LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 302, 17 September 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

% The Shaw-Savill steamer C'orinthic, with a draft of returning soldiers, is expected to arrive ut Wellington on Tuesday, according to a radio mcssogo received from the vessel yesterday.

A wireless message received by the Defence Department from the llororata, with Returning Draft No. 280 on hoard, states that she will now arrive at Wellington on Friday night. She has MM troops on board. . The Ayrshire, with Returning Draft No, 282 (671 troops), is due at Lyltelton on September 20.' The T'vunui, With Returning Draft No. 283 (•102 troops, 83 women? and 28 children), is now expected to roach Wellington at uoou on September 21.

During the year 1918 the finger impressions of 2223 prisoners were received, classified, searched, and filed, |by the police, and 153 prisoners were identified as previous offenders in the Dominion, Australia. Britain, America, and elsewhere ; 1153 photographs were taken. by tho photographers v attached to this branch; tho portraits of 10-12 prisoners were dealt with; and 368 photographs of discharged prisoners were reproduced in the Police Gazette. On March 31 last the finger-print collection consisted of the imnressions of 22,332 offenders, being an increase of 1350 over the previous year. Some consternation was caused in tho city yesterday when it became known that the Tainui had been beached, on lire, and that eight lives had been lost. .Many people, including some of the next-of-kin of soldiers who are returning by the Shaw-Savill liner Tainui, duo at Wellington on Sunday, took it for granted tliat.it was the troopship that was beached, and as a consequence the Base Reeofds officers had a lively time trying to straighten out matters. One shipping man said yesterday that there seemed to be only about one in every thousand o'f the residents of Wellington who know there were two Taimiis—a coastal trader and the Shaw-Savill liner. "There are no bigger skves in tho country to-day than the wives of tbc fanners with big families," remarked Mr. 11. D. Vavasour (Marlborough) at yesterday's sitting of the New Zealand l'armers' Union/conference. \Mr. Vavasour moved; "That the Aliens Immigration Restriction Act be amended 'so that

aliens for domestic service :bo allowed access to the Dominion; or that tho

■Government take immediate steps to prociiro domestic servants from Great Britain." Mr. Vavasour asked leave to

amend the .remit in the direction of alloiving Chinese to enter tho country free of poll tax provided they, were agreeable to taking up domestic service, but tho conference- disapproved of this proposal. Soma of tho fawners' wives, said, Mr. Vavasour, were, working from U to 15 hours a day. "Ask somo of the Labour men in this country if they will do that?" ho continued. "The conditions at present are nil absolute disgrace to a civilised community." The need for relief was pressing, and ho trusted that the motion would be carried. Sir. G. Sheaf (Canterbury) suggested, and Mr. Vavasour agreed, that all tho words after "Dominion" be struck out of the remit. This was accepted by the conference. Mr. G. Anderson (Polorus) said the trouble was that town girls would not go in for domestic service. TJi°3' .preferred to work in offices. Until they euuld lemedy this state of affairs immigration from the Old Country woidd do no good. Thoj remit was earned. N i

