LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 203, 22 May 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At tho next meeting of the Harbour Board the chairman (Mr. J. G. Horkncss) will move—"That a committee be appointed consisting of Messrs. ' Cohen, M'Ewan, Daniell, Turrell, M'Arthur, and Harkness, together with the executive officers of the board, to consider what methods the board should adopt to'increase the efficiency of waterside work on the wharves, sud to suggest some practicable scheme that will secure permanent employment and wages to its labour and be satisfactory to employers and employed, mid report to the board at its meeting in .Tune."

Mr. William Millar (borough clerk of Miramar) has sold the back portion of one of his Upper .AVillis Street properties to Messrs. P. Cooper, Ltd., who need the land for the extension of their premises in Dixon Street. The section only measures 31ft. by GOft., and was sold for ,£9OO. which is ut the rate of more than ,£21,000 per acre.

The- third International Moral Education Congress is to be held in Paris about September. 1921. The council invites the expression of views by all concerned in education as to the best means of securing the support of youths in tho moral purpose of the League of Nations. Communications should be addressed to to the secretary, International Moral Education Congress, care Sir-Frederick Pollock, Bart., 1,1 Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, London W.C. 2.

Tweuty-four Hindus arrived by i the Atua from Kiji, slates a Press Association message from Auckland All passed the education test.

As the Harbour Board's chairman (Mr. .T. Cf. Harkness) finds himself unable to bo in Wellington on Wednesday next, the monthly meeting of the board has been postponed until the following day. "It is oxlreritely.doubtful" (says tho City Engineer, in his report to the City Council) "whether tho exrionditure ' of money derived from loans is advisable for the construction of tarred macadam roads, as the life of a road built accordhiK to audi methods is too short to allow satisfactory provision being' made for its renewal, As far as one could gather .the life of a Inrrod road under ordinary city traffic, conditions-could not be estimated at more than ten years, .which would require a high annual charge to provide for renewals. The conclusion, therefore, is that tarred roads should bo constructed out of revenue only."

. A meeting of returned Soldiers snfferine from T. 8., or C.P.D.L (tubercular casts) was held nt the Returned Soldiers' Assoeitaion rooms in Christchurch felntcs the "Press"), An address was given bv Mr. IT. J. Aekins, of the' Cashiiicre Military Sanatorium, on the question of repatriation and pensions for nil T.B. men. The matter was well discussed, and the following resolutions were carried unanimously: (1) 'That all T.B. mon on being discharged from sanatoria should be granted tho full pension and a supplementary pension for a period of twelve months. (2) That the Government be nsked to appoint four T.B. men to the After Care branch, one in each centre, and, failing that, a T.B. expert, with sanatorium experience, he appointed to supervise the work of the After Care branch of tho Repatriation Department, the position to bo advertised,"

The other evening, at the Rangiora railway station, a passenger on tho train going north nearly lost his life (states the "Lvttelton Times"). The train was well under way when he mado a dash for a carriage. In grasping tho guardiron ho was swung off his feet and dragged along the platform, being in eitremo danger of falling beneath the wheels of tho train. Mr. E. Wheeler, who was on the station, sprang to the man's assistance, and at great personal risk lifted him on to the carriage platform. Spectators describe Mr. AVheeler's act as an exceedingly plucky one.

Unemployment of returned soldiers was discussed at the last meeting of the Can-' l-crburv District Repatriation Board. The chairman (Mr. A. P. Drayton) said that, during the week, thirty-three men ha.l applied for work, and thirty-one- had been placed. At present twenty-seven me.'i were on tho unemployed list. It looked as if the board was going to be saddled with the same unemployed men for some time. Mr. AV. E. L.eadley snid tli.it the board was going to havo difficulty in placing light employment men, anif it should concentrate on tho problem without delay. Mr. Drayton suggested that maiiv of these men should be taught boot repairing. The Repatriation Officer said'that, generally speaking, there was never great trouble in finding employment. At the same board would never get its unemployment, list down to zero. It was decided that tho ffliolb position should be reviewed at a special meeting of the Unemployment Committee.

Recently a movement was set on foot In Christchuruh to start a "Fight the Famine" Fund in the city, 'for the purpose of helping to afford relief to the starving peoples of Central Europe (says the "Sun"). Having noticed Press reports of that movement, Mr. .T. W. Davies, acting-officer in charge of the Department oi' Internal Affairs, has written to the Mayor of Christchurch, pointing out that 6ucli an organisation is unknown as a war fund in either New Zealand ar England. There is-no desiro on the Department's part to prevent assistance being given to any people who are in distress, but it is pointed out. that tinder .existing legislation no collections may be made on behalf of any fund of the nature proposed until the Minister of Internal Affairs has approved the establishment of such a fund. Already ,£SOOO has been diverted from, available funds in New Zealand, .with the approval of tho Minister, to the "Save the Children Fund," London, tho only organisation of the kind known to tha Department. It is considered undesirable to approve of further war funds until such lime as it is seen what use has been made of the .£SOOO already donated by New Zealand. All things being well, adds Mr. Davies, that donation may be duplicated without further appeal to the public. . Exemption from military training was <;oii"ltt on Wednesday by a lad, 15 years of age, whoso father appeared before Mr. J W. Poynton, S.M., in tho PoKce Court at Auckland. The father stated that Urn lad was employed on a milk round, and worked from four o'clock in the mornin"" until eight o'clock at night, daily. "Surely he will soon be fit for the hospital,"' remarked tho Magistrate. "No; the boy is healthy," replied tho father, "but 1 should like him exempted until he is of Territorial age." "He will hardly live that long," remarked tne Magistrate before granting exemption until January-"N.Z. Herald." Mr V. IT. Mickey (recently , irrived from' Queensland) will be the speaker at the Mexnndiu Hall on Sunday evening. The title of his address will be "Tha Times We Live In."

