TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1917, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

Per Press Association. —.Copyright. Restriction of Sports. Dunedin, March 28 With a view to establishing the best possible standard of national efficiency during the war Mr Hunt, Commissioner for Otago and Southland, intends fitting here on Tuesday

next to hear evidence in connection with the desirability of continuing or discontinuing of restricting sports, including racirg, agricultural shows, amusements, and kinema pictures. Similar inquiries will be held subsequently at Oamarti and Invercargill, Physically Unfit. Wellington, March 28 The following is an extract from letters just received from the Deputy Director of Medical Services with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, dated London, January 30— “ It is gratifyiog to know that the number of medically unfit men arriving from New Zealand is steadily decreasing, and that, with a more stringent examination before embarkation, this number will be reduced to

a minimum. The high standard of medical fitness insisted upon for all troops in Franca necessitates extreme care and thoroughness ou the part of medical officer?. Formerly many re* jjctiong on arrival from overseas wero from dental causes; but owing to the splendid work of the staff, the men are now going forward dentally as well as physically fit,” Friendly Societies. Auckland, March 28 A deputation from the Friendly Societies’ Council asked the Hon J. A. Hanan that the maternity allowanoa b 8 increased from £4 to £6 as in the National Provident Fund, also that a further conference be held between the Societies and the Government in regard to the management of the former’s affair?. The Minister said that raising the bonus would involve a considerable sum. He would go into the matter to form an idea of the amount required. The deputation also suggested that after the war the Government should

take up the matter of providing medical attention for the whole community. The Government should train no znsdical men from the public school* and eventually pay them for their services. The Minister said he favoured the encouragement of boys with the right ability to enter the profession, and a great deal bad been done in that direction already, He would convey the representations to the Minister of Public Health, Mr Hanan also promised to look into the matter of extending concessions at Rotorua and Ilanmer Springs to the wives of Friendly Societies’ members, of reinsurance of soldiers who returned to the Dominion and died here and net on active service, and of granting facilities to Societies to operate on Post Office Savings Bauk accounts by che'que?. Technical Ed ucation Auckland, March 28 At a conference between the Hon J. A. Hanan and the Board of Education the following requests were made, beariug ou technical education, by Mrs Baurae That manual training teachers be placed under a Dominion scale ; the abolition of capitation ; an immediate grant to divide centres in order to make smaller classes and increased accommodation ; modification of tyllabus ; women in- — I I L n mmv,a ■w A m Jam d y~\ rv. Anil A

Bpsctors to be appointed tor domestic science work ; that compulsory continuation classes be held in the daytime. The Minister strongly commended all the requests with the exception of the one appertaining to the abolition of capitation. Regarding this, be said it would be imprudent to accede to the request. In respect to women inspectors for domestic science work, the Minister was in sympathy. He was bringing down matters which he thought would meet the case. In reply to a question regarding teachers on service, Mr Hanan stated that all positions were temporary. Soldiers’ places were being held for them, and he would be pleased to see that they did not suffer in regard to promotion, Drowned. Auckland, March 29 A returned soldier, Albert Abel, thirtyseven, cook on the steamer Mako, slipped on tbe gangway of the vessel last night and fell between the Mako and the wharf, and was drowned. A Union FinedWellington, March 29 The Wellington Boilermakers’ Union was fined 40/ on charges of inciting members to become parties in an unlawful strike while bound by an Arbitration Court award. Counsel for the defendant union admitted that a technical strike had occurred owing to the union’s mistaken belief that overtime could be prohibited.

A Belting Case. Augkxand, March 30 A statement was made by a witness in a betting case at the Pc'ioe Court that tote officials habitually altered the figures on betting tickets. That it was common to accept large sums before time and nob put them oa the tote till after the bell stopped. Also to alter the clock so that the tote closed before or after the correct time*