LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 68, 23 March 1915, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

From April Ist, cable rates to the United Kingdom via Pacific and via Eastern will be reduced as follows: Ordinary, 2s 3d per word; deferred Is 4d per word; Government Is 4)d; week-end, Sd per word, with a minimum 13s 4d (equal charge for 20 words). All Canadian, United States of America,. and South American rates, via Pacific will be reduced from the same date: Ordinary 4d per word; deferred and Government 2d per word.

We (Otago Daily Times) understand that proposals are on foot in Baldutha for an amalgamation of the two local bi-weekly papers, under which the old-established Clutha Leader will be merged in the Free Press, and run as an evening daily paper by a private company under the control of the present proprietors of the latter paper. The Clutha Leader has up till a‘ year ago at a[l events been regarded as the chief exponent of the policy of the Reform Party in South Otago, and its acquirement by the new proprietary under the Free Press management is creating some interest, and if the proposal is carried to completion interesting developments will probably en- ...... It would be perhaps unjustifiable to state at the. present juncture that there is any political aspect in the present negotiations, but it is interesting to note that-the prime mover in promoting.the .success of the proposal is a i onsistent supporter of the Liberal Party.

A protest was entered against the winner of the last> race at the Napoir Park meeting, and that (act led to a peculiar scene on the course (says the Napier Telegraph). The tickets on the first horse (which was protested against) were worth between 30s and 40s. «*The holders of those on the second horse were entitled to over £4 each, a pretty good price for "scraps of paper” and the late stayers immediately got busy scrutinising every piece of pasteboard to be seen on the course. It was a novel sight, hundreds of people stooping down looking for the magic paper. Some persons gathered up the torn tickets and pieced them together and got good money for their trouble, for the totalisator ultimately paid out on the second horse past the post. One lady picked up four, all in a heap, a pretty lucky find. One man secured a couple, and there were some others, but the finders did not advertise their good fortune.

Mr Malcolm, member for Clutha, has been approached by a member of district farmers with a novel suggestion to relieve the food shortage in France and Belgium, more‘particularly in those districts ravaged by the Germans (says the Balclutha Free Press). Briefly, the 1 idea is to use horses past their prime as food for the distressed people. There are thousands of these animals in New Zealand, and in the scorning winter,, with oats arid chaff at boom prices, i( will be found difficult to feed them. Why not then, say these sagacious farmers, export them in a frozen state to the Continentals, with whom horse flesh is quite a favourite dish? Mr Malcolm thought so well of the idea that he telegraphed to the Prime Minister, asking if there was any chance of an export trade in horse flesh being developed with France and Belgium. Mr Massey’s reply will doubtless be awaited with interest.

At last the War Office has agreed to reasonable terms of recognition for our Home Defence Corps, which now represent well over a. million veterans in an advanced state of military training and keen as mustard, writes a Loudon correspondent.. Some of the members of these corps are discovering what a great leveller is the sergeant instructor. It is by no means all “if yon please” and “by your leave*' even in a. Home Defence Corps, as the following. true story illustrates:—ln a famous old city in tbe south of England, whose civic archives, are not much? more ancient than its university ■.charter, the vice-chancellor of the latter institution was among the recruits to the Academic Corps. A distinguished scholar, he was also a great patriot, but be was a very awkward recruit. At last the impatient drill sergeant could-stand it no longer. The grizzled man of war had no notion who the erring member of the squad .was,.,but striding up to him and addressing him fortissimo,; he said: “See ere! That’s yer right arm, that’s yer left; that’s yer right foot, that’s yer left. : Now, clear off ’ome, and when you know which is which, come back ’ei*e.”

We have known for goodness knows how long of the trick of “palming” cards (remarks an Australian correspondent), but have only just ‘learned of a “wage-,palming” trick, which is alleged to be practised by employers in A ictoria. In a prosecution the other day under tbe Shops and Factories Law of tliat State, which requires specified minimum rates of wage to be paid in certain industries, a workman made the interesting revelation. He described tbe modus operandi as follows—The employer on pay day hands to every man the wages which the law awards. Then before the men leave the office the employer stations himself at the door, and says, with a “kind of smile,” “Shake hands!” The workman also gives a “kind of smile” and shakes hands, but in doing so bands bade to the employer a part of the money just received as wages. When the men have all gone out tbe employer, still wearing bis “kind of smile,” puts into his safe tbe money which his employees have banded back to him with the “shake hands.” The Minister of Labour 6Sir Alexander Peacock) lias ordered the immediate prosecution of a particular employer, who was declared by the wit ness to have practised such “pd-^p.fv'