NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9795, 19 October 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

“A Xcw Zealand Times” representstiro learned yost-e-rday troui an authoiicutive source that there is a possibility of tiie interstate passenger service being resumed within a few days. The laoour position in Australia is reported to be improving considerably.

Tho Thorndon Bowling Club will open its season to-morrow at 2.15. A cordial invitation has been extended to all bowlers and their lady friends. The green is looking well, having undergone a thorough overhauling since last season, and promises to play well tliis year.

Tho proceedings of tho district court-martial held at Trcntlram Camp on October Isth and 18th on Sergeant R. X. Moody, of B Company, 31st Reinforcements, have been promulgated. Ho was found not guilty of a charge of drunkenness while on town picket duty, and was honourably acquitted.

In tho Legislative Council yesterday afternoon Sir Erancis Bell moved that throe days’ leave of absence be granted to the Hon. Captain Baillic, as, he regretted to say, news had just arr.vc-u that his son had been killed in action. Ho was sure- that the Council would extend its deep sympathy to their venerable fellow-member in his bereavement.

Thomas Aquinas Murphy, described ns a married man, was arrested yesterday morning, and brought before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., on a charge of carnally knowing a girl under tho ago of sixteen years. Murphy, on the application of tho police, was remanded till Wednesday next. Bail was fixed in a sum of £BO, and two sureties of £4O each.

Tho Wellington Hospital and Chantable Aid Committee during September supplied relief to a daily average number of 199. Hardens were granted bo 592 persons, and rent grants were made amounting to £49. Grants for maiiitonanco of children totalled £22. Tho tender of -Mr E. S. Kinight at £25,506 for the erection of tho new fever hospital has been accepted.

The Pathological Department of Wellington Hospital dealt with 2088 cases for analysis during September; ■the value of the outside work done was £35 2s 4d. At the dental branch there were 239 attendances during the month. Free treatment was given of the value of £22 Bs. Aft the General Hospital 222 persons were admitted and 187 discharged. There were fifteen deaths. The X-ray department dealt with 247 cases.

‘The men in tho country are not so well fed as you men in the towns,” interjected Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P. for Taumarunui, while Mr J. Payne, M.P. for Grey Lynn, was speaking in tho debate on the committee stage of the Shops and Offices Amendment Act yesterday. “They are better fed, retorted Mr Payne. “I think that that is where tho ‘woll-feds’ come from judging by the look of the country members.” (Laughter.) “We have all heard of the land of the midnight sun,” said the Hon. D. Buddo, amid laughter, objecting in the House of Representatives yesterday to tho clause in the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill which allows women and girls to be employed till 12 p.m. provided that sleeping accommodation is provided for them. “This would bo the land of the midnight daughter’, interjected Mr Payne. (Renewed laughter.) Mr Buddo said that ho did uot approve of midnight work for oitherdson or daughter, “D 3,” the Railway Classification List, ■"’was' laid on the table of the House of Representatives yesterday by the Hon. W. H. Harries (Minister for Railways). The hon. gentleman stated that, owing to the shortage of paper, members of Parliament would have to be satisfied with only a quarter of the number of copies they had last year. A copy of the list would be sent to each officered railway station, and several copies to each railway workshop, so that the railway men _ would have ample opportunity to see it.

“Half-past ten. at night is Into enough for man or woman to be employed in the Dominion,” declared Mr O. J. Parr, M.P. for Eden, in the course of the debate on the Shops and Offices Amendment Dill yesterday afternoon. “No man who worked after 11 p.m. could be healthy,” he added. “VVhat about members?” interjected the Prime Minister.- “We are not in sound health during the session,” countered Mr Parr, amid applause. Ho had suffered from colds right through the session, he said, because of the had ventilation of the present chamber, and he -wanted the Minister for Public Works to see to u ■that they would be in a more wholesome chamber twelve months from now.

