LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 17, 15 October 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Davis Cup tennis fixture, combined with the A.R.C. Summer' Meeting at Ellerslie, will see Auckland unusually congealed at Christmas time. Messrs. Thomas Cook and Son report that already all the available accommodation in Auckland has been bespoken for tho Christmas-New Year week. The accommodation for tho holiday period at Eotorua is heing rapidly booked up, and very lil&tle now remains. The position is tho same respecting Mount Cook and other tourist resorts. In each case it promises to ba a record Christmas.

A return tabled in the House of Representatives shows that the Public Service Commissioner receives a salary of .£I3OO per annum, and tho assistant-com-missioner one of .£IOOO per annum. The term of office of the commissioner (Mr. W. B. Morris) is seven years from May I. 1020; and that of the assistant-com-missioner (Mr. F: V. Frazer) seven years from March 1, 1920.

The immigration and emigration re-turns-for September show that 423G persons arrived in New Zealand, while the departures totalled 2419; for the corre sponding month of last year tho figures were 2-114 and 1815. During last month 157 Chinese, of whom 13 were females, arrived in the Dominion, and 42, of whom five were females, left the country.

The Prime Minister stated, in answer to a question put by Mr. Atmore (Nelson), that Cabinet had not yet come to a decision regarding the claims o£ the home service men.

"They say the clergy aren't a hardworked lot, remarked a well-known Wellington cleric to a Dominion reporter last evening, at the annual meeting oi the Society for tho Protection of Women and Children. "Take to-day, for instance. I had a funeral at 10, a wedding at % a meeting of clergy at 2.30, a garden party after that, about five minutes foi tea. And here I am, and I'vo got to give two sermons on Sunday!"

"That a subdivision of a property at Rolleston Street into six lots with frontages ranging from 18 feet (i inches to 25 feet 11 inches, be approved," ran a clause in the report of tho By-laws Committee of the City Council, which the council ns n. wholo rejected last' night by 9 votes to i.

"Don't yon think, sir, it would be a good thing if we encouraged 'the giving of concerts in aid of the Hospital and other charitable objects?" queried Councillor T. Forsyth at last night's meeting of the City Council, in referring to a recommendation of the Finance Committee that the applications of St. Joseph's Orphanage and the crew of the s.s. Euapehu for the free U6e of the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall be declined. The Mayor (Mr. J.' P. Luke) said that in the absence of any definite r'ulimg on the point the committee could not see its way to recommend the free use of tho Town Hall in the cases in question. Incidentally he Reminded the council that 'they had got to ' strengthen the finances. At the same time lie had no objection to the Finance Committee being asked to brirng down a schedule of charges in connection with the letting of the Town Hall and Concert Chamber, with the object of providing the council with a guide for future applications. To this end -the clause was referred back to the committee.

Recently the Island Bav Electors' Association ' requested the City Council to meter the water supply of each housu in the city. The council has decided to reply to the association, pointing out that the expense involved (between .£30.000 and £10,000) is not at the present time warranted.

The erecltdon of a screen at the band rotunda at Oriental Bay has been authorised by-fhe City Council, the building to be kept open as a rest place and shelter during wet weather. When the schedule of band performances for the year 1921 is under preparation, arrangements will be made for frequent performances at Oriental Bay.

In commotion with the sum of ,£1250 placed on the Estimates by the' Minister of Marine, and the request that the City Council should eo-operato with reference to proposed landing 6tago and facilities at the Island Bay touch for fishermen, a deputation waited on thci Finance Committee of the council at their lust meeting. In donsoquenao the City Engineer has been instructed to confer with tho Marino Department, and his report will bo placed tho council in due course. At tho direction of tho Health Committed, tho Finance Committee will, . wlicn dealing with tho question of facilities for fishermen at Island Bay, take into consideration tho advisability of making provision on the island for the fishermen for the landing and cleaning of lisli and disposal of fish offal.

Tho Lyall Bay Municipal Electors' Association'is to be informed, in reply, to their request for a tramway shelter and seat at Onepu Koad, that the matter will bo considered by the council when the quj.'stion of shelters generally is being deajt with. 5

Tho receipts of the State Advances Department at each of its branches by way of repayment of loans for the six financial years from March 31, 1911, to March 81 1920, are set out in a return laid on the table of the House yosterdayj on the motion of Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wangn--11111,). The following aTe tho totals for each' branch for tho six-year period:— Settlers' branch, £1,043,629; workers' branch, .£1,008,977; local authorities' branch .£207,22?; public debt sinking fund branch. .£109,366; advances office sinking fund branch, £137,868; grand total, .£5,511,966. The payments include ordinary instalments of principal and repayments in full of loans not matured.

