LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, 14 March 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It is notified in the Gazette that tlio Minister of Customs is prepared (o consider applications for the exportation of limited (luanlities of onto to tlie "United 'Kingdom ami British possessions.

Up till flic present it lias been considered a breach of regulations for a soldier of any rank to attend n political meeting or demonstration or procession wiring uniform. The regulation lias been Amended. It is ne»- permitted to a soldier to attend such meetings in uniform, but a soldier of any rank is still forbidden to institute or tako part in any such meetings.

Some war trophies collected by Lieutenant R. Burn, of Petono, arc now on exhibition in the Dominion Museum. They include specimens of the Pomeroy. bullet, a New Zealand invention that played an important part in stopping the Zeppelin raids on England. There is an interesting selection of bombs and hand grenades, some of them being of Lieutenant Burn's own invention. A small aerial torpedo used for carrying me&age.s to detached pests in ease of emergency, an aeroplane bomb holder, a German night signaller, a (Stokes mortar shell, various types of cartridges and sights, and a portion of a Zeppelin brought brought down by Lieutenant. Robinson, Y.C., are among the other exhibits.

After serving a term as a prisoner of war in Germany, Lieutenant A. Lindsay, of the Australian Flying Corps, is"' returning home by the Niagara (states a Press Association message from Auckland). Relating his experience, Lieutenant Lindsay said that throughout his period of internment ho was treated fairly well, except in the 'matter of food, which was of very bad quality, and served

out iu exceedingly small allowances. Once away from the front; line he was subject-

Ed to little actual hostility of an . open sort.

The Christchnrch "Press" reports a drop in the price of (lie following New Zealand goods:—Tinned tongues, by.from 2s. to 3s. 6d. per dozen tins (2d. to 3id. per tin), locally-made candles by Jd. per lb.; extract of meat by ss. per dozen (ad. per packet). A reduction is expected (in June) in the price "of baking powder. "With respect to dried fruits the

"Press" states-.—"Up to . the present there has been a good drying season in Mildurn, and it is rnticinated that there will be a record crop of currants. \\s : far as sultanas and lexia.s are concerned, these are also looking well, and the quality this year should be good. Whether there will be a gieat quantity of fruit for export depends on the future weather conditions. The Mildurn Fruifpacking Association, which controls the export of sultanas aiubcur.rants, lias advised that at present it cannot state what tho prices will be this year, but it is prepared to book orders at an open quotation. Quotations have already been made for new reason's Californian prunes, but, on account of the 'heavy stocks in dried fruits, buyers are holding off for tho present."

The effect of the bad lighting system of many of the public schools, particularly the older buildings, on the eyes of the pupils was referred to at the meeting of the Auckland Education Board by the advisory inspector (Mr. Dunlop) when dealing with the overcrowded state of sonio of the schools (says the "Star"). "I have not the slightest doubt," he 6aid, "that the.bwl eyesight from which so many children arc suffering .is due to the bad lighting of the old type of ■buildings.'"

An interesting letter (rem Major Wallingford was read by the chairman (Mr. James Young) at the r.nnual meeting of the "Wellington Miniature Eiflo Association on Wednesday night. Regretting his absence owing to duty keeping him at tho Dominion Rifle Association meeting, lie said: "I would have told the meeting that the miniature rifle movement is likely to be the saving of the country. Lord Roberts went nap when ho said, 'Teach our boys to shoot and we then have 80 per cent, of the means to win the battle.' This war 'has justified all he said. Wo caji teach our Army to shoot with the miniature weapon, but we must get the laddie when lie is young, and lie must learn between the ages of 12-18. It is'a hard task to toach beyond IS. Our men did not learn to slioot in the camps. New Zealand was saved that disgrace by having taught the boys in the primary schools (before 1912), and the Senior Cadets movement. But that is not sufficient. The boys are now not learning to shoot, and it is up to you and your association to push .it down the necks of our Government that the linys must learn. Now that the war is over ammunition will be cheaper. Arms can be bought at -Ids. to 50s. If Parliament could be shown the great value of miniature shooting I am sure . that _ something would be done to rncourage it. At present they are sleeping in a fool's paradise. The enemy will come some'day and find our lamps without oil. I wonder if fathers and r.others realise that riflemen are clean-livers, and that if tho boy acquires a lovo for it out go smoking, beer, and other had habits." Tho reading of the letter was greeted with loud applause. I

In the course of his evidence before the Epidemic Commission, I)r. Valintine referred in somewhat scathing terms to the action of some voluntary workers, who, after doing work of ' extremely doubtful value, subsequently made demands for payment. Tt has been pointed out to him that this -.nay bo a reflection on the very great majority of thu voluntary workers who rrrdefed invaluaT>l<> •services without thought of reward, and lie wishes to state now that his remarks must not be taken to indicte that he did not enpreciate fully -the value of these workers' services. He savs that he would be the last to undervalue tho generosity of these helpers and Hie work that they did. and he lionns ihnt.thev will accent his assurance that his remarks had reference nnlv'to that mi-wity of the people engaged who insisted upon payment. Tn his evidence, also, he did not deny the right of some to payment. As he said, it would have been "absolutely unfair" not, to give payment in some cases.

