LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 298, 12 September 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association telegram . from Whakatano states that Mr. Massey, replying to tho suggestion of residents of u State art union'for house-building, states that ho is interested in the suggestion, and has referred it to tho Workers'" Dwellings Board.

"The grading of primary school teachers is a comparatively easy matter —" said a sneaker at yesterday's conference on technical education, but before he finished his sentence another delegate in-, toriected with "Is a farco!" (Laughter.)

A resolution of interest to motorists was passed by the Conference of the Municipal Association last night,, when itwas decided that local authorities should havo power to order tho trimming, removal, or lowering of trees, fences, or hedires on comers of roads where such trees, fences, or hedges, by obstructing tho view, aro calculated to cause accidents on highways; reserving to the owner the right of appeal to a jfngis : , trate. With regard to overhanging trees, the conference also to iirse that section- 19G of the Municipal Coruorations Act be amended providing for the owner or occupier of tho property to comply with an order from the council within fourteen days, instead of Avo months.

Ono of a list of new, Public Service angulations (andamendments to same), which appear in tho* current week's Gazetto reads as follow:—"Tho Commissioner may, if ho thinks fit.'from time to timo transfer from tho General Division to the Seventh Class of the Clerical Division miy person wlio lias served for at.least two years in the General Division, and who has passed llio examination prescribed for candidates for appointment to tho Clerical Division; provided that on transfer an officer shall not be entitled to receive a salary in excess of tho amount that ho would have received 'had ho been appointed in the first instance as a endet lo tho Seventh Class of tho Clerical Division. Every person so transferred shall, so. far as seniority for promotion is concerned, be placed at tho bottom of tho class to which he is transferred."

In responso to tho invitation for competitive designs lor a now entrance (o tho Wellington Bowling Green as a peace memorial; and improvements to tho strip of vacant land,(between flio pavilion and the street), acquired some time ago by the Wellington Bowling Club, a number of designs havo been received. The directors after consideration decided lo accept the design sent in undor tho nunio of "Kiwi." '1 his design was the work of Mr, William Fielding, architect, and 'with certain modifications will bo given effect to later. Tho directors have decided that llio opening of tho season shall take pkco on Saturday afternoon, October It.

At its meeting on Wednesday evening tho Council of tho Wellington Acclimatisation Society decided to inquire all over the North Island for pheasants for liberation in tho Wellington acclimatisution district. These beautiful game birds aro rather scarco now in this part of NewZealand, and it is desired lo restock heavily if the birds can be procured.

Apropos of the reduced train services tho following resolution was carried unanimouslv at yesterday's conference on technical education: "That capitation should not be lost to technical high schools in respect of pupils who have been movented from attending owing to reduced train service},"

Sißiior Cappelli, the finest tenor heard iu Wellington for a decade or more, whu has been teaching singing in Sydney, 'Ms been making appearances lately with the Williamson Grand Opera Compally iu Sydney.

Viscount and Lady Jellicoo will visit Onohnnga on the morning of October 2 next. This fact was reported by the Mayor (Mr. J. Park) to the Onekunga Borough Council on Monday night. It was agreed to make the preparations worthy of the occasion. Lady Jellicoo will be asked to accept a jewel case from the children, made of material taken from the wreck of the Orpheus. A casket made ot woods taken from the same ship will he presented to Viscount Jellicoe, each to bear an inscription engraved on copper taken from the sheathing of the Orpheus.

Upon the recommendation of the Dunedin City Council, tho conference of the Mimicipn] dissociation of New Zealand decided last night to urge the Government 'to circulate the proposed Townplanning Bill forthwith in order 'that local bodies might have an opportunity of considering its provisions. The conference also decided to raise objection to the mandator- clause in the Bill recommended by the Town-planning Conference last May. This clause provides that where a local authority has not prepared a plan, the Town-planning Department may do so and submit it'for "the consideration of tlie local town-planning authority. Miss E. Melville (Auckland City Council) said the l«>dy she represented considered that there was sufficient nower nt present for local bodies to en in for town-planning schemes. Strong objection was taken' to any legislation that would tend to set aside the proper functions of local bodies. It would be-quite wrong to allow an outside body to come in and usurp the' duties of a local body.

