GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 82, 13 March 1916, Page 7

GENERAL.

"Says the Ghristehureh Press : W. Goss, at the sitting, of the Conciliation Council at; Christchurch, in speaking of casual labor:and the necessity imposed under the award of giving a week's notice, told a story of how a builder in Christchurch, not knowing what amount of work was coming in, every Monday used to givo his hands as a matter of course, a week's notice. At last the men, who had never taken the notice, used to foreistall the master and say. "-The u-ual notice, Mr Hank/' i.ml Mr Blank would answer '•Yes.''

In order that policies covering Ihc lives of members of the Expeditionary Force may not lapse during their absence, the .Minister for Defence has directed that where a soldier has neglected to leave an allotment order for the purpose of. renewal, premiums may be paid out of deferred pay, subject to the following conditions: Premiums, may be paid out of deferred pay only, when the policy has been in force not less than twelve months ; they will not be paid on request of the life insurance 'company or agent, but only on the 'expressed wish of some relative or per'son interested in the soldier's welfare; the paymaster to be afterwards communicated with to get a confirmatory order from the soldier.

j Eight little children who wont boating at Oriental Bay on Thursday afternoon have-to thank a plucky twelve-year-old boy, Arthur Radford, for their rescue. Radford, who is a boy scout and a practised swimmer, was returning from Roseneath School, when he saw a flat-bottomed punt, which was drifting out into the harbor with eight little children on board. Without hesitation, tbe youth stripped off his clothes and swam to the punt. j There were no oars in it, so ho took ,the painter in his teeth, and began to 'swim back, pulling the boat and its, heavy load after him. "When he was half-way to the shore two gentlemen came along. They found a boat, and with pieces of plank for paddles, had no difficulty in reaching the punt, it may appear incredible (remarks the Post), that a hoy of twelve years of age should draw a heavily-loaded punt with his teeth,,but the truth of the statement is vouched for by several spectators.