LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 241, 5 July 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The G'cvernmeal has decided that no subsidies shall be paid in respect of such festivities as may be arranged when the New Zealand and Admiral Jcllicoe come to New Zealand, but that all expenditure made ,bv local bodies will be validated. The Mayor (Mr. .T. ?. T.ukoi staled yesterday thai tho City Council had enough coal in hand and in sight to maintain the lighting and tramway services till the cud of the present month. Sixteen men from Ihe mine-sweeper Geranium are still on Somes Island. The majority of (hem are recovering from influenza, and all will probably be released shortly, and will return to 'dicir vessel. As soon as (he Ihreo are fully manned they will, leave Wellington to commence operations. "We can't have the cake and eat it." said Councillor Wright, in discussing I ho municipal estimates yesterday. "Gh.yes, wo can," said Counciilov Luckie, "but we-caiv't eat the cake and have it!" A word of warning io importers was uttered by Air.. 11. Y. Widdowson. S.M., at the conclusion of a ease which was heard in the Dunedin Magistrate's Court. When dealing wilh foreign conn trie.-, ho said, .merclinnls should make their terms very clear and definite, as Hie details of business methods respecting freights, etc., were, often found to vary a good deal as between Britain and somo of llio foreign countries with which New Zealand was now trading. "A case of this sort, which came before me recenlly." added the Magistrals, "could ant. I am sure, have been made intelligible by a Philadelphia lawyer." _ Camphor, a useful hut not very extensively used commodity, is likely lo rise in price in fnliire. Tt is virtually a .Y.minese monopoly, since Formosa, its chief source, is a Japanese possession. Advice has been received by u local importing firm that a great Japanese Camphor Trust lias now been formed, with a capital of over ,£1,000.000. and as practically all the camphor of commerce will nnss through its hands, it will be able lo dominate camphor concerns which il ;,ocs not already embrace. The demand for camphor in Hie manufacluro of celluloid goods is very great in Japan: eevetlheIcss, the production has rapidly declined from 2,500.{! M anils lo 700,000 only for 1918, and the demaud ha* grown.. Mr. W. 11. George, in his kindly references to the Salvahon Army's work ia hostels al tho Knglish buses I writes a correspondent) omits io give I hem credit for magnificent institulious at all bases in France, and with all sections of the liritish Expeditiouory Farce. ISut there, (erned Hilrfier can give the facts in-llio most convincing order—of that the Salvation Army can rest content. However, in respect to the American troops, when he says that only the Y.M.C.A. and Knights of Columbus were allowed to work amongst fliem, ho is incorrect, cs any reader of American journals can tell, for Salvation Army workers were, with the American Iroops in the front line trenches throughout the whole of their campaign, and performed deeds in tho firing lino which have called forth the most enthusiastic, expressions from nil sections of the American Iroops. This correction, T feel is due to our friends' of the Army, seeing that they have acted on behalf of the citizens in ministering to Ihe needa cf Iho men on active somen and to remove the impression that the paragrn"h tn ouestion would convey. At 9.30 o'clock this morning the Chief Justice (Sir'ltobert Slant) will pass foulence on Frederick Thomas Ellis, who pleaded guilty al Tlawera to. throe charges of false pretences, arid Frnest Tristian Wewar, who pleaded guilty at Wellington to'a 'charge of theft.

.Mr. P. M; Jackson : has given- mil ice to move the' following motion at tho next nicotine of 1 lie Wellington branch of jlio .Yew Zealand Educational Institute:—

"That every leacher iVceiye, beside his fixed salary, an iiicrciise equal jo the increase in the cost, of living. 'This increase to take, effect from ISH.''

At a meeting of (he. North Olago Soldiers' Aid Association, when the applications for loans were under consideration. Mr. W. Gardiner, in moving that in one. ease the-loan be declined, .said he did so in the soldier's own interest, ns he, considered the soldier was being exploited. The speaker expressed, in forceful language, his indignation at tho unscrupulous way, in which certain persons tried lo iakn "advantage of tho ignorance of men who had fought and bled to ma in I sin the security r.-f tlui very ones who were Irving to "have" Ihem. Mr. L. •T. It. Fam.ilton and Air. ,1. V. Gibson concurred with Mr. Guitlihor, the former suggesting that the board set up a .'Lands Committee to review all applications having reference to'tho purchase of lands.

