DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1919, Page 7

DOMINION NEWS.

A RESERVIST SENT TO PRISON, By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchureh, March 31 A reservist named Arthur Masjsey was found guilty at a court-martial on Saturday of failing to parade for medical examination, and was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. AUCKLAND TBAMWAY PURCHASE. Auckland, March 31. It is understood that the proposal Will come before the Auckland City Council this afternoon for the purchase by the city of the Auckland tramways. No details are available as yet. On the Exchange to-day ordinary tram share 3 sold at £1 and £1 Is 6d. MINISTER'S REFORMS WELCOMED BY RAILWAYMAN. Christchureh, March 31. The largest meeting of railwayman ever held in Christchureh took place yesterday, when Mr Hampton, national president of the A.S.R.S., reported on the conference with the Minister of Railways. The meeting resolved that, having heard the explanation of the new classification" proposals and improved working conditions, the Minister be urged to have the proposals passed through Parliament at the earliest possible moment The meeting also protested against the suggestion that legislation to give effect to the proposals 'should he delayed, as sufficient delay had already taken place and further delay would cause irritation land discontent throughout the service. Speaking after the meeting Mr Hampton said that, while unable to give details of the proposals, he was oleagcd with the way in Which they had been received by memberti. Certain lections were dissatisfied with the details of the wages schedule, but recognised that the improvement promised in Working conditions so far as the wholß service waa concerned marked a dis+inct advance on the present regime, and the general opinion was that the nroposalfi should be accepted as "an important instalment of reform.

RAPID JOUBNEY FROM NELSON TO WELLINGTON. Wellington, March 31. A Wellington resident arrived in Wellington from Nelson via Picton yesterday, covering the distance by motor and launch in eleven hours. Leaving Wellington on Saturday he ' arrived in Nelson at 4.30 a.m. en Sunday. On arrival he received a message that he was urgently required in Wellington. By n high-powered motor-oar ho left Nelson. at 630 am., reaching Picton •ibont 11 a.m. The services of a friend were requisitioned and the latter agreed to fun him across Cook Strait to Wellington in his launch, which is described as a concave-convex, v bottomed craft built for whale hunting purposes. Fortunate'y the Strait was ■omparativelv calm. Part of the journey was covered at a speed of 28 knots and the launch raced up Port Nicholson 'tnrhor past tlie astonished ferry steam»r at a speed of about twenty, knots, tvine up at the wharf at 5.2 C pirn. Th« launch in fitted with an engine developing 135 horse-power.

SOLDIERS NEEDING WORK. Ohristchvtrch, March 20. Mr Leadley, secretary of the Christ■'nireli Returned Soldiers' Association, says that at present there are 140 hristehurch soldiers out of work on the books of the Repatriation Department He thinks the Mtuatior. serious enough to warrant the Mayor calling a conference of employers ai.ti unemployed returned soldiers to see if some employment cannot be founds for these men immediately. Mr Leadley strongly complains that all over the city there arc employers who are satisfied to retain women in men's employment, simply because it is cheaper. He says the Repatriation Board at present has thirty clerks out of work, as well as grocers' assistants, yet the jobs they might be filling are held by women. EDUCATION REFORMS. Wellington, March 31. Some new regulations dealing with tlie Education Department will be issued shortly. One of these provides for issuing certificates to qualified teachers at the age of 10, instead of 21. This is important, as until a teacher is certificated li| has to submit to a reduction of Id per cent in salary. The srrievance of voting teachers who pass their examinations early, but cannot certificates till 21, will be removed. ' Another regulation provides for an increase in the salary of the headmaster of a normal school by £2H aT)ove that fixed by the Act, in view of the exceptional qualifications he may possess. Another amendment is to the effect that no teacher who ha? served abroad with the Expeditionary Force shall suffer the 10 per cent* reduction for a period of two years after his return on account of having no certificate, thus affording him opportunities to secure qualification. SOLDIERS' CLUBS AND PATRIOTIC FUNDS. Christchurch, March 31. The annual meeting of subscribers to the Lady Liverpool Fund recently passed a grant, believed to be a substantial amount, to the Returned Soldiers' Club, which it is proposed to erect in the city. The grant has, however, been vetoed bv the Hon G. W- Russell, with whom the decision in these matters rests. Explaining the position, he said that it had been decided that Ho money raised on behalf of the soldiers must be spent on soldiers' clubs or memorials. The underlying principle in connection with war funds was that, all the money raised .should go directly to benefit deldiers and their dependents. The patriotic societies of New Zealand had £l,700.000 in hand for the benefit of soldiers and the Government did not intend that it should be allocated for soldiers' halls. Soldiers coming back broken in health and their dependents would require all the money Taised. If neople wished to establish soldiers' hulls thev could nut their hands in their pockets for the pin-pose-TWO-UP SCHOOL RAIDED. Auckland. Last Night. The police rnided a two-tip school at Devonport yesterday afternoon, and in cpit» of the precautions taken liv th-> funiblei's in the wav of an elahora-te <"'Ft n m y-f ■"emit". sti"ceeded in securing the wunaii at about thirty participants-