LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 289, 2 September 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

During tho month of August the Men's Lmploymcnt Bureau in G'luznee »Street assisted IJO persons i,ecunng positions for 120 and reduced fares for 20. * New applications by workers totalled 155 for tlie month. In honouring- the men, ivlio had cono to the front from tlio staff of the WeJlitfton Ilarbour Board at Inst night's smoko to the returned men, ° the secretary of the board mentioned that four of tlio stuff had been decorated, namely; Major David Gibbs, D.S.O. Ji 11 ]" 1 ' J-iilhp Ellis, M.C., Private V. M. Llhott, M.M., and Private E. ltookes Belgian Croix de Guerre. Others had 'been honourably mentioned in Field Marshal liaig's dispatches. A deputation representing tho general labourers in the emplov of the City Council waited on the finance Committoo of the council yesterday afternoon to submit claims for better pay and shorter hours. As there are all sorts and conditions of labourers employed by the corporation, it-was decided, after the men had been heard, to obtain a lull report on the matter .from the Acting City Ungmeer,

Several of the trees planted within frames along the Parado nt Lyall JJay have long since given up the ghost (writes a correspondent;, but though the planting season is practically over no attempt has been made to take the dead stumps away and plant new trees. These trees oro passed by thousnds of people every day, but the people resnonsible do not seem to be among those who "see the need and do the deed." Perhaps tins quiet hint will direct the atlent.on of (lie Director of lleserves to the trees on tlio Marine Parade generally. Thev couhl all do with some atttiilion. A white covering of diisiHkc substance on Hie iron roof of one of the meat company's works at Weslfleld lias often attracted the attention of people traveliiiif along tlio road with resultant speculat tion as to :ts cause. Information on the subject elicited Ti.y au Auckland "Star" reporter goes to show thai it,is caused by a very strong acid used at the works, that penetrates through ti.!it> iron. Ho effect is not confined to tlie works themselves either, for it is having a very drastic effect on trees in the vicinity, killing the tup gruwth to a very noticeamo extent.-

Officers of the Post mul Telegraph Dopnitnients telephone 'branch are now veiy busy in the Courtenay Place-Mount I'lctorin-Newlown urea of the city- liltiii" iip the new Western Electric telephones in preparation Tor the "cut over" on September 20. Subscribers who have had l!n new telephones fixed or only delivcivd are asked not in interfere 'or play wit.-i tlieni at i:ll, and not lo allow tlieiii to be touched by children in ease tlio delicale ineehanisni should be injured at (i time when the sorviccs of the'stall' are so urgently needed for imluHnlion work. Tlie new W.E. telephones are very similar to the Strowgei' article. Tho i.i'w dealt telephones arc « little taller, and have oxidised steel fillings instead of pin led ones. On the Vi'.E. dial liie numbers read from left lo vijt'hl (the opposite way lo those on Uie Showier, and there is an-instruction oil the'centre of tlio dial asking subscribers not lo dial any number after the receiver is lifted olf the, hook and placed to the cur, until the humming tone is heard, which note ensures that there is a machine available to put the message through to lite number deared. i

Under old regulations the timber millers of New Zealand were allowed to export a half of their output for the proious year. The result was that it a mill desuod to increase its export it had only to increase its production of milled timber. That regulation, therefore, failed to limit tile export of such an essential article of commerce, and new regulations have been gazetted to deal with thu matter. They prescribe in regard to rinui, kauri, and beech the actual quantum (aot the quota) which may be exported; and that quantum must not exceed the export of the previous year. Further, that quantum will be reduced Horn year to year, and although it is not officially stated a vanishing point is in sight. This course of action has been arrived at after a series of consultations between the Commissioner of State Forests (Sir Francis Bell) the Board of Trade, and tho representatives of the timber industry, tho objcct of the Minister's representations being that New Zealand timber must first of all be utilised for the use of New Zealand builders and the clients of builders. The course of action outlined above has been arranged by the Minister after consultation with the Advisory Committee of the timber trade, which is acting in conjunction with tho committee of the timber trade. The position is tlint the Minister has gazetted a minimum of export for the present year, anil tho limitation will go on yearly in a gradually decreasing ratio, until, it is suggested, they reach the vanishing point.

