LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 3, 29 September 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The House of Representatives will meet at 7.311 p.m. to-day, the first Monday sitting of the present session. The business will lie private members' Kills. The debate on the Budget will be opened tomorrow evening. It is possible that this debate will extend into next week. Government Bills are ready for the House when the financial debate is ended.

"There is a class of bather," states the committee of the Maramii Surf Club in its annual report, "who persists in going out too far—these are tho ones who cause us all the. bother. They are probably not aware of the fact that a city by-law exists, penalising anyone going out further than 100 yards from the shore."

Following the finding of a District Couifc-nmrtia.l held at Trentham Camp on September 13, 26/682, Ellmn. James M'Laughlin (Details) was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for six months for deserting His Majesty's Service, and losing by negtect his equipment, clothing, and regimental necessaries to the value of =£2 13s. Bd. This sentenco lias now been reduced to "admonition' and stoppages totalling ,£2 13s. Bd.

The collection of rotes from . Native land owners by county councEs is a very difficult problem, remarks tho "Formers' Union Advocate." It was reported at n recent meeting of the Patea County Council that no rates from Native owners had been collected this year, and that there wero JJIOOO to .iilMO oufcstandins.

A meeting of citizens at Tauranja on Friday night decided to send an emphatic protest -co tho Prime Minister and tho Hon. AV. 11. Hcrries, member for the district, against the removal of survey parties from the Waihi-Tauranga railway construction, and reminding the Government that a promise to employ men, if foiihd, had resulted in the employment of only eighteen out of a hundred by the local committee.—P.rcs3 Assn.

. Tho principal source of danger in driving through tho Manawatu Gorge is the unexpected meeting of cars. A correspondent of a Palmerston North paper suggests that now the traffic is growing so rapidly, a public clock be placed at either end with a direction that, alternate half-hours bo reserved for cars entering from each direction. Twenty minutes is amplo for the trip through tho Gorge.

Tho grave danger arising from the practice of joining or alighting from moving tram.cars was emphasised m tho Police Court at Auckland (says the "New Zealand Herald"),-when two people, a man and a woman, were prosecuted. It was stated that this year 17 accidents, of which six had proved fatal, had been attributed to jumping on, off, or in front of, moving cars. "I see people taking the most frightful risks every day, said Mr. J. 13. Wilson, S.M., "and the position- is not, improving. It seoms to mo that the only effective way to check it would bo for tho conductor to stop his car, take the. offender's name, put him off, and then have him prosecuted. Although it would delay tho traffic, that Bceins to be the only effective course to follow."

An innato courtesy (says the New Zealand "Herald") is one of the characteristics which has endeared Lord Jellicoe to all who have conio into'contact with him. More than one example of this trait in the distinguished visitor's character was given by him on Wednesday. Thero was, for instance, a little incident which occurred -at Devpnport. As the Admiral was leaving tho platform after having made his speech a young iadj; stood-upon a chair in order to "snap him.- Observing her notion, the genial Admiral remained still for the necessary few moments to enable her to take' a successful photograph. He then went on his way, smilingly acknowledging the thanks of tho lady with the camera. Again, at Takapuna, while Lord Jellicoe was talking to three of Auckland V.C.'s, a babv held by a woman near him commenced to cry. The Admiral took tho infant into lis arras, and nursed it for a few minutes until its cries ceased, his action greatly delighting the onlookers. As Lord, Jellicoe entered his motor-cat to leave the scene numerous little girls pressed forward intent upon shaking hands with him, those who were not near enough blowing kisses to him. The Admiral detained his car for a few minutes in order to gratify the children, shaking hands with as many of them as lie could rench. ' •Some days ago feays the "Otago Daily Times" of Saturday's date) a telegram appeared in our columns notifying tho formation in Christeburch of a Clerks, Cashiers, and Office Employees' Union. Inquiries which were nmile locally by' a "Daily" Times" reporter went to indicate that so far this movement him not taken any definite shape in Dunedin, although the proposal has undoubtedly, been freely discussed in certain quarters. Several persons' who were spoken to'respecting, the matter, and who would be interested in the formation of a union, strongly affirmed the desirability of such a step, stating that an improvement in the conditions of clerks as a class was very necessary in view of the strain imposed upon all moderate wage-earners by the ever-rising cost,of living. So fur as a' union of bank clerks'is concerned, this movement seems to be meeting with fairly general support in Dunedin, although no local executive has so far been set up. No doubt matters will advance more rapidly after the termination of thfc conference which it has been arranged to hold in Wellington in November. '

The cycle thief has been making, ■himself felt in our midst for some time past (says an Invercargill correspondent), but during the past week or two bis (or their) work lias become -what may bo termed intense. On Tuesday no fewer than ten people reported _ losses to the police, and on the folloviiujAday there were three notifications before 10 o'clock. Some people arc of the opinion that there is a gang at work who are. altering Hie machines'so that they will be unrecognisable when sold. Others—and this view seems to he supported by the fact thai a number of the cycles have been found near the wharf—believe that the epidemic is inerely> an expression of wantonness on the part of some of the youths of the town. ■

An Edondale settler who ■recen% sold out of a small holding (according' to an exchange) put it this way: "My place cost me about J7!>o, I was asked to so".!, but did not want to bo pressed to put a price on it, I named .£1250 as a sum that 1 considered sufficient to leave mo in unmolested possession of my home. To my surprise, the placo was sold over in.y iiead, and I had nothing to do but 'tii' take tho unexpected profit, and get out" ' ,' : A motor-car passing down Symonds Stree.ts (Auckland) the other night camo into collision with n stationary car a short distance above St. Paul's Church, with disastrous results so far as tho caw were concerned, but fortunately with no serious effects to tho passengers. Ono car. contained a party of bluejackets from 11.M.5. Neir Zealand. Tho driver of this car attempted to-pass between' another moving c<u- and a stationary car, and struck with such force that it skidded oft, and came to a standstill about 100 yards from the spot at which tho collision occurred—"Star."

