LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 165, 8 April 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Postal authorities have receivefl advice from Vancouver that the R.M.S. Makura sailed on April 2 for Auckland. She carries 156 bags of mails for NeuZealand, and 334 bags for Australia.

The case of H. H. Thompson, whose treatment under military regulations has been referred to in tho Press from time to time, will be inquired into by a Royal Commission which is to sit in Committee Room A of Parliamentary Buildings at 10.30 a.m. to-day. Consequent upon the dumping into New> Zealand of a very large quantity of Australian-made boots and shoes, the manufacturing trade in Wellington is dull. Some factories have reduced their staffs by 50 per cont., and are contemplating etill further reductions, pending an improvement in the situation. Prices of footwear have fallen considerably and it is understood they trill go still lower. Plans were approved at last night’s meeting of the City Council for laying out the small reserve at the junction of Taranaki and Manners Streets, being a portion of tho old market reserve. Tho plans, which were submitted by the Reserves Committee, prorid? for the erection of a rest-room for women and tho planting of trees and shrubs. Councillor Forsyth, in warmly commending the idea, pointed out that Wellington had up to the present done nothing in the direction of raising a memorial, and he suggested that the council could not do better than provide by way of public subscription an up-to-date rest room, properly equipped. The council granted tho ’necessary authority for the work to bo carried out during the present financial year, the plans for the rest-room to be elaborated.

Herbert Browne, alias Howard Jones, was charged with vagrancy in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr 11. W Bundle, S-M. Chief-Detective Ward, in'asking for a remand until Monday, stated that the accused came to the citv about four weeks ago, and was discovered selling goods to second-hand dealers. The .police desired to make further inquiries. The remand was granted.

The .Secretary, General Post Office, has been (advised that legal time in Great Britain was advanced on April J. At the fortnightly meeting of the Wellington Amateur Photographic Society held last evening an instructive practical demonstration on "Artificial Light Photography” was given to a representative audience of members by Messrs. A. S. Mitchell and J. W. Johnston. The possibilities of this phase of graphy were fully explained, and the several fine examples of the evenings work handed around for inspection wore most favourably commented upon. The embargo on the export of potatoes which has been in force since November 24 last has been raised, and a notice to that effect appears in the Gazette.

The names of the sharebrokers license?! under section 4 of the Sharebrokers Act are published in the Gazette. There are 58 sharebrokers in the Wellington district, which includes Wanganui, Feilding, Palmerston North, and Masterton, and of the total thirty have been registered in Wellington, but not all are members of the Stock Exchange. The recent announcement of a more stringent censorship of pictures in New Zealand has aroused considerable. interest in Canada, where there is an insistent demand for better pictures and many vigorous protests against the nauseating type of film that has 'been sent broadcast from the United States. The Toronto Blobe, commenting on the action taken in New Zealand, said: — rf The agitation against the display of moving pictures which depict crime and familiarise children with scenes of violence, appears to have broken out in the Antipodes as well as in tho United States and Canada. Jhe Government of New Zealand has issued a proclamation ordering that after May no moving picture shall be shown in the Dominion which depicts thieving, robbery. murder, or suicide. The importers of films are said to Lave been thrown into consternation by the order. Why should they be? All are placed on an equal footing. There may be some little difficulty for a time in finding substitutes for crime-provoking films that have become so common of late, but the thing can be and will be done. Producers must have heard the rumblings of the storm that is about to 'break. There have been plentv of protests, not from professional reformers alone, but from .patrons of the picture shows themselves. The scenes and the scarcely-concealed portrayals of the life of the underworld will have to go, as veil as the highwayman and the bad actor who is always flourishing a couple: of revolvers in the face of pnnic-striken bank clerks A c> ean-up cf the movies was overdue. Little IN zJand -ems to have had courage enough to begin the operation Her example will be followed widely. "Hare we paid as much as from £5 to £6 per'ton for coal?" queried Councillor Forsyth at last night’s meeting of the Citv Council. The Mayor replied that the highret price paid by the council was 765. per ton at the wharf. Coun cillor Forsyth remarked that a member of the council had recently named £5 to £G as the highest figure paid by the council.

The Wellington Tramways Employees Union has applied for cancellation of registration under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and the cancellation will take effect about May 19.

Dr. Gibb acknowledges the following further donations to the China Famine Fund —Already acknowledged, .£9B: "Toi," -£1; "C.5.G.,” JSI; “Relief,” 2s. Cd.

The dramatic meeting of husband and wife after a separation of twenty-five yeans, was described during tho hearing of an application for maintenance in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday afternoon. Complainant stated that whilst On a visit to Mina, a man had accosted her with the words, "Haven't I met you before?” "Oh, yes,*’ she had replied, "I’m your wife!" According to a Press Association telegram from Dunedin, the head' office of the Union Company knows nothing re hording the rumour of the removal of both tho Wahine and the Maori from the ferry service during the winter, but states it may be necessary in the dead of winter to substitute a smaller vessel for one of the present steamers.

