NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10286, 22 May 1919, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Conciliation Council at Christchurch has failed to agree as to wages and hours for retail hardware employees. A settlement is dependent on the conditions accepted by tho drapers. A conference will bo hold next Friday.

At a meeting of the geological section of the Philosophical Society Inst night, Mr P. G, Morgan, M.A., F.G.S., read papers, with exhibits, on “The Tertiary Beds of Central Otago.” and “Glentunnel Coalfield, Maburn Hills. Canterbury.”

Four small boys, whoso ages ranged from nine to ten years, appeared before Mr Frazer, S.M., at the Juvenile Court, Petono, yesterday. They were charged with wilfully ransacking a bedroom, damaging four packets of jelly, a halfpound of cocoa, and a quantity of sugar and raisins, the whole damage being assessed at £2. Tho ringleader of the quartet was ordered to bo put on probation for three years, and the other three boys to one year’s probation. Tho parents wore ordered to pay for tho damage done.

Burglars entered the premises of H. Fricdlander, auctioneer, on Tuesday evening (states a Press Association message from Ashburton), and obtained £35 from two cash-boxes located in the strongroom, they having forced the locks of tiho latter. The thieves also entered the promises of Fricdlander Bros., grain merchants, and J. W. Bowden, accountants. They made a thorough search, documents being scattered in all directions, but no cash was secured. The school and rectory were also visited, but so far as is ascertainable, nothing was stolen. These buildings were closed during the term holidays. Leonard Newman, n taxi proprietor, on his return late in the evening, found burg. Jars had visited his home near the railway station. A cheque for a small sum is missing. The tools for opening the windows, locks, etc., wore evidently obtained from the railway workshops, which had boon broken into. A jemmy was found in D. Fricdlandcr’s office,, j

A mail from Melbourne, ex the Katoa at Dunedin, will probably reach Wellington on Saturday morning.

Syrians or members of the community of Lebanon are at liberty to communicate with their friends or relative'; or members of the community of tho Lebanon by letter or telegraph. This message was received by the Defence Department from Egypt. The district in question is in occupation by Major-General Allenby’s army.

At the Petone Magistrate’s Court yesterday, during the hearing of a case, Mr Frazer, the presiding magistrate, asked a witness what expenses he incurred by the loss of a morning s -work. “Ten shillings,” the witness replied. “Well,” said the magistrate, “I can only allow you 6s for a half-day and 10s for a full day, and if you require more, vou will have to get the Justice Department to rearrange their rates.”

Following is a list of the delegates from the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen attending the loan-plan-ning League's Conference, now meeting in the Town Hall;—Messrs Robert Nairn (of Christchurch, and also representing Otago and Timaru &. AA . Buxton (landscape architect, representing Christchux-ch), George A. rireen (of Auckland, representing Auckland and Wanganui), Thomas Waugh, *. Cooper, and H. C. Gibbons (Wellington), G. Clapcott (Invercargill). A. W. Hamilton (Hawke’s Bay), and K. McK. Morison (Taranaki).

An Ashburton county farmer, who carries a considerable number of stock, when discussing the dry weather with a “Guardian” reporter, stated that, considering tho shortage of feed, tho stock were weathering it out, well, duo -to tho bright warm days. Ho considered that while ram would be a great benefit to farmers engaged in agricultural pursuits, it might mean disaster to a good many who were now holding etook. Wet weather would, no doubt, be followed by heavy frosts, and ■ any stocks of turnips now held in reserve would be eaten up in a weeks 1 tiine, and the outlook would then be serious. The Hon. G. AV. Russell, Minister for Internal Affairs, stated te a “Times” representative yesterday that a cablegram has been received from the High Commissioner notifying that persons contemplating a visit to London should be warned of the difficulty in obtaining hotel or other accommodation there-, and of the high cost of such accommodation. Berths for return to New Zealand, advises the High Commissioner, are almost unobtainable at the present time, and it is estimated that there are now about 3000 civilians awaiting passages to the Dominion. He is of opinion, however, that about October nest the position will become easier.

