LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 63, 9 December 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Parliament sat -late on Saturday night, and will Tesume again to-day. The end of the session probably will bo reached within the ne,xt forty-eight hours. A Land Bill, a "Washing Up" Bill, and an Appropriation Bill, with the Supplementary Estimates, are the chief matters still to be dealt with. A War Funds Bill and a Babbit Nuisance Bill aro among other measures on the Order Paper.

Owing to a typographical error a misleading roforenco to the War Legislation Bill as' amended by tho Legislative Council appeared in our issue of Saturday. The roferenco read: "From Clause II (sb) of the Bill it appeared that a number of members propose that the tenant (oven if he is not a returned soldier) shall be compelled to give up possession of a house to enable the owner himsolf to live in it." "Tim tenant" should have read "no tenant."

That all landlords are not heartless is exemplified 'by a case reported to tho Duuedin "Star." A widow whose husband had died ot pneumonia, leaving her with three young children, was visited by the owner of the house—n lady, in this instance—who gave the bereaved tenant a receipt for ,£7 for rent due buit unpaid, and granted her tho free use of tho house till tho end of the year. "This is an example worthy of heing followed," says tho'"Stair," "and should bring tho blush of shame to tho cheoks of those property owners whose chief anxiety during the epidemic appeared to be tho collection of rent before their IcJiants died or spoilt tho money in obtaining necessary medical and other attention."

"Tho first to go will bo the first to come back." This answer was given by tho Minister of Defence in reply to a question in tho House on Saturday. The inquiry was as to what arrangements wore being made about the order in which men wore to ho returned to Now Zealand from tho depots of the Now Zealand. Expeditionary Force abroad.

It is expected that the overhaul of the Maori will be finished this week, and she will leave Duuedin on Friday for Lyttelton and Wellington, arriving here oil Sunday. In that ease tho lMceim will then resume her usual running in tho Wellington-Picton-Nelson service, re. leasing tho Maporarika.

In connection with the Christmas passenger booking, tho Union Steam Ship Company announces that owing to the disorganisation caused by the epidemic the time-tables have not yet been fixed. Pending their arrangement the company hn.s not been booking passages, but it is hoped to do so in n few days. The member for Wellington North. /Mr. J. P. Luke) suggested in the House of Representatives on Saturday that the Minister of Defence should arrange for the requirements of the rifle clubs that have been displaced by tho erection ot Scots College at Miramar. He mentioned that there was a sum of ,£OOOO on the Estimates for rifle ranges. The Minister of Dofenco said lie would look into, the matter and would make what provision ho could for the rifle clubs in the Wellington district. He added that lie was hopeful of having returned to-New Zealand tho rifles used by tho Expeditionary Force, with now barrels, lheso rules probably would be available at a comparatively enrly date. The improvement of the Wanganui River service was urged in tho House- of Representatives on Saturday by Mr. 11. W. Smith (Waimarino). The member said that tho number of settlers dependent on the river steamers was daily increasing, and tho settlers felt that tho service ought to be nationalised. There had been .1 certain amount of disorganisation since the death of the late Mr. Hatrick. Tho Prime Minister replied that it would not be possible 'to do much until the war ended. A. commission hail inquired into the whole matter, and had prepared a very valuable report, which was going to bo placed before Cabinet. A question relating to toll gates in Taranaki was raised in the House on Saturday by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont), who'drew the attention of the Minister of Public Works to the fact that the Taranaki County Council was proposing to place a toll gato on the main road hetween Now Plymouth and Stratford. Tito ratepayers were protesting. Sir William Frascr replied that ho would not allow a toll gate to be established in any case until he had 'had full inquiry made bv a commission, and had satisfied himself that the gato would bo of benefit to tho district. The gato now nroposed would not bo authorised until p commission hnd made full inquiry Mid until ho was satisfied that some public good would result.

Captain Hall-Thompson, Naval Adviser, says in connection with the suspension, of guards for shipping on the wharves that holders of passes previously issued, should retain them, as the wharves will be guarded on occasions when certain ships are alongside. A lad under 13 years of age has been found in the heart of the bush in the Nelson back'blocks, where ho had been living in a stump holo covered by a sack for tho past fortnight. It appears that the unfortunate youngster ran away from home, whore, he alleges, ho was illtreated. He remained hidden during the day, and at night came forth and obtained his food supplies from roadmen's hiits in tho vicinity. The lad, according to his own story, has had very little schooling—two months, he says— and latterly has been doinpr pick and shovel work on the roads in addition to helping on the farm. The blistered nature of his hands lends colouir to his story. In the meantime the lad—who appears''to be bright and intelligent— is being cnTcd for at the Stoke Training Farm. "I' recommend," says Superintendent Dwyer, of Canterbury, in his annual report to the head of the Police Department "that tho Second-hand Dealers Act bo amended to apply to 'bicycle dealers. This would ennble tho police to cope more effectively with bicycle stealing, a class of offence very prevalont in Chnstchurch. Since the restriction of shipping certain bicycle parts have become difficult to obtain, and of late it has frequently been found that stolen bicycles have been stripped of certain parts and then abandoned, and it has been suggested that these parts are readily purchased by bicycle dealers and bicycle repairers, and that some of them, at any rate, are making big profits out of the business."