The, Canterbury College Board of Governors has decided that, a rector bo appointed. and that a committee be set up to draw up a schedule of duties and recommend a member of the Professoiial Board for the position.—Press Assn. The Bv-T-aws Committee of tho City Council reported as follows to last night’s council meeting;. "We have considered tho opinion of the city solicitor with reference to the suggested poultry by-law, and also the letter received from the medical officer of health, and we cannot see our way io recommend that a by-law be made to prohibit tho keeping of fowls within the urea comprised by the city of Wellington, as constituted before the amalgamation with Melrose borough.” The report was adopted.

Th® Petone Borough Council has secured tho consent of the Government to boirow £25,000 by way of renewal of a maturing loau, and the Wairarapa. South County Council has been given authority to borrow £6250 for reading, bridging, etc.

During February 118,6914 gallons of milk were treated at the City Corporation Milk Depot. The revenue for tho mouth was £12,364 os. 2d., and the revenue per gallon 25d. The cost per gallon was 20.50 d. Ths working expanses were set down at 3.50 d. per gallon and the capital expenditure to date £56,812 os. 3d. There was a credit balance of £7163 Bs. 3d. at the end of the month.

A resolution asking the City Council to consider New Zealand industries as much as possible when obtaining materials and to give New Zealand manufao turers an opportunity of quoting beforo giving orders abroad, was passed by ih» committee of tho Auckland Provincial Industrial Association on Tuesday. A member remarked that often when orders were given in London, American goods were supplied. It was a very insidious thing. “A British- Conference trade-mark is required,” remarked another member. At the first general meeting of shareholders of the Wellington Brick Company, held on Wednesday evening, Mr. A. Leigh Hunt stressed the point that people now contemplating building homes were becoming rapidly converted to the necessity for building in permanent material. Apart from the risk of fire, heavy depreciation and maintenance and the destruction by wood-borer tho cost, of wooden houses was so- little below the cost of a brick house that tho latter was the best proposition without a doubt. He believed that this was an age of permanent houses. This, in fact, was ilhe only way to solvo the housing question. So long ns wo were content to build in wood, so from year to year, a certain number of houses became unfit for occupation, and dwellings in permanent material could alone solve the vexes! question of the housing shortage. What, Mr. Hunt, asked, could b« o sounder policy than to build in durable material of good architectural character, sound and pleasing in appearance, with the knowledge that one’s descendants could live in such a home for generations to come. The far-reaching effects of the housing problem were little appreciated by most people. A Wellington resident, who worked for a month during the war on tho building of concrete ships in England, is confident that the last has not been heard of vessels built of reinforced concrete. He says that over a hundred of the vessels have been trading on the coast) of England since the war with every success, and that the cessation of concrete shipbuilding was only brought about by the war coming to an end and by the bi" vested interests in steel shipbuilding on tho Clyde, Newcastle-on-Tyne, . and Belfast. So satisfied is he that the method is sound, that he is preparing to build a 40ft. reinforced concrete yacht for hie own diversion, and W> demonstrate the practicability of the new form of construction.

In view of the early demolition of the privately-owned Turkish baths in Manners Street in connection with the streetwidening work that has recently been carried out by the City Council, Coun-. cillor Luclde asked the Mayor (Mr. J. F. Luke) last night if any.filing was to be done to provide facilities to take the place of these baths, otherwise the city would, he said, bo without any public Turkish and hot-water baths. Ihe May or explained that the council had absolutely no funds at its disposal for the erection of municipal batlhs. For the present it would, have to be Left to private enterprise’ to fill the gap. Some interesting comments with regard to the outlook for Rugby football in England and France, are contained in a letter received by Mr. H. E. Combs, secretary of the N.Z.R.F.U., from Mr. C. J. Wray, representative m England of tho New Zealand Union. "I think we have come to a very important stage in tho history of Rugby football at the present time,” says Mr. Wray, and, further, as the position is far from being -without hope for tho future, it seems to me that it is up to all of us, and especially to the 'old stagers,’ to do all we can to eave the good old game. And I may say, in passing, that the fact that France is coming right to the front in the game is likely to have a very important influence on the survival of Rugby, and on its continuance. Moreover, I ‘ think that this fact will help us enormously in our struggle with those who are trying to persuade the world that Rugby is 'a thing of the past.’ "

An area of Town Belt adjoining the Mein Street croquet grounds is to bo set aside as a children’s “play station,” and levelled and sown down, as recommended by the director of city parks and reserves. This decision was arrived at by last night’s meeting of the City Council. The Wellington Timber Yards ' and Sawmills’ Union decided at 'its annual meeting to assist the fund in aid ol the widow and family of the late Mr. W. H. Boyes, drowned while attempting Io save life in the Hutt River. Subscription lists were issued through the medium of shop stewards in 'the oily mills, and already the sum of £8 has been raised through subscription by members, with more expected.