An application for the extension of a patent right relative to n hydraulic vacuum pump was made before the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) yesterday by George l ? ell Hutchison, of New Plymouth. The iuvention was declared to bo of primary use in driving milking machinery, and its great merit was said to be that the power was generated without the use of benzine or coal fuel. For the applicant, Mr. 6. G. Walsh maintained that the patentee had received little remuneration for his invention ouing to the war. After consideration, His Honour granted an extension of ten years. During the hearing, tho Registrar of Patents was represented by Mr. J. l'rendeville, of the Crown Law Office. The dispute which has been re-filed by the Wellington Gardeners' Employees Union came bofore the Conciliation Council again yesterday. Mr. W. A'ewton (Conciliation Commissioner) presided, and k the assessors for the ' union were Messrs. T, Healy, H. Lea, and H. H. Dawson, Mr. A. Collins being agent.-Mr. J. M'Kenzie (Superintendent of Parks and Reserves) appeared for the. City Council. Mr. A. Cowie, for the Petone fjorough Council, and Mr. T. Waugh for the parties (five in number) cited from Lower Hutt. The claims of the union were for a 40-hour week; wages for custodian, groundsman, foreman, and gardener being iCG per week. After a gooil deal of discussion tho names of three of the parties were struck off the list, it bein« pointed out on their, behalf that they_ employed 110 labour. Mr. M'iCenzio applied for the exemption of tho City Council, pending a settlement 'between (ho council and the proposed Municipal Employees' Union. It was decided that the case regarding the City Council's employees (some 30 in. number) should be separated from the rest of the dispute, and the hearing of itheir claims adjourned until October 27. Mr. Cowie intimated,that the Petono Borough Council was prepared to abide by whatever award was made. Mr. Waugh said that ho was perfectly willing to pay good wage?, but he had to put up with Chinese competition. and he would have to go out of the nursery business if the claims of tho union were allowed. Mr. Collins: That is your business. Mr. Waugh: I shall not dispute tho wages; I shall simply close down'the business. The Commissioner said that at presemb Mr. Waugh was the only person practically before the Court in regard to the dispute. Mr. Waugh said there were feveral others who ought to be parties to the dispute. As ithere was no possibility of arriving at an agreement, the proceedings were adjourned until a date to bo fixed.

The Agricultural Department is to bo approached, by the City Council with a view to a slight relaxation of the resrulatlons with regard to the registration of dairy farmers supplying winter milk only.

At the examination of candidates foi a surveyor's license, held last month, twenty-six candidates presented themselves, and twelve passed, among the successful candidates being Arthur William Reynold and William Watson, of Wellington, Henry C. Davies, of New Plymouth, and Leslie F. Bow, of Hastings.

The consent of the Government to raise loans has been obtainod by tho following local authorities for tho amouni set opposite each;— Wellington City Council, .£1,708,916; Napier Harboui Board, .£250,000; Hobson County Council, J325.350; Waipu County Council, jEIo.fKM)j Raglan County Council, iM,000; Bluff Borough Council, iC12,300: Waitaki County Council, .£10,800; Waitotara County Council,. .£5000; Ma6terton County Council, ,£(jm>o; Fencourt Drainage Board and AVaimairi County Council, each .£2500; Awakino County Council, JJ1100; Franklin County Council, .£750.

The shipping returns show that the tonnage entered at New Zealand ports during the quarter ended September 30 amounted to 510,211 tons, as compared with 115,888 in the corresixmding quar ter of last year. The clearances were 515,902 tons against 370,134 tons. Of the total entered 500,902 tons were British'.

Providing ordinary weather conditions obtain there is every reason for believing that next season tho City Council will havo fairly full supplies of milk coming to hand. In reporting this fact to the council last night the chairman of the Milk Committee (Councillor C. B. Norwood) said that this happy state of affairs was in no 6mall measure due to the policy of the committee in putting a buyer on t.lio road to canvass farmers for supplies.

The total births registered for the four metropolitan areas during the month ox September amounted to 813, as against 797 in August, an increase of 10. The deaths in September wore 472, a decrease of 50 as compared with tho previous month. Of tho total deaths, males contributed 2-13, and females 223. Ono hunured and two of the deaths were of children under Ave years of age, being 21.C1 per cent, of the whole number. Sixtyono' of these were under one year of age.

