LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 119, 13 February 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Much disappointment has been expressed nt the non-appearance of our popular feature, "Garden Notes" (by "Kowhai"), on Saturday last. These were unaccountably delayed in transmission. The "Notes" will be found on Page 3 of today's issue, and the succeeding article will appear on Saturday next as usual.

The case in which Lieutenant Alexander Grierson claims ,£SOOO damages from Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, M.P., for alleged libel contained in an election speech at the Wellington Town Hall last year, will be opened in the Supreme Court this morning. Mr. T. Young, with him Mr. T. Neave. will appear for the plaintiff, and Sir John Fiudlay for tho defence.

The Merchant Service Guild has filed its demand? for hearing before the Arbitration Court. The case will come on shortly.

An inquest at Nelson regarding the death of a male child revealed the fact that it was born in a motor-car <n route from the Murchison district to Nelson Hospital. The other occupants of Hie car were not aware oMlis event. The verdict was that the child met its death at birth through want of proper attention.—Press Assn.

Advice has been received from the Base Records Office that 3/995 Private Arthur Briarley Cummins, a discharged soldier, died at the Te Waikato Sanatorium on February 6.' Deceased was 32 years of age and single. His next-of-kin' is his father, Mr. Albert Cummins, Polefield, Blackly, Manchester, England.

During the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court yesterday a witness stated that while living in Dunedin ho went back in his rent, and his landlord, who was a religious man, put in the bailiff without warning.

The date of the coming Town-planning Conference, which hns been fixed for May, was discovered by the Christchurch City Council to be very inopportune, as the Mayors throughout New Zealand, following on the coming municipal elections, would not be installed until May 7, and councillors would not he sworn in. Consequently it would be difficult to nominate delegates. The council decided to draw the Minister's attention to the matter. Councillor H. G. Ell, M.P., speaking of the value of the conference, said that it should be a movable fixture, as it had a great educative value. He (regretted to say, as a supporter of townplanning, that many members were indifferent to the reform, and even opposed to it.

The Dunedin "Star" says that Oregon timber can now be bought for New Zealand at 40 per cent, less than the quoted price in October last.

Major J. C. Hill, Provost Marshal for the forces in New Zealand, paid a visit of inspection to the Christchurch military police on Monday. Speaking to a reporter, Major Hill stated that the New Zealand military police required at least 150 more men in order to 'carry out ilie large volume of work which had fallen to it since demobilisation. The work now largely consists of duty in the internment camps, detention barracks, escort work, and duty on wharves during the arrival of returning drafts. The red caps and other insignia had now been abolished from the military police uniform. In his endeavour to.obtain more assistance, particularly that, of non-commissioned officers, Major Hill is in every case preference to returned soldiers. The Prot yost Forces throughout New Zealand now have a strength of 365, with four-assistant provost marshals.

Speaking at a function in Gore last week the Mayor (Mr. D. M'Dougall) expressed the opinion that tho people of the present day were on the road to becoming degenerate. He declared that 'he men who had won fame for New Zealand on the fields of war owed their heritage of physique and daring to their antecedents of 40 years ago. He had scan girls with powdered faces, high heels, and silk stockings going towards the tennis courts in the mornings, while their mothers were engaged in scrubbing floors. One ease in particular he remembered-that of, such a girl who had a. hole in her Stocking, and each time she lifted her foot a filthy heel was exhibited. Instead of such carryings on, they should be made to get up early in the morning and work. Peoplo should be encouraged, ho continued, to bring up large healthy families. With this aim, 1 those in power should see that a man was in circumstances to permit of comfortable l.ving. The cradles would have to be filled, but they would not be filled until better conditions obtained. He had been told that there was more taxation on ;eram'oulators than on motor-cars. If it were so, it was a disgrace. "There should be no need for conscription," next announced Ma-. M'Dougall. "Tho boys should be brought up with such a love of country that they would 'volunteer to defend her whenever they are needed." . Mr. D. Millar strongly objected to Mr. M'Dougall's remarks, characterising them ts "a slur on our womankind. The women of today are as good' as those of the early days," he said. "Mr. M'Dougall is talking rot."

At tile Maranui Anglican Church Hall, Lyall Bay, last evening, a meeting of electors was held under tho auspices of tho Wellington Labour Representation Committee for the purpose of forming a Lyall Bay branch of the New Zealand Labour Party. Mr. Ballantyne presided over a good attendance. ■ The speakers included Mr. A. I. Monteith, Mr. A. W. Croskery, and Mr. P. Fraser, M.P. At the conclusion of the meeting several members of the audienco handed in their names for membership, and tho following officers were appointed :—President, Mr.) A. AV. Croskery j vice-president,. Mr. Kite; secretary-treasurer, Mr. F. Raven; committee, Mr. M'Guinness, Mr. Flack, Mr. F. Hazelwood, Mr. Wells, Mr. Sadd; delegate to L.R.C., Mr. F. Hazelwood.

