LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 180, 25 April 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The importation into New Zealand.of Russian rouble notes is prohibited bv a notice published in the Gazette. Tliqso notes are very much depreciated. April is always Wellington's most dritst month, and the present month has been no exception to the rule. Thero has been light rain on two or three occasions, but its effect lias been negligible, and the result is that tho parks and gardens have been very dry indeed, though their condition would have been worse were it - not for the dows of the past week or so. I'he big Morton dam at Waiuui hung out the summer splendidly until tho middle of April, when th*3 water first failed to keep level with tne by-wash (or overflow). " Before the rain came yesterday the level of tho water at the dam was three feet below the lip of the by-wash. With tho steady downpour last evening from the south—the' most favourable ([under for Wainni—the deficit should ' quickly be liii'd'e up. The steady rainfall should also immensely benefit tlio private gardens and tho tanks of tho seasiders across tho harbour.

In a letter received in Wellington from a member of the New Zealand .Mounted RiHes in Egypt is contained the news that of the number left there 150 have elected to take their discharge in J-lngr land. ' That means that when they wish ultitnalelv to, return.home to New.Zealand they will liavo to pay their own fares. There is, so the letter infers, discontent among the inen at this hardship, for they arguo that by taking their discharge in England they save the New Zealand Government at least a month's pay us well as other expense (including that of the long voyage to New Zealand). They are therefore wrath that they should be asked to pay their fares from England to New Zealand', and intended on their arrival in England to deputationise tho Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward on the subject. They consider a trip to "Mighty" littlo enough reward for what they have gono through during the past two years. An explanation of the difficulty that is experienced in obtaining apprentices for most of tho skillod trades was suggested to a Dominion representative yesterday by a gentleman who has long been a closo student labour matters. He pointed out that in New Zealand tho difference in tho payment made to skilled and unskilled workers respectively was not nearly so great as that which existed in the United States, He instanced by way of illustration, the New Zealand Arbitration Court's 6cale of basic wages, which held totally unskilled workers to bo entitled to only 4d. per hour less than skilled workers. In tho States the skilled man received almost double the wages that the unskilled received. It was scarcely to be wondered at that most bovs in this country chose to be unskilled labourers rather than toil through a long apprenticeship only to emergo little better off in the end.

"With regard to the repatriation scheme," says the committee of the Returned Soldiers' Association in its annual report, "we endeavoured to have the question dealt, with before the end of last, session without result. The views oi' tho association regarding the composition of tho controlling board wero placed before members bf Parliament, but party feeling prevailed over interest in the welfare of the returned men, and an ineffective board of four Ministers was 60'. up to take charge. The association, although disagreeing heartily with the arrangement made, decided in the interests of returned men, to do all in its power to assist in carrying out the work of repatriation. After three months' trial, during which no definite constructive'schemo lias been brought forward, we have no hesitation iu stating that the Central Board has absolutely failed to appreciate the vastness of the proposition before it. ■ The executive is moving to have one competent business man appointed to act as' Minister in charge and to bo solely occupied in this work, 'and we feel that this action will be supported by all members." The Hey. H. van Staveren moved at yesterday's mating of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board that the Belmont Home should be handed to the Macarthy trustees to realise, and that the money received for it should be devoted to any charity' tho trustees thought fit'. i'ho mover said that tho home had been such a white elephant that it was time that the board unburdened itself of it. Mr. J. W. M'Bwan moved that'the discussion of tho matter be adjourned to the next meeting, and the Rev. van Staveren agreed to tho postponement proposed. Two voutlis named Tiolawl Breeze and Konncth Austin, aged 17 and lit years respectively, who stowed away on tho steamer Moeralci at Sydney, anil were discovered during tho voyage to Wellington, will appear before tho Court in a week's time! owing to the fact that they are undergoing quarantine. "1 am talking by contract,'' raid a witness. when giving evidence in a dispute ever the cartage of furniture before Mr. F, V. Fnizei 1 , S.M., at the Magistrate's Cuurt' yesterday. .The defendant said that lie did not enter into a contract, and if he did the charge per cartage would be 53. an hour, and this statemont led tho witness to make the foregoing remark. i Tho letters-patent u>nstiluting the office of Governor-General of New Zealand are published in tho Gazette. A notice in the Gazette authorises Col. H, W. Tate, officer commanding the t*oops in Samoa and Acting-Administrator of Samoa, to conveno general or district courts-martial for the trial of persons subject to military law, and empowers him to confirm the findings and sentence of euoh courts.

