GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1987, 7 June 1919, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

The Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) states that liq has been authorised by the Right Hon. W, F. Massey (Prime Minister and Leader of the Reform Party) to issue the following statement: —“The Reform Party will continue strictly loyal to the compact entered into at the time the National Government was formed until the separation of the two parties to the compact takes place. On the return of the leaders (Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward) to New Zealand, should it then be decided to end the compact, a progressive programme consistent with the requirements of the country and its position as an important part of the Em [lire will be issued.”

At the Supreme Court at Wanganui on Saturday, A. J. Dawson, ■fisherman (Mr Armstrong) applied for a divorce from his wife, A. Dawson, on the grounds of adultery. The parties were married in 1800, afterwards residing at Bulls, Palmerston North, Foxton, and Wanganui. Petitioner said that he came home one evening in October and found a man, Neil Neilsen, under a bed. Petitioner struck him, and kicked him out. About a week later respondent left petitioner, and went to live with co-respondent. They were now living together at Castlecliff. A decree nisi was granted. On the application of Mr Slipper, respondent was given interim custody of the youngest child of the marriage. Petitioner was given the custody of the other children. Costs were awarded against the co-re-spondent on the lowest scale.

Further consideration was given by the Manawatu County Council on Monday to the question of providing dwellings for the county employees. The position was reported to be very acute. Houses were unobtainable in the county, and the services of many good men were lost to the council on this account. At present the families of two of the county employees were sharing a disused butcher’s shop as a dwelling. The clerk reported that ho had offers of several suitable tracts of land at Sandon, and one at AwaJmri, for workers’ dwelling.-., the price being about £l2O per acre. After a short discussion the chairman (Sir James Wilson) was authorised, along with the clerk, to take (he necessary steps in compliance witli the Act, with a view to applying for a loan for the purchase of laud and the erection of buildings for homes for county employees at Sandon. The council also contemplates providing employees’ houses at Awahnri and Rongotea.

Have the theatres suffered as the result of the imposition of the amusement tax? From time to time (says the Melbourne Age) suggestions have been made that the tax has had the effect of reducing the audiences, both at theatres and at. picture halls. But a report that has been furnished to the Commonwealth Treasurer does not hear out this representation. The report shows that in five weeks at the beginning of the present year the receipts of four Melbourne theatres —not “picture shows" —showed an increase of £7,890," as compared with the receipts for the corresponding period last year, notwithstanding that the period included three of the days 011 which all places of amusement were closed because of the influenza epidemic. One theatre showed a small decrease for the whole period, but the other three theatres showed an increase of over 33 per cent. As regards picture theatres, the receipts in the majority of eases have increased, according to the official reports of the Treasury. But it is curious to note that although (he Saturday afternoon performances are free of tax, the attendances of children at these performances have decreased. Incidentally, (he official reports point out that 90 per cent, of the threepenny admissions, outside, the Saturday afternoon performances, are for adults attending continuous picture shows during the day time. Such figures (comments the Age) give cause for wonder how it is that so many adults can find time during the day to attend,such performau-