Religious objection was the ground on wJiicli a hid 15 years of age applied ior nxemption from drill before Mr. J. W. i'oytiton, S.M., at the Police Court in Auckland (says tho "Herald"). The lad stated that he had joined a religious eect which did not approve of military MU'vicc. ami which had taken up a stand .is conscientious objectors during the war. When questioned by the Magistrate tho boy said the elders who had accepted him asked no questione. The sect had no definite name. The application was refused.

The disabilities of blind peoplo formed tho subject of a, resolution passed at a meeting of Hie Auckland waterside workers on Wednesday. It was stated that a petition to Parliament was in circulation praying that assistance be granted to blind people in obtaining suitable employment, and that a pension schema bo inaugurated. The resolution expressed sympathy with, the blind people in 'heir misfortune, and pledged support to any movement for the botterment of their conditions.

Failure to attend drill was the substance of charges' brought against about 50 young men who appeared in the Police Court at Auckland'(states the "Herald"). The Magistrate stated that while reasonable consideration, would be given, to cases of hardship, the law would be rigorously enforced wherever the defendants wore found to be shirking tbeir obligations. In two instances, where the defendants were almost .of age and had been .twice previously fined for failure to attend drill, Mr.Poynton said that if the offenders were again convicted by him they would bo deprived of their civil rights, in the matter of voting especially, for'ten j-eai'fi. Substantial fines were inflicted in tliesn cases. Thirteen of the defendants were e.»ch fined ,£5, with the alternative of 2S days' military detention. The other fines imposed varied from 30s. to £5 each. Sixty-nine applications for exemption from drill were also heard. In the majority of cases undue hardsMp was proved, and exemptions granted until January 1 next. A number of students were granted exemption, the Magistrate intimating that the Defence Department was making arrangements to have special training periods set aside for them.

The question of starting dried fruit and vegetable factories Tinder a process known as de-hydration, was referred to at a meeting of .the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce recently. In reply to a letter from the Chamber, a resident of the United States forwarded information and samples of de-kydrated fruit, meat, fish, and vegetables, and gave information as to the cost of the plant. Mr. G. Parr, who presided, said that (he. Chamber intended showing the samples, at the winter show. De-hydration of vegetables and fruit allowed growers to provide for tho winter, and the process had proved a great success. Ho mentioned that a dehydrated cabbage weighed only a few ounces, but when put into water it assumed nearly its natural size, and was found to have lost none of. its" natural flavour.

One of those little kindly touches which are. endearing-the Prince to thousands in this country occurred at the military review at Ckrislchurch (states a southern paper). A little busier, n lad of about 13 years of age, ,wb.s stationed, at the saluting post, and at the conclusion of the presentation of the address to the Prince from' the Returned Soldiers' Association he followed out Iris orders, and commenced a blast upon'his bugle. At the same'moment the bugle was pulled away from his.mouth, for the Prince was just about to reply to the address of the Returned Soldiers' Association'. The little bugler looked disconcerted, for the spectators unfeelingly laughed, but ho was soon quite hapnr. again, for the Prince himself patted him on (lie shoulder, and'.conversed with him for quite 'a couple of minutes.

The point as to whether, any actual economy 'would be effected by the husbands and fathers of, Auckland essaying to fill the role of family boot repairer was briefly discussed at a meeting of the Auckland Technical College Board of Mnnnirers this week, reports the "Herald." The matter was introduced in a letter, from Miss E. Melville, covering a resolution passed at a recent meeting'of .women,, proposing 'that boot-repairing classes for husbands and fathers should be established at the college. The director, Mr. George George, staled, in' reply to a question, that there were at iresent no boot-repairing classes, at the col-. lege, but provision hail been made for them in the plans for the new workshops. Mr. George further volunteered* the information that it took.longer for a man to lenrn to mend boots properly than to make them. Mr. Murray did n-f altogether agree, anyone,' he said, could soon learn to put on a neat patch and effect other simple repairs. Mr. T. Bloodworth was inclined to think the ganio hardlv worth the candle, remarking that the cost of leather wasted by tho husbands and fathers in learning would nrobably amount to more than that of liavino; the footwear repaired by exnert tradesmen. Tho matter was referred to the director for a report.

The International Postal Conference Is to be hold at Madrid in November next, and.it is quite likely that.New Zealand will be represented there. . . The creation in France of' the new Ministry of Hygiene has had as its .first result the establishment "of'a' Government commission, the object of which is to combat depopulation, increase the birth-rate, develop child welfare, and protect largo families. . Hitherto, the question of the future of the-race has been left to the care ■of ■unofficial leagues, societies, and confesses; the establishment of a permanent Government organisation is, however, in _ the view of'M. Breton, the. new Minister, a necessity. The manner in which the commission will-carry out its task will be. apparently, first by examining from the point'of view of the effect upon tho birth rate not only of all projects of legislation to be framed in tho future; but those already.in force, and reporting upon them; secondly,/to discover what is boing done by privats initiative lo encomaee large families; thirdly, by instituting in every department'a local birth rate.commission under tho presidency of the Prefect of tho Department,- three of the members of which must be fathers of large families. These Departmental commissions will act as the agents on the npot for the main commission, which will coordinate tho information thus received and act upon it.