an electric wire amongst the shrubbery surrounding the orchard at a height- of 3ft. or 4ft. above the ground, and connecting it to the live 230-volt electric mains. Evidently he imagined that a notice at the gate, reading "Danger, live electric wires," would protect him from any legal liability in case of a fatal accident. After one or two boys . had received severe burns, the circumstances were reported, to the authorities, who quickly removed any misconception as to the legal liability involved, and the offending wire was at once disconnected. Legal proceedings are not being taken in this case, as no serious harm was done, but it is important (says the "Press") (hat any other Hairs of electric supply who eontemnlatrd a similar method of protecting their orchards from the raids of small boys should realise the risk they are running. Though a 230-volt shock under ordinary circumstances ie harmless, it may, under such circumstances as these, in damp ground with wet boots, lie impossible to leave j,-o of the wirp, and thus have fatal results. The offender renders himself liable to. penalties up to .£IOO, and as the exposure of bare electric lines in such a position that lliev can be louched is a legal offonce, he renders himself liable to an action for damages and criminal prosecution for manslaughter in case a fatal accident ehould re suit.

Chatting yesterday to the secretary of the Minister in Charge of the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department, a Dominion representative was furnished with two rather striking instances of how effective the organisation of the Department is. "A miner just abont, to be discharged from rami) walked in hero two days ago," said Mr. Mulligan. "W(> mado liim a farmer at Otaki, earning £2 a week and 'found.' The whole thing tool; about, two minutes. Another case we disposed of was Hint of a lieutenant who had .1 little money and' wanted to hike up sheep-farming, a businosn in which ho had not had much experience. AVo were able to place him on a big estato and secure him £H a week and a ■four-roomed house for himself and his wife. Wo even found a little job for the wifo. And that, too," Mr. Mulligan re--1 marked, "irok about ten minuteel'.'

Tho grey ambulance car of the Wellington Jlairbour Board has played a prominent part during the influenza cpidomic. It carried its-first cases on November G/and eijico then has been at all hours of the dayjand late into tho night on the streets or the oily and the suburbs, even us fur out as Plimmerton and Lower Itutt. Before organisation of the fighting forces it did wonderful service in taking the sick to hospital. This is borne out 'by the total number of fresh cases and convalescents who have been whisked through the streets in it. Up \o yesterday over 290 persons affected with influenza had been earned to hospitals. Tho car has been much used for serious cases, mainly because of its comfort and tho quickness of its drivers at their work. '

Notice has been given by Mr. CI. Witty (Biccarton) to ask tho Prime Minister in the House of Representatives whether he will state- when the fares to England are likely to be reduced, and whether the soldiers' wives are to be granted the snme concessions as were granted prior to the Imperial Government taking over shipping.

On visiting the Girls' College yesterday, Miss Batham, Acting Lady Principal, discovered that some lime during the night the premises had been broken into and the sum of >C2O had been stolen. The money wn.s library and sports money contributed by the students, and was deposited in a box in one of the rooms. It _ is supposed that an entrance was gained through a window. The.matter has been placed in the hands of the police.

Mr. Frederick Court, a returned 6oldier, who is a member of Hie well-known Auckland drapery firm of John Court, Ltd., has purchased for about a farm of 221 acres at Panmure, at ono time owned by Lady Hobson, whose bushand was once Governor of New Zealand.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon by Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., into the circumstances of the death of a male illegitimate child, which occurred shortly after birth yesterday morning. Dr. l'attie gave evidence that the child was prematurely born, and stated that in his opinion this waa the cause of deatn. The Coroner found accordingly.

Members of the Public Service have during the past few weeks been hard hit by the prevailing epidemic. The "Public Service Journal" states:—"Two prominent members of the association are included in the death notices. Mr. C. E. Stichbury, district manager of the Government Life Insurance at Napier, some- timo a member of the Wellington Section and Executive Committees, and later a member of the Hawke'e Bay Section Committee, died last week, as did Mr. A. H. Hounsell, chairman of the Nelson Section Committee and a delegate to the last conference of tho Executive Council. On behalf of their many friends in the Public Service we desire to express our deep sympathy with the relatives. Mr. Stichbury leaves a wife and five children, and Jlir. Hounsell a wife and ono child. Both men held tho respect of all of us, ami that respect is enhanced by reason of the untiring efforts of both in the matter of improving Service conditions. We can ill afford to loso men like these from ouir midst, and the Public Service of New Zealand is tho poorer by their loss. Mr. V. G. Hiitfon, a Wellington committeeman, who himself was in a serious state, had tho misfortune to lose hie "wife. She leaves a daughter. Our full sympathies are extended! to Mr. Ilutton." •

Writing to the secretary of the Wellington branch of the Navy League (Mr. B. W. Shnllcras*), Mr. J. Biscoe Tritton, joint chairman of the League Executive in London, says:—"l have much pleasure in informing you that my Executive Committee has now elected ltear-Admiral liobert E. E. Benson, R.N., C.8., to tho post of general secretary of this organisation in the place of Mr. P. J. Rannon, who has recently resigned. My committee feels that in having been able to secure the services of an officer _of Admiral Benson'e standing and .position it ha,s been extremely fortunate, and l think that his connection should materially assist the futuire welfare of the league. Ho is a close personal friend of Sir Rosslyn Wemyss and other leadin" admirals', by whom he was strongly recommended. Admiral Benson hopes to take up his duties almost at once."