At a meeting of Taita residents held to consider the unsatisfactory position in regard to the teaching staff at the local school, the chairman (Mr A. Burgess) : said -that - the. present position with regard to teachers was most serious, and unless some effective steps were taken to replenish the staffs throughout the Dominion, the whole education system was in danger of collapse. The children in many of the schools were not receiving the training and teaching they were entitled to, and it was a matter of regret that the Government did not realise the seriousness of the question and make provision for tho payment of salaries sufficiently high to attract the best talent in the country. There was no more important duty on the part of any Government than to ensure by ©very means in its power that tho rising generation should have every facility to obtain as full and complete an education as it was possible to give, and this could only be done by keeping the teaching staff to the highest point of efficiency it was possible to- attain, both in respect of numbers and qualifications. With reference to the possibilities ot pumice country, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister for Lands, stated recently that he had inspected tliese lands as comprehensively as he possibly could, and was absolutely confident that with the expenditure of a reasonable amount per acre, there was ' an assured future for them. “It was evident to me,” added the Minister, “that these pumice lands would give a return for any justifiable amount sensibly expended on them. With the Commissioner I visited Mr Roliitti’s land, and Mr Hugh Campbell’s more recently developed pumice land; ' and while they will never be rich, fertile land, and fatten well (they are lands that will always have to be farmed), I am convinced that they will pay. Then there are the gum lands. Some of you have, no doubt, had no experience of gum lands, but those of you who have had an intimate acquaintance with them, and are thus capable of expressing an opinion re. garding them, will, I feel perfectly sure, agree with me as to their future. If you have, seen what can be done on the poor gum lands, by, say, Mr Knight, of Albany, you will be assured that with work, perseverance, and pluck these lands can he brought iu. Neither pumice lauds nor gum lands, however, are, to my mind, lands we could expect poor men to select, unless wo help them both with adyice and money. If wo can bring in these lands we will solve to a very largo extent tho problem of extra taxation by the resultant increased production.”

An interesting feature of the Townplanning Exhibition is tho supply oi hot water to the kitchen and refreshment room by the Challenge heating systems. That to the refreshment room is particularly interesting, m that it is delivered boiling and tea made from it at the tap, although the heater is quite 100 feet awav in the yard at the roar of the Town Hall, the hot water at this point being re-beated by steam. Plans showing how this scheroo can bo utilised in town-plan-ning are exhibited, and are well worth the attention of delegates and also of tho visiting public. A kitchen and laundry communal to a< number ot bouses have Challenge heaters supplying hot water and steam for cooking, washing, and general purposes installed, which are connected by means of mains conducted through trenches filled wtih powdered pumice below the flagstones of tho paths. Steam from n heater, which can ho several hundred feet away from where tho water is to be used, will bring to boiling point all water required for such purposes as boiling milk, making tea, keeping food hot, maintaining a drying closet for clothes, etc., besides supplying hot water for all other household requirements The Challenge heating systems also exhibit various prints and photographs of their plants, as well as types of their heaters. It is intended to show a steam radiator working, also a. small steam cooker in operation. Demonstrations and exhibitions are being given each afternoon and evening by a representative of tho company. •

A request for a grant of £ISOO to- 1 The Education Board resolved a.t its wards the new Technical College was meeting yesterday that the notification perforce refused by the Education ,of the dates for the school holidays to Board at its meeting yesterday, it be- celebrate the signing of the Peace ing pointed out that tho= board bad Treaty will be held over till the decino legal power to make such a grant. sion of Cabinet in regard to the matter has been announced.

Delegates from the Dominion Butter Committee and repres-mtatives of dairy farmers throughout New Zealand are to wait to-day on the Hon. D. IT. Guthrie, Minister in charge of the Imperial Supplies Department, to lay before him their grievances in regard to the butter-fat equalisation fund lory.

Nineteen cases of influenza (one pneumonic) were notified to the Public Health Department between May 15th and 19th. The distribution of the cases was as under:—Auckland district, 5; Wellington, 6 (2 in Marton and 4 in Wellington city); Canterbury, 6 (including one pneumonic in Xemuka); Otago, 2.