At the meeting hold Inst evening by the Labour candidate for Wellington' North, Mr. H. Holland, M.P., said that ho had hoped to bo able to announce on that occasion tho reply of the Parliamentary Labour Party to tho 'representations made by the returned soldiers' deputation regarding gratuities. A Dunedin member of the party had been unable, he said, to attend a meeting that.was to have beon held yesterday; the official reply was not therefore available, _ It would still bo given within the time that tfye party had first Stated—viz., one week. ' Mr. Holland had a gcod deal to say upon tho question of gratuities in general. The Wellington City Council lias glvon tho Thorndon Howling Club notice that it intends to acquire tho lower green (at the junction of Tinakon Boad and Park Street) under the Public Works Act. A month ago the council discussed tho matter of acquiring this valuable property as a sito for now swimming batlis for tho Thorndon end of the city. Mr. T. A. H. Field (Nelson) has asked the Minister of Agriculture whether lie will introduce legislation this session to enable returned soldiers who have erected cool stores to come under tho benefits of the Fruit Industries Act, which at present is confined to cooperative .companies and bona-fide fruitgrowers? A Press Association message from Cliristchurch states that it is understood that the profit on tho com pigmentary trotting mooting in honour of Admiral Jellicoe' and tho officers of H.M.S. New Zealand is in tlio region of 0C1650. Tho amount goe,s to soldier charities. Superintendent Norwood, of "tho Wellington Polico Force,' in his annual report to the Commissioner, states that a new statibn is badly required at Upper Hutt, and a new lockup and stablo at Havelock. • „ The' Citizens' Defence Corps, Christchurch. has been advised, in connection witii tlie payment of retrospective married separation allowances, that tho custom. where tho wife of the soldier is deceased and there aiv children to be considered is to pay tho retrdspectivo grant through some responsible person or society for disbursement in the best interests of the dependants. Where, however, there are 110 children, tho grant, which i 9 one purely to the wife, and not part ot a soldier's pay, is considered to be definitely cancelled and cannot bo paid over to the soldier or to any other person interested. • Mr. It. A." Wright (Wellington Suburbs and Country District) has asked the 'Minister of Railways:—(l) Whether ho is aware that the train which formerly left Wellington at 410 p.m. for Palmerston North now leaves at 2 p.m.? (2) Whether he is aware that this altera-, tion in tho time-table "has caused grave inconvenienco to school children residing"'in the suburbs who are compelled to wait until 5.10 p.m.? (3) Whether he will amend the time-table fixing the hour of departure of the Palmerston North train for 4.10 p.m., instead of 2 p.m. as at present? ,(4) If this cannot be done, will he have the time-table so adjusted as to provide a train at 4.10 p.m. for children returning daily-from school ? Tho constitution of the conference set up to consider, tho question of the prico and export of hides was objected to by the conference of tho New Zealand Farme-** Union yestenlay. Messrs. 0. G. Huwkin (Hawora) mid James Cowo (finwald) had" been asked by the Board of Trade to represent the interests ot the producers at the conference. After somo discussion tho Farmers' Union Conference passed tho following resolution on tilt matter:—"That this conference protests against tho constitution'of tlio conference ro hides. Tho conference considers the represcntytives of tho producers should be appointed by farmers. We also strenuously protoj*; against tho embargo on the export of hides being continued." ■Tolin Ogg, the boy who was run over by a motor-cycle at Petone on Monday, was reported to bo still in a serious condition last night. Annoyance to the Canterbury Land Board, and injustice to soldier settlers, is caused by the practice of some stockowners in making froo use of property taken over by tho Government for soldior settlement purposes. "Somo people seem to consider such land common pronerty," remarked Mr. 11. D. M. Has■/.ard, Commissioner for Crown Lands, on Saturday, "and there have been instances whero the grass has been cropped bore before the soldier drawing the section ever has a chance to put an animal on it. Tlio Crown lands rangers are on the alert for such trespassers, and it is hoped that a lesson will be taught the offenders who endeavour to obtain chca'i grazing at the soldier settlers' expense." Mr. J. P. Luke (Wellington North) is asking tho Minister of Public Works whether lie will obtain at an early date tlio opinion of tho engineers of the Public Works Department on the proposals submitted by Mr. ,T. P. Maxwell for the doviation of tho Wellington-Wairarapa railway line?

It is well known that tho Board of Trado has spent much time and energy in an endeavour to establish a scheme for the production and sale of standardised boots. In its annual report the board details the difficulties met with in tho negotiations, and in conclusion makes the following statement:—"The board proposes, therefore, to i.slt for further legislative power to onaulc it fo carry out the scheme to which so much time and attention has 'been given; but in the meantime it proposes tu try a scheme whereby manufacturers who ;nv willing to make standardised boats will receive a license from the board to do so provided thev conform with the terms and conditions fixed h.v (ho. board,"

In connection with the sum of .-£SOO subscribed by the people of Christclnirch and invested locally for gunnery prizes for tho men of iI.M.S. New Zealand, w-ord has just been received from the High Commissioner that this fu|id has been augmentod by the transfer from 11.M.5. Zealandia of J;500 collected in l'JOu (states a Press Association message). Tlie combined net income from these two funds is Mi Ms., and there has nowbeen added to it an accumulation of .£l3B 195., which .has teen invested in 5 per cent. National War Bonds.