Mr. Joseph Franich, of Henderson, who came to Wellington last week, and returned to Auckland on Monday, waited upon Dr. Eeakes (Director of Agriculture) regarding the question of tobacco-growing on poor gum lands. Mr. Franich, who was a tobacco : grower in Dalmatia-before lie came to New Zealand over 2C years ago. has been vine-growing, at Henderson, but ho got some tobacco seed out from his homeland and has had great success in its cultivation as an experiment; He submitted samples to Dr. Eeakes, who promised to get the report of a tobacco expert. Mr. Franich states that judging by. his experiment 'he is of ojimon that the tobacco industry would be a, good one for the Dominion. Ho claims that better tobacco can be grown here than anywhere else in Australasia, and even superior to.American, therefore the industry should bo encouraged. In a'letter to tho Prime Minister, whom Mr. Franich also 6aw while in Wellington, he asked the -Government to encourage tho growing of tobacco, as it could easily be done by returned soldier's. If properly encouraged tobacco production wouid, he claims, becomo one of the most prosperous industries in the Dominion. When he reached liome on Monday Mr. Franich found a letter from tho Prime Minister, 6tating that when the report of the Industries Commission was dealt with he would be pleased to bear the question of the tobacco industry in mind. Hlr Joseph 1 Ward also wrote that he would give tho matter his careful consideration.

The following is oue of Hie new regulations under the Public Service Act, 1912:—"Attendance-books shall be accessible for record and signature before 8.30 a.m., 12.30 p.m., 1.30 p.m., mid 1 4.30 p.m. every day. At 8135 a.m. and 1.35 p-.m. a lino shall bo .ruled under the last signature therein by the officer deputed to do so. This regulation may bo modified by the commissioner to suit tho special requirements of any Department. If at any time the hours of commencing and closing work aro altered, the times herein mentioned shall also be altered in conformity thereto."

The Municipal Association Conference decided yesterday to ask Parliament to introduce legislation making tho Saturday half-holiday universal throughout tho whole of the Dominion,

With the arrival of the Makura at Auckland from Sydney on Tuesday, camo Mr. G. Bishop, who has been delegated by tho Imperial Government to inaugurate an aerial mail service in the Pacific. In conversation with a "Star" representative, Mr. Bishop stated that 'lie held optimistic views of tho possibility of launching the service, and was not at all discouraged by the report of Colonel Bettington, who reported adversely against tho inauguration of air flying in the Pacific. Mr. Bishop saw Bcrvico in the Dardanelles, and later' was transferred into tho Hoyal Air Force. He belongs to Auckland, which he considers n suitable locality'for the establishment of a base for a service between Australia and New Zealand. He held the opinion that there were plenty of suitable landing places in and around Auckland, which could bo made a clearing ground for the 'Southern Pacific. An extensive /survey of the Dominion with a view to selecting grounds most suitable for flying depots would bo made. These would be linked up with depots in the Paciiii and in Australia, making the matter of an aerial mail service commercially practicable. Regarding the type of machine most suitable for the work Mr. Bishop suggested the baby Handlcy-Page, the particular asset of which lay in its weight-carrying capabilities. They had been proved daring the war, the machines being used mostly for patrol work about the East Coast of England. Though proved weight-carriers, they wero not cumbersome, and could develop i>„ speed of about eighty miles an 'hour. In the initial stages of the scheme, about six machines would be requisitioned, and with the development of the service others would bo imported.

Tho Wellington City Council submitted a romit to tho Municipal Association Conferenco yesterday that any borough, willi tho consent 6i tho Governor-Genoral-in-Council, should have power to accept dedications of strips of land for the purpose of giving pedestrians access from ono street to another, tho strips not in any way lo be considered as streets or treated as giving building frontages. Tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P, Luko) said the idea of the remit was to afford an easement to residents in localities where ihe topography of ( the laud prevented the formation of,streets giving direct access to , the people's homes. In somo cases it would obviate people having to (ako roundabout routes in going to and from their residences. Tho Hon. ,T. Ban-, M.L.C. (Mayor of Sumner) thought (hat tho adoption of tho remit might' endanger tho principle of town planning. Mr. Luko assured tho conference that tliero was no possibility of that eventuality for the remit expressly stated Hint the strips should not be considered as streets, or treated as giving building frontages. Tho remit was carried.

That insurance companies should bo compelled lo contribute lu the. support of till fire brigades under tho control of local bodies, was a proposition put before the conference of the Municipal Association yesterday by llio Dovonport Uoruugli Council. Speaking to Ihe* remit, Mr. 11. S. \V. King (Mayor of Dcvonport) said il was considered the time had arrived when insurance, coninnnies, who were paying very substantial dividends, should .bo made ' lo pay their quota towards tho' upkeep of lire brigades which were protecting tho inleiesls of Iho companies. Several speakers endorsed the remarks of Mr, King, oud the remit was carried.