That arrangements should be made, for school children in the fifth and sixth standards, to visit the Town-plan-ning Exhibition at the Town Hall was suggested at yesterday’s meeting of the Education Board by the chairman, Mr ,T. Forsyth. The secretary, he stated, had proposed that headmasters should ho instructed to see that their scholars had an opportunity of visiting the exhibition. The suggestion was adopted.

■Subject to the consent of all the boards, an Education Boards’ Conference is to bo held in Wellington on a date to be determined by the opening of Parliament. The conference will he preceded by a conference of Education Board architects.

General Richardson was accorded a civic reception at Christchurch yesterday, states a Press Association message. In reply to questions General Richardson said he felt confident that the soldiers would not be disappointed when the final pronouncement was made by the Government in regard to gratuities.

The Education Board again discussed yesterday the question of providing school children with, hot drinks, especially during the winter ■ months. The secretary stated that he had circularised school committees asking for their opinions on the proposals. Only ten committqps had 'TatAiod, all but one endorsing the idea. Some country committees reported that a simple scheme was already in operation, the children bringing small contributions each week to cover the cost. It was suggested that other committees had not yet had an opportunity of considering the proposal, and further action by the board was postponed until next meeting.

After the Maori had been delayed at Wellington tor a week, owing to inability to secure eight firemen to fill vacancies in the crew, tho necessary men were engaged yesterday, and the vessel sailed at ,her usual time last evening lor Lyttlton. The Monowai. which has been acting as substitute for the Maori, got away at - 8.10 o'clock lust evening for Lyttelton and Dunedin.

On and after June Ist, the charges for radio telegrams to or from ships registered in New Zealand or Australia, no matter where trading, and ships trading exclusively between Australia and the Dominion or exclusively between ports of New Zealand, will be 5d per word. This reduction does not affect the special rate for the ferry service (Wellington-Lyttelton) of 3Jd per word with minimum of Is 3d, or the full rate of XOd per word to or from ships registered outside the Dominion and Commonwealth, such as ships engaged in trading to Great Britain, Europe, United States, etc. All vessels of the Union Steam Ship Company and Huddart Parker Company may be considered as registered in New Zealand or the Commonwealth.

“This is just one brick that wo arc asking for,” declared Mr L. Glover, a member of a deputation which waited on tho Harbour Board last evening with reference to tho provision of a restaurant and other conveniences on the waterfront. In the future, he said, tho workers themselves were going to control the work on the waterfront. (Laughter.) It was all very well to laugh, ho said, but it would bo well for the members of the hoard to remember what he had said.

Much difference of opinion as to the advisibility of the Government establishing a mercantile fleet was expressed at last night’s meeting of the Wellington Harbour Hoard. The Milton Borough Council proposes that the Government be approached on the subject, and it invited the hoard to give its support to the idea. In supporting the Milton Council, several members referred to 'the fact that the Government had found it necessary to tako over mercantile vessels during the war. They regarded this as- evidence that the Government was best able to control shipping. On the other hand, Mr O. M. Turrell pointed out that Government, control was a war measure only, and that now the war was over the British Government was anxious to get rid of the vessels. He emphatically declared that control by shipping experts was more efficient than control by Government "Jacks-of-all-trades.” It was quite wrong to suggest that the Government had taken over tho shipping because of the shipping companies’ inefficiency. A division was taken on a motion by Mr J. G. Cobho to support the Milton Borough Council, and the “Ayes” had it.