A Press Association message states that nt a meeting of the Canterbury Land Board a soldier applied for an advance of XG7O io purchase a suburban property, the pro-war value of which was slated to be =C 425. No improvements had been effected to' tho property. The application was promptly refused, and the followim,' motion carried: "In all cases where an exorbitant price is asked in excess of pro-war values without improvements by additions having been made, the board should decline the application and recommend the applicant to erect a new dwelling."

"Cheaper manures must be provided, for much of the land in, New Zealand is dependent upon a plentiful supply of phosphates," remarked Sir James Wilson in the course of his presidential address to the New Zealand Farmers' Union Conference yesterday. "Nauru Island, which is now a British possession, and fortunately our representatives were able to secure to the Dominion a share in tin deposits. If satisfactory arrangement.' can be made with the company worlcin; the island, we should have an'alinos inexhaustible supply of raw phosphate to be) converted into manures for our pui pose. Well directed work is the onl

remedy. I can suggest for all to buckle to, and I fee!.sure thnt if reasonable

treatment is meted out to farmers by the powers that be, farmers will be able to restore financial stability to the

State, and peace and prosperity to all." "There is no doubt that tho price of coal could have been raised much higher than it actually was during the last two winters, in view of the .competition, of consumers for the diminished supplies, but for tho influeuco of public opinion, the action of tho local coal committees sot up by tho Ministry of Munitions, and Supplies, and the pressure in certain cases brought to bear by some of the leading colliery-owners and largo distributors upon tho general body of retailers in the direction of discouraging proposed increases in retail prices.' In many oases the smaller dealers largely dependent uuon coal suffered considerably through/ nrices' not rising sufficiently to return them working expenses."—From the ,in--mini report of the Hoard of Trade. The last of tho girl, employees engaged temporarily .at the Chief. Post Office, ■Auckland,.during.tho war service of tho men vacated their positions on Friday.

