LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 265, 3 August 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Representatives of power boards already constituted and about to bo constituted nrs to' meet at the Parliamentary Buildings this morning to \ discuss witfil the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Cufttcs) various matters affecting the hydro-electric schemes. The proposals to be brought forward inchide alterations of the constitution of tho power bonrds and tho methods of collecting rates. Dolegates from many parts of New Zealand will be present.

In our leading article of yesterday, In commenting on the practice of certain Labour members of decrying conditions in New Zealand, wo quoted amongst other instances ttte report of one mem ber's remarks ns follows-.—"No one is patriotic who would bring people out here to conditions like we havo got." We. regret, that the quotation in question, which was tnken from a report In our evening contemporary, did not correctly represent the speaker. What lie actually said was: "No patriotic man would bring people out here without homes for thorn." This materially modifies tho reported utterance of tho member in question -quoted by us, and in this particular instance lessens the occasion for criticism and complaint.

Tn the Magistrate's Court at Rot'orua Mr. Kenvick, S.M., dismissed tho ehargo ngainst Tulmmaiki Matohaera, accused of the manslaughter of To Ngai Hunia, in n street brawl on April 2G. —Press Assn.

A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that' a lecture on tho Iriuli question by Jlr. H. Holland, was given in the Opera House on Sunday evening. Tho meeting carried a motion condemning military occupation, and urging that complete nulouomy bo granted Irelnnd. The meeting also expressed approval of tho action of the Labour Party in asking Parliament- to declate for Irish self-government, and condemned members who refused to permit the matter to *be discussed. <

Not so many weeks ago reports were received by tho polico of valuable plateglass in shop windows having been smashed by some person unknown, and the damago amounted to over .CIOO. During the past week-end another lot of valuable plate-glass has 'been smashed, somo of it in daylight. Two glass panels in Ihe promises of Meadows and Co., BnlI;, ace Street, were broken between 6.15 and 7,45 p.m. on Saturday; a large window in the Union Company's building was smashed between 9 and 10 o'clock on Sunday morning, and yesterday morning plate-glass in the shop front of the premises of tho Cash Register Company, in Lower Cuba Street, was ( smashed, probably 6oon after 7 o'clock. In every instance the glass lilas been smashed with heavy stones not ordinary road metal, but large stones apparently specially procured for the purple. Tho miscreant is believed to bo an adult. Other windows broken during the week-end were one at Ballinger Bros., Maginnity Street; Tosrnan, tobacconist, Panama Street; Ross and Glendining, Briscoe and Co., and E. W. Mills and Co., Ltd., Victoria Street; and Bird and Jansen, Upper Willis Street. Tho polico aro making investigations.

Mr. J. F. Munnings, an architect from India, who gave an address before the Educational Institute last evening, said lw had not h'ad a great deal of expedience 'with New Zealanl schools. "'1 know 1.1 i.! Clyde Quay Schnjl well," said Mr. Munnings, "and I consider it a horror. I would not like any of my children to attend it!"

An alleged anomaly was referred toiiy Mr. E. Kennedy, on 'behalf of the Cooks and Stewards' Union, in the Arbitration Court yesterday, touching "tho employees' claims for payment for Sunday work; "If," ho remarked, "tho employers can grant to a union (Sailors and Firemen's Union) outside this Court a concession, then have they any justification to camo along hero and oppose a claim made by us, or is it, Sir, becauso tho union I represent here has shown an unbroken faith in the Arbitration Court that we aro to bs refused a concession that has been given to another union by the employer, while such union's policy is to ignore tho Court? _ In other words, was it because the policy of the other, union was to strike if the concession were not granted to" them by the employers that they refuse us the same concession? There can never be any peace and contentment amongst the crew of a ship whilst the employer grants something to one section and refuses it to another."

The third free public lecture to bo delivered under an arrangement between the Wellington City Council and the Victoria College Professorial Board was that given in the Town Hall last night by Mr. F. P. Wilson, M.A., on "The Balkans in tho Nineteenth Century." The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided over a sadly unpopulous hall. His Worship remarked upon, the 6inallncss of the attendance, and expressed regret at it. Mr. Wilson, however, addressed himself very cheerfully to tbe business in hand, ana for an hour and a half held the undivided attention of the audience with' his sketch of the partitioning of the Balkan peninsula among the nations that hold it to-day. In seconding a vote of thanks moved at tho conclusion of the lecture, Councillor J; Hutchison congratulated Mr. Wilson upon the lucidity with which he had presented a remarkably large array of interesting facta.

A well-attended meeting of Wellington fishermen at Island Bay decided upon forming an association to assist the development of the fishing industry. The association aims to get Government and municipal assistance in constructing a proper landing-place for fish, in improving sanitary conditions, in the erection of suitable sheds for stowing gear, etc., also a slip for overhaul of boats and a benzine shed, in providing drying grounds for nets, and in securing other facilities, which might develop tho industry into ono of greater 6er.vtca to the community. On behalf of ( tho association it is pointed out'that though Island Bay has for a generation past been a fishing station (practically the only safe mooring ground outside Wellington Harbour itself), no facilities whatever are provided for an industry 'which does 60 much to supply Wellington with fresh fish. Some fourteen launches are engaged in the fishing, representing an invested capital of thousands of pounds. With tfio enormous increase in cost of boats, nets, lines, benzine, etc., laboursaving devices must bo adopted, and proper accommodation provided for the cars of fishing apparatus. It is contended that the neccssary buildings could be erected and rented to the fishermen at a cost sufficient to pay interest on outlay and provide for depreciation.

