LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 213, 3 June 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Parliament, is to meet on .Tuno 21. Tho ceremony will hike place in. the now Legislative Council Chnmber, but it has not yet been decided whether the Upper House will continue for the wholo session to occupy the new quarters. It is probable that they will not, owing to the neighbouring rooms not being finished. There are also difficulties about getting the necessary furniture in tiuio. The director of the Municipal Zoo (Mr. J. Langridga) reported yeflturdny that tivo lemurs (natives of Madagascar) would arrive at tho Zoo from Auckland on Monday next. During May three nutmeg finches had been presented by Mr. Slierbrooke, and one black lemur and one owl had died. Tho lemur had been an inmate of the Zoo for twelve years. In the course of his report to the rronthly meeting of tho executive or tho Wellington branch i.f the Navy League, the secretary (Mr. Jt. Darroch) said:"Recent utterances of H.R.H. tho Princo of Wales, Lord Jellicoe, Lord Beatty, and tho Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill show that the Navy League still has groat work to do in advocating the allpowerful Nuvy, mercantile marine and air fleet. Its educational work with the children iuuet always be in the forefront. For loyalty and patriotism thOro is no better ideal than the Navy. What better study of character could you have than our naval history? Pride :n the ship, tho determination of each man to do his best, even in obscure little acts of perhaps porilous work in <he rigging in olden times, or equally perilous work down in tho sfoke-hold today during the battle-that Is wlierf you havo character! Nothing has oe.curred which should cause nny member of. the Navy Leaguo to abandon his faith in the virtue of sea power as an instrument of defence, but as an agent tor, spreading those liberal sentiments which ho at the very foundations of the great Commonwealth of British peo. pies who live on and by the sea." Tho Wairarapa Brick, Tile and Drainpipe Company suspended operations on Inesday on account of tho coal shortage. I'iftcon nien are idle (reports a Carter ton Press Association message). w At .v n mee ii in ß of the Palmers ton North Borough Council the Mayor (Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P.) adversely criticised the Administration of the Government j.ousmg scheme. Ho said that lie considered that the conditions laid down for occupants were simply monstrous. An applicant was required to stato who ho dealt with; he had to produce liis rent book and show that he paid his acV \ ras 11150 required to state whether ho had ever been sued in ■nurt. J.he Mayor said lie considered these inquiries little short of insults, and he knew lots of people who would h<ne nothing to do with: tho scheijic, „ Ji h o m wMr of honour to Genera]. Sir William Birdwood on his visit to Palmerston North in July was discussed at the meeting of tlio Borough C °r> . Tuesday, nnd tho question ol holding a citizens' ball was received with favour. Eventually the matter was left in the hands of tho Ma.yor to S!i«S"" 2 Tirivw 0 '?! 1 of the Wellington Afl- a was held last evening. k™. f ? r T n pres ' ded ' TJ'ero was a large attendance of members. It was resolved that tlio disputo with tho City Council with regard to tho ivnges and conditions of drivers bo referred to a Council of Conciliation. It was decided that proceedings bo taken /gainst an employei for failing to dismiss a nonumonist when called upon by the union ,? d P f o ' . 1 , 1 . 10 meeting also discussed the dispute, and passed a reso--1 ". Wtliy and sup. fSI # iif™ m g 't tor recognition of their organisation, and further endorsed the . action of tho Transport Workors Advisory Board in declaring SLf^"? 88 . ? Mt " All numbers present pledged themselves to refrain irom attending races or handling racehorses or racing material until tho uisput© is Bottled,

The following additional regulation to those at present governing tho burial expenses of members of tho N.Z.E.F. is published by General Headquarters:-AU ex-soldiers of the N.Z.B.F. w ho dio within twelve months of discharge from that force, or who arc under mcdical treatment authorised by an officer of tho New Zealand Medical Corps, and whose death w certified to havo been caused by disabuities contracted or so aggravated in tho service as to oauso death shall bo provided with a funeral at State expenso on the application of the next-of-kin, and under instructions of the General Officer in Charge Administration, This provision may also be extended to cases not under treatment at tflie time-of death, but in which indigence is proved without reference to tho length of time 6ince discharge took effeefc.

