LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 44, 23 February 1915, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Commander Bellars, Unionist candidate, was elected unopposed for Maidstone, states a London cablegram.

Mr Edward Cutts, the veteran Riccarton trainer, died at Chokeboie Lodge at noon, aged 77, states the Press Association. A movement is afoot for the systematical organisation ot all rural workers throughout New Zealand (states a P.A. telegram fiAm Wellington), the idea being to establish a union on the lines of the Australian Workers’ Union, which has a membership of over 60,000, and is the largest labor organisation in Australasia. Farm labourers’ unions have already! been formed in Auckland, Marlborough, Otago, and Wellington, and a, dispute has already boon before the: Conciliation Court. Two motor cycles' have been purchased for organising work, one of them being for Canter-j bury. A letter appealing for funds for organising is being issued to all unions throughout New Zealand, in which it is sl ated that the time is close at hand ,vhen the country workers will bo the largest and most powerful organisation ,n this country, such as is the case in Australia.

I In legal circles in Difnedin (states I a correspondent) it is thought that the position of successor to the late Mr J. F. M. Fraser will be offered to Mr S. Solomon, K.C., who has been acting Crown Prosecutor during the former’s lengthy illness. The deceased gentleman was at various times a member of the Otago Education Board, one of the Otago High School Governors, and an active member of the patriotic committee at the time of .the BoCr War, whilst his energetic interest in public matters involved him incessantly in all sorts of duties, professional amid otherwise. Tours ago Mr Fraser was an enthusiastic motorist, and often undertook long journeys.. One day he travelled from Dunedin to the Bluff. After his \ ill-

ness he took the less exciting pastime of motoring by river, and it was one of his chief delights to entertain quietly at his country house ou the banks of the Waihola Lake and then take his guests for a spin to the Taieri mouth on the smart launch that he loved to handle. Hospitality was one of his strong points, a gift from his Highland forefathers, and he inherited in a marked degree the other national traits of impulsiveness, loyalty, and directness in speech. His son-in-law and former partner, Mr Percy Maeassey, holds a responsible position in Wellington under the Law Department. Mr Fraser was appoint, ed Crown Solicitor for Otago in 1908, } mmtrmmim i i n -