LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 49, 22 November 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The suggested railway deviations in the Palmerston district are to receive tho attention of Ministers early next month. The Prime Minister (.Mr. Mosey), the Minister of Public Works (Mr. Coaifes),' and the Minister of Lnnds (Mr. Guthrie) 1 intend to inspect the routes of the proposed Palmerston North deviation and the Levin-Greatford deviation. Tho present position is that authority has been granted, by Parliament for ihe Palmerston North deviation, but iSio Prime Minister promised when the matter was hefore Parliament that ho would examine tho position before ho authorised the commencement! of the work. A burglary occurred in tlio premises of Messrs. C. Hill and Sons, hatters and mercers, Lambton Quay, in tlio early hours of Saturday morning, when a quantity of hats and clothing was stolen, tho value being considerable. In tho opinion of tho police, the thief or thieves obtained access to the promises from tho rear portion of tho building, which fronts Wellington Terrace. The fact that a trapdoor in the roof was found open shows that tho burglars entered the building iu that manner. In addition to the theft of •the articles on abortivo attempt was made to open the office safe. The police stated last evening that one of the fiats stolen had been found on Wellington Tcr. race.

"The infusion of the Native race in New Zealnnd with tho Hindu has begun," rcmnrked a Presbyterian missionary a;i Saturday's sitting of the General Assembly. "How do I know? Well, I have officiated at tho first wedding between a Maori woman and a Hindu. It has started properly. Just wliat sort of a success it is going to lie, however, T cannot tell." The speaker added that tho possibility of an infusion of the.se two races called for serious consideration.

Owing to tho wet weather on Saturday no cricket matches were plaved on Wellington grounds. At the Keserve only a few members of tho North and Old Boys teams attended; and as there were no umpires present there was no play.

Private advice received from Sydney states that E. J. Tait, for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and Wilfred Cotton, for Mario Tempest and Graham Browne, 'have signed agreements for the stars and their entire company to mako a short farewell seasson in New Zealand en route for Buenos Aires on thjjir world's tour.

Special services in connection with* the /eventef-ntli. anniversary of the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church were held yesterday. In the morning tho Ecv. A. M'Neur, of Otago, preached to a large congregation, and in the afternoon the liev. J. C. Paterson, of Christchurch, addressed the young people of the Sunday School and the Junior Bible Class on the Bible, as light and power, illustrating his subject from the experiences of Christian missionaries in the dark places of the earth. Mr. Patcrson afterwards distributed the prizes gained by the scholars at tile recent examinations. In the evening the Kev G. P. Mitchell, of Knapdale, Otago, conducted tho. service, which was well attended. Special 6inging was rendered by the choir at each of the services throughout the day.

The secretary of the "Save the Children" Fund announces that a number of canvassers will lie calling upon the business people of the city miring the week, and that each canvasser's authority to collect money for the fund will be an official subscription list signed "Itobt. Hill."

A very short sitting of the Magistrate's Court was held on Saturday morning, when Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., dealt with two offenders for insobriety. Bartholomew Mahoney was lined 10s.. in default 48 hours' imprisonment, and Frnnk Stanley was fined 205., with the alternative of three days' imprisonment. Tho latter was also charged with wilfully damaging a window, valued at £i, the property of Hurcombe and Sons. The evidence showed that Stanley while drunk went to the shop and 'bought some fish. On going nut ho fell and damaged the window. The Magistrate said that there was nothing wilful in that, and dismissed the information. Stanley said he would refund the amount of the damage.

A meeting of the Ngaliauranga branch of tho Freezing Workers' Union was held on Friday evening, when it was decided to endorse the notion of tho executive in declining the employers' offer. The men are now awaiting further negotinlions, and have deckled not to accopt engagement for (ho coming season until the dispute is settled.