Nurses are more onfttled to superannuation than women school teachers" urged a Taranaki delegate at tho Hospital Boards' Conference yesterday. Delegates were unanimous in endorsing "eomo scheme of superannuation" for nurses, whose services' wero freely ■ eulogised. There was a difference of opinion, however, on tho point whether such a scheme should bo mado applicable also to tho general staff of n hospital. Tho Departmental officers in attendance at tho conference explained that a superannuation soheme for nurses was at present being drawn np "by the Government with a view, to its submission to the hoards.

Speaking at the farewell sociml to the Olympic team last night, Mr. A. A. Marryatt (president cf the N.Z.A.A.A.) said that pickiug on Olympic team was no small matter. It was not the finding of tho best men, the fastest and swiftest. But they had to have a well-balanced mind, and do credit to tho country they represented. lie Vas well satisfied witii the Now Zetland team, and fe'.t assured that they would do their country well.

The ramifications of the Palmerston North Borough Council are increasing to such an extent that that body has decided to apply to the Minister of Internal Affairs tor authority to increaso the membership from nine to twelve. With tho electric, light and power scheme and the introduction of motor' buses in sight the work of that bwly had so increased that it has been decided for tho future to hold weekly instfad of fortnightly meetings.

"The true spirit of sportsmanship," said Mr. Bennett at Inst night's farewell to the Olympio team, "is not so mucli what they can do for (themselves but for their fellows. It was, What can I do for my city and my country? While in Australia eomo years ago, ho had been told that a Now Zealander could be known by bis prido and conceit of his country." Ho thought that a good fault. Tlio members of the City Council are to make a tour of tho Karori district this morning. "The comijiitteo believes in helping tlinso who help themselves," eald .Councillor Georgo Frost, to a Khandallah deputation to tlio Reserves Committeo of tlio City Council yesterday afternoon. Tho deputation urged the City Council to tako systematic steps to the bush reserve. Councillor L. M'Kenzie suggested tho setting up of a Vigilnnce Committee, which would have authority to tako reasonable steps to preserve tlie bush from fire or straying cattle, which destroy tho undergrowth—tho life-blood of tho New Zealand bush. Of the eentleinen present several volunteered at onco hecome niembors of such a committeo if it J were sot up bj tho coiwoil.

There was n conflict of opinion at tho Hospital' Boards' Conference yesterday as to whether tho State or the' boards should shoulder tho responsibility of providing and niii.'ntaimnjj innt(:rnity hospitals. Delegates were unanimous, however, in lulirmmg tho urgent need for tho provision of moro institutions o£ this character. Iho Inspector-General of Hospitals said that the Government had provided maternity homes wherever possible, but he emphasised tho boards should do their Mare. Sir James Wilson said that the hoards hands wero tied in tho matter on ac<iount of thoir lack of funds. The V vay ou ' ; ' : ' lO wns for tho state to come to their assistance, and advance them money on loan for build'"S purposes. The conference affirmed that ths Government be asked to specially assist tho building and equipping of maternity hospitals by a subsidy of £2 to ,£l, and further tliat the Department approach tho Minister of Finance with a request to set _asido a sum from which it would bo possible for hoards to borrow money for permanent improvements tinder the Locftt Bodies' Loans Act. The sum of ,£73 18s. was taken at tho gates of tho Municipal Zoo (hiring tho inontu of May, a 9 compared with ..£97 veir ■during l Afay of the preceding