A Press Association message i from Blenheim states, that at an inquest on James Cliinn, killed by a motor-car driven by C. S. Andrews, the coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, remarking that there was no evidence of culpable negligence on the part of the taxi-driver.

At a meeting of the Temperance aud Public Morals Committee of the Methodist Church of New Zealand a resolu-

tion was passed expressing grave concern at the efforts being made to revive public exhibitions of boxing by' professionals, which, instead of developing the art of self-defence, were largely a means of making money.

The Seatoun and Bays Progressive Assocation have had the assurance from the .Minister of Defence that as 60011 as the road round the seashore within the confines of this Defence Reserve at Minimal' is repaired it will be thrown open for traffic as before the war. This will make available to motorists one of the finest marine rides in New Zealand. A twenty-live mile run, practically on the fl.it, will be available by proceeding from the .city by way of Oriental and Evans Bays, following the contour of the iatter'bay on the eastern side, and then proceeding 'by way of Mahanga Bay and Point ilnlswell to Karaka Bay and Seatoun, thence through the tuiiiuel to Lyall Bay, and homeward via Island Hay.'

'llie early lambing season has commenced wider conditions which, according to the manager of a leading city auctioneering company, aro wonuerlul, says the Auckland "Star." "It's great weather—nice and mild," ho said, 'and tho mortality should bo particularly light. This is pruved by Ttports from districts in and around Auckland, which show that iambing is general, and that tlio lambs are doing well." A very good report comes from Motuilii, whew*lambing is taking place on a largo scale.

Thy retail price of milk in Christchurcli will bo reduced from to-day from (ill. lo sd, per quart.. Mr. ]~ W. Trotter, who presided at llio meeting at which it was decided to reduce the price, said tlio Christcliurch Eelail Dairymen's Association had agreed that (id. a, quart should bo charged fsr three mouths only, and, considering ilio high cost of living, lie. thought the milk retailers should charge the public as littlo as possible. The margin of profit to tho retailers now was about tlio same as when milk was sold at M. a quart, notwithstanding the fact that the cost of delivery had increased considerably. Tho motion to reduce the price as from September 1 was carried unanimously. An autograph photograph of Admiral .Tellicoo has been presented to the Sailors' Friend Society by Admiral and Vis'countess Jellicoe.

Two bluejackets, who wero members of the mine-sweeper Marguerite, were lound in tho city of Auckland the other night after the ship had sailed for Sydney, and tlioy were arrested on a charge of desertiou. When thoy came before *lio Police Court they wero remanded for a week, pending information from tlio ship iespectiiig them.

The Canterbury Public Library has now been in existence CO years (says the "Sun"). The iirst action taken in the direction of providing jt library was a meeting held nL the Oclclfellpws' Hall, Liclilield Street, on May 2(i, JBSD, j\lr. John llnll presiding, fhe institution" was opened on August •{, IBSH, tho Superintendent uf tlie province (Air; Sefton Moorhoiise) presiding at the function. About I!") 0 readouts were present, and, among other speeches delivered wus 0110 by JJishop Harper. At tlie present timo 30,000 volumes are on the shelves of tiio library, and iH)O periodical publications on the file. Bequests to the library for liio purchase of books wero left by the lace Mr. Arthur I'ostlo (,£200(11 and bv Ilia late Mr. James Gammack.

I feel sure that many .of our troubles could be averted had we a competent Minister of Commerce and Industries," said Mr. P. Davidson at a Chamber of Commerce meeting in Cliristchitrch. "I U IIU M. 1 -'I" 1 s;ll ' u in W in &" proceeded iMr. Davidson, ''that not more than ten in this room can tell who the Minister of Commerce is. Gentlemen, this should not be, and wo have agreed to join forces with the Industrial Association, so that a united effort may bo made throughout the Dominion in getting a Minister appointed, and we will not >be satisfied to have what should be one of the most important portfolios tacked on to tlie end of a 1 less important me."

The Temperanco and Public Morals Uimmitteo of the Methodist Church or j\ow Zealnud passed a resolution protest'ing against the carriage of liquor oil the railways in view of the serious industrial conditions and distress through (ho unemployment imposed bv tlio' restricted service, and urging that the valunblo space so occupied be immediately utilised for commodities essential to tlio continued industrial welfare of the Dominion.