LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 218, 9 June 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Appeal Court (Second Division) will sit this morning, when reserved judgments will bo delivered. The Auckland Tramwav Officers' Union has rejected the advance' in pay offered by the Tramway Company, especially as it did not include twenty members of the union—Press Assn. Whilst being towed to a collier in Gisborne harbour on Saturday morning, two lighters belonging to the Gisbomo Sheepfarmers' Company were blown .ashore during a heavy southerly squell. Tho lighters were not damaged, and it is expected that 'there will be no 'difficulty in refloating them at high tide, the weather having moderated. A wharf labourer named Andy_ Smith, who was aboard one of the lighters; sustained a fractured leg.—Press A6sn. Speaking to a reporter at Invercargill regarding 'the charges, alleged to have been made that all Ministers had their price, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald said that tho man who made that statement had not called on him or given him an opportunity of reply. Newspaper inquiries show that the remark challenged by tho Minister was made six months ago, and referred to American politics. In _a ■ letter to the Manawatu'County Council, Mr. E. Newman, M.P., advises that tho Post and Telegraph Department cannot allow its expert to represent local bodies in connection with tho purchase of motor-lorries, and suggests that the Government bo asked to reconsider this decision, or that local bodies should combine and send Home an expert to report as to the possible supply of wagons.

A deputation from the Y.M.C.A. waited on tho Returned Soldiers' Association at' Timaru to remove misapprehensions regarding tho clash of building schemes, as it is recognised that the public will not furnish funds for the two buildings at tho same time. The Returned Soldiers' Association determined not to accopt the Y.M.C.A. offer to share a building, and as it was first in tho field with a scheme, now * complains that the YAt.C.A., by announcing its scheme and buying a site, has interfered with the raising of funds by tho Returned Soldiers' Association. A frank and friendly discussion took place, the Y.M.C.A. representatives assuring tho Returned Soldiers' Association of its good will and desire to assist rather than obstruct or clash with tlie latter body.—Press Assn. At n meeting of tho Marlborough chamber of commerce at Blenheim tho' following motions wero carried unanimously :—"That in the opinion of this chamber the South Island Main Trunk railway, being of paramount national importance, should'be completed before any other railway line in the Dominion. "That tho claims of Picton as a naval base for tho Dominion'-be urged upon the Government." That the Government be requested : to proceed at once with the promised geological survey of Marlbrougli." "That the hydroelectrical scheme outlined by Mr. Parry should bo carried into effect at tho earliest opportunity."—Press Assn.

Mr. John Fuller has received tlie following letter from his brother in London (says ail exchange) -.—"Food is gradually becoming a little cheaper, but clothing, boots, etc, aro dearer than over. You cannot get a decent tweod suit under about six guineas, and boots, tho lowest about 85s. My wife wanted a new bucket, and they asked 7s. Gd.; pre-war price, Is, lid. And you may say all manufactured articles are in tho samo proportion. It is altogether out of proportion to tie extra cost of production. This has been proved in no end of cases. It is rank profiteering. Only the other day tho will of a Mr. Coates, 'tho big cotton manufacturer, was proved at £1,000,000. Three millions of this enormous sum was mado in ono year duringi tho war. How? Befojje the war a 1000 yard rcol of cotton cost 33d. Now Is. 2Jd. I ask you is this fair and legitimate business? Can yon really jronder at the universal unrest. This" is not an isolated case. If you read the annual meetings of different companios you will find thorn paying enormous dividonds, some of which had not been able to doclaro a dividend for previously, and remember this is after paying tho immenso excess profits tax."

It is by no means an unusual thing for persons to faint or to fall in a fit in the Police Court, but an incident of tho kind which occurred on Thursday was different from the customary typo (says the Auckland "Star"). A young man, who had just been fined a few shillings for a comparatively trifling by-law breach, suddenly fell sensoless to tho floor. In a moment a sympathetic policeman hastened to attend him, but got a shock a 6 the prostrate man flashed again to life, and with the tense, quick actions of the bayonet fighter sprang to his feet in a fierce fighting crouch that threatened the constable with instant annihilation. There was a tenso moment of expectation, then the crouching man's 'fierceness faded, ho looked round liko a person waking from a dream, and was guided to a chair, into which ho sank in a fit of trembling weakness. He explained later to tho ministering constable that when he was in Franco last year ho got into a hot melee with the enemy, and was eventually knocked senseless by a blow on the head from a German rifle-butt. Since then, when ho comes under exceptional mental stress, tho memory re-enacts itself in his brain, and ho lives the experience over again, always coming round with tho vivid feeling that he is still in the fight against the Germans. Referring again to tho_ matter of misrepresentation at tho Dairy Association's dinner in Diinedin, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald said that the other day he had seen in a paper not very far from Dunedin an article dealing with his sins, and all ho could say was that this was deliberate, bare-faced living, with no ignorance about it. Ho was in tho happy position of drawing JIOOO a year and spending .£2OOO to earn it. (Laughter.) If ho was among the missing nfe tho next general election he would bo a much happier man, and when tho issue was decided ho would sink his individual aspirations and work and give of his best in the service of tho peoplo ho represented, and' ho believed his colleagues would du the same. (Applause.) Tho ignition of gas from a drain in Queen Street, near Shortland Street, Auckland, tho other day attracted a crowd of startled pedestrians. Tho flames, which blazed fiercely for about twenty minutes, abatod without causing any damage. Apparently the dropping of ft lightod match iguited tho gas.—"Now Zealand Herald."

Eggs aro ab present selling at a record prico in Auckland (says the "Herald"). Grocers reported on Thursday tliat they wore paying up to 3s. a dozen wholesale, aud wore retailing at from 3s. 3d. to 3s. Oil. a dozen. Even at the first-named iiguro eggs are stated to bo difficult to procure. Some grocers havo been unable to obtain supplies for weeks past. Two years ago tho retail price roso to 2s. Cd. n dozen in July aud August, after which it began to recede. At that time there wero moro ducks' eggs on tho market than there are at prcsout, and that helped to make up for tho shortage of hens' eggs. Competition is very keon just now, aud this is having an influence on the prices.

It is a pity that the Now Zealand troops going through ■ Virginia on their way home cannot stay long enough in the country (tho Richmond "Evening Journal" say 3) to become "exhibit A of what a really democratic State produces in the way of citizens The opinion of all those who havo been thrown in contact with them is unanimous that they are a fine, manly, well-educated, clear-thinking lot. They know how to use the kind's English, and havo a personal interest in every political"problem. With more than 10 per cent, of thenpopulation under arms, they can look any Englishman in the eye. Their response to the call of the Mother Country was magnificent, and has, no doubt,, gamed for them entire independence, if .they want it. New Zealand, from the first, has had equal suffrage, general education, and an equitable distribution ot land. By their laws, too, their soldiers vote wherever they are, so they are never outside an active interest in politics. 1 lie State is more socialised than any other, and has put into active operation advanced legislation that the remainder of the world is looking at askance. The test of any theory, political or religious, is the type of man it produces. If the good impression made upon the fortunate few who have spoken with visiting New Zealanders could be corroborated by numbers, it might help the voters of the State to cast off their fears tnd see with a wider and truer vision.