LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 191, 8 May 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

tho Peace Treaty is now coming over the cable, hut it canijot ho published until it is officially released. The Treaty is stated to compriso about ten thousand words. Eor some time past the Bank of New Zealand has paid a war bonus of 10 per cent, to members of the staff in the Dominion, such bonus being paid to married officers and single officers, with dependents, in receipt of salaries' up to <£700. In order to mark the termination of the war the Board of Directors has now declared an additional bonus of 10 per cent, to the above officers, and bonuses of 15 per cent, to officers in receipt of upwards of .£7OO, and single officers who did not participate in tlie original bonus of 10 per cent. . The Repatriation Department is preparing to utilise the stamp-defacing marks on postal matter for advertising. These marks, stamped on all letters passing through tho offices, will bear exhortations to citizens to help the Repatriation Department to assist flie returned soldier. Amalgamation of the borough of Eastbourne with the city of Wellington was touched upon by the new Mayor of the borough, Mr. F" H. Mather, during tho course of the JL.yoral installation ceremony yesterday. "Our ultimate destiny is in the City Council." remarked Mr. M'alher. "I don't know how long that will take to achieve, but I think it will be a good thing, all things being equal, both for the city and tho borough." An unusual defence was raised in the Auckland Police Court yesterday, when three taxi-drivers were charged with having left their motors on a stand • without attendance, thereby breaking the by-law, which provides that the 'driver of a cab must not, while his vehicle is standing for hire, be more tnan 10 feet distant from it. Mr. A. E. Skelton, for the defendant*, submitted that a taxicab was not a cab within the meaning pf the by-law, and if it wero he argued that the try-Taw was unreasonable. It might be reasonable for a horse-drawn vehicle, but wa,i unreasonable as applied to a ineehauically-propelled one. He pointed out further that on each taxi-stand there was a telephone for the convenience of clients, and each time a driver went to the box he infringed the law relating to the ten-feet radius. It was 'Ultimately agreed to adjourn the case for legal argument on the law points involved.—Press Association. 'the Commercial Bank of Australia, Limited, is about to issue a new series of notes presenting distinctive New Zealand features. The design on the faco of the £1 note consists of complicated gcometri-' cal patterns arranged to display the necessary wording, and includes a finelyengraved allegorical female figure representing "Commerce," with a suitable background showing shipping, docks, and factories, and New Zealand palms on the left. ' On tho reverse of the note is a clinste arrangement of protective lacework, embodying vignettes of national emblems. The shield in . the centro shows a view of Mitre Peak, and Sinbnd Gullv, Mil ford Sound, with a kangaroo on the left and an emu on the right, suggestivo of the Australian connection of the bank. In the top left-hand coincr is a representation of a typical Maori chief, with the rare huia bird feathers in the hair, and beneath is the kiwi bird. In the top right corner a New Zealand p'alm is given with a Maori pa below. The dthor denominations of the notes present varying arrangements of the samo main features, which effectively distinguish the different values. The notes are printed direct from steel p.ates, with harmonious protective tints giving a pleasing 'effect. The issue represents a high-class type of modern bank note, wilt security printings to protect it against forgery, and was entirely produced by Waterlow. and Sons, Limited, London, i Negotiations with the Admiralty on the question of {lie supply of coal and oil storage for naval purposes have been authorised by the Auckland Harbour Board, states' u Press Association message. Tho matter canib up. in connection with the visit to England of Mr. Russell, tho board's solicitor, who is a passenger by tho ConiWiic. ■ A report was presented by the board in committee to the effect that in view of Admiral .Tollicoe's proposed visit to Auckland, the Admiralty bo approached with the object of ascertaining its views upon the establishment of oil and coal depots and the construction' of a naval dry dock; and that, in the event of tho Admiralty entertaining the matter, Mr. Russell be asked when in. Loudon to represent tho board,' and that tho necessary authority be given to him to initiate negotiation with the Admiralty, the board to ho fully consulted ami advised by him. Tho report was. adopted. At tlio.Timarii Supreme Court Annie Waroing, a married woman, for making a false declaration to the Registrar of Hiiilis at Waimjite, was fined XW— Press Assn. That chemists should refuse to dispense hypodermic tablets of morphine, strychnine, cocaine, ergot, and other similar drugs upon the authority of nurses, was a suggestion mado by tho Canterbury Division to the conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zoaland yesterday. Tho division also urged that telephone and telegraph messages for drugs of that nature should not be accepted. Delegates took the view that the representations made were on tho rigiit lines, and tlmt it was uuwiso to dispense such drugs except on the'pre-, scriptions of qualified medical practitioners. The first annual meeting of the People's Protection Society was held in Auckland on Monday evening. Tho report, after referring to tho formation and objects of the society, stated that it was anticipated that branches would bo'formed in all the leading towns and outlying districts. Captain A. Whitney was elected president, Mr. J. Thompson secretary, and Mr. J. P. Walters ..treasurer. It was decided that ' the society's motto l>e "Union ia strength." The annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association will be opened in. Chrlstchurch on May 2G The relation of the association to political, movements is one of the matters that mil come forward for discussion, Tho Wellington delegates are to be selected at a meeting of tho local association on May 14. : At the New .Zealand Pharmaceutical Society's - first annual conference, the following remit was carried .unanimously: "That a warranty be-'given by all wholesale druggists as to the conformity ot their supplies and preparations to ihe New Zealand Pood and Drugs Act." The conference considered'that in-the absence of a warranty chemists were occasionally liable to be prosecuted under tho Sale ot Food and Drugs Act for offences that they were not responsible for. The Commissioner <.f Taxes draws attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in to-day's issue that returns of income must be furnished not later'' than June 2. Forms of leturn may be obtained at any postal money-order of. fice; they will not be sent to taxpayers from the office of tho Commissioner of Taxes unless written application is made for them. The manager for New Zealand of the Union Insurance Society of Canton, Ltd (Mr. A. S. Clarke) has just received ad vice from his. head office that an agreement has recently been signed between the society and the North China Insur anco Co., Ltd., of Shanghai, in the direc turn of an amalgamation of the two companies. During the first session of the Pharmaceutical Society's conference there was a discussion upon the dispensing of liquor under no-license. The matter was brought up in tho following remit, from, the Hawko's Bay division: "That should prohibition become established at.any future date, orders from medical practitioners calling for intoxicating liquors he not supplied by chemists." Several delegates considered that it was useless to voice their opinions beforo prohibition had'beon carried, but others preferred that the Government should know beforehand what tho chemists thought. All appeared to agree that if chemists accepted the role of dealers in liquor abuses would bo sure to arise, and endless difficulties too. The i remit was owried without disaeni >

