LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16632, 31 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The post-war- prospects of the dairying industry wore referred to in optimistic terms by the chairman at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Association. He said that not only was the prospect good for butter, but the value of calves, which were a by-product in the butter business, would also rule high. A few weeks ago the statement was made in the House of Lords by Lord Harcourt that after the war there would be a world's scarcity of meat, almost a world famine. Germany, Belgium and Holland were faced with a post-war deficit of 8,000,000 head of cattle. Denmark, Austria, Servia and Roumania with another 8,000,000. Butter producers would do well to bear these facts in mind; they should continue to increase production as much as possible, and in doing 60 they would serve a national interest and self-interest alike.

The additions to the diphtheria ward at the Auckland Hospital have now been completed, also the small operating theatre for urgent cases. Although there is no longer urgent need for extra accommodation, the new gunrooms are greatly appreciated by the patients. The recent epidemic has now been suppressed, and, whereas there were over forty patients in the ward at the time the additions were authorised, there are now only 28.

Some curious details in connection with applications for work from returned soldiers were mentioned yesterday by Mr. R. E. Fenton, who is in charge of the Returned Soldiers Employment Bureau. One man was somewhat limited in his choice of occupation, owing to the fact that he had lost all but the thumb and forefinger of his left hand, the result of an accident many years ago. Despite this defect he had not only been accepted bv the authorities but had seen service in France. Another applicant who had served with the Expeditionary Force, both in Samoa and in France, and who sought employment some months ago, stated his age to be 18, so that he could have been little more than a schoolboy when he enlisted. At the other end of the scale may be placed the case of another soldier, who had been discharged from camp. He claimed to be 65 years of age, and expressed considerable disappointment that he had been unable to get away to join his sons and grandsons in the firing-line. The decomposed body of an infant was found by some Maori children on Tuesday on the beach at Mangere. Owing to the condition of the body, Dr. Tresidder, who examined it, was unable to tell the sex of the child, or whether it had breathed after birth. The body apparently had been exposed for about six months. An inquest will be held by the district coroner, Mr. D. A. Sutherland.

"One sad result of the war is that the homes which many girls hoped to make, and the children they hoped to rear, are now dreams that will never be realised," said Mrs. Maguire, president of the Civic League, at the Y.W.C.A. gathering last night. "So we must make the lives of these girls a little better first by education, then by employment, thus enabling them to maintain a bright outlook on life. To business men I would say, if you have a woman doing a man's work give her a man's wage if she does the work as well as a man could do it. Many girls now going into business will have to work all their lives, and save for old age. Keep them happy, contented and independent, and they will prove a great asset to the community. 'I

A memorial tablet has been placed in St. Aidan's Church, Remuera, to the memory of Lieutenant J. S. Dagg, of the 6th, Hauraki, Regiment. It has been erected by the Sunday-school children and church workers, and will be dedicated by the Bishop of Auckland this evening, St. Aidan's Day. The tablet, which is of brass, is engraved with the badge of the regiment, the garter star with lion centre, and bears the following inscription :— "Remember John Stewart Dagg, Second Lieutenant, 6th, Hauraki, Regiment, who rendered faithful service to his Church and his King. He fell in the battle of the Somme, 15th September, 1916, aged 25. 'A good soldier of Jesus Christ.' "

Referring to the proposal to amalgamate the whole of the dairying interests of South Auckland into one co-operative concern, which was discussed by the interested companies about eighteen months a p. Mr " Pace at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Association yesterday, said there had not been much said during the past season about the matter, but the movement was not by any means dead. There had been much thought, and some discussion, which showed that the opinion of certain essential interests was coming round to recognition that an affiliation of interests would alone ensure the best for the producer and for the industry alike. He repeated the opinion he had expressed last year that it certainly would come. The sooner the better for all concerned, for present conditions were wasteful and harmful in the extreme.

Nominations closed yesterday for the seat on the Onehunga Borough Council, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr. Foote, as a "protest against certain methods pursued by a section of the council. Mr. Foote, who is seeking re-e'ec-tion, wiL be opposed bv Mr. Leo. J Sutherland. The election will be held on beptembei 6.