Dr. C. C. Farr, president of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute at tho last meeting of tho. institute, said that the actual value of tho 'bequest, lo Canterbury Col lego of forest land at Greendale by the lale Mr. T. \\. Adams was about ,CSOOO, but that did not represent its full .value. The forest growth on the land was of greater value than the monetary value. II: extended over forty years, mid if a School of Forestry were established in New Zealand it would be very _ important, as if would show how certain species of foreign trees grow in this country.

Cabinet has. agreed to Hie recommendation of the Minister of sfine.s lo invito applications for the ..pnoiutiiicnt of additional officers to the Mines Department in order-to bring ilio geological stuff up. to the necessary strength.

Speaking at a. meeting of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute; 51 r. Fdgar V. Stead said that at limes a mysterious "something" would attack certain anima.ls in New Zeiu'.niid causing them to bo almost; exterminated in certain places. For the want of a bettor name he would call this "soineihing" a sickness. In many places where rabbits had thrived a. few years ago there -were now hardly any, and ho doubled whether strong! healthy rabbits introduced lo these places.would thrive. He considered it would pay the Government to investigate the matter as it. applied to rabbits.—Christcliurclt "Sun." ■

The use of the rifle was the subject of a short lecture) given to the special training class for cadet n.e.o.'s at tho Wellington barracks this week bv Captain J. A. Wallingford, M.C. The cayfain said that the war had not displaced tho rifle from its position as the most effective weapon that could be used by tho individual soldier. Ability, to use tho rifle had made possible, the splendid stand of the original British Army in IfiM. If Britain in 1915 had possessed a million men able to shoot! with th* same rapidity and precision as "the Old Cont.eniptiblcs" the war would not havedragged on for four years. Tho rillem.au who could lire fifteen shots in a uiituilo and reach his target with each shot was an exceedingly formidable fighter. Captain Wallingford said that the secret ot success with the rifle was determination, allied with mathematical knowledge, lit gave the cadets hints as lo the cultivation of their powers of observation and the development of faculties. A shooting match hold at the close of the pa iado was won by Cadet 1.. Dovey. 17th Com. imiiy, with' a score of 18 out of a possible 20.

"Wo have to report a record year in all spheres of activity," slates the annual report of H« Labour Parly. "The mem. bership has reached the 'highest point, in our political history, and now numbers over 2l','iflo financial members. ' The national campaign undertaker, by I lie momhers of the Parliamentary Labour Parly and other enthusiastic helpers has been successful, and the record of collections lit- 11.0 meetings shows that public seilliaieiit ram; strongly with the party."

M'-. \\. W. liowntrec intends to move at tie meet meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zetland 'Educational liislilule:—"That the opinion of this branch is thai the present; grading scheme is most unsatisfactory and ought lo lie abolished; anil that the following scheme should le adopted, viz.: (1) That there bo three graded lists-fa) head teacls.TS; (bl inalii assistants; (d. female assistants. (2) That the marks be: Etlieieney Kilt, seru'ec i.i, literary aUnin'meiils 15, A certificate 15, B 11, C 13, D 9: lottil i:0ll."

Tim followiiig rcifistared industrial unions linve formed «m Iron Trades Industrial Council for the purpose of creating u greater unity Amongst Vhoir n embers throupflioiil: the iron ind eteel industry, and to advise and protect their collective interests in fii.v lawful mnnner:—Amalgamated Society <if I>'<gineers. United Boilermakers ;.nd lion Ship Builders, United Society of Moulders. Metal Workers' Assistants.

The officer in charge of llio Menri tanplovment Bureau in Ghuznee - Street states that duvim; llie ;nst month tlio bureau assisted Kit persons in all. ror Y2 it secured reduction in fares, and lor the remainder it secured employment, Eleven applications from employers were brought forward from the previous month, and In them were added, m tho course of four weeks, 20 new ones, the number of workers that applied for help was 113.

The Auckland branch of the Amalgamated. Society'of Kailway Servants has passed a resolution strongly protesting against the export of coal, and enduring tho attitude ot the Wellington waterse.lers in their recent ra'ii&il to tranship coal for export. U also .sagged Hiat Uiu whole ciusstiou be brougnt beloru Uie Transport Workers' Advisory Jioanl lor consideration.—l'ress Assn.