The fact that tho Weshnere Estate was acquired under Section 3 for a syndicate of discharged soldiers by the Government some months back, and notmade public, is causing considerable comment in this district, writes our Carterton correspondent. When it was announced that tho Government had purchased the property, many discharged soldiers were looking forward to taking part in tho ballot. It is reported that one soldier came all the way from Auckland to inspect the property. Had the real position been disclosed when the property was acquired much disappointment would have been avoided.

We are asked to state that the defendant in the civil action John Chambers and Son v. J. J. Bourke, reported in our issue of Wednesday last, was not tho well-known wooUiroker of this city, but a country resident whose initials are the same.

Quite a number of citizens have recently, been accosted in the city streets by a Sjincly whiskered old man who in well nigh all cases succeeded in convincing thosi! whoin lie accosted that his position was one which called for assistance.' Complaint was made to the responsible authorities and tire police arrested the offender, whose name is Frederick Lyness, and he duly appeared before Mr. W. G, Riddel!. S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer a charge of being aa idle and disorderly person with insufficient means of support. The accused 'admitted th« charge and His Worship suggested that as he was an old man he might be admitted to the Old Men's Home. Accused, who had a long list of previous convinctions, was remanded Till to-day for sentence, in order that the police might make inquiries as to whether Lyness would be accepted in any similar institute.

Owing to the indisposition of Mr, Justice Edwards, the cases set down for hearing at the Supreme Court yesterday morning had to be adjourned until tho afternoon, wheu Mr.. Justice Chapman, who returned by train at midday, was able to preside.

The opinion held by many people II at now the war is over paper will soon become cheaper is not borne m:t by recent advices received from Britain and America, slates the "New Zealand Hei aid." A iirominent English inn states that an fmmediato drop in tho trice of |>appr is not to be looked fov.. This is emphasised by the fact that tl.e naner controller will remain in office probably for another year of more. Advices from America are to the same effect. It is not expected that. European countries will bo able to export largely for some time, mid Iheir prices will probably .be based on high costs. Many of the mills nre still over-sold, and are unable to accept new <;

Provision was made some time ago by the Defence Department for the reattestation of discharged soldiers whose condition is such that they require to be under discipline while undergoing medical treatment. A case, believed to be the first of its kind in Auckland, was mentioned at the Police Court on Monday, when a returned discharged soldier suffering from shell-shock pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness. The police stated, that' the soldier had been receiving hospital treatment, and on his discharge had undertaken to go to relatives, who were to look after him, but he had evaded them. He had, however, now been reatlested, and would receive further medical attention. He was accordingly discharged by the Magistrate.

The purchase of.AVairakei by a'private company was discussed by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce,' and. a resolution was passed to the effect that the. chamber was concerned at the prospect of Wairokei passing into the hands of a company, and expressing the hope that if it was not too late the Government would purchase it as a national park. It wus also resolved to ask other chambers of commerce to support the resolution.

Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, has forwarded the following letter to the hon. secretary of the • Soldiers Mothers' League, Auckland:—"ln reply to your inquiry whether the dependants of soldiers who have died from the recent epidemic are. covered similarly by the war pensions regulations with the dependants of those who died on active servile, I am informed that widows and children of those who have lost their lives while in camp, in receipt of military pay, are entitled, as a matter of right, to the full pension provided under the schedule of the War Pensions Act on application being made on the prescribed form to any registrar of pensions or direct to the Commissioner of Pensions at AVelliugtqn. To other dependants of these the Act also applies. Regarding those who have died while following a civil occupation subsequent to date of discharge from an expeditionary force, the War Pensions Board has agreed that each suoh case shall be decided on its individual merits. It may be stated that if the board is in any way- able to account for death . from influenza as following the weakened condition of soldiers from war services it will do eo. Already quite a number of widows and other dependants have had their claims favourably considered by the board."

The Wanganui Hospital Board (states our special correspondent) has given further consideration to the condition of affairs at the Taihape Hospital, the general consensus of opinion being that the solution of the unsatisfactory conditions, prevailing under the present management was the appointment of a resident surgeon. This course was eventually agreed upon, the salary fixed being £2W per annum. It was further decided that Dr. Boyd's services be dispensed with, in conformity with his agreement with the board. It .was suggested that the young doctors would be glad to accept the low salary in order to gain the experience that would accompany • the position.

"It is interesting to know that the view of another local body regarding the capabilities of the Health Department coincides with our own," said the Mayor at the meeting of the Mount Eden Borough Council on Monday. This remark was occasioned by a copy of a resolution from the Riccarton Borough Council protesting against tho epidemic relief fund belli'.; administered by any Department under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Public Health. The southern body pointed out how utterly incompetent tho Department had been in dealing with (ho epidemic crisis, and contended that the public could have no faith in its administration of a relief fund. Resolutions to support the Riccarton council have been passed by several other Auckland suburban council and road boards.

