LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 149, 19 March 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Some of the meaner quarters of AVellington, commonly called slums, were visited by the members of the Epidemic Commission yesterday. It ling been iho policy of the commission to see all the localities in which the housing is reported to bo bad, in order to get firsthand information on the point, rather thnn_to trust to the evidence of witnesses offering oninions. Some of the places seen by the commission yesterday were very poor indeed, and some of the buildings were in such a state that, they oiiuht to be condemned as unfit for habitation.

Jn letters just received in Feilding from New Zealnndcrs on garrison dutv in Germany (says our Feildhw correspondent), it is stated that several Foilding bovs are billeted in one of the Kaiser's castles in Cologne..

A Press Association message from Auckland states that the Dominion Council for the New Zealand branch of tlio Australasian -Institute of Secretaries, has been elected as follows:—President, Mr. J. M. Stokes; vice-president, Mr. G. W. Hutchison; council, Messrs. W. K Stewart. H. Gilfillan, P. C. D. Luckie, and S. Milroy; auditor, Mr. T. B. "Whitton; registrar and treasurer, Mr. J. A. Duncan.

The balance of the Roods left over from the commercial travellers' surprise packet scheme (in aid of the widows and children of the men of the mercantile marine) were disposed of by auction in "M" shed, Jervois Quay at noon yesterday. There was not a large attendance of the public, vet Mr. Jacobs managed to pet very fair prices for a miscellaneous collection of groceries, etc., the goods realising the sum of lis. 10d„ which amount has been credited to the main fund.

• The officer commanding the New Zealand troops in the United Kingdom (Bri-gadier-General G. S. Eichardson) recently addressed the following letter to Colonel E. H. Ehodes, the New Zealand Eed Cross Commissioner in Britain:—"On behalf of the N.Z.E.P. in the United Kingdom, I wish to thank you and the members of the New Zealand Bed Cross for their self-sacrificing efforts and good work during the past year in connection with the various activities in which the Nctv Zealand Eed Cross has been engaged. Yv"e are all thankful the war is over, but, in the future, wo all shall ho able to recall' pleasant memories of the otherwise tragic period 1914-18. We have seen the dark side of tho uicture of war with its anger, hate and destruction, and the work of the various Eed Cross organisations has provided us with a vision of the other side of the picture, with love, devotion and restoration, administered by the workers in this organisation, who, during the past i\ years, have earned the thanks and gratitude of millions of soldiers and their relatives."

Norman J. Thompson, a clerk, 3S years of age, who was removed to the hosnital on Monday evoning suffering from a serious wound in the throat, said to bo inflicted with a razor, was last evening reported to be progressing well.

A Geneva message in a New York paper of January 20 6tated that, according to a Budapest newspaper, the Commercial Bank of Budapest had decided to sue the former Emperor Charles for 1,000,(100 crowns, the amount of the former Emperor's subscription to the eighth Austro-ITungarinn war loan, which the former Emperor refuses to pay. Former Hapsburg Archdukes also refuse lo pay their subscriptions to the loan.

Before tho Arbitration Court at Christchurch yesterday the secretary of the Tinsmiths and Sheet-metal Workers' Union stated that a complete agreement had been arrived at before the Conciliation Council, but the union now wished to apply for an increased war bonus under tho War Regulations Act. Tho employers' representative asked that tho application should bo heard at tho next sitting of tho Court. The union must provo that tho bonus was necessitated by the increased cost of living. The president of the Court said the union could not make an immediato application. A vote of its members must bo taken first. The Court would hear this and similar applications, by other unions next Monday.—Press Assn.

Tho annual report for the Wellington Centre of tho Workers' Educational Association anticipates that a full series of public lectures will bs delivered under the auspices of the association during tho year.

11l the Napier Supremo Court-, before the Chief Justice Amelia C. Mucfarlane proceeded against Francis Logan, solicitor, and J. V. Brown, trustees in the Kuowles Estate, which has been before the Privy Council in reference to charitablo bequests which were, declared void.. The plaintiff is the daughter of the late Mr. Knowlcs. The claim alleged wilful default of trust, sales of properly being alleged to have been made under value, and prayed for an order for the estate to lie administered by the Court and such relief as llio Court might deem just, Evidence was concluded yesterday. Mr. livers, for the plaintiff, moved for removal of the case to tho Court of Appeal. Mr. Skerrett opposed the motion. Argument on two points of law are to bo heard in Wellington 'on March 31. Meantime, tho Judgo will consider tho motion for removal of tho case to tho Court of Appeal,—Press Assn. I

On Monday evening a welt»atlended meeting of the Wellington (City) Branch of Hie Stationary Engine Drivers' Union decided that the union ought to apply to tlio Arbitration Court under the War Legislation Amendment Act, 1918, for Jin increase in wages of 2s. Gil. per day. The proposal will be referred to other branches, anil the final decision as to its adoption will rest with a ballot of members throughout the district.

The system of fruit inspection at the Auckland markets was strongly condemned at a meeting of the Henderson I'ruitAssociation, on the grounds that it was too swore. Several growers stated (•'hat tons of fruit were condemned for defects which really did not affect their food value. Black spot on pears was alluded to as an instance. This blight was stated to affect the pear only in that it produced a pimply appearance, but notwithstanding this fact tons of tho fruit in question were condemned and destroyed. After a full discussion it was decided to ask 'Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., to mako representations to the Public Health Department with a view of securing a more sensible inspection, and so do away with tho rejection of fruit quite sound for food- purposes.