“Why this tender solicitude for marble bars?” eaid Mr J. T. M. Hornsby in the House of Representatives yesterday during a discussion affecting the employment of girls m marble bars. Mr Hornsby considered that as the hotels wore obliged to close at 6 o’clock, marble bars should also close ait that hour. Ho disagreed with the suggestion that accommodation should be provided for such girl employees on the premises where they are employed. If such accommodation were anything like that provided ten female employees in hotels, then i would be regrettable. Such accommodation as at present provided by hotels was a disgrace. Mere ken were provided for the women. lb Licensing Committees were perfectly aware of this state of affairs, too.

Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., delivered reserved judgment yesterday in the case of the Inspector of Awards (Mr R. T. Bailey) against the Wellington Meat Export Company, Ltd. The case was one in ■which the defendant company was proceeded against for a broach of the Wellington freezing workers’ employees’ agreement. The company wore alleged to have failed to pay overtime rates to firemen for Sunday work, and for the breach the sum of £lO was claimed. It had been contended by Mr M. Myers, who appeared for the company, that the firemen in question were permanent employees, and, therefore, were not subject to the agreement. Ho further submitted that the agreement had been carried out, as the rate of pay was made subject to the conditions existing at the date of the agreement. The firemen’s working hours wore fixed on seven days a week, and the men were paid at fixed rate of wages. Judgment was given in favour of the defendant company, the magistrate upholding the contentions of Sir M. Myers.

The City Council last night, on the recommendation of the public health com nittee, decided to engage an additional sanitary inspector.

For being found on licensed premises without lawful excuse, during prohibited hours, Arthur Kiln-aster and Arthur Burns were each- fined £2, with costs, by Mr S. 13. McCarthy, S.M.. at the Petono Court yesterday.

An uneasy conscience.—Tho Secretary to tho Treasury acknowledges iii yesterday’s “Gazette” the sun l of 3s 2d, forwarded to the Railway Department by a person unknown.

For tile six months ended September 30th the gross expenditure of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board amounted to £36,716, and Che net expenditure to £22,626. The receipts, excluding subsidies and levies, totalled £14,190.

A cricket match will be played next Saturday at Xo. 1, Basin Reserve, between Hast and Xorth. Tho East Club members are :—Messrs Condliffe, Dine, Sonton, McGirr, Baker, 11. Hutchings, Osborne, Christepborsen, Balk, Brownian, Hylton, and JHutchings,

The by-laws committee of the City Council last night reported that it bad directed that a letter be sent to the Wellington Education Board requesting the board to urge school teachers to impress upon children tho nccessity of using caution in crossing streets, and also warning children not to drink out of street water troughs.

According to a return showing the increased amounts received from electric lighting presented at last night 9 mooting of the City Council the advances for tho six months ended Iseptomber 30th are as follow: Revenue, £3939; working expenses, : credit balance, £730; units sola, 261,080; total connections, 18<3.

A “Gazette” statement shows that from April till September a total of 5,055,866 passengers were carried on New Zealand railways. Tho ,’ c . r of season tickets issued was 148, 6. H. Tho number of bead of live stock carried was 2,471,613. Of timber, minerals, and other goods, a total tonnage of 2,431,726 passed through the department’s hands.

Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., again made reference yesterday to the number of casos cauio before tbo court of selling adulterated inilk. If_ fines did not stop the practice, he said, ho would send the offender to gaol. Tho remarks by the magistrate were occasioned by a case brought before him at Petone, when E. J. Collett was charged with selling milk containing 29 per cent, of added water. Mr R. C. Kirk, counsel for the . defendant, explained that his client had borrowed tho milk from another vendor only ton minutes before the sample was taken. Collett, who was given an excellent character, was convicted and fined £35 with costs.

The late licensee of the Taita Hotel (W. Moore) was confronted with a charge at the Petone Court yesterday of Sunday trading. Tho circumstances connected with the case were peculiar. Defendant had disposed of his interest in the hotel on August 31st, and the incoming lessee had entered into possession. A delay in the transfer of the license, for which the defendant wai not responsible, had taken place, and on September 9th the alleged offence was committed. Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., convicted and . discharged ths defendant, for whom Mr J. J. McGrath appeared, and convicted and fined the barman, Brough, £5, with costs.

