LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 304, 19 September 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Many people in Wellington are suffering from a new form of feverish cold on the chest, which generates a good deal of phlegm, and is associated with a sore throat and a tired feeling. Though scarcely serious enough to knock one up, the ailment is very distressing for a few days.

A suggestion that the privileges of the Old Ago Pensions Act should be granted, irrespective of age, to'all who are totally blind, or otherwise permanently incapacitated through accident or illness, was recently made in tho Legislative Council by the Hon. H. L. Michel, Replying /to this suggestion yesterday, the Hon." Sir Francis Bell said:—Tho annual charge which would be incurred if tho proposed amendment wero made cannot be exactly estimated, but it would he not less than .-£175,000 at the present time, and - would increase proportionately with the increase of population. The proposal is, in effect, one to relievo relatives from.their natural obligations to the extent suggested, and would have to receive grave consideration from all points of view heforo steps were taken to adopt it.

At Balclutha yesterday (says a Press Association tolegram) a lad named .M'Coob'e, aged 17 years, was charged with making a threatening display with firearms and using threatening words with intent to alarm persons in a dwellinghouse. It is alleged that the lad secured rifle, ammunition, and food at Tewanui on Sunday, and after spending two nights in tho 'bush went to, the liouso of a settler named Wilson. On Tuesday after dinner it .is stated that ho went outside and immediately returned with a rifle, which lie is alleged to liave presented at tho inmates with tho words "Hands' up!" Wilson' secured. possession of the rifle, and after removing oleven cartridges from the magazine returned it to tho lad, who was arrested a little later. Accused was Tenianded till September 2o\ It is understood that he had been reading a number of bushranging slorieß.

Strong views upon the verdict of "not proven" in tho Scottish form of jury trial were yesterday expressed by tho Hon. 0. Samuel, M.L.C.. who said: "A man goes, before his peers' for trial; ho 19 acquitted; lie goes forth among his fel-low-men, and once more ho is entitled to hold u'p his head. On the other hand, he goes before a jury that finds u veVdict of "not proveu"-that refuge of tho cowardly, the idle and tho tflothfuWand he goes forth with a stain upon him. Better for him, perhaps,, if he had been found guilty,.and had suffered imprisonment for his supposed misdeed."

"United.Kingdom manufacturers liavo always been able (says "Trade and Commerce Notes") to compete in tho better grade silk and artificial, silk goods for neckties, but in the cheaper grades Geiman manufacturers practically held tho market before the war. Since the war, however, the latter class of goods has Veil in great demand, and. i" the absence of German supplies. United Kingdom manufacturers set about to produce them, and with excellent results. Cloths have been produced at prices which will make possible competition with German manufactures. An exhibition of the products of one firm has taken place in London, and is about to bo transferred to Australia and New Zealand."

The .Department of Overseas Trade, London, and the Association of British Motor and Allied Manufacturers lias disnatched Major P. E. Goddard to Australia and New Zealand to ascertain the conditions and prospects for'the salo of British motor-cycles (of which trade the Dominions are not altogether ignornntj. Mr. S. -W. B. M'Grogor. British Trade Commissioner for Australia, who is now in Wellington, says that the.visit of Major Goddard was part of a plan to develop and foster British industries in the colonies. Among the subjects to bo in-' vestigated were road system:., Customs duties, legislative restrictions, transport facilities, etc. Major Goddard, who is now in Australia, will visit New Zealand next month.

Tho conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday passed a remit from North Canterbury that the Government be urged to liberally subsidise main arterial roads.

A meeting of the New Zealand Counties' Association- is to bo held at tho Dominion Farmers' Institute at ,11 o'clock on October 1.

A Press Association messago from Whakatano states that a delegation of the Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company is meeting enthusiastic audiences in a campaign to increase its capital for extending tho business, including trading and the erection of warehouses at Whakatano and elsewhere. A meeting held there last night and one at To Pulco the previous day promised strong support.

A Press Association messago from Napier states that whilst Mr. E. L. Williams of the firm of Henry Williams and Sons, was driving from the town on Wednesday the car got out of control and wobbled, and then appeared to turn right over and landed on the wheels again, when it commenced running down a bank backwards towards the sea. Mr. Williams was severely shaken nml, received a severe blow on the chest. Two other passengers who were in the car escaned without serious injury, although all suffered a great deal from shock. A cvclist named Bowman was thrown heavilv to the ground and severely' shaken. The ear was badly knocked about.

On the recommendation of tho Board of Trade, tho Government hns decided to remit the duty on bncon and hams imported into the Dominion from Australia from September 22 to November 1 next.

Tho Housing Committee of tho City Council last evening reported that it had considered the question of the alteration of the roadway at Queen's Drive in connection with the proposal to throw the nresent site of tho road into tho land on which Hie buildings are to be erected. The committeo recommended that the proposal be approved. It, was estimated, the report slated, that the aliove would result, in an increase in the value of the property of from i'li In £1 per foot for a frontage of 750 feet.

Tho Abattoir Committee of the Wellington Citv Council reported as follows to Inst evening's meeting:—"A deputation from the committee waited on the Director of tlio Live Stock Division with reference to condemnation of stock at tho municinal abattoir; and presented a return showing a marked decrease in condemnation for the twelve months ended Maw 1310, as compared with tho previous twelve months. A reply has now been received from the. Department, stating that, the position as set forth by the dcmitation is correct, but that at the present it. is unable to state definitely the reason. A strict supervision is being keut on the standard of inspections ftt the abattoir, and doubtless a further communication will be received on the matter from the Department."