"Al'lcr this is dom> the others can be (lone simultaneously"-a "bull" by Sir Josunli Ward, in the House of Representatives vchlerday.

Under tho Municipal Corporations Amendment Act, 191!), local bodies havo power to sell coke and coal, but llio Statute contains no provision regarding the sale of firewood by municipalities. At its silting last night, the conference of the Municipal Association decided to urge that the Act bo amended so as to give local bodies power to purchase and sell firewood.

At 8.25 last niglil,' William Taylor, aged 1)0, residing at 37 llichniond Street, I'etone, was admitted to the hospital sufforing from an injured hip. Ho was employed lit llio Gear Company's shop on Lamblon Quay, and was carrying a side of beef when ho slipped.

Tho conference of tho Municipal Association of No>r Zealand yesterday unanimously decided lo oppose any proposal to giyo Hie chief officer of a tiro board or brigade tho same powers as aro exercised under tho Municipal Corporations Act by an inspector of buildings. It was pointed out that local bodies' inspectors were qunlifiod plumbers, which officials of fire boards or brigades need not ba.

The New Zealand Club intend to entertain at n 'luncheon on Tuesday night the four members of Parliament who have returned from active service—Hon. J. G. Coates, Hon. J. B. nino, and Messrs. W. Downie-Stcwart and T. Y. Seddon.

Tho provisions of the Public Health Amendment Act, 1918, came in for condemnation at yesterdays sitting of the Municipal Association Conference, Miss h Melville (Auckland City' Council) moved: "That the attention of tho Gov r eminent bo called to the unworkable condition of many of tho provisions of the Public Health Amendment Act, 1918." Sprc'king to. the motion, Miss Melvillo said that tho Act was passed as a consequence of the epidemic of last year. It o-us absolute!)- "panicky" legislation, she .remarked, and the Act was unworkable. Either the unworkable clauses skquld bo repealed, or else a new Act should 'be passed. Tho motion was carried,

. A total of 3949 head of, cattle was slaughtered during tho year ended March 31, 1919, under the Stock Act, 1908, according to a return laid beforo' the House of Representatives yesterday. For them .£11,550 was paid in compensation. No horses or pigs were so slaughtered.

At the instigation of the Pukekohe Borough Council, the Municipal Association Conference decided yesterday that the Government be urged to consolidate all existing local body legislation so that llie one enactment and one rule should apply to all local bodies except where tliero is a definite reason for a different rule for any particular class of local bodies.

A Gazetto notice gives, the Otaki Town Board the right to erect electric lines within its boundaries.

. Wheii_ dealing with a recommendation to the Government that better provision should be made for providing courses of technical instruction in country districts at yesterday's proceedings at tie conference on technical education, Dr. D. E. Hansen (Christchurch) - said that Denmark had done much in this direction. The sneaker paid a visit to that country, and while-there had an object-les-son in its advantages. '. it resulted in a hitrlier standard of work and a higher standard of intelligence. Special courses of instruction were given on the large farms where the young men met together, and while wart of the training was purelv vocational, a good deal of scientific instruction was given. . This country was neglecting ' tho education. of ■ the vounir men on the farms, and he considered that more attention should be given to technical instruction .in the country districts.

The adjourned extraordinary general meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association wftl take place in the Town Hall to-night at 7.30 A full announcement of the business to bo' considered is advertised. • , ' ,

The conference of the Municipal Assch ciation last night carried a remit asking the Government to.inake it compulsory for nil- local bodies to apply the provisions of the Superannuation Act to their employees. It was also decided that in regard* to municipal omployees the Government should be requested to enlarge the scope of the National Provident Fund' so as to include payme'nt for sickness in addition to superannuation.

A Press Association telegram states that the Auckland Gas Company's Btopk of coal is down to three days' supplies. No shipments are expected for a fortnight. The pressure will be'reduced to decrease the consumption on Satufday and each following evening at 8 o'clock.

Tho conference of the Municipal Association passed remits from Miramar and New Brighton Borough Councils yesterday urging that suburban boroughs should have polling places in a contiguous city. In connection with municipal elections, it was also resolved that the occupations and addresses of candidates should bo stated in voting papers, and that the method of striking out ■ tao names 'of candidates, or the proposal not voted for, should bo reverted to,