Unrequited love would seem to have contributed largely to the appearance of a young man,' apparently a Belgian, in the Police Court at Dunedin a few days ago, charged with having attemptcd to commit suicide at Port Chalmers by taking poison. Accused urns alleged to have been on friendly t'erih's, with a girl in a northern town (states the “Otago Daily Times”),’ but the pair became estranged and the girl went south and took a position in an hotel at Port Chalmers. Her one-time lover followed her, and discovering her place of employment, proceeded to try and mend matters, but his advances meeting with no success, he tried to communicate with the girl by letter. This also proved futile, and .as a result the Port Chalmers , police received a message from the boarding-house where the young man, was staying to the effect that he had taken poison. The police then informed Dr. Borrie, who visited the man, but could find no trace of anything deadly. He, however, testified to tire unsoundness of the young man’s mind. This necessitated his arrest, and ' Constables Parkhill and Souter were dispatched to carry out the duty. Before entering .the room , where the young man was; lying, the' constables were warned that he had a revolver, and to keep an eye on him while they searched the room for the weapon. The search did not give promise of success, but when Constable Souter stooped to look under a wardrobe, the man leaped from the bed on which he was lying, seized the weapon from its place of concealment, and attempted to fire at the. searchers, but their alertness prevented any damage being done, and the weapon was secured; .- It was only after a hard struggle, however, that the young man was placed under arrest and conveyed to the police station, whence he was later sent to Dunedin. The young man was subsequently remanded for a week for medical observation.

The April report of the Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board states that only 48 new applications for assistance were received during the month. The majority of these were treated as withdrawn, or had to be declined, as not coming -within the jurisdiction of the board. A_ total of 74 cases (25 reconsidered) was dealt with as follows:—Treated as withdrawn, 21; declined, 16; deferred for further information, 3; grants authorised, 34. Grants completed and approved Jell short of the previous month by 50 per cent., there being only 84, representing an annual expenditure of £966 18s 7d, including 47 additional grants amounting to £4Bl 3s 7d. Warrants issued during the month were 2788, covering an actual expenditure of £6903 13s 5cL The largest items were in respect of the following: Rent, £3097 Is 8d; interest, £1448 0s 3d; life insurance, £1729 7s lOd.

The overcrowding regulations in connection with the city tramways are being strictly enforced. On the Brooklyn lino would-be passengers have found this to (their cost during the past few days'. It is well known that the Brooklyn cars have been able to cope with the rush-hour traffic in the past simply by packing in the maximum number of travellers. Now, however, the regulations prohibit such, overcrowding, with the result that many residents have found themselves left lamenting on the roadway. Last evening, between 4.30 and 6.30, there were many wild scrambles to he on the cars before the conductors cried a halt. One conductor was particularly severe, and when a chivalrous inspector brought along a young lady who had missed several preceding cars, the tramwayman absolutely refused to entertain the suggestion that she should be allowed on his car. The same conductor counted the passengers so frequently on the journey up the hill, to make quite sure that no regulations were being broken, that one of his fares facetiously observed that ho had better look under the seats to set has conscience completely at rest. In view of the great inconvenience to Brooklyn people, it is being urged that the oft-repeated suggestion of a , minimum twopenny fare during rush hours should bo adopted immediately. At present many Willis street and Aro street passengers are monopolising space that by right should belong to Brooklyn folk. Mr F. Castle (chairman of the Hospital Board) made yesterday the following statement in reply to recent criticism as to the administration of the board’s endowments The board grants leases under the provisions of the Public Bodies’ Leases Act—the usual lease being for a tenancy of twenty-ono years, with a perpetual right of renewal for further periods ot fourteen years, a revaluation of the ground rent being made at each renewal in accordance with conditions laid downl m this Act. There is, therefore, a revaluation of ground rent at the end of twenty-one years, and also at tto end of each successive term of fourteen years, and in this way the board secures most of the "unearned increment,” which has been suggested is being “filched" from the board by the board’s methods. Further, all deeds of lease arq prepared by the board’s solicitor, and the board does not grant a new lease, a renewal, or a transfer without first passing tho matter through his lianos. With regard to tho particular leases dealt with at the last ordinary meeting of the board, the one granted to Mrs B. Van Stnveron was a transfer of an unoxpirod portion of n leasehold held by anothep person, the ground rent in this ease having been fixed some years ago. The other leases are also renewable leases, the conditions having been settled some months prior to the mooting. The statement that those leases were rushed through at the last meeting before the election for some bidden motive is quite inaccurate and without any foundation.