In a letter, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, New Zealand's Itiglr Commissioner, says: "I may mention that I spent a most qujoyablo evening at a largo Salvation Army Hall in Codford. ... It happened to be tho Salvation Army night when I was at Codford. The hall held about 800. It was the most social meeting I wns ever at. First hymns wero sung for about three-quarters of an hour, then the news of the war was read. This was followed by an exhibition of pictures, beginning with a display of the verses ot' that fine hymn, 'Abide "With Me,' each verse illustrated by a beautiful picture, appropriate to the lines. The soldiers sometimes sing the 'erses, but occasionally they are asked to whistle the tune, as the change gives variety. Then followed a fine representation of classical scenes, later we had a few words from the padre, Captain Winton. He is a splendid man, and does much good not only for the tit men, but for the sick and wounded." The names of midwives registered in New Zealand under the Midwives Act, 190S, are published in this week's Gazette. Two special general cders, dealing with pay and allowances for the New Zealand forces on foreign service and on homo service respectively, have been issued by the Commandant of the Porces. They consolidate the regulations on these subjects and embody the increases in pay recently granted to officers of tho New Zealand forces. The Commonwealth Government has offered ,£IO,OOO to the first aviator who makes a flight between England and Australia. J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has supplemented the offer by another .£IO,OOO provisionally on the aviator landing on the roof of' His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, during the run of "Going Up." The. Army List of tho. New Zealand forces, revised to December. 10, 1918, lias been issued. This list has grown greatly during the war, owing to the rapid enlargement of the dominion's military forces, and it is now quite a weighty volume. A Press Association message from Levin states that IvJr. Richard Erechtling, who was knocked down by a motorcar on Monday night, died yesterday afternoon without legaining consciousness; The driver of the car was a Maori, who did not stop after the accident, but was subsequently traced by the police. Accounting for the advance on the single fares' on the Day's Bay ferry service, the Mayor .of Eastbourne (Mr. I'. Levi), at. a meeting last evening stated that the coal contract previously in existence was on tho basis of 18s. per ton, and! this contract expired in October, . 1917. A now contract could not be made for un- , dcr 3!ls. per ton, which was now being paid, and there was also the increase in the cost of labour.

The luck or chance in war is a very uncertain item. One soldier goes through Gallipoli to tho finish without a scratch, another makes the supremo sacrifice at his first engagement. II: is seldom, indeed, that all male members of one family came through without a scratch after several engagements (remarks the Timaru "Herald"). Such is the expertdice of Mr. William Foster, recently retailed, and his three sons. Tho youngest son first volunteered and fought at Gallipoli. The second enlisted later and fought, chiefly in France, as also did the third son. 'fho father then enlisted and fought: side "by side with a son at the Battle of tho Somiue, all four coming through the. ordeal unscathed. A Press Association telegram from Napier states that tho. annual convention of this Women's Christian Temperance Dnion was opened yesterday morning. A reception to the delegates .was given on Wednesday evening, at which Ihe Mayor welcomed tho delegates, ami the Dominloa president suitably replied. On 'i'hursdav morning eighty-live delegates answered tlw roll call. The report, of the secretary showed 105 branches, with 7M members. The reports of the organisers were read and adopted, and showed that much good work had been done. At the afternoon session Mrs. Don delivered tho annual presidential address. Shu reviewed tin* year's work, ''spoke of the efforts by petitiou to secure a referendum, 'and of the strenuous effoils to carry prohibition.

. In connection with tho election of -additional quarantine accommodation at Motuilii island the secretary of tho Auckland Amalgamated Society of' Carpenters and Joiners has sent the following telegram to'the Minister if Public Health:—"With reference to demand for earnentoM for work at Motuilii, will your Department, in addition to award .rates, pay the men full wages and mcdical expenses in case of sickness, and full compensation in case of death following on sickness contracted while on the island or within seven days of leaving there.' — Press Assn. Officers of tho Mjiheuo who had called at Papeete oil earlier trip-; stated ill Auckland that the ravages of the severe influenza epidemic recently experienced there were very apparent. The. littlo town, usually so bright and care-free, had a subdued air when the Malpno was iherc recently, the loss of maiiy. hundreds ol' the European and native residents having left its mark.' One of the returning men who had previously visited the island said he found among the native Tah'itians a strong feeling of resentir.ont against the Chinese storekeepers. who had stopped the natives' credit as a result of tile epidemic. It was explained that the Chinese h-.ivc almost a monopoly of tho trade with 'Ihe native population in the scattered districts, and, as tho Tahitians were -unable to gather their crops, they felt the ' position acutely. The congestion which recently existed on the Pacific cable lines has now been entirely removed. The superintendent, Mr. Alfred Smith, stated in Auckland that during the Easter holidays men worked ail down the line and cleared the congestion at the Canadian end. Owing to an interruption on the Eastern route near England the entire traffic of that line had to be diverted to the Pacific route. This, with the heavy traffic on the twclvo or thirteen Pacific, lines, resulted ill a congestion at Banfield Island, Vancouver, the converging point of the. several cables. Tho block on the Eastern line hud been removed, thus relieving the Pacific lines. Traffic is now normal, and no further delay is anticipated.

