LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Referring to “hard lines,” Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., in responding to the toast of “Sport” at a smoke concert in connection with the affiliation of the East Coast Rugby Union with the New Zealand Union, told a story which met with much favor (states a Poverty Bay exchange). He said he recalled riding in the country on a very wet day, with his luggage, wet through and water even in his boots. The particular hard lines, he said, referred to related happenings. That day he had to fine a publican £25 for a breach of th^ 1 Licensing Act, and putting up at the hotel that evening had to borrow a pair of dry socks and pyjamas from that same publican. (Laughter).

A general holiday was observed in New Plymouth on Saturday in honor of the King’s birthday. The weather for the most part was unsettled, for though the rain held off in the morning, a heavy downpour came about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, making matters decidedly unpleasant for those seeking pleasure out of doors. Large crowds attended the seven-a-side football tournament at Pwkekura Park, the gate takings being in the vicinity of £B5, a most satisfactory result. Golf and hunting also claimed their devotees. Flags were flown on the Government and other buildings to mark the anniversary, whilst in the morning the four New Plymouth troops of Boy Scouts assembled outside the Deeds Office to carry out the ceremony of saluting the flag.

Recently, Professor Pringle observed in an address at Palmerston North last week he had noticed that prominence was given in the Press to a letter written to Mr. Massey from a friend travelling in Europe, to the effect that Germany was working very hard. The writer, it was stated, had no doubt that Germany would gain a dominant economic power in Europe. “Is that a reproach?” asked the Professor. It seemed to him that Germany would have to work very, very hard to pay the indemnity of £7,00d,0Q0,000 fixed by the Reparations Commission. The writer’s statement, he thought, disclosed a certain amateurishness of view. What else could Germany do?

Representatives of the New Zealand Automobile Union, the South Island Automobile Union, the Counties’ Association, and. the Good Roads Association, have been invited by the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates, to attend a conference at Wellington, to commence next Wednesday. A preliminary conference has been arranged for to-morrow between representatives o-f jnotorists’ organisations, the Counties’ Association and other local bodies. It is hoped that the business done at the first conference will enable proceedings at the main conferenc with the Minister to be restricted to matters of first importance.

Many stories have been told of persons escaping death or injury owing to having a premonition of evil. An instance occurred at Greymouth the other day, says the Star. A local business man was sitting at a table in his office on Mawhera Quay, engaged in making out an account. He states that he suddenly had a feeling that all was not right, and that he was in some danger. The feeling was so stronff that he rose from his chair and crossed to the other side of the> office. No sooner had he done so than a heavy picture fell from the wall over his desk and crashed down on the spot where he had been sitting a moment before. The picture was hung with wire, which had rusted through.

Some drastic cuts have been made in the Wanganui borough estimates, on which the Borough Council has sat for a third time and the ratepayers will be relieved to .know (states the Chronicle) tliat the prospect of a 5s -9j|d rate has disappeared. Or. Burgess headed the councillors who fought hard for the rate remaining as it is at present (4s 2Ad), and at the conclusion of the meeting, after the estimates had been amended and the town clerk had announced that a 4s 6d rate would be required, it was decided to refer the matter to the finance committee to worry over, to see if a further reduction could not be made. 1

A salutary punishment of six months In gaol was imposed upon a young man named George Arthur Thompson by the Wanganui S.M., the offence being the giving of a false fire alarm. Having aiven the alarm from the box near the Opera House, he took cover in a right-of-way to watch the result. The brigade answered the call promptly, and on finding no fire. Superintendent Williams, on looking round, found Thompson emerging from the right-of-way. On being confronted, he denied the offence, but could not explain why there was blood on his right hand, and then later admitted that he fell against the alarm. His going to gaol (says the Wanganui Herald) should serve as a warning to others who might be tempted to interfere with the alarms.

A meeting of directors of all dairy companies is called for Widay next, June 9 at the Workers’ Social Hall, New Plymouth, when the report of the to the Wellington. Conference will be

Knowledge of. this part of the world is evidently not a strong point in some of the American commercial institutions. A document has recently been received which was addressed: “Wanganui, Melbourne, New Zealand.”

“We have the sympathy of the public, and now that the elections are approaching we are assured of the sympathy of the Parliamentarians,” said Mr. Bert Jacobs at the soldiers’ reunion at Palmerston. North.

During the visit of the steamer Woodarra to Tima.ru in 1920 the crew ran riot and by means of pots of white paint and brushes “renamed” many of the principal thoroughfares. The Woodarra has lately paid another visit to Timaru, and the captain apologised to the town for his crew’s previous misbehaviour.

