LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

W’e understand (says the Inangahua Times) that the police will cite a case against the heads of the local Rugby Union for promoting Rugby matches on Sunday. To-day is the 16th anniversary of the death of the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, arid this morning a wreath will be placed by the Wellington branch of the West Coasters’ Association on the Seddon statue, in Parliament grounds. It is reported that members of the Wellington section of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the P. and T. Officers’ Association, the Public Service Association, and the Railway Officers’ Institute have decided to join forces for the purpose of opposing the suggested second cut in salaries. A combined meeting will bo. held shortly to discuss the line of action.

For the three vacancies on the Egm on t County Council caused by the resignation of Messrs. W. C. Green, A. P. Chapman and P. Brophy, there were only t wo nominations, viz., Messrs. G. Gibson and 11. Young. These gentlemen have accordingly been declared elected, and nominations are again being called to fill the other vacancy.

The total membership of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association as at March 31 last was 24,112. The strengths of the six main districts are given in the annual report of the association as follows:—Auckland, 6387; Wellington. .6147; Canterbury, 5156; Otago. 5699; Nelson and Marlborough, 1030; Gisborne, 293. About 1200 new members were enrolled during the year. A well-known New Zealand farmer has disposed of his wool clip this year by shipping it to Germany, where he will receive the market value for it. Instead of having the money remitted to New Zealand he has arranged for German phosphates to be shipperl to him. In this way he will get all the advantage of the low rate of exchange in Germany.

The honour recently conferred upon Mr, -I. P. Firth, ox-Headmaster of Wellington College and a vice-president of the Wellington Rugby Union, was rej ferred to .at this week’s meeting of the I Management Committee of the latter body. “"While it is a compliment to I Mr. Firth in particular,” said the ehair- ; man (Mr. J. Prendeville), “and a compliment to the scholastic profession, in ’general, I take it that it is a compliment i to us in recognition of a good sport.' i It was decided to send a letter to Mr. : Firth congratulating him upon “the welli merited honour given to him by his I King.”

“The principle for which the association stands is being violated,” said the general secretary of fhe'N.Z. R.S.A. (Mr. Pow), at the Dominion executive’s meeting. ‘Men who have been away are being replaced by me-■. who have never been away.” Mr. Pci- named four ex-service men who had been dismissed from Government employment while men with no service were retained. One was a colonel whose reinstatement had been recommended by the Defence Committee of Parliament. The general committee of the association will be asked to investigate the cases and report on them.

“If the pendulum doesn't swing over it will soon be more profitable to be a watchmaker than a doctor,” said a horologist to an Auckland Star reporter. “Are you aware that there are only 40 apprentices to the watchmaking trade in the whole of New Zealand, while the number of medical students i«s about 400.” It seems that such is the fact, and as watchmaking is « trade that requires a thorough training the result of this dearth of apprentices is that the journeymen watch-repairers are getting almost as scarce as the kauri, and much more costly. These journeymen only work on piece work, and on this basis they make as much as £5OO a year. Referring to the method of railway construction adopted in the Dominion, a speaker at the Auckland Farmers’ Union Conference said he had a wide experience of railway construction, and considered the New Zealand method the most wasteful in the world (reports the Herald). He had constructed railways in Australia, South Africa, the Malay States, and other places, and considered the cost of constructing the railways in the Dominion at least 50 per cent, too great. An essential feature of railway construction should be rapid completion. A line that was completed was earning money; an uncompleted line was incurring a liabilitv for interest. The most satisfactory way to build railways, he said, was by large contracts on the open tender system. “The total amount paid out as gratuities by the Defence Department is £5,644,037 17s fid (states the annual report of the N.Z.R.S.A.); only exceptional cases are now being dealt with, as March 3.1, 1921. was published as the final day on which these claims would be paid. It is interesting to note that after the conclusion of the South African War. 20 years ago, the gratuity paid out varied from £5 for a trooper, £3O for a lieutenant, £6O for a captain, £BO for a major. £l6O for a lieutenantcolonel, to £2OOO for a General.”

From April, 1921, to 31st March, 1922, about 7000 overseas-settlement passengers have arrived in New Zealand. The annual report of the N.Z.R.S.A. says it must be admitted that the Government lias made a genuine attempt to prevent the admission of unfit immigrants. “It has been often stated,” says the report, “that such an influx of immigrants would have a detrimental effect on the labour market, but they seem to have been unconsciously absorbed owing no doubt to the large number of specialised workeis. Nevertheless, the importation of a large number of workers at the present time must react disadvantageously upon Dominion workers, and the Government should automatically slow down their policy when so much local unemployment exists. The machinery employed by the local Immigration Department fdr the reception and transmission of ex-soldier immigrants appears to bo working very smoothly and efficiently.”

During the absence of Rev. Fr. Dillon in the back country Rev. Fr. Doolaghty. of Opunake, is kindly assisting Dean McKenna and will celebrate the early Mass to-morrow and also take the vespers service in the evening. This is a good opportunity for members of St Joseph’s congregation for fulfilling the Pascal Precept, which is incumbent on all Catholics at this season of the year.