the second ballot in connection with the election by tho Wellington Waterside AVorkers' Union of four representatives to attend the annual conference of the New Zealand AVatersido Federation to be held at Timaru. commencing on December 1, wns held last week. On the occasion of the first ballot, J, G. Bruce and T. Brindle wore elected delegates hv an absolute majority of the total number of voles cast. All the candidates who polled 25 per cent, of the votes wont to the second ballot, and those who did not poll that proportion dropped out. Tim second ballot to appoint tho second two representatives resulted as follow:—H. E Canham, 1113 votes (elected); AV. V! Cousins, 81G; I?. Gould, 7SG; J.AA r . Trim, 730; informal, 25. The number of votes cast totalled. 1797. The figures indicate that Mr. Canham was tho only candidate to poll an absolute majority of the votes cast. Mr. J. Smart was returning officer, and Messrs. L. Brough and E. J. Seal were scrutineer*

A sitting of a Dominion Conciliation Council will be held in Wellington on Friday to review the whole of tho conditions of employment in tho boot trade in New Zealnnd. Tho New Zealand Federated Hoot Trade Association of Workers has cited under the Arbitration Act the New Zealand Boot '.Manufacturers' Association of Employers, and Mr. W. Newton, tho local Conciliation Commissioner, wtil preside. The workers are making n claim for a '10-hour week (o bo worked on. fivo days of tho week, no work to be done on Saturdays. They are also asking for a weekly wage in place of tho' present hourly wage. The wago suggested for journeymen is .£5 per week, with a bonus of 15s. The assessors will bo: For, tho workers—Messrs. F. Jones (Dune(TTn), F. M. Robertson (Christchurch), and C. A. Watts (Grey Lynn); for tho emplovers—Alessrs. J. B. Frame (Dunedin), H. Clark (Auckland), and B. Mnpplebeck tWellingion).

There was not a large attendance at the address "Why Children Starve in Central Europe," given in the Alexandra Hall last evening by Mr. T. Brindle. The speaker referred to the "Save tho Children Fund," which, he said, would have never been needed had it not been for the wars waged by capitalistic classes and the subsequent, suffering of the masses. There would not. have been such suffering in Central Europe, ho said, but for the economic pressure exerted by those countries which had come out of the war in a happier position than their unfortunate brethren. The whole deplorable situation was a standing indictment of all wars and warfare. The members of the Wellington Typographical Union held a social gathering in the Marine Engineers' Institute, Aitken Street, on Saturday night, for the purpose of- celobrating tho conclusion of tho negotiations in connection with the recent award and entertaining two old members, Messrs. .1. Claridge and .T. l?ose, who are retiring from tho Government Printing Office on superannuation. Messrs. Claridge and Hose have been members of the union since 1880. Between 80 and 90 members were present at the function, and Mr. T. Sheerin presided. A number of toasts were honoured during the evening, and musical Hems were contributed by Messrs. fl. Kavege, R. A. Xl'lntyre. W. Hodchen, Hunt, W. Stevens, Hobbs, and Bitossi. The first, tourists havo arrived at the Milford track, bmi at tho present, owing to a landslip on tho Mackinnon Pass the Tourist Department cannot guarantee that tourists will be able to cross femys the "Soufhland Times"). The obstruction will be removed before tho Christmas rush begins. Profiting by last yonv's experience, the Department has made nmplo provision for a largo number of tourists, and a lnrgc amount of stores has been forwarded to Glade House, while a special schooner has been chartered to take stores round to tho Milford end. With the extra provisioning the Department anticipates thnt it will be able to cater for the many touris;B who are expeotod to make the trip this season.

Tlio Minister of Education (Mr. Pair) referred on Saturday to astateinent made in Dunedin that the proposed appointment of women for dental work in the schools would bo illegal. He said thaw tho Dunedin opinion was not sound law. The considered view of the Crown law officers was i',hat tho proposed employment by the Government of women at a. salary to do dental work for the children in the public schools would not; ho a breach of tho Dentists Act. These women would not hold appointments as dental practitioners or dental surgeons, and a public school was not an institution receiving financial aid from the Government within the meaning of tho Act. It was clear, therefore, that thero was no legal difficulty in tho way of the Department's scheme.

