NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10278, 13 May 1919, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

As was intimated in : these columns ybsterdayv the relative'positions of the candidates at the municipal elections remain unaltered as the result of the official recount.. Some slight alterations were made, however, in tho votes recorded for tlie different contestants. In the Mayoralty election the vote credited to Mr W. H. P. Barber was increased by 72, while the votes for the other candidates (Mr J. P. Luke and Mr J. Head) wero slightly reduced. Tbe official result is Luke, 7361; Rend, <3376; Barber, 3353; the final majority for Mr Luke over Mr Read thus being 935, as against 923 on the first count. A point of interest in connection with the Citv Council election is that the very narrow margin of 13 votes separating Mr J. Glover, tho lowest successful candidate, from Mr E. Meadowcroft, tlie highest unsuccessful candidate. was reduced by tho official recount to four votes only, tho respective totals being:—Glover 5697, Meadowcroft 5693. The figures arc set out in detail elsewhere in this issue.

The Roll of Honour in connection with the Wellington Boys’ Institute comprises 195 names of “old hoys,” including that of Cal) tain W. J. Hardham, Now Zealand’s first V.C., who won his Victoria Cross during the South African war. Twenty-three of tho institute “oid hoys” were killed nt the front and 32 were wounded; while two -Corporal W. D. Wills (killed) and Private Sullivan—have been recommended for tho Military Medal. At a meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday it was decided to hold a three days’ provincial conference of chambers of commerce and local bodies nt Wellington in June or July next. Hydro-electric development, arterial roads, railways, and closer' settlement suggested as subjects for discussion, and Messrs Leigh Hunt. Edwards, and C. J. Ward wore appointed ns a committee to prepare remits for the conference. It was decided that the meetings should he held in tlie conference chamber at the Dominion Farmers’ Institute.

The following suggestions by Mr P. T. Moore, chairman of the Johnsonville Town -Board, will come up for discussion at the provincial conference of local bodies and chambers' of commerce to be held in Wellington shortly:—(l) That the Government be asked to legislate during the next session of Parliament for the creation of an Arterial Ronds Board for the North Island of New Zealand —empowered to lay solid slabs of concrete on the surfaces of the arterial roads contiguous to the Welling-ton-Auckland, Wollington-Napier (virt Wairarapa) and Marten-New Plymouth railway lines. (2) That such board be financed by the issue of State legal tender notes, upon which no interest shall be charged; but which notes shall bo redeemed on the completion of this public work at the rate of S per cent, per annum from the proceeds of a Government tax of £1 each- upon all tyres, imported or manufactured for use on power-driven vehicles within the North Island of New Zealand. (3) That the upkeep of these roncreto surfaced roads shall he home hv the local body in which each length of road vests after the expiry of one year from the date of laying the concrete by the arterial Roads Board,

Constable Cunningham arrested a man at 5 o’clock last evening in Cuba street on a charge of stealingglan overcoat from a shop doorway.

A Press Association message from Christchurch states that tho automatic telephone exchange system has been introduced there and was commenced yesterday.

A donation of £5 5s has been forwarded to tho lire brigade for the recreation fund by Mr T. A. Wells in recognition of the work of the brigade during the fire at his premises on .April 25th last.

As the liner Northumberland arrived at Wellington with typhoid fever patients on board, from Liverpool, the watersiders have declined to unload the vessel until she has undergone a few days’ quarantine. It is expected, however, that the men will commence to discharge the ship to-morrow.

At its meeting yesterday the Central Chamber of Commerce endorsed the following resolutions forwarded by the Palmerston North Chamber: —That the time has arrived when the Government should control the main arterial roads of the Dominion, with a view to the formation of permanent highways; that all local bodies bo urged to co-operate in the work of putting the mam arterial roads in such permanent condition in respect to tho surface and width as 1 to carry with safety the rapidly increasing number of power-driven vehicles.

The remits to be submitted to tho annual conference of the Now Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, commencing on the 26th inst., will be discussed at a meeting of the local association in the Concert Chamber to-mor-row at 7.30 p.m. The remits practically cover all problems affecting returned soldiers, and it is expected that there will be a record attendance. Briga-dier-General Richardson, who has another engagement later, will attend the meeting at 7.30 p.m., -where he is sure to receive the heartiest of welcomes from those present.