On a report from the by-lawe committee, the City Council last night agreed that a public stand for uiotor’buses should be established at hitmoro*stroet, and that the ’buses coming on to or leaving the stand should proceed via Eoathcrston street. A recommendation' that the Post and Telegraph Department bo requested to Arrange to alter the telephones on the taxicab stands in such a Way that only inward messages can be taken, and no messages transmitted was referred back to the committee. This proposal was suggested in view of the difficulty experienced in dealing with the taxicab stand telephones.

At a crowded meeting of the Protestant Political Association held m the concert chamber of the Town Hall last night, reports received snowed remarkable progress in both membership and finance. Strong committees have been formed to further the objects o£ the association. The Roy. G. KnowlesSmith was elected president of the association, and the Hon W Earnshaw M L C., and Col. C. D. Mackintosh vice-presidents. Arrangements are being made to establish branches ih each electorate. Reports submitted from various parts of New Zealand were most encouraging. A vote ol sympathy with the Rev. Howard Elliott in the attack made upon him at Auckland was carried.

A Petone resident named Elizabeth Cluttcrbuck was fined £2O, with costs, by Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., at the Petone Court yesterday for stealing gas from the Petone Borough Council. The meter had been removed from the promises, and upon an inspection being made by the borough officials it was found that the defendant had connected the pipe leading from the main with the gas fittings of the house by means of a piece of rubber hose. The magistrate, in imposing the fine, said that it was desirable that the defendant should not be allowed to make a profit out of her action. In default of payment the accused was ordered to be imprisoned for two months. The commitment warrant to bo suspended provided defendant pays £5 Tier month. Mr R. C. Kirk appeared for the Petone Borough Council.

At the Pahiatua Police Court Testerday, before Mr L. G. Reid. S.M., the licensee of the Rutland Hotel was • charged on five informations with selling liquor to youths under the age of 21 yea.ro. He was fined an aggregate of £9 and costs in four cases- One information, which contained an element of doubt, was dismissed. Hairy Taylor, charged with sending liquor into a no-license district, having reasonable ground for believing it was intended to be sold, was c-nvieted and ordered to pay costs. For sending liquor into a nc-licenee area without marking the case to denote that it contained liquor, he was fined £3 Thomas Bigger, charged with delivering liquor to' Taylor, having reasonable ground to expect that it was intended to be sold, was fined £1 and costs. For failing to notify that the liquor was to be sent to a no-hcense district he was fined £1 an dcosts A charge against a barman for permitting shouting was remanded till next court day.

Donnelly’s Hair Restorer .-A real Hair Tonic. Cures dandruff, stops hair falling Chemists, stores, hairdressers: 2/6. Donnelly’s, 65, Vivian street.

Some wounded soldiers are expected f.o reach Wellington this morning by the ferry steamer from Lyttelton.

Dr. Thacker, M.P. for Christchurch East, has given notice of his intention lo ;,;k the .Minister for Education "ehilrr h' 1 will definitely state whoth. ;■ i . arranged that technical seined If.n-'ni-s will this year receive the Civil :->rvice bonus.”

At (’liristchurch, yesterday, Stanley Frederick Fountain, labourer, lately o* Oaniaru, a reservist who tailed to po to ramp, was sentenced to fourteen dais' imprisonment ami ordered to be handed over to the military authorities at the conclusion of the sentence.

Two “calls” wore made yesterday at 8 a.rn. and X p.m. for watersiders to bunker a steamer in the harbour, but there was no response. _ Xj OTTI what can bo gathered, however, labour will be forthcoming to-day to coal the boat.

It has been definitely decided by bho Government to sot up a Commission to tnqui-o into the question of IJotcnco expenditure. The Prime Minister (Jligh t. Hon. W. F. Massey) said yestorclny that the personnel of the Comtm.iahm had not yet been decided upon.

To-morrow is the opening day of th-» Wellington Racing Club’s spring mooting lit Trcntiham. The first race will start at 11.30 a.m. A motor -bus service will leave Quinton’s corner, Lambton quay, from 10 a.m Trains v.ill leave tor Trenttiam at 7.8, 8-JO an 9.40 a.rn.. and 12.15, 12.30 and 1.20 p.m., returning at 4.47, 5.30 and 6.31 p.m.