The Melbourne, Ltd., is the place for valiie in woollen goods, blankets, underwear and hosiery. Low prices are offering on colonial mill goods, guaranteed pure wool, full sizes and correctly fashioned. Buy warm clothing now while stocks are ample.

“AVON” British Cycle Tyres. The proved best. Stocked by all Cycle Shop*

The outstanding feature of the hides and skins sale in Wellington last week was the sharp rise recorded in calfskins of every description, including damaged skins. In the past the best calfskins were selling at below Australian parity. Addressing the Prime Minister at the Dunedin Show, Sir John Roberts remarked that from a long association with the wool trade, he thought Mr. Massey underestimated the increase to be looked for in the crossbred wools which were produced in large quantities, especially in the North Island, and he believed that by next year the prices of these sorts would show an advance of about 50 per cent, over their present values.

During a visit to a school recently the Minister of Education asked the teacher if the attendance was regular. “Fairly regular,” was the reply, “but I have some difficult people to deal with.” In illustration the teacher produced a form filled in by a parent whose two small children had been away from school for a day. The explanation offered by the parent was that the children had been kept away “to celebrate the anniversary of the Russian Bolshevik Revolution.”

“The use of schools and scholars for raising money is growing, and unless ithe practice is checked it will lead to exploiting the schools,” the executive reported to the annual meeting of the Canterbury School Committees’ Association. "It wastes time in school work, and it encourages all classes to make appeals to the schools. There is sufficient drain on the scholars and their parents in regard to improving schools and school grounds without their being asked to support outside bodies.”

The woodwork exhibit at the New Plymouth Show by pupils of the N.P. Technical College, was one of special merit. The work displayed consisted of bedsteads, occasional table (original design), cabinets, flour and sugar bins, etc., from the industrial class and step-ladders, gates, etc., from the agricultural wood work class. The work was all made from scale drawings and the designs, fitting and finishing all showed strong evidence of careful instruction and attention to details. The boys are to be congratulated on their fine display. Referring to prices and wages in his opening address to the Auckland copfe r ence of the Farmers’ Union, the provincial president, Mr. R. D. Duxfield, said that though an improved tone in prices was noticeable, a depression still existed. This was due to the unbalanced relationship between the prices of farm and other primary products on the one hand, and the cost ol manufactured goods, transportation, and other services on the other hand. Farm products had declined in value to a very much greater extent than those commodities which the farmer must buy. His purchases therefore were restricted and all industries were suffering in consequence. The situation to a large extent was chargeable to the action of organised labor clinging to the rates of wages created by the war. The result was unemployment, and lhe maintaining of the cost of living at a high standard for the entire wage-earning population.

‘ I do not o’ >ct to the education boards expending the incidental fund in such way as they think best ...s long as they do their work properly,” said the Minister of Education (Mr. Parr) this week. “But 1 do object to boards over-spending and then coming to the Department with a cry of ‘peccavi’ and asking for money to make good the deficiency. Some of the boards are excellent; they live within their means. But other boards are not so careful, they exceed the amount allotted to them, get into trouble, and then come to the Minister for assistance. So long as the boards play fairly with the Department, I am anxious that the boards should have the utmost discretion with regard to the funds allotted.”

Business people are not permitted to trade with Germany without a special permit from the Minister of Customs, but that apparently does not mean that we are doing no business with Germany indirectly. German goods are said to he coming into Australia and New Zealand, via England and America. A Wellington gentleman who was in Berlin some eighteen months ago, and who visited a pianoforte factory there, was shown orders for 2000 pianos “for the Australasian market.” It is stated that practically the whole of the instruments were being made in Germany, but a little finishing work was left undone, so that the instruments could be completed by Englishmen, and exported as ‘made in England.”

Housewives, when buying washing powder, should bear in mind that “Fairy Wonder” requires no extra scan in use. Neither does it create a nasty evil smelling scum on the water. On the contrary “Fairy” has a delightful perfume, and is perfectly wholesome, in addition to being economical. Ask your friends about it.

The dispersal sale of pedigree Jersey cattle on account of Mr. S. J. Sutton will be held at Urenui Saleyards on Wednesday next. Mr. Sutton has some exceptionally good and prospective buyers of the popular breed should make sure of attending the sale. See advertisement.

Mr. John Hale’s sale of pedigree Jersey heifers and bulls will be held at Ins homestead, Avenue Road, New Plvmouth, on Tuesday next. There is. no better value than the best. You always get best value at C. 0. Ward’s. Splendid quality white or unbleached sheetings, single' bed only 1/11; extra heavy 2/11 yd; double bed. good quality, only 2/11 yd., best 4/11 yd.; 80in., 3/6 to 5/6. “Doctor” flannels, white 2/11, 3/6, 3/11, 4/6; dark grey, 3/3, 3/6, 3/11.