Cable advice has been received in Auckland from British firms foreshadowing an increase in the near future in tho cost of bar iron. According to the messages received, a meeting was to be convened at Birmingham for the purpose of considering the advisability of increasing the price of iron. Owing to heavy increases in tho cost of ore, coal, and labour, the opinion prevailed that it was impossiblo to carry on on a payable basis while tho Government controlled price was in vogue. At a meeting of tho Hataitai Epidemic Committee the following resolution was paswd:-"That this committee instructs its delegate to support other group othcers in presenting to the Minister of Public Health a joint report upon the housing and living conditions discovered during the epidemic, and urging that a townplanning Bill on tho lines suggested by tho Federated Town Planning Associations of New Zealand, which will provide and ensure wholesale, housing for all people and make it impossible to perpetuate or prolong such conditions, be put upon tho Statute Book without delay. An agreement has been reached between local wool brokers and storemen in connection with tho recent dispute. It'has been decided by the men to accept'ls. 6d. per hour, plus war bonus of 3d. per hour (to September 30 next); overtime, 2s. Id. per hour, plus 3d. The brokers accepted the Arbitration Court's preference clause. The union wrote expressing thanks to the employers for their kindness in paying members for time lost during the epidemic.

The Wellington branch of tho New Zealand Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association last evening passed resolutions thanking tho miners unions and memters of the A.S.R.C. (especially the traffic men), for their expressions of loyalty to the locomotive men in tho movement for better conditions, Btronply dissenting from the manner in which "the Minister of Railways has dealt with the association's'claims for improved and conditions," and calling upon tho Executive Council to "organise for militant action."

A denial is mado of the statement by tho Hon. G. W. Russell to the effect that measles is prevalent in the Mount Albert district, Auckland (states a Press Association telegram). The Mayor of Mount Albert states that a fortnight ago there were several mild cases among the nunils at a school, but the trouble had now passed. Ho could confidently say that there wore not now a dozen cases in the whole of tho borough. Ihe health authorities state that since measles wa3 mado a notifiable disease at the end oi Inst week only seven oases were reported, two in the city, one at Mount Albert, throe at Otahuhu, and one at Birkenhead.

The tender of Mr. R, Hillen, of Wellington, has boon accepted by tho Education Board for the erection of a reinforced concrete school in Cole btreet, Masterton. This school, which is to cost over .£3OOO, will consist of three large class rooms, with every provision for light and air. Tho school is being erected to relievo the congestion in the western part of tho town.

The vexed question of religious instruction in Scottish schoojs, as provided in tho new Education Bill, has had a somewhat unexpected light thrown upon it by tho attitude of the Educational Institute of Scotland, which has a membership of 20,000 teachers. Tho council of tho institute makes clear in a public statement that tho institute has consistently declared in favour of religious instruction in % national schools; that, iiKleed,. during the past two years it has boon considering in joint committoß with representatives from tho various Protestant churches, a suggested syllabus; nnd finally that the members unanimously support tho Bill ns it now stands.

Tho Dominion Council of the Britisli and Foreign Bible Society met on Wednesday last. Mr. CI. A. Troup was in the chair, and Messrs. R. L. Button, G. M'Cartney, T. Ballingor, W. .1. Helycr, W, Hopkirk, E. .1. Jlercus, Professor Easlerficld, and the Rev. F. H. Spence, and A. T. Thompson wore present. A considerable amount of btiel-lie.-s wa« transacted, mostly in connection with the proposal to erect a Bible iiii'i-c a-'! a tli.'inkt-'riving offering for victory and a memorial to l-hoso who have laid down their lives for tho good of mankind) A sub-commilleo was appointed to select a silo and l,n report iif- Hit' meeting If be 1-pbl nn Thursday. December 12. The headquarters will move down trom wnngiuim and open in Wellington on January 20,

The postal authorities advise that the mails for tho United Kingdom which left Now Zealand on October 12 arrived in London on November 25.

Our Mnstertoii correspondent telegraphed yesterday that very heavy rains had fallen. Tho rivers on Sunday were in high Hood and still rising. Much of tho low-lying country lias been inundated.

The war affects tho Museum adversely , in postponing tho erection of a muchneeded new building (states the Director in his annual report). Not only do tho existing collections run the risk of fire in the present woodou building, but they are in large part inaccessible to the public, owing to lack of space. It has become necessary during the year to place in storo the large and nttractivo Maori ounces, in order to make room for war trophies coming to hand. By its failure to provide five-proof storage and exhibition space, the Museum loses many valuable specimens that would otherwise como to it. I feel it my duty to repeat tho remarks I made on this subject m 1910: "The existing building is not only slowly decoying, but is unsuitable in 'design and lighting arrangements for the proper display of any collections, and is totally inadequate in floor-space lor tho existing material. So long as it is in uso the Museum mu6t not only come far short of its full usefulness to the present generation, but is losing many opportunities of becoming the storehouse of material which will be unobtainable in the future. As a national instttu-. lion, visited by most of tho travellers to theso shores, it. must surely undo much of the reputation for enlightenment and efficiency which the Government of the Dominion has so successfully created. It may therefore bo questioned whether the postponement of a new building is a true economy.

Headmasters of State schools in the ■Wellington education district have been advised by circular that Mr. J. L. Heckler has generously donated a sum of money for the establishment of a scholarship in memory of his son, Lance"Corporal William Heckler, of Mnngaroahoe, who died of wouuds at the front. The scholarship will bo opeu to the sons of fallen soldiers, and will be competed for each year for fourteen years, tho winner to be adjudged on the results attained in tho Junior National Scholarships examination. The parentage of candidates may he cither Maori or European.' A fallen soldier, in this instance, mu6t have been a member of the NewZealand Expeditionary Force who came by his death in action, as tho result of wounds, or accident, or through contracting a non-culnable disease when in tho field, in camp, or in transit. The scholarship (i6l 10s. a year) is tenable for two years at the Wellington Boys. College.