In reference to tlio protest voiced by tlio New Zealand Formers' Union Conference against the constitution of the conference set. up by Hie Bonrd of Trade to consider I lie question of limes, tlio followine. renly, lias been forwarded by the. Bi K ht Hon. W.' F. Massey (Minister in charge of the Bonn! of Trade):- I have vour telegram of 16th instant, and note the. protest of the Farmers' Union re.oardinu the constitution of the conference, and have looked into the matter. The time available for eelecting delegates to this conference was very short/and consequentCy there was no other course than to solid tho invitations direct, and I can assure you that there was no intention whatever of not giving the fullest consideration in every way to farriiers in the matter. Tour protest aeainst the embargo on hides heine continued will bo carefully considered."

The Hon. Sir .Franais 801 l stated in the Legislative Council yesterday that it was realised that a new illustrated catalogue of fishes of/ New Zealand .was muoli needed. That published in 1372 had been out of print for soino time. Tho question of a new catalogue was at present engaging the attention of tho Government. A preliminary notice respecting the proposed town district of Plimmerton, is published in the Gazette, and those having objections to make to the proposal must make them within a month. Tho City Council last evening amended the city by-law so as to provide for the following overtime rates for expresses:—so per cent, increase from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., and 100 per cent, after 9 p.m. It is notified in the Gazette thai a portion of the southern side of Vivian Street, New Plymouth, ip exempt from the specified street-width provision of tho x'ublic Works Act. • It is notified in tho,Gazette that sections 2G3 and 285 in tho Borough of Peatherston, containing a ■ little more than three-quarters of an acre, have been taken for railway purposes. On the suggestion of Councillor NY. J. Thompson a long- seat is to be placed along the western front of the Central Free Public Library. Councillor Thompson said that there was no place between the Government Building.; and Courttnay Place where women or anyone else could sit down.

The Powe,r Stations and Tramways Committee of the City Council iust evening recommended that tho council give its support to the request of vhe Zealand Tramway Employees' Association for a national agreement governing conditions of employment on tramway undertakings. The committco also invited the council to communicate with the other bodies that would bo interested in such an agreement, Councillor Luckio thought it might be uuw/ie at the present time to insist upon ono rato of payment, etc., for tramwayinen throughout the whole Dominion. Tho Mayor, .said that-by adopting the committee's recommendation the council would assent merely to the holding of a Dominion conference upon tramway conditions, , and that a majority of tho bodies concerned would have to be in favour of the principle before any conference could be held. Tho recommendation was adopted. -

The City Council decided last overling not to grant a, tramway pass to the S.P.C.A.'for its collector. The Tramways Committee reported that the council' had granted !i pass to the society's inspector somo time ago.

In the Legislative Council yesterday tho Hon. G. J. Garland gave notice to ask: "What steps, if any, nro being taken by the Government (a) to cope with cattle tick now in tho Dominion, (b) to prevent the further introduction of this, pest among cattle from Australia?"

Tho Finance Committee of the City ] Council will shortly hold a special met.c-1 ing to considor demands presented by the , general {labourers in the council's enipCoy. I These demands, which relate to pay and conditions of work, have already been published. It is probable that n special | meeting of the council will be held to,; discuss the report of the Financo Com- I mitteo when .that is available.

lii tho City Council last evening the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) expressed regret at the accident which had happened to Mr. James Doyle, tho city's Chief Sanitary Inspector. He had 'had a severe fall, and had been taken to the Hospital. There the X-rays liad been applied ■that afternoon, and until the negative was developed they would not know the nature of tho' injury, which they hoped would not bo serious. Councillor W. H. Bennett said he was on the scone of the accident a few minutes after it had occurred, .and he hoped that an inspection of all wood-blocked crossings .would be mado at onco, and where necessary that they should be tarred and sanded, for the accident had been caused on a crossing where tho blocks were quito bato. The Mayor thanked Councillor Bonnott for the suggestion.

Tho Reserves Committee reported -to the City Council last evening that they liiid received a deputation from tho ladies representing the Mein Street Croquet Club with roferenco to the terms of leasing of tho grounds. Tho committee recommended that, tho rental bo .£ls per annum for the first year, payable in advance, the marking out of the grounds to be carried out by the club,.the council to be responsible for the cutting of the grass. Councillor B. A. Wright thought that the council were very generous, and he doubted whether it, would pay. Councillor Frost said that none of the reserves paid, and tho STayor made the same point, instancing the splendid municipal bowling greens of tha Old Country.

A Press Association tel'jgram from Christchurch states that at a meeting of the. committee of management of tho Jellicoe 'Complimentary Trotting Meeting, the allocation of profits (which amounted to .£1580), was decided. A votc_ oi ,wd was mado to the Bed Cross Society for pioviding comforts for wounded soldier* in the Chalmers Military Ward, and XIOO, to tho Betumed Soldiers' Association Building Fund. A sub-commitloo was appointed to administer tho balance for tho benefit of tho widows and orphans of soldiers and dependants of wounded soldiers, with a recommendation that ,£IOO be allocated to provide comforts for tho social welfare of soldiers m t/ie «:asui»ijtive sanatorium.

At tho meeting of the City: Council held' last cVening the Finance Committee recommended that a further reduction in the rent oi the Concert Chamber for a concert held in nid of the. women and children of Broken Hill be not agreed 10. Councillor P. Fraser raised a strong protest against the action ol the committee. Tho concert was arranged to relieve distress caused by industrial trouble, and he though l , that the council should show a litll o more sympathy. On Councillor M. F. Luelcie asking what had caused the distress in Broken Hill—wn-; it a strike?— Councillor Fraser could not say. Owing to the poor steamer service he had been unable to get particulars. If he had them he would be only too glad lo let the council know. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) stated that a mere nominal rental had been charged, but if the committee would submit its balancesheet he would have the matter reconsidered by the Finance Committee. This was agreed to by Councillor Fraser and the council.