A possible complication which may ariso if the City Council persists in erecting the proposed new steam-driven power-house on Shag Koeks (Miramar Lay) will bo brought about by the long projected reclamation of tho' head of Evans Bay. It is not generally known thaif the Wellington Harbour Hoard has authority to reclaim a very laree area of shallow water, extending'in a straight line from the end of the sea-wall on the Mu'amar aide aciws tho Bnv Ur tho bathing-ground near ißie Kilbirnio. Jtccreation Ground. This line, according to tho plans, is about five chains (330 ft.) seaward of the outer rocks of tho point 'ot land the City Council is acquiring tor tho purposes of a power-station sive, and in any building 6chemo th« proposed future reclamation works will have to bo borne in mind. It is understood that this sito was favoured by the Vacuum Oil Company for their storage tanks (for crude oil), but it was considered inadvisable to allow the tanks to ho iploced on a site that would some day be surrounded by vatcrfront buildings. The same argument should apply to tho erection of a new power-house on this fiite. It is understood that provision is being made to lay a pipe for the supply of crude oil from the Vaccuuin Company's tanks on Miramar flat to the new power-house, to render tho station more or less independent of coal.

Evidence continues to accumulate aa to the attempts that) are being niado to "dump" goods— soft goods, boots, and shoes, and motor-cars principally in NewZealand. The Australian manufacturers, who' have been working at full pressure for a. couple of years past in order to reap the benefit! of the high -prices prevailing, have seen their sales falling off seriously and suddenly for s.ix months past, and now with bulging warehouses they find the diminished demand persistent, coupled with a falling overseas market. In tSis plight they have (turned to New Zealand as a trading ground, so far with little success. Similarly, big Australian soft goods houses are doing their licst to place their heavy overstock in New Zealand, but retailers are shy, and aro only buying from hand-to-mouth, perhaps necessarily so owing to recently altered financial conditions. It is not uuticipa-.cd that they will care to operate with their old freedom until the financial situation becomes a little easier. What is making it hard for the importer is the sudden dumping of old orders from overseas. Up till six months ago retailers found that in order to get anything like their requirements they had to order four. six. or even, ten times the quantity. Now ijhese big orders are "coming home to roost," and many traders nro being put to great inconvenience to meet the drafts on such goods. In the meantime the bonded stores of the Dominion are filled to overflowing, a 6 retailers naturally find it sufficiently difficult to meet demand drafts, without worrying about dmb'. >

Injuries to tho head, ns a result of a fall from a lorry, necessitated tho removal to hospital yesterday of Charles Exter, a young man, who lives at 15 Queen Street. He was returning from a picnic at Kaiwarra wlf?n tho accident occurred.

An inquest will be held this morning as to circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. G. W. O'Kaue, who was found, dead in his bed, at his residence, Hntaitai, on Saturday morning. It is believed that Mr. O'Kaue, who was a chemist, had for some time suffered from heart disease. Tho deceased was a married man.

■ The manufacture of standardised hoots appears to be as distant as ever, at least so far as Auckland is' concerned (states the "New Zealand Herald"). It has been reported that licenses to mako the boots iiavo been issued to 'some lxmt manufacturers in Wellington, but, according to Mr. 11. Clark, president of the Auckland branch of tho New 4 Zeahnd Boot Manufacturers' Association, no move has been made in Auckland. Mr. Clark stated on Friday that when the matter was first discussed the manufacturers emphasised the point that before boots were standardised the Government must standardise leather. Thut was not done. No sooner were the original sampies of standardised boots turned out than the embargo in hides was lifted. In the circumstances, ho said, it was impossible for tho manufacturers to proceed .with tho scheme. Although there had recently been reductions, leather still cost6d. per lb. more than when tho prices for the standardised boots were agreed to. This would make a difference of anything up to 3s. or is. in the price of the boots.

No fewer than 35 files of information eimeHou in connection with complaints alleging profiteering in regard to different lines of merchandise were considered by llie Auckland Prices Investigation Tribunal on I'riday (states the '"Herald"). The tribunal was able to arrive, at a decision in three, cases. One complaint was an allegation that the price charged by a wood and coal dealer for firewood was excessive. The evidence showed that the landed cost of this wood was as high as 255. a ton, whereas the complainant alleged that it was only 13s. a ton. It was explained that the wood urn. oewi loaded in rough weather on a scow, a considerable time being occupied in loading n full cargo. Further, it was .stated that the freight charged did not cover tho wages paid to the seamen. The wood had been sold for 38s. Gd:' a ton, this price being based upon a much lower landed cost than 255. a ton. The complaint was not sustained. Another complaint was that a country storekeeper had overcharged a customer for a pair of boots. The storekeeper stated that he had advised the complainant not to buy "shooters' for the stockyard, but he insisted on having theuii They were of too fine a quality for this work. The tribunal dismissed the complaint. The other complaint dealt with related to a tailor's charges. After considering the evidence tho tribunal decided that, the price charged was not unreasonable.

