LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 302, 15 September 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"We have never acknowledged tho principlo that persons naturalised in other parts of the Empire are to be admitted to this country as British subiects," said tho Prime Minister in the House of Representatives during the discussion on tho Immigration Restriction Bill. "We have had very good reasons for not doing this. We can think of men who have been naturalised in other parts of the Empire who are not lit to come into this country."

A compliment to citizens desirous of advancing the towns they live in, was paid liy. a speaker at/ tho Central Chamber- of .Commerce meeting yesterday. In suggesting the personnel of a conferencu to msofc on tho. question of tho beet sugar industry, he said: "... Among all the other organisations, none aro so capable as vigorous ratepayers' associations."

Tho Minister of Agriculture told tho House of Representatives yesterday that an expert was to leave Sydney on Friday of' this week to examine potatoes in this country, with a view to their export to Australia.

As an example of waste iihat couKI bo eradTcateH; a speaker at yesterday's meeting of tne Central Chamber of Commerce stated that, on several mornings, on his way to the city, he had noticed pools of juiije.surrounding the familv milk-can*on doorsteps'. "Tot up tlie total volume of the milk," he added, "and it can bo estimated how much is wasted daily I"

By permission of Messrs. Gurney Bros., basket manufacturers, the soldier students undergoing instruction in basketworlt under tihe vocational training scheme at the Military Hospital, Trentham, visited tho firm's factory the other "ay. The manager took the part}' in charge on.arrival and conducted flhem over the works. _ Great interest was shown by the visitors, and the courtesy shown by Mr. Gurney and his staff was much appreciated. The majority of students under instruction in this class have sustained grievous disability (is a result of their war service,- and it is found that the muscular movoment requilred of them in wickerwork is exercis-? ing a curative effect. Some of i!he students- intend adopting canework as a vocatTonjifter discharge, and with this end in vTew are applying themselves w'th diligence to the instruction given. Already a few trained in the workshops have established themselves in. business, whilst others have been placed with local firms for further instruction. All are reported to, be making good progress.

Reporting to the House of Representatives yesterday upon a petition of Lieut.Colonel E. Jennings, of Rotheram, Amuri, Canterbury, the Defence Commit'bo- stated that it had no recommendation to. make. Tho petitioner asked for nn amount equal to the difference between the pay of military and civil'ttn doctors during the influenza epidemio.

"From one ton of sawdust, 1G gallons of commercial- alcohol can be obtained," remarked a speaker at yesterday's meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce, dealing with the question of commercial waste.

Whilo ilte ranger's report was under discussion at yesterday's meeting of tho Ilutt County Council several councillors* complained that the county roads were infested with mobs of cattle. It was agreed that sterner measures must be applied in order to get rid of tho nuisance and consequent danger to traffic.

• The Weymouth Fire Brigade (England) desires tjo convey ils thanks to some unknown Wellington benefactor. The chief offloeiv Mr. John H. L. Courtenay, writes as follows:to The Dominion: "I am frequently receiving from your town parcels of papsrs lor tho reading-room of this brigade; there is nothing to indicate who tho sender is. I should bo .obliged if you would insertl this in an issue; it may reach the eyo of the kind donor and sltow him we appreciate it. At tho samo time we should be> interested to know who it is—probably he is a Weymouthian."

Plans were approved nt yesterday's meeting-of the Hurt; County Council, over which the chairman (Sir. F. G. Cooper) presided, for. tho reconstruction in r ferro-concrete of tho Pakuratahi and Stokes Valley bridges and a small bridge at the foot of thi9 side of tlhe Einiutakas. Mr. A. J. Toogood, consulting engineer, was instructed by tho council to set up n comiir'ssion to cite all local bodies/south of iihe Himutakns with n view to their being, made to contribute to the cost of all three bridges.

The delegation from Samoa, Messrs. H. D. Crowdnce, E. A. Dobbie and T. Andrews arrived in Wellington yesterday morning from Dunedin and Christchurch, in both of which cities, as throughout New Zealand, it has received ,i very sympathetic hearing. The delegation is located at the Eoyal Oak Hotel, aj.d before it departs for Auckland on Thursday opportunity will be taken to challenge tho Hon. E. P. Lee's state' menT'tnalle last week in the local Press in reference to Samoa.