The Christchurch Gun Cluli held a sweepstake sparrow match for tho New Zealand championship yesterday. There were forty-six entries from all parts of Aew /calami. C. 13. Brown and W. (jlusnall, both of Christchurch, tied" for the championship, Brown winning on the shoot-oiT.—Press Assn. "A largo number of nurses, on account ct their experiences at the war, won't want to seo a sick mnn or sick woman "jpun, remarked the Inspector-General i .' s P I ' :a ™ a t yesterday's conference of hospital boards in emphasising tho necessity for making tho service as attractive as possible. Touching district nurses, the eonferenco decided that they should bo double-trained, mid that some arrangement be made whereby thero would bo an inducement to nurses who have finished thoir hospital training to go in for maternity training to enable them to take tip tho duties of a doubletrained nurs-s in the back districts, and that a much larger salary bo offered as an inducement to sucli double-trained nurses if nccessary. In emphasising the necessity for the Dominion making better provision for coping with tuberculosis, an Otago delegate told tho Hospital Boards' Conference yesterday that in 1919 112 tubercular patients were discharged from the Otago Hospital. Of this number iivo were cured; in 40 cases tho diseaso was arrested; 4G patients had improved; 15 were unimproved, and elx had died. During the year M 3 new patients wero admitted, and in addition tho board had 562 "old" patients. This year the Otago Board was expending .£IO,OOO . on tho treatment and maintenance of these cases. He accordingly asked the conference to affirm: "That tho wholo of tho control in connection with the prevention, and treatment of tuberculosis be taken over by tho Health Department." ihe remit tvas rejected. A few of the Bank of New Zealand notes used by tho Saiiioan AdministrnI lion have found "heir way into circulation in Now Zealand. They aro the ordinary ,£1 note 3, with a, printed inscription on the faco indicating that they are issued by the Government of Samoa. They are not intended to circulate in this country, and tho person who accepts ono of thorn at its face value stands to nrnko a loss of Is., the rate of exchange asked by the . banks. . Tho Repatriation Department is seeking employment for somo returned men at the present tilne. Tho arrival of winter has caused some decline in the demand for labour, and tho Departliient is asking oniployer9 to supply information regarding nny vacancies' on their staffs. There is special need of light work for ecmo partially disabled men. Tho repatriation authorities aro anxious to {jet all men of this class into permanent positions as quickly as possible. ' J

It seems that unicjiism is in the air. We have got tlio Jockeys' Union, the Doctors Union, and every other union possible, exclaimed a delegate to tho .Hospital Boards' Conferenco yc9tcr(hiy 1? tr iiy crs * n S 11 remit recommending that the state should establish a State hospital service, so as to secure 6onio uniformity ns regards salaries and conditions of service for medienl officers and nurses. A sharp conflict of opinion was disclosed on the principle involved. The Inspector-General of Hospitals (Dr. ' alintine) said that a State mcdical and nursing service would be of great benefit, ouch a step would not necessarily involve nationalisation of the hospitals. A voicc: It is the next thing to it!" Mr. J. W. M'Ewan (Wellington) commented on the increasing tendency of hospital boards to lean on the Department, and the remit was an indication that they were travelling along tlio lines which led to nationnlisation. Tho remit was adopted with a proviso that it bo referred to tho Department for further information.

A warning in respect to the inflation of land values was uttered by Mr. J. (J. Jlarkncss, in addressing a conference of tho North Auckland (lairv companies. He stated that tho enormous increase in land values during 1 tho last five or six years was regarded' with concern bv a majority of thoughtful people. Dairying; land in Tarannki was realising from to i£2oo an acre. All lie could say was, God help tho man who has taken up. lfincl «£2OO Acre!" Ho contended that the man with a little capital should he a bio to take up a section of land at suchi a price that he could luako tho land his own, free of encumbrancos, in fifteen or sixteen yeans. This, ho said, could not bo done on land at presont prices.

With a view to grappling with what WM generally conceded to be a big problGni, tho Hospital Boards' Conference yesterday affirmed: That this conforenco considers it desirable that an Act of Parliament bo passed to provide State farm?, industrial homes, or ether suitable places of health restraint for the detention and enforced labour of confirmed drunkards or othor self-indulgents who, having wife and family, incapacitate themselves from wage-earning or spend an undue share of their earnings on themselves, tlum leaving tho maintenance of aforesaid wife and family to the charitable aid boards of their districts. That the time spont in such homes, etc., be in proportion to tho number of convictions, and that the earnings of such individuals be handed to their respective boards for the benefit of their families."