At the Wellington Brick Company’s annual meeting on Wednesday last Mr. R. Percival Cook, a resident of Johnsonville for many years, in acknowledging a reference to assistance given by him to the company, stated that it would bo oft. interest to shareholders to know that Fife property recently purchased by the company had many 'years ago been recognised as eminently suitable for the purposes foT" which it has been acquired, particularly as affecting the important question of providing an absolutely watertight roof covering, more especially in Wellington. Although the opportunity had'been lost at the time, the estab, lishmcntf of the industry would still be of material benefit to the town of Johnsonville in particular and the Dominion generallyIt is the fixed opinion of Dr. Joseph Hertz, the chief rabbi of the Jews inhabiting the British Empire, that th' 1 Jew is universally misunderstood (says the Melbourne “Age”). Dr. Hertz was entertained last week in Melbourne by the Jewish community of Victoria. In replying to the speeches: of welcome, h« said that to remove the misunderstanding that existed in all parts of the world with regard to Judaism and its aims, the Jewish community must have as its interpreters men of education and culture,, who would command respect, and' through a proper knowledge of their subject be in a position to explain without fear of misunderstanding ■: ho position illicit the Hebrew race deaired to occupy among the peoples of the world. Dr. Hertz, who is a convincing speaker, described himself as a "wandering Jew,” who was undertaking the first Jewish pastoral mission Hint had been embarked upon for 700 years. They had noil. at the present moment a sufficient number of efficient teachers of religion. Members of the Jewish ministry were underpaid, and they must increase filio salaries of their ministers if they were to attract men of intelligence to the profession. To illustratthis point, he related a story of a Jewish parent who, after providing his eons with a liberal education, was horrified when his eldest child asked Io be allowed to enter tho minfistry. He thought that tihe money spent, on tinlad’s education had been wasted. Dr. Hertz said he always thought of the Jew in the terms of the Bible. ThBible had been translated into evwxy language, and had become part of tho history, literature, and life of the people of almost every nation. T>ho truJew, while keeping Iris faith unchang-d. became part and parcel of the life of tk.o people among whom ha was born.

A Christchurch lady lias informed a local paper, that at a picture theatre the other- night she was wearing a copt with a new fur collar which cost £lO. During the performance she heard a sound behind as of something being cut, but thought very- little about it at tho time. A couple of days later, however, when about to wear the coat again, she discovered that some contemptible. person had cut the fur collar with scissors and badly damaged it.

The kumara is generally supposed to bo a non-flowering plant so far as New Zealand is concerned. Though rare, kumara flowers are not unknown. A vine grown at Henderson has just blossomed, producing two faintly pink blooms, in appearance very similar to small convolvulus' flowers.

A cable message to tho Australian papers, under date of London, March 24, states:—Tho Prince of Wales lost two pipes while hunting in Leicestershire Ho offers £5 reward for both and £3 for one. He says they are oidmary brjars, with vulcanite mouthpiece, and have no particular value but ho is sentimentally attached to them because he smoked them during his Australian and New Zealand tour, and would bo very sorry to lose them. All the newspapers give prominence to the 1 nnce s loss,' The police in the county are announcing the reward broadcast. It is stated Isays the Auckland "Star”) that the secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association of Samoa, ’.e leaving by the next steamer for New Zealand in order to voice tho association s protest against riie Administration’s alleged penalising of its members.

\ circular letter from the Christchurch City Council suggesting an to the Local Bodies’ Loans Act to enable local bodies to issue debentures to the value of £5 each, was recently considered by the Finance Committee of the Wellington City Council. The committee reported last night than it could not recommend that the proposal be supported by tho council. The report was aciopted on the voices.

Speaking at ’ the annual meeting of members and adherents of the Beaufort (Vic.) ’Presbyterian Church last week, the Rev. A. H. Ross referred to his request to the committee some time ago for an Increase of £6O in stipend, which they could not see their way clear to give (says the Melbourne "Argus ), and said that all he had against the committee was their want of faith in the congregation. He had dug himself in, and decided to supplement his stipend by the use of his hands. That was not ail uncopimon thing, as a clercal brother in Beaufort was sending milk to tffie creamery. Ho had received the'increase in stipend, but not officially. He had received about a total of £5O unofficially. Mr Ross also mentioned. that no had received a benefaction of £26 n year from a lady in the Beaufort cliuroh, the lady who had taken his name having dismissed her maid. If they did not s«e her about so much, they would remember that that was her contribution towards the stipend. £te did not intend to again ask Beaufort for any increase. HtS self-respect: would forbid it.

A deputation from the Melrose Electors’ Association recently protested against the City Council’s action in changing the name of Sutherlan Road to "Manchester Road. The ByLaws Committee of the council last night reported unfavourably on the protest, and the council decided to take no action.