At the opening of the first annual conference of the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Society, tho president, Mr. F. Castle, said that one of tho most important matters to be discussed at the conference was the establishment of a. coilo jot ethics. This was a very big undertaking, but so long as they did not aim too high they would accomplish something worth while. It often happened that chemists were not quite sure how to proceed, end the proposed code of ethics, if adopted, would help the profession in a. way that would be good for the chemists and tho general public. A special meeting of the Pc-totie Memorial Committee was held last evening for the purpose, of viewing designs submitted in connection with the proposed I'etone war memorial. A large number iof distinctive and appropriate designs were displayed, but definite selection was deferred. Wellington Haroour was busy yesterday with the movements of overseas vessel's. The Commonwealth and Dominion steamer Port Sydney arrived early in the morning from Newcastle, and anchored in the stream; the large. Swedish fullrigged ship "Trajsocean, bound for Melbourne, was_towed to sea at S a.m. by the Anchor Company's steamer Waimea; tho Edward May, an American barquentine, was at 4 p.m. also towed well out to sea by the tng Terawhiti; the Patrick Henderson steamer Bhaino cleared the port late in the afternoon for Dunedin, awl an hour later the Shaw, Savill awl Albion Company's lonic was dispatched for Lyttelton and Dunedin. Messrs. Levin and Co. draw special attention to an' error that appeared ■in the advertisement of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, in yesterday's issue. The Corinthio was set down to sail from Auckland on May 31; whereas the actual sailing date is Monday next, May 12.

The practice of using the title "consulting chemist" was condemned by various speakers during the course* of last night's proceedings of the Pharmaceutical Conference. Reference was made.to the matter by Mr. H. A. Bagiey (Featherston) in a paper which ne read to the conference, and the Canterbury Division also proposed that the practice 6hould be prohibited. The chairman, Mr F. Castle, said he >>elieved the practieo was falling into disuse, and he trusted that all chemists who carried such signs would ' take them down, as to _ display them was not conducive to the interests of the profession.

