LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 61, 6 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Advice was received in Wellington last evening that another slip had occurred on the Main Trunk line near Matarawa. The slip- is said to bo in practically tho same spot as the one which occurred recently. As passongers by the Main Trunk trains will have to transfer at tho slip tlioy aro advised to lake only light luggage. It will be a few days before the slip is cleared away.

Tho Eastern Gnblo Company notify that owing to ca.ble interruptions, heavy Government traffic, and shortage of staff through sickness full-rate traffic is subject to five to six days' delay. Deferredrate traffic is Eiibjcct to ten to fourteen days' delay.

A rathor extraordinary case was brought under the notice of the Advisory Board of tho New Zealand Patriotic Societies yesterday by Mr. W. J'. Kirkwood (Taranaki). He r-lated that tho authorities had definitely refused to pay for hospital treatment for a soldier's dependants, on tho ground that tho soldier in question (still undischarged) had returned to New Zealand from the front. It appears that tho privilege mentioned is granted to tho dependants of men who wero at the front, but not after their return, even Jhough they are still undischarged. Mr. V. 'i.arner (Auckland) said it was hardly a .fair thing. He thought that the obligation was all the moro imperative now that the man had "done his bit." It was resolved that freo hospital treatment should bo given soldiers' dependants up till the tinio of thoir discharge.

At a. meeting of the House. Committee, which com -is?* Sir Frederick Lang, Sir James Carroll, Messrs. Dickie, M'Cnllum, Luke, Kidev, Smith, h'itl, Marnier, and Witty, held yesterday. Mr. Witty was unanimously elected chairman. By a recent resolution of the House this committee was to continue in office unlit the appointment of their successors. At a subsequent meeting of the jointcommittee of both Houses, Mi'. Witty was again unanimously elected chairman, and this constitutes a record, as it is believed to be the first time a member ol the popular Chamber has hold both chairmanships.

A coloured seaman, named Joseph Wesley, fell into the harbour near the Queen's Wharf last evening, but was quickly rescued. He was subsequently arrested by Constable Cloverley on a charge of insobriety.

Dr. Garcia Webster, of Wellington, returned to his homo yesterday after an absence of seven weeks in Australia. Ho came across to Auckland from Sydney by tho Arawa, and was tho only passenger allowed to land on Wednesday, all the others being detained on the ground that a number of them are suffering from throat trouble. Dr. Webster stated that ho was quite at a loss to understand the action of the Health Department' in quarantining the vessel. One or two of tho officers have got tonsilitis, but only in a mild form, and there would be; in liis opinion, no risk to the public if tho vessel were allowed to berth at. an Auckland wharf. Hu is urging the Minister of Health to release tho steamer forthwith.

In reply to a letter from tho "cilding Patriotic' Society on tho subject of granting financial assistanco to soldiers from uutsido districts it was stated at tho Advisory Board's meeting yesterday that it had already been laid down _ that the present policy authorises societies to grant relief up to £2 without reference to tho socioty directly I'oncerncd.

Tho Labour Department has decided, after consultation with the district, health officer, to reimpose upon chemists from Monday, December !>, tho closing hours that were in force when the t-pideraic bioko out.

Mr. Basil de Lambert, an Oamaru tea merchant, has received from his Ceylnn buyer a letter which indicates that the exportable quantity of tea of the island is likely to no ron-iderably affected by the ravages of the epidemic. The writer, whose letter is dated October 21, says:—"The whole island is now suffering from a very severe scourge of influenza fever and pneumonia, which is causing a tremendous amount of mortality amongst tho labourer?, so that, although crops are coming nn 'veil, planters are unable to cono with them, and supplies in the near future are likely to be light."

The Advisory Board of the New Zealand Patriotic' War Relief Societies had before it yesterday a letter from Hie Minister of Defence statins that the regulations could not be extended so as to give special finnncial assistance to all New Zealand sailors. It was decided to urge that the Government make similar provision in regard to repatriation and pensions for New 'ralamlen who have gone into the Imperir.l Army or Navy as is made for members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

Written to by the Advisory Hoard of tho New Zealand Patriotic Wat' Relief Societies on tho subject of free hospital treatment to dependants of soldiers from the time the latter go : nto eamp, the Minister of Public Health wrote (on November 4) in reply:—"l have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of October 23, and noto that tho Advisory Board desires that. this Department should provide free hospital treatment to dependants immediately a soldier goes into camp, and not, as at present, after he has sailed from Now Zealand on active service. In reply, I regret that I am not able to see my way to go wj far as requested by the Advisory Board. 1 am feeling the way in order not to place unnecessary burdens on tho Department at tho present time, as the funds for this purpose are not contributed by Defence, but come out of the ordinary funds availableby Public Health. I lHgret, therefore, that at present I am not able to accede to the request of the Advisory Board."

Shareholders in the Bank of New Zealand are reminded that the half-yearly general meeting will be held to-day at 11 o'clock.