A recent request by ■ the Wellington plasterers for an increase in wages—2s. per hour instead of the "present rate, ts. 9}d.—wns placed before the Master Builders and Contractors' Association, but was not acceded to immediately.' As a result, it is stated, a section of tho men —those employed at' /Parliament Buildings—decided upon a "go-slow" policy, and were subsequently dismissed. "It is stated that the men who were dismissed are to be given an opportunity of returning to work under the old conditions, on tho understanding that if their work is normal the request for an increase will be favourably considered. If the increase is granted it will have general application \m Wellington.

At the Adjourned animal meeting of the Wellington Builders and Contractors' Industrial Union of Employers, the following officers were re-elected: President, Mr. H. Mainland; vice-president, Mi\ .T. C. Brown; committeo, Messrs. W. H. Bennett, A'. M. Wilson, and. L. Mills. Feeling reference was made by the president to tho recent death of Mr. James Russell, who was an original member and who had for many years taken a leading part •in the business of the association. A passage from tho annual report read: "We sadly record tho death on the field of honour of Mr. E. S. Clarke, of Kilbirnie, and of Mr. Will Bennett, the only son of our esteemed life member, Mr. W. H. Bennett. They have not died in vain. Letters of condolence have been forwarded to bereaved families and letters of sympathy have been sent members whose sens have been wounded."

"I am interested in seeing ike sewage svstem extended to the suburbs of Christc'liurch," remarked Dr. Aj B. Pearson, bacteriologist at the Christchurch Hospital, in the course of some remarks at the Drainage Board's luncheon at the sewage farm, "but I don't think it is going to rid us of the infectious diseases we have." Dr. Pearson added that lie had compared the returns of infectious diseases in Christchurch and its suburbs —the sewered and the unsewered areas— and he had found' that there were more cases of infectious diseases in the sewered as compared with the unsewered area. However, that was no argument against the extension of the sewage system. The bugbear of the medical profession was the carrier of disease, and the aggregation of bodies of people, particularly young people, was responsible for the'spread of disease. It rested largely with the Education Board'to assist in this matter. Infectious diseases could be kept down by the use of inhalation ohanibers, and he believed that if such chambers were established in the public schools they would eet rid of more than one-half of'the infectious diseases in the city, such as scarlet fever and diphtheria.

It is certain the learners-in the buildin" industry.are comparatively very few in millibar, and that our trade is not training the number of journeymen carpenters, bricklayers, and plasterers that will be required iu the future, states a. paragrunh in the annual report of the Master Builders' Association. lour committee ■is of the. opinion that it is the diitv of every employer who is at all able" to do so to have in his service a reasonable number of apprentices. Otherwise there must always bo a shqrt-a-*e of tradesmen, and competition amongst employers for the services of tlioso who are, available, and a consequent increase in the rates of pay.

"Members have been much exercised by the repeated and numerous increases in the prices of ordinary building timbers," states the Wellington Builders and Contractors' Association in its annual report. "These have 60 seriously inoreased in all parts of the Dominion as to warrant.the Builders' Federation in securing data and submitting it to the Board of Trade .and the Minister oi Forestry with an urgent request that immediate stops be taken to prevent further increases in prices and the draining of available supplies by export to Australia. It is hoped tho protest made will result in a price, commensurate with tno cost of production.- being fixed by Government for the different classes of timber. The rapid depletion of our forests gives cause for prompt steps being taken by the Government to idopt a scheme of systematic planting of forest trees for future supplies, and the builders' Federation is active in urging upon tho Government Hie need for this.

The revenue of the Auckland Harbour Board for the past year was a record. The increase in revenue, said Mr. Heather, chairman of the board, was largely duo to the fact; of'tho transports employed to bring out wounded soldiers, when the congestion was at its highest, carried cargo as well. Against the increased revouue, of course, expenditure had exceeded the estimates, o.ving to the extra costs of living and material and other unforseen items such, as the epi.deniic expenses, etc

I "A big shipment of New Zealand butter was delivered on the wholesale row from the Canadian-Australasian liner Niagara," says a Vancouver jap;?'under a big heading "New Zealand Bu'ter In." "There were several hundred cases in the lot, which is selling at 53 cents. The eases consist of 56!J>. lots. This h butter- of excellent, finality.

Mr. T. A. H. I'idd, M.P., Nelson, wrote to the Minister of Defence recently on the advantages of Nelson a:> an aero and seaplane base. Nelson,' hu states, is situated in one of the largest and calmest bays of New Zealand. It is situated in a fine-weather zone, and is noted for its fine weather and absence from strong winds. It would be an ideal base for crossing the Strait, as it is sheltered from the south-east winds and treacherous willywaws that are so prevalent on the coast adjoining Cook Strait. There is also plenty of flat land available. Sir James Allen, in the course of his reply, stated that as Colonel liettington was coming out to New Zealand with the object of furnishing a repoit to the Government on matters relating to arjation in this country, lie siculd be glad to' see that Mr. Field's letter was noted for reference when the matter was under consideration. Mr. Field is also urging that Admiral JtlHcoe should visit Nelson to see if it aus suitable as a submarine base.