It is stated that a number of passengers proceeding to Vancouver by tho It.M.S. Tahiti, which sailed from Auckland on Friday night, via Suvai and Honolulu, decided to neglect tho regulation that insists upon a. passport! vised by the American consul for every passenger who touches at Honolulu, and sailed without complying. They 6tate that they are prepared to stay on board ship while tho vessol is at Honolulu, rather than pay the.newly-raised levy of ten dollars on each vise. Although tlio regulation contends that their presence upon the steamer tied up at the wharf is equivalent to an arrival in the country, the.v pin their faith to the action of the 'United States Government officials in refusing to allow them oft the flhip, while, as soon as tho vessel leaves the harbour again, they are under Bri' tisli regulations—Auckland "Star." ■ ~ The CTmstchurch City Council last night decided, notwithstanding a protest by the Labour wing, to join the Canterbury Employers' Association—Press 'Assn. ' Captain Arthur Allen, who is visiting New Zealand in connection with the Young Helpers' League, Dr. Barnardr/n Homes, has arrived in Wellington, and will give a series of recitals on behalf of the numerous branches of the league In the Wellington district.

The following resolution was passed unanimously by a general meetins of serTine patients at the Military Hospital, Waipukurnu, last Friday"That this meeting of service patients upholds the opinion of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, who consider all 'conscientious objectors' should servo their full sentence according to law; and further, this meeting considers they should be deprived of their civil rights, not merely for ten years, hut for life." The patients state that the attitude of certain parties towards conscientious objectors does not meet with their approval, for they are of opinion that had the)' developed" a "conscience" during the war t.hev would havo been much better off today", both physically and financially, instead of having to spend many winrv months in hospital simplv because they forgot they had siieh a tliingi as a "conscience."

The Winmate Gas Company is declaring a dividend of 7£ per cent. The 'borough has an option to purchase tho,] plant at fifteen times the. last dividend j under an agreement. This fixes t.'i« purchase price at ,£8137 10s. A poll of ratepayers will be necessary on tho loan proposal.—Press Assn.

There has been a further advance in the price of gas in Christehurch (reports tho Press Association), to take effect fiiom the nest rending of metres. Tho rates will advance by Sd. per 1000 ft., making the net price in Christchurch 7s. lid. per 1000 ft. The pre-war rate was Bp. !)d. per 1000 ft. This rise if attributable to the grrotly increased cost of coal and to the effect of the recent adjustment of of the employees of the Cliiristchureli Gas Company, niado b;r the Arbitration Court in accordance with the rise in the cost of living.

At yesterday's ■meeting of the Council of tile Wellington Chamber of Couimerco Mr. C. M. Banks drew attention to the reports in tho Press about the inconvenient means of landing provided for immigrants who recently arrived here from England. ITe thought that as it reflected on the port tho chamber _ might tako some notice of it, oven if it wwe only to write to the Harbour Hoard. Mr. JI. J). Bennett thought it was hardly a matter for the chamber to interest itself in. It scarcely touched on matters of commerce. Mr. It. E. Sinclair said that thio mattor referred to in the extrnot rend had nothing to do with the bonrd; it was purely a matter for the shipping companv concerned. The chairman (Mr. H. l\ Soberb?) also thought that it was hardlv a subject within the province of the chamber. It referred to the Maliaim, and he promised that he would mention tho matter to the company's representatives.

Five men summoned for jury servico yesterday applied for and were granted exemption. Ono man, a dairy farmer, pleaded that he would be unable to serva on tho jury and keep his business going at the eame time. Deafness wns tho ground upon which two other applicants were excused. In the remaining two cases the pleas for exemption were Submitted in writing.

_ The first quarterly meeting of the Wei. lington Chamber of Commerce will bo held on Monday week. At that meeting Messrs. J. P. Firth and Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P., iiro to address th« members of the Chamber on the aims and objects of tho National Defence League.

Some three weeks ago'a young commercial traveller. J. Haddock, representing an Auckland firm, disappeared (reports a Marton Press Association telegram). He was then in good health and spirits. His body wa6 discovered yesterday on the roadside near Croftou. Deatli, it is supposed, was dno to exposure.

• At the meeting of the Council of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday a legal opinion was read on the matter of claims against the Hnrbour Board. It appears that when a skipper or firm desires to take action against the Hai'bour Board a month's notico must be given, and the action must bo commenced within three months. Tlio Wellington Harbour Board announced during the hearing of the case that they were going to insist upon strict adherence to these rules. An ordinary form of claim is not a sufficient notice within the section, and will not l>e regarded as such by the board. "It is perhaps unnecessary to point out," said the lawyer's letter, "that harbour boards have in this section a protection which is almost without parallel. To take two examples: A claimant against tho Railway Department has six months in which, to commence his action, while a claimant against a municipal corporation has also six months. Those periods are, compared with the six limitation; short enough. But when the period is reduced to three months .including tho month of notice), it means frequently, in the case of a board having a volume of business as big as the Wellington Board has, that time has run before the board has completed its inciuiries into the claim." It was decided that copies of the Totter be forwarded to all members, and also to tho Prime Minister, and that steps be taken to bring the Harbour Board in conformity with the City Council and otliV»r such homes in tho matter of legal action for claims in respect to goods damaged or missing.