In Featherston Camp Orders the Chief of the C-feneral Staff expresses to the Camp .Commandant and all ranks of the camp staff his groat appreciation of their work throughout the war. .Many difficult problems bad to bo faced at different times, but officers and men ■never spared themselves in their untiring efforts. Their hearty co-operation and loyal support enabled tho work to be brought to n successful conclusion. The fact that the member for Northern Maori district, Mr. Taii Henaro, had been prevented from travelling to Wellington by train, Unless ho secured a pass from the Health authorities at Auckland was brought under the notice of tho Minister of Public Health by

the Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Maori) in tho House of Representatives yesterday. Tile Hon. G.'W. Russell, in reply, assured tho member that the restriction was intended to apply only to Maoris who were on their way to attend tangis. If the Health officers at Auckland had laid down the principle that Maoris were not to travel without a permit, it was quite contrary to the policy laid down by the Department. Mr. Ngata: Remove the restrictions altogether. The Maoris can be trusted. .

Beplying to a question in the House of Representatives yesterday the Minister of Railways said that the same rule was followed by the Railway Department in the payment of bonnes, to men of the first division of the service as was followed by the Government in respect to bonuses to employees in other public Departments. Single men received only half of the total amount of the bonus, £7 10s. a year, and married men J215 a year. Cabinet had decided that this should be the basis of payment in view of tho practice followed by the Government in dealing with the employees of other Departments.

Members of the Federated Seamen's Union of New Zealand have decided by ballot to form the Wellington, Auckland, and Dunedin "locals" into one big union to affiliate with tho Transport Workers' Advisory Board, awl to join the Now Zealand Labour Party. _ The union is now asking for an alteration of the Industrial Arbitration Act to meet the new conditions.

At a special meeting of the Wellington Social Democratic Party, hold at the Trades Hnll last cvouing, Mr. T. Brindl'e was selected as tho party's nomination in tho selection ballot of tho Wellington Labour Representation Committee for a Labour candidate in the Wellington South bye-election.

Last evening Constable Cleverley arrested a man on the waterfront on a charge of stealing a quantity of sugar valued at'7s. Cd. from the s.s. Knramea, tho property of the Union S.S. Co.

At a meeting of the Taranaki executive of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union, Mr. Maxwell moved, and Mr. Hodge seconded, and it was carried that the executive note with pleasure that the Government propose restrictive measures as affecting the holding of lands by people of enemy blood, and that tho executive urge and hope that the Government will further provide that in' tho taking of settled lands for purposes of placing returned soldiers on tho land, that held by those of full enemy blood be taken, and, further, that the continued residence of such persons withiu the Dominion be as far as possible discouraged.

People are sent to the hospital for manv complaints, and to have many things done.to them, but it is unusual for anyone to bo sent there to havo a bath. It is reported that this occurred recently at New Plymouth (says an exchange). A mnji and his wife, who lived in tlie country, were reported as suffering from influenza. On investigation it was found that they had recovered and wero again well in body, but; that the house wanted a thorough cleansing. The inmates also admitted that they had not had a bath for sixteen years! They wero packed off to' (lie hospital, and thence 'to a convalescent home. At tho hospital, each was given a bath. A Tcturned soldier took the man in hand— and for tho rest of the day went alxmt exclaiming: "You ought to. havo seen his knees!" When a nurso led tho wifo towards n bath sho looked at it and said- "My! This is going to be an experience." This, at least, is what is reported to have occurred.

Mrs. Bell, who resides ut Vogeltown, ivas admitted to the hospital yesterday suffering from an injury to her throat. Her condition is not considered serious. Members of the Returned Soldiers' Association will confer with members of (ho House of Representatives this morning, when various matters of particular interest to soldiers will he discussed. Ou Tuesday afternoon a leakage occurred in the electric supply cable in Karangnhape Road, Auckland. In the first place a small portion of the asphalt footpath melted, and immediately afterwards (here was a dense smoke as if rising from a fumarolo. Later flame burst forth, and the heat was so intense that a shop window was cracked, others being saved by placing sheets of corrugated iron before the glass. The fire brigade was summoned, but, of course, water was iffit used in such circumstances. It was found necessary to sever about 20ft. of the underground cable before the burning could be stopped. An Ordcr-in-Council made on Novismbor 9, 1016, prohibiting the importation of soap manufactured in or exported from any place other than the United Kingdom' or a British possession, or France, or Italy, or Japan, has been revoked. It is notified in lire Gazette that a proclamation has been issued by the Imperial Government prohibiting the importation to the United .Kingdom, except under license of the Board of Trade, of oleo stearine, olive oil, and tallow., and onions. Applications for licenses should be addressed to the Controller, Department of Import Restrictions, 22 Carlisle Place, Westminster, London, SAY. A practical demonstration as to how miners become affected with the disease known as'miner's pthisis, and how it may be remedied, will be given in tho basement of the Parliamentary Buildings to-day, under the direction of tho Miners' Federation and the Labour Party.' The demonstration will start at 9 o'clock, and continue into the afternoon.

A suggestion that the Minister of Railways should send an officer to Wanganui to attempt a settlement of the long-standing dispute.with the waterside workers there was made in the House of Representatives yesterday. The dispute had wen existing for years, and was a constant cause of irritation. The Hon. W. H. Herries said if an officer could do any good ho would be prepared to sand one to Wanganui. But the dispute was a very old one, and ho did not think the Department could do anything.