Mr. John B. Patereon, a member of tho Auckland City Council Markets Committee. gave evidence before the Industries Committee in. Auckland regarding municipal trawling. The council commenced (.■Derations about four years ago, with a view to reducing the cost of fish. A market and retail shop were opened upon a capital of i!2o,fli;o. A reduction in price had been accomplished, although tlm original expectation of landing fish at. £i a ton had not been retdised. The lomiisitiou of the council's trawler for mine-sweeping purposes had handicapped the venture. Fish was also bought from line fishermen, Ml tons having been bought last year from men at Kaipara, Thames, and elsewhere. The venture had not been profitable to the council, hut this was inevitable, considering the handicaps imposed by the war. Replying to questions, Mr. Paterson saitl he considered the Auckland trawlers were not largo enough, and to properly develop the industry larger vessels, with cold storage, would have to be acquired, pap,ible of working distant grounds. 'One v.av in which the Government could assist the industry would be by tho removal of duty from hempen twine.

The residents of the Northern Territory (says the Melbourne "Age") will have to t'aeo the question of tl\e abolition of the State hotels and the restriction to the stores of the Commonwealth Government's liquor-soiling activities. This position arises out of the remarkably well-sustained beer strike of the consumers in Darwin, aimed against the rise in the price of bottled beer from Is. Gd. to Is. 9d. per bottle. So Ion? was Iho strike maintained that the hotels were suffering serious loss, and since the Minister of Home and Territories, after going into the facts, decided that the establishments could not I>3 run at a profit, save by selling at an increased price, the Commonwealth Government issued nn ultimatum to the effect that if the Honor 'boycott was not declared "off" by tho end of A nril the hotel liars would be closed on May 1, and the hotels leased as lma'dim; establishments. Thu Minister stated last week that his information was to tho effect that tho boycott was still maintained. Apparently tho consumer Ims not yet been frightened by the threat. Tt now remains to be seen wliother principlo or thirst wi'il prevail before the end of the montb.

Tho long spell of sunshine with which we wero favoured last month proved a boon to the Bay's Buy ferry service, for tho revenue obtained in March was about iGOO more than in March, 1917.

According to a statement made by tho Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. P. Levi), the ferry service showed a net profit of about .£6OO during the past financial year, notwithstanding the loss incurred during the opideinic, which ho. estimated at not less than .£IOOO. Cabled reports (says the Melbourne "Age") daring the last few weeks have indicated that the British authorities are now beginning to dispatch transports overseas at an unusually rapid rato, in smie cases ships leaving at the rato of two or three a day. This will mean that, in the_ very near future' the quarantine authorities in Australia will find themselves compelled to handle vessels arriving from overseas in abnormally rapid succession, each one containing some hundreds of troops, and thus requiring particularly careiul inspection. A 9 tho aftermath of the war, quarantine officers are prepared to deal for (he next year or two with outbreaks of various epidemics, altogether apart from pneumonic influenza, and already cases of small-pox and measles have been reported on incoming, ships, The rapid succession of vessels arriving will throw large demands both ou the medical staffs and on the quarantine accommodation, particularly in Western Australia. Already quarantine Ho«tnrs are being worked in two shifts, and preparations are being made, wherever po.-sible. to make provision for increased numbers of quarantined passengers. One suggestion made wns that wooden buildings now at thp disused internment camp site near the • Federal capital site might be shipped to the variuus ports for extra accommodation, bilt investigation showed (hat the expense of moving would be too great, Probably it will be necessary in some cases to erect new accommodation at the quarantins stations.