The Post Office authorities still find reason to complain of the little use that is made of registration by people desiring to send money through the post .office, says a southern paper. Any postal matter containing money or other valuables can be made secure, by paying the registration fee of 2d. or securing ;a specially strong registered envelope, for -Id., including the Hd. postage. In spite of this, however, and in defiance of regulations, the public continue 'to post largo sums of money, particularly in notes, without registration. Tho objection to this from the point of view of the'sender is that ho runs a considerable risk of losing his money, and from the point of view of the postal -officials and others who handle the letters tho objections are that suspicion may bo thrown on a number of innocent persons and that a great (leal of the time of the Department is taken ui> with'inquiries about missing money that would never have gone astray had the registration regulations been followed. ■ / .

A War Office announcement that Lieu-tenant-Colonel Edward Parker England, having completed, service in the rank, is placed on the half-pay list, Royal Artillery, recalls a romantic storv of the war. Colonel England got his first commission 3S years ago, and reached his present rank in 1913. Removed from the service after the retreat from Mons in 1914, at the age of 50 he enlisted as a private in the South African Horse and served .twelve, months in East Africa. He was afterwards transferred to France, and it was announced in the London "Gazette" of January 24, 1918, that the King had approved of his reinstatement in the rank of .lieutenant-colonel with his previous seniority in consequence of his devotion to .duty and gallantry in the field whilo in the ranks of tho Devonshire Regiment.

The nationalisation of the medical profossion was opposed by Dr. Line, in addressing delegates to the annual conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand last night. In urging that doctors, chemists, dentists, and, other kindred professions should organise and co-opcrato with a view to protecting their interests, he said the medical profession did not think it would work for tho efficiency of the country if such professions as medicine and dentistry wero nationalised. It would not ho for .the good of the country if various _ industries and professidns wero nationalised.

The special training of soldiers who .wish to enter the ministry of tho Anglican Church was mentioned in.Auckland hv Dr. W. C. Sadlier, Bishop of Nelson, who returned by the Reniuora after about a vear's service as senior' Anglican chaplain'to the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. There wero 2000 men in the British Expeditionary Force, he said, who wished to study to become clergymen, and eamps had been established at. Etnples and other centres in France and Enidand. Here the men were given a preliminary course of training, and later drafted to the various theological colleges and universities; Bishop Sadlier spoke with enthusiasm of" tho scheme, whi/.li is under the'supervision of tho Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and expressed the hope that later on some of these soldier-clergy might ho obtained for work in New Zealand.

In response to Iho circular issued to banks' staffs from Waiiganui—the originating centre—a vote of,officers has been taken on the question as to whether or not a New Zealand Association should be formed*, having for its object the improvement of the conditions of batik clerks, and, primarily, their salaries. The vote taken throughout the Dominion was for the formation of an association 1009, a»ahist 76. There were '248 unrecorded votes. A.s an outcome of tho movement," a meeting is to be hold in Wellington shortly, when preliminary details will fce discussed.' AVellington is to bo the headquarters of the proposed .association The executive will also sit in Wellington. It is understood that the local staff of the Bank of New Zealand did not attend the meeting to consider the; question of the formation of an association. Consequently no vote of the members of tho AVellington branch ot the Bant ot New Zealand was taken.

At the sitting of the Wellington Presbytery on Tuesday night the Rev. J. Gumming-(Khandallah) moved: 'That this Presbytery heartily approves of the suggested union of the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches in due season on a basis in doctrine and policy adequate to the needs of the united Church as may bo devised.. Anion" other reasons for unity, Mr. Cummin" urged that they would savo a considerable amount of money and effort in connection with foreign missions, besides utilising to better ''advantage the energies at their disposal nearer at hand. They had to S ive vw- y S owl reasons-why Churches which hod so jnuch in common should keep apart, and he himself had great difficulty in finding sucn reasons. Another reason for unity was that at present there was a difficulty in finding men for the ministry of the three Churches, and also that if they were united their voice on public and social questions would possess a greater volume than at present. The fiav. J. M'Caw, who seconded tho motion, said that the rank end file of the church members did not know what kept them apart, and only a day or so ago' he had been asked by a Pres*bvterian what was, the difference' between the Presbyterian and the Methodist The motion was carried unanimously.