With reference to the outlook for the tea market in connection with the supplies from Ceylon, a visitor who was in Colombo as recently as early in April, states that the Indian markets opening at the end of this month might be large, and possibly have the effect of reducing the Ceylon prices to a small extent. He did not anticipate that the present shortage would continue for any length of time. Plans for a public crematorium in Auckland, proposed to be erected at an estimated cost of £2660, were placed before the City Council last week, with a report by the engineer that he had received a quotation from the Carbon Oxide Company, of London, for all the requisits ironwork, steelwork, carSt iron machinery and fireclay blocks for a cremation furnace of the latest type, the estimated cost being £457. A complete set of working drawings would enable the furnace to be set up by any intelligent workman. Bankruptcy figures in Wellington this year show an exceptionally large number, the total from January to April being 190. Details of each month are: January, 31; February, 43; March, 74; April, 42. Farmers account for 30 per cent, of the bankruptcies, and the motor trade shows the next highest total. As conditions have considerably improved it is believed they represent the worst period likely to be chronicled in connection with the depression. Miss D. Humphrey, of Hamilton, has received from a Quaker worker, who recently went from New Zealand, a small piece of famine bread from Russia (states the Waikato Times). It is apparently composed of the ground-up twigs and wood of trees boiled into a kind of brown composition. The stubbly materials which join the greater part of the bread give the appearance of splinters. The whole concoction is very brittle and easily falls apart at the touch. Nothing less attractive or nutritious in appearance can well be conceived.

The interest manifested by a number off youths in the late Sir John Logan Campbell’s cottage at Cornwall Park, Auckland, the other afternoon, was really remarkable. The form in front of the window of one room was crowded t by youths. Two others were on guard at the front door, and another couple at the rear. The explanation was, however a very ordinary one. The tinkle of the falling pennies in the room with the closed door afforded ample reason to suppose that a two-up school was in operation. A visit to the room a moment or two later, however, merely revealed a number of young fellows seated round a table, industriously doing nothing and looking as innocent as the average Bible class.

Immigration is to be one of the matters discussed at the annual conference of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, to be held in Wellington this month. A remit from the workers on the Kye--1 burne station is as follows: —“That the N.Z. Labour Party do the utmost in its power to prevent the New Zealand Government from bringing out immigrants from the Old Country, as we have unemployment rife in this country at present, and to bring people out here under the existing conditions this meeting of members is -of the opinion that a Government is criminally liable to be falsely representing the conditions of this country. That the New Zealand Labour Party be asked to send the Secretary of the Triple Alliance in England the exact conditions regarding unemployment and prospects of New Zealand at present before intending immigrants who may be leaving their native land for a foreign country..,”

Conversing with an Otago Daily Times reporter, a Dunedin citizen who is interested in social questions expressed himself in these terms: It seems to me that to-day there is considerable danger by reason of the attitude of a section of the community of my own generation, who never seem so much in their element as when they are denouncing the morality of the rising generation. They give one the impression that the virtue of a woman is to be gauged by the length of her skirt, and that the pleasure in dancing lies in the excitation of sex impulse. Those who take these views lay themselves open to the suggestion that they judge otners by their own standards, or, having had no personal experience, spoke of that of which they did not know. Personally, I have danced all my life, and would like to think I could be able to do so until the end. I do not believe that these outcries are justifiable. I think the rising generation are as clean as their parents, and if I am wrong, parents must accept the responsibility for their children. Why should so much energy be expended in dividing the venerations? It seems to me that youth could be helped by their ciders where the bonds ,of love and respect art mutual. Alas! when the ciders assume the attitude of rebuke and repression they are only tempting the young generation to do in clandestine fashion that which is better, cleaner, and happier when youth and old age can take pleasure in common.

To-night there is a public meeting in the Empire Theatre at 8 p.m. tn order to ascertain fully the o-pimon of ratepayers regarding the proposal to remove the restriction on the title to the .an, on which it is proposed to erect t«e war memorial. The public and all returned men and their relatives are .equestea to attend on masse. The fortnightly gathering of the New Plvmouth Victoria League, to have been held to-night, has been postponed owing to the war memorial public meeting. Members of the Equitable Society of New Plymouth (Second and Third Groups) are notified .ha. sub scriptions will be due and payable to day, Monday, June 5, at the Secre tarv’s Office, Currie Street from 10 am. to 12.30 p.m., from 1 pm. to 5 p.m., 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.—Advt.