It is no wonder that during tho war Auckland boys showed plenty uf dash, judging by the training their mothers have in lighting for seats on trimirnrs in the five o'clock rush (says the "Star"). An instance of a woman's initiative occurred tho other afternoon. She was determined to get on board the Now Zealand, but could not reach tho gate owing to- tho crowd. She had two small children with hor, which sho managed to BC|uee?io through, the iron railing of the fence. Onco they were insido tho mother scaled tho barrier successfully, and a good-natured wharf official, who noticed tho incident, had not tlio heart to turn her out again.

A sensational tram, mishap which had in it the 7>ossibilities of n serious accident occurred in Duncdin some days ago. As a tramcar was coming down tho hill to the Rattray Street crossing the trolly, pole fouled the lamp carriago jutting out from one of the street poles, wilh (ho result that not only was the lamp to™' loose and left swinging, but. the- trolly pole was wrenched completely off. the. cur and thrown on to tho street just beside a carrier who was stepping down from his van. No one was injured, however, and tho ear was taken back to the shed for repairs.

Acting under tho belief that the inanyhued ribbon, consisting of twenty-one bars of colour, supposed to represent all the colours of tho Allies, was the official Allied "Victory" ribbon, the Christchurch Citizens' Defence Corps obtained supplies from a AVellinglou firm and issued tho ribbons to a large number of soldiers. The Citizens' Defence Corps has been advised by headquarters of Canterbury • military district (says the "Press") that (he ribbon in question has no military significance, and is quite unauthorised. The correct ribbon, which is not vet available' for distribution in New Zealand, differs considerably from the ribbon which has been sold. The military authorities have issued instructions that the wearing of the unauthorised ribbon must bo discontinued, and the Citizens' Defence Corps has stopped the sale of the unofficial ribbon.

Apparently there is' no pOnco in Auckland for the elderly woman who is without means of support, and hath nowhere to lay her head (says the "Star"). "A strange position is disclosed in this case," eaid Sub-Inspector Wohlmaim when formulating a charge of being idle and disorderly and without sufficient means of support against a woman.'cged 52, named Annie Elizabeth Muhvay, at the Polico Court, before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., he sairLjt was a Strange thing that in this country there was no placo in which to place a woman of this'kind, who had committed no crime. The Sai'.vation Army authorities were prepared to take, her in for a time,,but as tho homo was now practically Ml of young girls it wag not desira'blo that, she should be associated with thorn. She had relatives both in Jlastorton and Auckland, and apparently they sent her backwards and forwards to get rid of her. On tlireo occasions sho had been before the Court in other places on a similar charge, and the difficulty had been solved "by sending her to gaol for a month. This- seemed rather hard. His Worship agreed that gaol was not tho place for women of this kind. On ■Adjutant Gordon, of tho Salvation Army, agreeing to take her in for a. fortnight, with a view of finding her employment, tho case was remanded.

Tho habit of some applicants for positions on fto staffs of public institutions of sending letters and testimonials to members of the controlling bodies was unfavourably commented on by the Mayor of Polmerston North (Mr. J. A. Nash, ALP.) at a meeting of tho High School Board. He said he did not think it right that this should be allowed, and he pointed out that the pmctice might result in doing an injustice to the one most deserving of the position who did not write to members in that way. Ho mentioned that ho had received letters in this way touching recent applications, and ho had torn them up without readin gthem. He moved that in future when calling app&ientions for any position connected with the school, that tho words "personal correspondence directly or indirectly will lead to tho disqualification of applicants" shouf.d bo included in tho advertisement. He mentioned that every time applications were called members were inundated with [tetters, and while he did 1 , not say they would bo influenced, ho contended that the procedure Wns wrong. Other members supported Mr. Nash and montione'd similar experiences. The motion was carried.

Some curious and interesting facts are to ba gleaned from the 9G pages, closely crammed with figures, of that part of the report on the census taken on October 15', 191(1, just issued, which deals with' tho fertility of the population. For instance, on tho date mentioned, there were in tho Dominion 35 married men and 1000 married women under 20 years of age. There were 103 husbands and 1231 wives 20 years of age, and 244 husbands and 19i8 wives 21 years of age. In a. largo proportion of cases of thesn youthful benedicts-were older than their husbands. The records show ttro youths under 20 with wives of 28, two of 20 years whoso wives were 29, two others whose wives were 30, one with a wife of 38, -and another with one of_ 45, and two young men of 21 whose wives were 47 years 01d,.' The discrepancy in age is oven more" marked at tho other end' of man's life,' for a number of men between 40 and 50, and one of 62, had wives who had not yet reached their twentieth year, a man of -64 with a wife of 23, and one in the "86 and 'upwards" class married to a woman 40 years his junior.