LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 260, 30 July 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Returned soldiers are anxiously awaiting tho announcement of the Defence Minister and the Government as to the gratuities to be paid in respect of service in the war. It was expected that Hie scheme would be complete lorn/ before this, but it has been held un from timo to time by delays in the obtaining of information from other parts of the Empire. Now that it has been delayed so long it is probable that it will be held over until the political leaders arrive. The question is one of great importance, involving a heavy expenditure, and for this reason it is desirable that the heads of tho Government should be consulted on it.

It is not very often now that trains run to their scheduled time. Yesterday, ouo train was 30 minutes late, and the AVairarapa train was just an hour late. Tho reason for these uelays is prolonged shunting, brought on by the drastic cut made in tho railway services and tho long length of the trains. The AVairarapa train last night, tor instance, was composed of some 30. odd trucks, five vans, and six carriages!

Some of the Wellington coal dealers are advising their customers tu make increased provision for the storage of coal at their homos. A big coal-bin is of no particular value to a householder at tho present time, when deliveries are limited in quantity as well as in number. But conuitions may become easier during the summer and tho regulations against "bearding" will not thou prevent householders from' laying in half a ton or even a ton of coal. Wellington people have long been in tho habit of buying their coal in very small lots. ]?ew of the houses have storage for mora than half a ton of.coal; very many of them cannot receive' more than a quarter of a ton, and there are hundreds of bouses whero the "coal-bin" is a bos that will scarcely contain a couple of hundredweight. Tho delivery of coal in very small lots-admittedly is uneconomical in normal times, and. tho task of the dealer would bo much simplified if householders bought in half-lon and ton lots when supplies are available.

Au instruction issued by General Headquarters stales that any ofticors or noncommissioned officers of the Permanent Forces who are desirous of joining tho Public.Service Association "should make application to the honorary secretary, as a personal matter."

Soldiers who returned by the Riiapehu aro loud in their praise of the hospitality bestowed on them during the four days' stay of the Ruapehu at Newport News, and particularly on tho bounty they experienced at Richmond, tho capital'of the old Dominion of Virginia. Most of them had heard or read of tho hospitality of the South (as known to northerners}, but they hardly expected that it had endured tho changeful years. Tho American Red Cross branch at Richmond entertained Ihem lavishly at the Army and Navy Club, and they were even ablo' to sleep there gratis. There were dozens of. motor-cars placed at their disposal, and hundreds of gallons of petrol .must have been consumed whisking them round the beautiful country, so rich in memories of two wars. Soinu of the men simply lived in. motor-cars, and bring back 'something that will make Virginia a great deal more than a inoro name.to them for tho rest of their, lives. They drove through mile's of tobacco plantations, where'thu "best Virginian" scents tho air, and many of them were privileged to inspect some of the big tobacco factories, tho names of which figure in most of the tobacconists' windows throughout the world.

The Government Astronomer states that he has received information of tho occultation of a star by the planet Venus.. The occultation will bo visible in New Zealand. The s'.av is rather faint, its magnitude being B.G. Tho occultation will take i place on Saturday, August 2, between G p.m. and 7 p.m. At the time of occultation the altitude of Venus will be about 20 degrees. Observations are reouired of tlio time tho star disappears behind Venus and the time when, the star reappears.' Astronomers who reciuire the exact times should make early application to the Hector Observatory, AVellington. and, if possible, accurate time signals will be 6ent to them. Dr.- Rusk, medical officer of the Shropshire, is a well-known citizen of Belfast, who has come out on the staff of the steamer mentioned for the benefit of his health, after serving with tho R.A.M.C. in France. As an ex-president of tho Irish Bowling Association, he is an enthusiast in anything appertaining to the ancient game, and after seeing how keen an interest exists both in Australia and New Zealand for bowls, ho has expressed his determination to endeavour to arrange for a visit to both tho Dominion and the Commonwealth of rinks representing England, Ireland, and Scotland, feeling confident, that the interest insiich a visit would bo very widespread, and would further cement tho good feeling that exists between the bowlers on this side of the world with those at Home. During the second week in August Dr. Rusk is to be entertained by tho Wellington Bawling Centre. All delegates to the centre, as well as presidents and secretaries of club's will be invited to attend. The .Arbitration Court was yesterday asked again to decide that a firm carrying on the business of heel-building. is liable to be joined as a party to the New Zealand federated boot operatives' award. The AVellington union reopened I the question in a fresh application to ioin the firm of T. J. Davenport, heelbuilders. Mr. Huc:hison urged that the Board of Control for the boot trade had by resolution decided that the firm should bo brought under the award. In addition to the operation of heel-building the firm performed that of "cutting," which would certainly render it liable to the provisions of the award. Mr. W. A. Grenfell (employers' representative) contended that the Court had on a previous occasion settled the point at.issue. The Board of Control referred to by Mr. Hutchison had been constituted for quite another purpose than that of deciding such questions ns the one before the Court. :Mr. T. J. Davenport gave evidence. Mr. Justice Stringer (President of tho Court) said that the proper course 'for the union was to make special provision in the next award for heel-builders. The Court could see no reason for departing from its previous decision. The directors of the Bank of Au'/ralasin have decided to increase the bonus on tho salaries of its staff from 10 to 25 per cent. The use of H.M.S. Philomel, as she lies partly dismantled at the Clyde Quay Wharf has .been granted to Captain Chudlev, R.N.R., for the training of his Sea Scouts. A mooting* of the AVellington Surf Club's Association was held last evening, when the following clubs were represented:—lsland Bay, Maranui, AVorser Bay and Evans Bay. Apologies were received from tho Lyall Bay and Paekakariki Railway Clubs. Mr. G. S. Hill was in the chair. The sub-committee appointed to draw up rules submitted the same, which were adopted.