The members of the Locomotive, En-gine-drivers, Firemen and Cleaners’ Onion, being dissatisfied with the proposals as to pay and conditions of labour laid before them by the Minister for Railways, the Hon. W. H. Merries’, wish to present their case to the Acting-Prime Minister, Sir James Allen. Representatives of the union are to meet Sir James Allen for that purpose at noon to-day. It is stated that the men, who have Been conferring during tho past two days here, intend to cease work if their demands are not generously dealt with. They also propose to ask that a judge of the Supremo Court be appointed to arbitrate in tho dispute.

At a recent meeting of limbless men held in the Returned Soldiers’ Clubrooms, .the,., lack , of,..consideration .received by, maimed" men .yrhilsb travelling on trams was again brought forward. The men complained not so much of the discomfort as of the liability to accident when they could not obtain a seat. It was agreed that boys, especially college boys, were the first to perceive their plight and offer them seats; tram conductors, girls, and womenfolk generally were considerate, but the average adult male preferred to place his own comfort before the risk to the disabled man. The association ” has "’under '"consideration the issue of'a distinctive badge for these men, and it may also be found necessary to ask the corporation to have the trams placarded, drawing the attention of passengers to their duty to maimed men.

The story' of how one of Britain’s largest battleships went on the rocks at full speed and was successfully refloated by the Admiralty is told by Mr David. Masters 5 -in - ,ah article bn the miracles of naval salvage in “World’s Work.” The battleship in trying to avoid a patrol boat was taken out ot her course by heavy weather, and went ashore. The double "bottom was flooded, and the outer, skin riddled with holes. Everything movable was taken out of tho ship. A steel plate was fitted by divers over the damaged floor of the stokehold, and a thick poultice of cement spread over it to make the patch watertight. The stokehold was then pumped out and the water in the double bottom was forced out under pressure from huge air.pumps. In this way the battleship was lightened sufficiently to enable her to ho towed off. While the work was proceeding she was protected by screens of submarine hunters, who were on tho alert day avid night.

What Is it, people are asking, that is still holding up the work, suspended during tho wnr, rebuilding London (states an English paper). With the exception of the new, Office of Works, now completed, in Great George street, with its frontage in St. James’s Park, all important building in London was brought to a standstill in tho first year of the war. The new County Hall, the Port of London Offices ■ on Tower Hill) the Park lane Hotel in Piccadilly, Barclay’s bank ut the bottom of the Haymarket, and many other buildings in embryo are still as they wero_ loft three or four years ago. This is not duo altogether to tho want of material. One of the biggest contractors in London said to a newspaper representative: “If it wero not for the labour unrest We should be, 1 believe, so busy that we could employ tho services of every man available. That unrest is not, confined to the building world, and manufacturers, banks, insurance companies, and other great corporations who have been thinking of rebuilding are for the present holding their hands.”

There is a great rush for top-hats everywhere (states a London paper) Pessimists foretold that the “topper’ would never survive the war. But hatters are now being beseiged with orders, many of their customers being Army officers who, it was said, had sworn allegiance to the soft collar and shirt sleeves. The racing men, too, nro making heavy demands. Racing is to be more popular than over‘before this season, and the men who frequent Tattorsajl’s will not be satisfied with anything cheaper than a silk hat for the winners of Victory Year races. Peace celebrations are looming large in the minds of civic authorities, and lady mayoresses do not intend to have their Peace celebration gowns disgraced by their husbands’ headgear. Discreet aldermen and councillors, therefore, are saying all the old things about preferring comfort to dignity and relics of the past, and then going off, to buy a relic in the latest style. The unexpected demand has caused great inconvenience to the rankers. The Denton silk hat-maker, who used to go to work in the latest model silk hat and clogs, and earned in pre-war days £5 for a short working week, has had a hard time during the war. Pessimism as to the future and the long apprenticeship necessary has stopped the entry of new labour, and the employers are finding that men and materials are i both hard to obtain.

A Press Association cablegram from London states that the tallow sales there will be resumed to-morrow.

The Police Commission returned to Wellington yesterday from Auckland. The Commission will conclude its sittings at Wellington, commencing today. 4

During the past month the minimum pressure in the Petone water mains was 35 pounds and the maximum 87 pounds, while the average weekly consumption was 2,396,000 gallons.

Two more members of the crew ot the Manuka have died at Somes Island, the victims being J. McGinley, a trimmer, and G. Taylor, an A. 8., who succumbed on Friday night as the result of influenza. The deceased were buried on Saturday morning on the island. Last evening another of the patients was in a serious condition. Some more of the quarantined men came ashore yesterday.