When Francis William Hawkcn, labourer, Jufil Walter Middleton, motor driver, were placed in the dock in Melbourne, before Judge Woimirski, >» General Sessions, for sentence on tho charge of robbery inconipauy from »i.iiam Henry Dudley I.e Souel, director ot the Zoological Gardens, Mr. T. C. Hrcunan made an appeal tor leniency on behalf of Middleton. The accused was, io said,-onlv 18 vears of age, and not only had he previously borne a most excellent character, but lie had spent iv.l his n> M '' time until the recent strike of taxi-cab drivers in improving himself. Muldletoa had not planned the robbery; he knew nothing of Air. I.e Sonet's movements. It was .fairly clear that he was pressed into the all'air; that he tried to back out several times; that he did not use tho bludgeon, and that lie protested against any .suggestion to strike Air. 1-e Sonet. Ali'ddleton's father also gare evidence as lo his son's goad character. Hawkea, from the dock, protected his-innocence, said ho had never been in trouble beiore, and claimed that it was unfair to put all Hie blame upon his shoulders, .the senfence of the Court was that each of .ho accused bo privately whipped lo strolls with the cat-o'-ninc-tails, and that each servo a term of imprisonment for hvo vears. Immediately sentence was pro'nounced there was a painful scene in Court. Accused Middleton's brother a. young man who wore a soldiers badge, and who was minus one of his legs, burst into violent .sobbing, while his feniaie relatives indulged in hysterical weeping.

There is a good ileal-of disuppoinlnieiu amongst Xew Kralander.s m hngmnd.at llie.refusal of Hie lloverninont lu provide froo repatriation to tho Dominion pi Ihoso who have done valuable work in connection with Uic war (writes the London correspondent of an exchange;. An. 1 AY. Unvmoml, chairman of the executive'of Hie. Sew' Zealand War Contingent Association, savs no one knows more <utimalclv tlinn lie the aaims of these workers', and he was fully justified in making -a strenuous effort to secure free repatriation. His view is that no money consideration can bo placed- against ths valuable a.nd disinterested ser.nees rendered bv the members on Hie stall of the head office, clubs, hospitality, visiting, and other.departments.

The London correspondent of an ex-change-savs that "The Times" correspondent at Versailles declares tliat fciv Ernest Pollock and ■Mr. Massey -were Ihe two members of Hie Committee on tho Uesponsibilitv of the Authors of the War who'most, energetically sought-to make Hie ex-Kaiser- and his associates responsible directly for the. greatest crime ui historv. It was mamly as a result, o. their sietivilv that, clause;! were embodied in-tins committee's report formally condemning the Kaiser.

\otice has been given by Mies .['■ Roberts to move at-the nest, meeting of Hie' Wellington branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute:-" I bat whereas in accordance with the pr'oyi : sions of No. -13' of the staffs and salaries regulations an' inlaw mistress has been appointed in -'schools ot (trade' Vf! and upwards, Ibis branch recognises the importance of 'Ilie duties of the, infant mistress, and respectfully recommends (hat 'the. position' should carry Hie grade of salary co-equal with that of tho first assistant'lii the school."

"Tho Maori? used to use. the, natiyt' dog-;'of New Tiealand (or food." said Hie Hon. CI. 51..Thomson. F.L.S., M.L.C in t.lin course of an address' at a. meeting of the -Canterbury-.Philosophical Jnstitule. He. added thai some of Captain Cook's officers dined on a roasted lope of dog. -and pronounced it to be exactly, like million. However, Hie speaker reminded his hearers Chat, in case any of them wished to sacrifice their pet. dogs in order to reduce their mutton bill,- that the, Ivntopean dogs were found by the Natives to ho perfectly unpalatable. ■.Further, tho native dog, which -had been considered a dnintv. was later found to bo useless'as an'article of food because of on almost compete mixture with his European brother.

'■'An application for assistance to become a- wireless operator was considered at ft meeting, of the Canterbury liepalriation Hoard (states the "Lylleltwn Times). The repatriation officer. (Mr. T. 51. Charters) said "'flint the case, was only Recommended for favourable, consideration because he considered that the applicant was specially adapted for the work. He had received one.or two inquiries front others /who desired lo become wireless operators, but ho" had always put thorn off, as'from what he knew personally of the matter it was an occupation Unit frequently led to a dead end. Tlie.ro were one or two "pickings" in the .mercantile marine, but lo get there a man hud to ho. specially qualified, and he did not think it 'was'a. line to assist returned soldiers to take up unless they pussesed exceptional qualifications such _as the, man whose case they wore considering, the application was granted.