In the course of a lending article on the classification of the Public Service, the "Public Service Journal" says :-"Tho association has always advocated equal pay to'both sexes for equal work, therefore the differentiation against female clerical officers in tho new list is regarded with disapproval, although tho distinction applies only to the immediate increment. The shorthand-typists, as a group, have Gifmul reason to be ■ dissatisfied with (lie treatment accorded to them- In the new list, very little consideration, and in some cases none at, nil, having been given to tiiem 'by way of compensation for the extra cost of living. Speaking generally they aro a competent, industrious body of workers, many of them living away from home or assisting to support relatives. They <ire expected to maintain a respectable personal appearance, and to keep out of debt, although the increase in prices affects them in the same degree as it affects all oilier workers. We sincerely hope that their appeals will meet with the sympathetic hearing that they deserve."

The first rehearsal of "The Mikado" by the Wellington Amateur Operatic Society was held in the society's room on Monday evening under tho direction of Sir. Bernard Page. There was a good muster of members, and excellent work was accomplished for an initial rehearsal.

Tlio Mayor of Clmstchurch, Dr. Thacker, is "appnrc-]jtVy not going to spare his brother motorists in his search for nuisances. A Cliristchureh paper reports that on Saturday the Mayor motored from Cnshel Street through High Street and Colombo Street to the middle of Cathedral Square behind a cur which he says "filled the whole street with noxious, stinking smoke, which went into the shops and was most offensive." He took the car's number and has asked the 'I'mflic Inspector to inform the owner that the smoking car nuisance must bo stopped. He will also ask the Bylaws Committee to prepare a by-law providing for the punishment of offenders in this direction. The lion, treasurers H.M.S. New Zealand Entertainment Fund acknowledge tho receipt of the undermentioned amounts: Previously acknowledged, .£"l7 25.; Union Sfeam Ship Co.. .E25; Johnston and Co., £2ii; Gear Meat Co., .£25; J. Staples and Co., ,£25; Wellington Harbour Board, .£'2o; Gollin and Co., .£lO 10s ; 1!.13., .£5; -Alfred Smith, £1 '25.; J. (1." Stott, .£2 25.; AV. Preddy, JCr> 55.; ItWilberfoss, .£1 Is.; Bricc and Bush, ,£2 2s ; Roberts (N.Z.), Ltd.. ,£5 55.; Kniapoi Clothing Co., .£1 Is.; Monteith and Ward, ,£1 Is.; 'Wright and Witt, .£3 35.; Central Agency, .El; Anonymous. 55.; Gray unci Jackson, .El Us. (id.; G. Winder, .El; Kempthorne, Pressor and Co., .£5 55.; C. A. Ewen, £2 25.; D. Milligau, £1 Is ; Wcstport Coal Co.. .£1 Is.; G. Mee, .El Is.; Watkins, Hull and Co., £2 25.; Whitehead and Pears, .£1 Is.; 3. Smith and Co., .El Is.; N.Z. Express Co., .£1 Is.; John Chambers and Co.. .£5 55.; D.I.U £5 55.; F. D. Sladden, .£1 Is.; Munt, Cottrell and Co., .£2 25.; Morison and Smith, \£l Is.; M'Grath and AVillis, £1 Is.; Young, Ncave, ami Courtney, ,E5 as.: A\. S. Bennett, ,£2 2s. Total, ,£9lB 7s. 6d.

So Ion" as circumstances may permit (says tho "Public Service Journal"), it is the settled policy of tho Public herants' organisation to refrain mini participating in party politics. For this reason, therefore, it is necessary o state that a local newspaper statement to he effect that at. a recent meeting of the newly formed Welfare League the Public Servants wore represented is not in accordance with fact.

At the monthly meeting of the managers of the Wollingtoln Technical Lducation Board Inst evening Mr. IT. M. Gore raised the question of uniform scnoo, holidays, and asked whether it was proposed 'to do anything in the matter. He thought it would certainly he desirable if somo measure of uniformity in Inn observance of holidays by the primary and secondary schools could be brought about. Mr L. 'M'Kcnzio thought that there would bo some difficulty ill arranging anything of the kind, os some ot the schools observed terms, and the question of payment was based on those, terms. Mr J E. Fitzgerald said that it would bo'even •better if private schools were iiclnded. Mr. G. L. Stewart mentioned that the question did vitally aftcit. the Technical College, as some of the instructors at the collego also taught at other schools. In reply to an interjection, Mr. Stewart stated that the Railway Department would not carry the children at tulidav time. Urged to do so, Mr. Gore »avo notice of motion to tho effect that the. board express its approval of lie principle of uniformity of all school holidays.