A recent meeting of the Wellington Grocers' Assistants' Union discussed tho question of observing Easter Saturday as n. holiday. It; was reported to tho meeting that the majority of the employers approached had signed a requisition in accordance with the wishes of the union. The meeting resolved that, provided the holiday was observed, members should work the late night of the week on the Thursday, and should do all they could to p.eo that employers were not inconvenienced,

The question of assisting soldier fishermen to make a start in the fishing industry is under consideration by the Government, and the .Marino Department Ims now several applications for assistance in purchasing boats and foiling gear (says the "New Zealand Herald"). Mr. L. F. Ayson, Chief Inspector of . Fisheries, stated to the Fisheries Commission that it was fairly certain that in a shore time a number of returned soldiers would bo assisted to take up fishing, and if so there was no doubt that a number would bo employed in the Ilauraki flulf and other fishing grounds near Auckland.

Mr. Frank Brown, headmaster of the Taknmina Public School, has accepted an appointment as headmaster of tho public school at Hamilton, and will lie leaving shortly to Ukc up his new duties.

Tho industrial dispute, between the Amalgamated Society of Shop Assistants and the employers will come before the Conciliation Council in the various centres of the ■Wellington industrial dis Irict on the following dates:—Wellington city, April 7; Napier, April 0; Wanganui, April J1; Palmcrston North, April 14; M'astcrton, April Ki.

At a general meeting of the Certificated Licensed Drainers' Union (Dunedili) the following resolution was carried: "That tliis union of industrial workers views with displeasure the utterances of Sir. I!. Semple, J1.1.',, at Christchurch from a public platform last month in commenting sympathetically upon ism, S'partacism, and .Sinn Peinism, and tint this union of workers puis no trust wluifevjr in the New Zealand Labour Party's platform nor in its executive os at present constituted."—"Otago Times."

The Dunedin Repatriation Hoard (says the "Otago Times") learnt with a groat deal of surprise at a recent meeting that it was Alleged to have no authority to maKe payments to soldier applicants beyond a sum of i'so without receiving permission from the head authorities in Wellington. As the local board had in many instances made grants much beyond the amount of ,£so— in one case, at least. j:HOO had been granted—it found itself in a quandry. Members held, however. that the local board was in a better position to know the merits of any applications which might come before it than tlij Wellington authorities could be, ai'.d finally clinched the matter by decidin;j to ignore the instructions received and proceed along the lines tho board had already adopted. Another matter which caused a great deal of discussion nt a meeting of the board related to a proposal that the employment department of the board's activities should bo handed over to the Otagp Labour Council. Despite the fact that it was pointed out that such a proposal was quite out. of order it went to the vote, but was defeated.

The grave of Dr. Andrew Sinclair, an early New Zealand botanist,_ lias been fou>id in the bed of the Rangitata River fst'itvs the "Lyttelton Times"). lie was bom in Scotland, and arrived in New Zealand seventy-seven years ago as a surgeon in the Royal Navy- He was apP'li.ited secretary to Captain K. Fitzroy, the second Governor of New Zealand, and. later, the Imperial Government appointed him Colonial Secretary in the Go\ eminent; a position he held until tlie colony was given responsible government in IS,il). He spent most of his leisure time in New Zealand investigating the country's plant life. After botanising in the Bay of Islands, he went to the N'ol-.on province, and filially came to Canterbury, where he was the friend of Sir •Tulius von Haast and other Oi that lime. While he was accompanying Sir Julius von llaast on a geological and botanical survev of the Southern Alps, in 18H1, he tried to cross the Rangitata, an I, getting into difficulties, was drowned in it. His body was buried close to the place where it was recovered. He did not publish anything, but collected a larsc number of plants aiul discovered lnanr new species. The council rf H le Canterbury Philosophical Institute is taking steps to have the grave preserved.

Following the recent important decisioii of the Arbitration Court At Weilington regarding the rights of unions to secure increased wages because of the high cost of living, quite a number of Christchurch unions are approaching the Court at its sittings next week for variation of awards (says the "Sun'). In addition to these a number of other unions who have not yet made the official application have telegraphed to the Co\irt nskiii" permission to have their cases dealt'with despite the fact that the regulation period in which such applications must be mads prior to the sittings of the Court has expired. The. Court is faced with an unusually busy time, and some knotty problems. Among the unions seeking special permission are two large bodies of workers, namely, the Canterbury General Labourers' Union and the Meat AVorkers' Union.