“I move that the word ‘April be struck out, substituting ‘May, ’ said Air G W. Forbes, M.P. for Hurunui, last night, suggesting the postponeducat for a month of tho coming into operation of Mr H-. A. W right s Hut t Rond Amendment Bill. ‘‘l think April Ist a very appropriate date/' declared Mr H. J. H. 0-koy, M.P. for TaranaJd. “April Fool’s- Day,” said Air T. W. Rhodes (Thames).

A “New Zealand Times” representative ascertained yesterday that satisfactory arrangements have been made for the insurance of watersiders who are engaged to unload the “drug” steamer at Wellington. This vessel, it will be remembered, would not be worked by local watersiders, firstly, because it was held that she had been loaded by strike-breakers, and secondowing to a contention that there was danger of a bomb explosion in her cargo.

A young girl admitted in the Auckland Police Court last week that she had received £2 and divided tho amount with intent to evade stamp duty. Detective-Sergeant Hammond said that when a customer visited the place where the girl was working and paid £2. the'girl gave her two separate receipts, each for £l. Mr Singer, for tho defendant, said the establishment wa 8 closed when the customer called, and defendant was mot just coming downstairs. As the customer would not consent to having a properlystamped receipt posted, and the defendant had no stamp handy, she gave two separate receipts. Defendant was fined £1 and 7s costs.

At a meeting of the Lyall Bay branch of tho Second Division League, hold last night, a resolution was unanimously passed that exception was taken to the Prime Minister's statement that the Second Division League was not playing the game. It was strongly atfirmed that this was not so. -They played' the game as Britishers, and were prepared to take their m the trenches. They objected to unjust criticism from those practising patriotism by lip service, and only asked tor ©quality of sacrifice in justice to tueir wives and children, demanding as a right immunity of their dependents from having to appeal to financial aid boards for that assistance which their country owes them.

■Weird and wonderful is the language of the picture show. As a specimen of the syntax which vexes the soul of subeditors, the following is given by way txf mental gymnastics for those fond of verbal puzzles: “The story concerns a wealthy manufacturer, who years after his wife has befriended and helped an orplran girl and taken her into their home, lures him away and causes him to cast aside his wife pleading as an excuse the constant melancholy in which she is wrapped as the result of the loss of their only child, a son, who they believe was drowned, but whose disappearance was caused by the girl.’ This sentence occurs in a synopsis of a film story supplied to this paper- The scribe who handled it regards himself ns fairly well acquainted with the intricacies and possibilities of the language, but frankly admits that he is harassed with doubts as to its meaning. It is time a society were formed for the preservation of the tongue that Shakespeare spoke. It seems to be degenerating into a gibberish. Mr T. M. Wilford, on behalf of tho Karori Milk Supply Company, attended the meeting of tho City Council last night to make representations why tho license of the company should not be dealt with. Ho pointed out that no court had yet laid down what ■were reasonable precautions to be taken by a vendor of milk to see that hie milk was up to standard. Even at a Government farm the percentage of fat in the milk varied considerably, and it was very hard indeed to get a regular standard of quality in milk. His clients said that they did not put any water in their milk, as they did not consider it worth while. hi there w-as anything wrong with their milk they were perfectly oblivious as to the causa. The lactometer did not scorn tb be an effective instrument to test accurately the quality of milk. The only perfect instrument was a Gorman one, which had not been obtainable since the beginning of the war. The main point he bad to urge was that liis clients had not knowingly allowed water to bo placed in their milk, and they had taken reasonable precautions. Mr Duffy, who is connected with tho company, also, made a statement,' and laid himself open to answer questions. Councillor Atkinson plied Mr Duffy with various interrogations as to whether the company’s milk was liable to be enlarged in quantity with water that fell trom the skies or from rain falling from the milkman’s bat, and so on. After all questions had been answered, Councillor Barber (who occupied the chair m the temporary absence of the Mayor) remarked that he did not think very numb light had been thrown on tfio matter, and it would have to ho referred back to the public health committee This course was proposed, “it was rejected on a division by seven votes to four. It was then ar-r-ncmd that the matter .should considered in connection with committee’s report, and subsequent y the name of the company was added to tho list of vendors to bo warned.