"The difficulty of keepintf Hie brigades up to nn efficient strength by'ordinary menus is becoming more and more acute, and in that connection it is to bo regretted that the recommendation contained in my report for lust year has not been more widely acted upon, .states the Inspector of Fire Brigades in Ins annual report, presented to Parliament, yesterday. "The idea has worked successfully in eevernl towns, and I again suggest, nioro particularly for the present, at any rate as applying to towns other than tho four centres, that a number of the local business people hi asked to undergo a sufficient amount of fire drill so as to enable them to be of assistance to the brigade in ease of necessity. . In the present circumstances it certainly presents itself that, quite irrespective of social position, it is a duty obligatory upon nny fit person to assist the local brigade to carry out what is undoubtedly a work of national importance."

The roport of the Inspector of I 1 ire Brigades (Captain T. T. Hugo) for the year ended .Tune 30, 1918, was laid upon the table of tho House of Representatives yesterday. "A most serious aspect ol the year's work is tho excessive number of false alarms received by the various brigades, totalling 267, of which number a very large proportion were given with malice intent, says the report.. In two instances serious accidents resulted, and in one case, in Dunedin, on Hay 1C last, there was a fatality. The grave side ot these false alarms, with their possible serious results, did not appear to be at all generally realised, and in addition to the principal consideration—the risk to both firemen and the genera! public— always attending the "turn out" of a brigade, there must be added the cost ot wear and tea and repairs to the motor and other apparatus employed, together with other actual expenses incurred, altogether amounting to a sum which would "really surprise most people. It wns a very difficult matter to discover the perpetrators, mid in the very few instances where tho offence had been "sheeted homo" the offenders had been treated with a quito mistnken leniency. Bearing in mind the one fatality which had ocourral, it wns to be bopod that in the case of any future conviction the punishuiont would bo made commensurate to the offence.

An amendment was made to tho Avia : tion. Bill in the Legislative Council yesterday, providing that the word ' aeroplane" ehould be altered to "aircraft/ tho latter to mean nny type of craft capable of moving through tho air by internal means of propulsion. Tho Leader of the Council (Sir Francis BolD said the amendment had been suggested by tho Naval Adviser to the Government, and it would include every kind of aircraft other than balloons.

"I am glad to hear from the Minister that lie will look into tins matter, but he promised that two years ago!" declared a member of the House of Representatives Inst night, amid the laughter of his fellow-members. The Minister concerned was Sir Joseph' Ward.

"The science of hygiene is as yet unable to explain why epidemics are at times suddenly revived, and why infections always present in a community— perhaps but a few cases at any one time —assume unusual gravity or exceptional mildness," says the annual report of the Health Department, with particular reference to last year's epidemic of diphtheria. "Enthusiastic hygienists of thirty years ago, and the young medical officers of health of to-day, maintaiu that the outcome of public" health precautions in their widest sense would bo to entirely eliminate these cyclical changes -that is, a wave of diminishing cases of infection followed after a lapse of some years by a pronounced rife —which tho historical past discloses. New Zealand, in the matter of diphtheria, has again experienced one of those cyclical exacerbations, ■unexplainable, nnd despite the undoubtedly advanced position she holds so far as generally sound and effective sanitation is concerned."

The use which hns been made of schools during the epidemic was referred to at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board, nnd the question was oskejl whether the schools were to be fumigated. Tho chairman (Mr. T. Forsyth) said that tho Health Department was arranging to put in good order again all the schools which had been used during tho epidemic period. Tho mitler was left to the executive, .with power to act.

"Whether it is correct that timber was sent to Somes Island ami used by the prisoners there to make furniture, which has been sold in Wellington .auction rooms, and some of it unwittingly bought by persons who have lost (heir sons nr relatives at tlio front?" is a question which has been put to the Government in the House of Representatives by the i-iembcr for Riccarton, -Mr. G. "Witty.

The member for Nelson (Mr. T. A. 11. Field) gave notice in tho Hou.se of Representatives yesterday to ask the Government whether temporary employees t in the Civil Service who have been appointed during the war, and who volunteered and were discharged from camp as medically unfit for active service, will bo retained in their positions if the Government decides in in the future? "These .-nei;, !iy •>lunteoring for active service, have done all they could do for their country and should receive special consideration, if they are not placed on the same footing as returned soldiers," said Mr. Field.

The outbreak of the epidemic amongst, tlio Fortieth Reinforcements was referred to in the House of Representatives yesterday, when the Minister of Defence (lion. Sir James Allen) gave notice to move that a committee be appointed to inquire into the epidemic, to have power to call for persons and papers. The committee to cnn«i?t of Messrs. W. H. Field. Forbes. M'Callum, Malcolm, Scott, Veitch, and the mover.

Mr. J. Vigor Brown (Nnnier) has given notice in the. House of Representatives to ask the Prime .Minister whether he will have legislation passed making it illegal for any steamer registered in New Zealand to leave port in New Zealand until proper sanitary provision is made for the men on the boats; also that they lidVQ separate dining quarters and sufficient ventilation in their Bleeping qunrtovs,. and that their quarters are disinfected by Government officials at least once a month.

The Postmaster-General has been requested by Mr. J. P. Luke (Wellington North) to state when the automatic telephone installation for the City of Wellington will, be completed.

The Wellington Education Board has been advised by the City Council that the same swimming facilities provided for school children last season will bs given this season. At. yesterday's meeting the board passed a vote of thanks to the council for its action.

The Wellington-Paekakariki and Wel-lington-Lower Hutt and Upper Ilutt evening suburban trains, which were suspended during the influenza, epidemic, will resume their ordinary running on Friday.

It will, interest very many people to know that Mr. "Charlie" Chaplin, the well-known picture comedian, was married last month to Miss Mildred Harris, who 1 has been appearing recently with the Universal Blue Bird, Company.