o About forty girls and ivomen wero wn- !, plowed in various departments -during d the war, but since the signing of the t .armistice they hpve been gradually givy ing placo to the returning soldiers, post ,8 of whom have now resumed their ■ old i- positions. The work of the girls was n spoken of with high appreciation by Mr. ), W. Gee, Chief Postmaster. Some of tho o girls liave transferred to the telephone il exohange, but tho le.rgo majority of them .t have left the service. 9 Tho death of T,ui Hoani, a'well-known 8 and highlv-respected Native, lias caused 0 widespread grief among the Natives of 11 tlie Lower Waikato, and over 300 Natives from all' parts of the district 'have a assembled at Ivaiatemuta, near Morrinst ville, to give expression to their grief in t a tangi. 2 The conference of the New Zealand 1 farmers' Union yesterday considered tho „ following remit from Auckland dealing ® with immigration-.—"That it is essential to the proper development of our latent resources that no effort should be 6pai'ed d to attract those men of other parte of 0 tho' Empire who may wish to emigrate n to and become primary producers of our 0 Dominion, and that a proper immigration n policy should at once be initiated to fur- . thor this." Mr.-E. Dunn (Torannki) '' seconded the motion. Mr.- J. Christie !] (Otago) said that to carry out a policy of immigration successfully it would be necessary to Iniild mot® houses for tliS 1 people. -Mr. 11. Evans (North Canterl bury): "There are plenry of houses in r- the country—empty." Mr. S. C._ Joun--1 neaux (Auckland) put m a nlea for tho bettor advertising of tho Dominion in 3 oilier countries. That was the 'best way of attracting immigrants, lie said. The remit was carried. \ A Ministerial visit was paid to the x N.Z.T.S. Amokura on. Saturday morning r last by the Hon, AY. H. Hemes, Minist ter ol Marine, accompanied by Mr. J. S. Dickson, M.P., and Mr. G. Allport, Secretary of Marine. Alter an inspection > 1 of "the vessel, the, work done, and the a instruction imparted, the boys were paraded, and tho Minister presented to Leo Purcell Fauchelle the' gold medal yearly awarded by the Department to tho best boy, as shown by good conduct, ability, 1 and efficiency in his work. Fauchi'llc won the medal for the year ending February, 1918, but in the interval he ha.'.- '• .been'absent from "Wellington. Mr. Her- \ l'ies complimented the recipient on his * record while on the Amokura. It was " one to be proud of, and promised well for r ' future, success. This promise had been " borne out by Fauchelle since he had left the ship, and Mr. Herries, on behalf of - himself and the Department, wished the 1 lad a continuation of that success, which, c ho. was sure, would be well earned. Mr. - Homes then spoke of the services renc dered by the mercantile marine during P the war. The services had materially helped to win the war, and \vere an inq spiration to all those taking up, a sea- . faring life. Mr. Herries also spoko of 1 the work that was being , dene on the 3 Amokura, and commended the officers on 3 the appearance of tho boys and the ves- , scl. He hoped that when the new train--2 ing ship arrived they would have accomj! modnlion for at least ono hundred, as against sixty at present, and it might I then be possible to increaso the ago at J which lads wonkl bo eligible for appointment to the 6hip. , The name of Lieut.Colonel Sleeman, Director of Military Training, was inad- ° vertently omitted from the list of tho J committee of St. John Ambulanco Asso--1 oiation for the ensuing year: Colonel ' Sleeman is very keenly interested in j. ambulance work, and has put first aid , lectures on the syllabus for tho Codet J training scheme, "That a geological survey of tho Doi minion should be undertaken at once to 3 locato coal and other .minerals that may i) bo in payable quantities," was a remit . from Taranaki placed before tho New - Zealand Farmers' Union Conference yese tcrday. Mr. W. A. Banks (North Can- . terbury) suggested that a soil survey - should bo made throughout tho Dominion. Tho president CSir James."Wilson) Quito agreed with the latter proposal, ' and said it was most important that it ' should be carried out. Tho remit was carried with the addition of tho provision that tho Agricultural Department 1 l)a asked to have a comprehensive soil survey made of the Dominion. A New Zealand ensign was presented to the Worsor Bay School (Miramar) yesterday afternoon by the Wellington branch of the Navy League to mnrk tho fact that tho school has a hundred members of the league. The (lag was presented to the school on behalf of the league by Major C. A. Tennyson, 8.M.L.1., 'of 11.M.5. Now Zealand, Tho extraordinary general meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, which was further adjourned on Friday last, will tatto place in the Coni ec-rt Chamber of the Town Hall on Fri--1 day next at 7.3J) p.m., and a big attendance is anticipated. The matter of formulating questions to be submitted to candidates for political honours at the forthcoming election will be amongst tho moro important discussions. Nobody will bo admitted to tho meeting unless in possession of a financial membership card, and these can only bo obtained from the secretary's offico,

/ "I represent a part of New Zealand which has an island within its territory which is in many respects the most remarkable island . in the world,"—Sir J Joseph Ward on Stewart Island.

For the vear 1917 the police of all ranks in the Dominion, temporary and nermanent, numbered 898, being one to ptieli 1280 of the population. ' For 1918 9i<: total had increased to 901, being one to each 1274. The cost per head of the population increased from Is. 3d. to 4s. Gid. 'Die position for 1919 is that there are 878 of all ranks, being one to 1319 of the population, costing ss. 2id. per head of the population.

As a. labour-saving device the electric trolly now being' used on. the Wellington wharves is a serviceable power vehicle. On Holiday last one of the trollies was observed pulling no fewer than five heavy trucks laden' with 21 bales of flax. Not only could it easily pull tho load, but the trucks travelled' at least four times as quickly as they would if man-drawn.

Tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Lulcc) was asked by tho Wellington Rugby Union to declare a hull-holiday for the match at Athletic ; Park "to-day iliehveon Wellington and Auckland. Ho replied that he regretted he could not see his way to accede to tho request, but is inviting all citizens who can attend the match to do so. He also asks that employers should relieve as many of their men as possible for the afternoon.