At a meeting of the sub-provincial branch of the Farmers' Union, held in Wellington on Wednesday, the following resolutions were carried"(l) That this meeting of the New Zealand Farmers;' Union, Wellington sub-provincial branch, hereby places on record its loyalty to constitutional Government and to the British flag under which has grown nil tho liberal institutions that are cherished by each one of lis, and we are prenared at any time to defend law and order should necessity arise." "(2) That this branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union earnestly urges tho Government to pass during this sesssion ol Parliament a Forestry Act. and thus enable the new Forestry Department to fulfil its full sphere of usefulness." "(3) That this meeting is strongly of the opinion that there is no possible justification for any attempt to force tho fanners to accept less than the full market value for all they produce."

The conditions of the tug-of-war competition to be held a'j the Labour Day 6port? on October 25 have been altered, in response to the wishes of a number of intending compefdtors, the time has been altered from ten to five minutes. Entries for the tug-of-war, also the trades' unions race and 'the primary schools' race close at tho Trades Hall on Monday next. The one mile, 220 yds., and 100 yds. races will be run under tho auspices of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, and the entries will close with Mr. A. C. ICitto on Monday.

The City Council has decided to inform the Northland Progressive Association, in reply to their application for a 10-miuutes' service to the Karori tunnel, that as frequent a service as is possible. under present circumstances, is given on this line.

The Invercargill Stock Exchange wat formally opened for business yesterday. Tho exchange begins operations with ten members, and is affiliated with the New Zealand Stock Exchanges Association.— Press Assn.

In emphasising the need for the election of women to public bodies and boards, of governors connected with colleges and schools, Dr. Agnes Bennett, at last evening's meeting of the Socicty foi the protection of women anil children, reforrcd to the existing differences between the Wellington Boys' nnd Girls' Colleges. "It is a scandal," said Dr. Bennott, "and merely goes to show tliul a woman should be on the Hoard ot Governors!"

The Magistrate at Timaru yesterday gave his reserved decision on a prosecution under a borough by-law, which has been in force since 1906, limiting tho speed of motor-cars to 10 miles an hour within the borough. Mr. Jlyosley declared the by-law invalid as being unreasonable, as it fixed a uniform speed for all streets and all hours of the day—Press Assn.

Tho erection of 5-roomed houses is to be undertaken by the City Council foi tlio use of custodians on the undermentioned reserves:—Wakefield Park, Kelburn Park, and the municipal Roll links.

In drawing attention at last night's meeting of the City Oouncil to a decrease of J612.3-H) in tho credit balance of the electric lighting department's accounts oovering the six-monthly period from April 1 to September 30, tho MayoT said that tho falling-off was duo to the increased working charges. Tho council ought to congratulate itself and its officers that the finances wero not in a very much worse condition. In viow of tho increased charges all round ho thought they had a very fair margin of credit. He hoped tlio council had now experienced tho last of theso inorotses which were imperilling municipal activity.

The annual report of the Society foi the Protection of Women and Children, adopted at the annual meeting last evening, urges that the age of protection foi boys and girls sltoukl be raised, and that "reasonable cause to believe that a giri was of or over, sixteen years of age' 6hall not be a defence to a charge oi criminal assault." The report adds: "This amendment has been accepted by the House of Commons, which has also agreed to the extension to tivelv'e months of tho time in which an information foi assault may be laid. The committee and other women's organisations have urged this reform for many years, but in vain, the members of the New Zealand Parliament being more ready to talk than to act in the matter of providing protection for young girls."

On the motion of tljj> Hon. Mark Cohen, M.L.C., the following resolutions were passed last evening by the annua', meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children: (a) That the Government be urged to" appoint women as justices of the peace, and provide foi their sitting on juries in cases where women and children are concerned; and where possible to appoint qualified women as magistrates to preside over children's Courts; also to appoint without delay a woman on the Board of Film Censors; and (b) to earnestly request tlie Government to organise a well-select-ed force of women police and patrols for the better protection of young people. In speaking to the resolution, Mr. Cohen referred to the growing need for the pTacjng of women on such bodies, and stated liis intention of supporting any such proposals in the Legislature.

Authority has been granted by the City Council for the carrying out of repairs to the pavilion on the Basin ReBervo.

The construction of an approach to Wilton's Bush from Northland is to be given consideration by the City Council when framing next year's estimates.