This is a story of what might, well Ire termed a miracle of fho sea" (says the .Auckland "Star'). There are many tales ol wonderful escapes, of rescues' when hope seemed dead, of almost incredible happenings by reef and ocean depth, but the story of how Father Soubeyran of the Marist Mission, escaped' a lingering death is grimly fascinating The padre set oft m ;ihe mission cutter St. Michael, from the island of Cicia, in the eastern part-of Fiji, to reach Ihe largo island of Ivadann, the scene of the amusing but i «J, ly "l!*™ and- fanciful adventures l of tho Pea Green Pirates." On the niglul of Wednesday. October 13, (he engine refused to work. The little vessel drifted on to the reef of Mnlawai and turned right over, smashing tho mast and deck fittings into nmtcliwood. Some of the crew swam tft the dinghv, which had been swept clear, but Father Soubovran and fournatives were imprisoned inside tho hull. Thinking these dead, the dinghy tenants set out to save themselves, and they succeeded. There were only onoor two boulders on the reef but happily on to one of them the St' Michael had partially turned. This left a bole like the cave in "Coral Island" story, and one by one tho priest.and his lour natives managed' to squeeze through a.nd by diving come out hvb the open ".IT , i^- e T 1 R mt on,y with the greatest difficulty. The engineer, Josefu proved a veritable hero. Tho question whether ministers should travel first or second class on the railvi*s was decided by the Auckland Meilhmlist Synod on Friday in favour of the f-n,er alternative states the "Herald." We must uphold tho dignity of the Church sam the Eev. George Bond, when tho question was broached. "Sec-ond-class fares ib second-class men " It was also proposed that a minister's luggage that weighed more than three tons should not bo. paid for out of the special fund, but it was ultimately resolved tp pay all travelling expenses without limiting tho weight of, baggage.

l'edestrians on the waterfront last evening wore surprised to hear the lowing of cattle and the barking of catt 1 ,? dogs in the vicinity of tho wharves, and to see a herd of steers' being taken along Customhouse Quay. The sight of a tramciu passing the rural 6cene was incongruous. Although a considerable amount of rain has fallen during the past month, culminating' in floods three weeks ago, many of the farmers; in the Manawatu linvo been crying out "for more rain, for Ihe strong cold winds have had the effect, of drying up tho grass, in which (hero was little enough substance before their advent (writes Thf, Dominion's Palmorston North eorrespopdent).. However, n lino warm rain which set in on Saturday just boforo noon, and continued all day, should have the effect of improving matters from a feed point of view, and should increase the supplies of milk to the dairy factories.

The other day a. suburban resident bought a carpet for which he was charged .£3O (says the "Otago Times"). At tho sums time an arrangement was made by which the firm was to send a man to lay Iho carpet. On getting the article home the purchaser began to examine the adhesive ticket on it, and thinking it was rather thick applied some hot wa.tr.-. On removing the £'J0 ticket he found one underneath marked .£25. This one was also removed, and a third one showed .£2O; and lo crown all this the third one being removed showed a final label marked .£lB, The purchaser telephoned to the shop, countermanded the order for the carpetlayer, and requested tho presence of the manager of tho firm. On his arrival, and after discussing the question of referring the matter lo the Trades Tribunal, the manager agreed to accept .£lB for the carpet, and avoid being prosecuted.

The secretary of the "Save the Children I'uml notifies in our advertising columns that a temporary office has been opened in M'Donald's Buildings Willis Street, just nbovo Manners Street. This office will be ppen from Monday till Saturday of uhia week for the receipt of subscriptions. The use of the promises has been given free of "'charge by Mr. M'Donald.