A complaint was received by the Petone Borough Council last evening in regard to stray horses galloping about the streets. It was stated that horses had been driven loosely through the streets for two years, .and nothing had been done to stop the practice. Councillors said that hedges were destroyed despite the fact that an extra ranger had been employed to impound the horses. The inspector was instructed to take action in the matter.

Mr C. P. Brocklebank, a member of the Wellington Referees’ Association, has complained to the Petone Boreugh Council that a number of roughs in football uniform rushed No. 3 ground at Petone on Saturday afternoon during the progress of a fourth class game. The. game had to be stopped, and before the ground could be cleared the referee was subjected to considerable abuse. The council agreed that it would inquire into the matter with the object of finding out who the offenders were.

Interviewed yesterday with regard to the question of restrospective pay and allowances, Mr D. J. B. Seymour, general secretary of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, stated that before traversing the latest statement made by the .Minister for liefence he would bo glad to know: (1) What were the dates of the early period during which the records were so incomplete? (2) What were the pay and allowances of the Home Service and Expeditionary Force men respectively during those periods? (3) How many men are likely to be affected?

Canadian newspapers just to hand report that the Ontario Legislature has passed a measure empowering Ottawa, the capital city of Ontario Province and of the Dominion of Canada, to adopt the rating of unimproved values by a poll of ratepayers. The “Toronto 1 Olobe” takes the'carrying of tho poll to be a foregone conclusion, as Ottawa City has repeatedly petitioned the Ontario Provincial Parliament in favour of such legislation. If the Act bo adopted, shops, houses, 'and other improvements will' be relieved of all local rates by thyee successive steps in as many years—one-third of tho present rates on improvements being abolished each year. A measure has also been- passed conferring similar powers on other-municipalities. ■

On the motion of Mr Forsyth, the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce unanimously decided yesterday to support the following resolution forwarded by the Wellington Retail Drapers, Mercers, and Clothiers’ Association: “That with the view of adequately recognising the fateful April 25th, now known as Anzac Day, the Government bo asked to make provision :for suitable .religious ceremonies to be held throughout the Dominion on tho nearest Sunday to that date instead of proclaiming tho day of recreation and amusement.” Mr-For-syth strongly maintained that. Anzac Day should be held as a sacred memorial day, not as a day for sports and pastimes. On the suggestion of Mr Deigh Hunt, (chairman), it was resolved that the resolution should be forwarded to tbo executive of the Associated Chambers,. with the request that it should be circulated to the Chambers of Commerce throughout the Dominion inviting them to endorse it.

The report of the general manager of the Liquor Control Board on the Carlisle and district control undertaking for last year, just issued, states that the “Carlisle experiment” has shown that “the liquor trade can be carried on, subject to reasonable regulations, without detriment to the wellbeing of the community, and without undue interference with the liberty, tastes, and preferences of the largo mass of the adult population” (states the'London “Daily News”). Tho convictions for drunkenness in the area fell from. 275 in 1914 to 80 in 1918. Amongst ‘'constructive” measures w,as the supply of food in ordinary inns—"it being a well-known fact that alcohol will affect a hungry man more quickly than one who has fed”—but the result shows that unless a house is in a district where there are workers at a distance from their homes “the public-house, as at. present constructed, is regarded as a place for liquid refreshment only.” More success attended tbo special “food taverns” providing good accommodation and cheap and substantial meals, with beer.

Sir James Allen, writing recently in reply to a correspondent, states with regard to the treatment of conscientious objectors: “X can only say that it seems inevitable that there must he a difference of opinion about the conscientious objectors. It appears to me that you look for justice on one side only; but I cannot conceive how a conclusion can be come to as to what is just without reviewing the whole position. Wo have had to fight for our liberty, and I think you will agree with me—now that we have seen something of the Peace terms and the Covenant of the League of Nations —that wo may hope the war has not been in vain. The sacrifices have been immense, but if we can secure peace for the future it will bo some reward. You can scarcely contend that so favourable a pence could have been secured until wo had won in the fight. Having gone so far, you must also concede that we could not win without the men to fight for us. There seems to bo only one just conclusion that one can arrive at—that is, if a nation has to fight for its freedom and liberty, every one of its citizens should be prepared to take his part in the fight. You know that if our citizens objected to combatant service, we offered them opportunities to take non-combatant work with the Army. If they have, refused that they have refused to do their citizen duty. So far as the British Constitution is concerned, it could not he in existence but for the fact that we have won this fysht.”