The items on the loan schedule to be submitted' to the. decision of ratepayers to-day are nine in number; This makes nine chances of results conrng out even. The natural question, nrises, which way dees the poll count' in such, a conting-, ency? The answer is that any .item can' only bo carried on a majority of votes being castl in its favour.' There is no. provision ih the Statutes for .voting privileges for absentee ratepayers.

Considerable keenness prevails among, the soldier students at the Trcnthnm Military Hospital for instruction in wool-, classing, the desire of the men beitig- to acquire a knowledge of the subject, as an adjunct to farming. If assessed, the amount lost annually to many small farmers in the Dominion through the application of faulty, methods, in classifying their wool clips would'reach a large sum. Opportunity is given io the students at Trentham under the vocational training, scheme to avoid this serious loss «.vheii.they themselves enter tho wool-raising industry. Complete equipment essential. to> wool-classing has l>eon secured and established at tho Hospital. For some timepast an expert from, the Live Stock Division of tho Department of Agriculturo has visited Trentham and conducted: classes with, a considerable degree of success, his most recent visit being on. Monday morning last, when a large and: enthusiastic class assembled to meet him. On Monday next, bv permission of tho management of Iho Petone Woollen Mills, ho will conduct his class on a tour of instruction through tho works.

A letter was received from tho Public Service Commissioner nt, last night's meeting of tho Victoria College Council applying for the. uso of two or three, rooms in the college buildings in connection with the projected classes of instruction for- probationary cadets for tho Publie Service. The request was referred' to tho Professorial Board for report. Mr. C. Watson was appointed to represent the council on the. District Council of the Workers' Education Association. Afterpayment of current accounts tho fmancinl. statement disclosed-, that the total funds at call amounted to Us. 2d.

"I know of no tramway system which ha? r.ot either increased its fares or gono into liquidation," said tv witness before tho Takapuna Tramways Commission on Saturday. "Wnnganiii has not," replied counsel. "It is not n system, it only runs now and again," was the rejoinder,

For many years Hie approach to tllio Hull: railway station has been anything but it beauty spot. At Monday night's meeting of tho Lower limit Borough Council tho Mayor (Mr. K I'. Rishworth) reported that as a result of a conforenco ho had liad with the Railway Department tho council would now be able to ob'.ciin authority to plant the railway yard with trees, shrubs, etc.

Tho-City Council liad not lost sight of the need for providing better road access to Wilton's Rush l , the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) yesterday assured a Dominion reporter. Mr. Luke said that though the work was not on the loan schedule, the council was having a report upon it prepared by the City Engineer. No doubt the work would be authorised when the report was presented. '

Thoview was expressed at yesterday's meeting o£ the Central Chamber of Commerce that the Government should give its aid to commercial aviation in New Zealand. Complaint was made that tho Government so far had been Temiss. in the matter, and members considered that the crossing of Cook Strait by aeroplane should, liavo been taken moio seriously by it.

An exceptionally heavy tide on August 2G lasil caused a good deal of damage to tho parade at Paekakariki, and several large gaps were made in the beach sido of tho road. In reporting this fact at yesterday's meeting of tho Hutt County Council, the inspector of works (Mr, J. W. Cudby) said that steps had been taken to put. the road in order, as quickly as possible. ' Tho inspector also reported that a new wing had been erected at the eastern approach to Silverstream bridge in the Mungaroa riding.' The Pahautanui to Upper Hutt road contract had been completed.

A phase of tho English tax 011 incomes of -Id; in. the shilling was explained last evening to a Dominion reporter by Mr. S. S. Dean, a member of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. "111 England," ,he said, "to quote a remark made in a leading commercial journal, a man sent out to (lo business for his firm is in reality an unpaid tax collector for tho Government. Por everv shilling of business he collects 4d. goes in tax to the authorities."

■The spring, show of tho Hutt Valley Horticultural Society', which is to be hold in the Lower IlUtt Town Hall today and to-morrow, should prove a d°-. ciaed success; In spito of tho unfavourable Weather which has been experienced lately the reports ooint to a successful exhibition. The show will be formally opened by the Hon. Sir Hcaton Rhodes at 3 o'clock this afternoon.