" I think there should be a revision of the order of priority in which exported foodstuffs are shipped from time to time," said Mr. Pacey at Pukekohe yesterday. At present, he said, beef, mutton, lamb and meat sundries took precedence over cheese and butter, the position of the latter being somewhat the worst. He appreciated the reasons why beef and mutton which were needed for the army, should take precedence, but as room was found for lamb and sundries, which were not required for the army, there should also be found regular proportionate space for butter, which for the space occupied was much more valuable, and which concerned the industrial destiny of very many more people.

The Government has appointed Mr. J. W. A. Marchant, of Wellington, an unofficial member of the North Island Representation Committee, in place of Mr. H. S. Wardell, deceased, and Mr. H. Reeves ° f Dunedin, an unofficial member of the bouth Island Commission, in place of Mr. 0. S. Reeves, deceased.

A pathetic feature of the burial on the field of Brigadier-General C. H. J. Brown is reported by the New Zealand correspondent in Franco. Two of the late general's sons, who are on active service, attended the funeral, which took place within sound of the guns.

Discussing the financial needs of the Y.W.C.A. at a meeting of members last night Mr G. H. Wilson, who acted as treasurer for the Y.M.C.A. fund recently, made some practical suggestions. He said that, in Canada, the Y.W.C.A had a " mortgage" on every business house, and the members went round and collected the "interest." It would be the business of the Auckland members to act similarly here. "It is the community's responsibility to seo that your debts are paid," remarked Mr. Wilson. "The whole province is indebted to this association, and will be more so in the future. It is the du|ty of the province to subscribe towards its funds, and it is only a matter of organisation tor its finances to be put on a proper footing." He added that citizens of Auckland might put their homes at the disposal of country girls from time to time. These girls often got depressed because they were lonely in the city. It would help them if houses were opened to _ them. This was done in Canadian cities with excellent results.

Replying to questions by shareholders at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Dairy Association yesterday concerning the proposed butter purchase by the Government, Mr. H. E. Pacey said the matter was still under consideration by Cabinet, and he could say nothing definite about it. However, in respect to price, it was important to remove any possible misconception, and he could assure the shareholders that the price to be ultimately received by producers would probably bo considerably more than Is 4d a pound. It was also probable that each dairy company would nominate its own agents for the disposal of its output, which meant practically carrying on its own business as usual.

The interest with which the arrival of New Zealand mails is awaited by the men at the front is referred to in a letter from an Auckland soldier in France. "If people in the Dominion," he says, " only knew how eagerly we look for New Zealand letters, I am sure they would write a little more often."

The posting of a number of placards in the window of the offices of the Protestant Political Association in Queen Street led to the congregation of a able number of people in front of the premises late yesterday afternoon. The attention of the police was directed to the contents of the placards, and those in charge of the office were requested to withdraw them. The request was immediately complied with, and the gathering shortly afterwards dispersed.

"If Sir Joseph Ward leaves any money in Auckland you will get your fair share of it," Mr. A. J. Entrican, DeputyMayor, assured members of the Y.W.C.A. last night at a social gathering at the Town Hall concert chamber, his way of suggesting the citizens' readiness to help the institution's finances causing laughter. "Sir Joseph Ward has taxed everything and everybody except the bachelors," Mr. Entrican went on, "and possibly he made this exception with the view of leaving the bachelors to the members of the Y.W.C.A. (Renewed laughter.) I think that is a good idea. If you cannot get the bachelors to run in double harness thev ought to be taxed for the support of the Y.W.C.A."

The Public Petitions Committee reported to the House of Representatives yesterday on the petition of Walter Rutherford, of Auckland, praying for a compassionate allowance for injuries sustained while on active service in the Maori War. The committee recommended that the petition should be referred tq_ the Government for favourable consideration, and that the Pensions Act be amended to permit of holders of "the Maori War pension to also receive the old age pension.

"After this war, the nations who can truly say they have won the victory will be those with the greatest power of reconstructing themselves," said Miss Elsie M. Griffin, general secretary of the Y.W.C.A., at a gathering in her honour last night. She contended that this reconstruction process was going to be far more in the hands of women, for the next 25 years at least, than ever it had been in the past. From this conclusion she deduced that the Y.W.C.A. held a unique place, in that it would play a great part in national self-development. The war had thrust women much farther out into life, and there was going to be upon them a tremendous responsibility for the welfare of the community and the nation.

Written in the drily-official tone that characterises the methods of the British Army authorities, a most unique and interesting " receipt" has been received by Mrs. William Fitzpatrick, of Wellington, from her husband, Rifleman William Fitzpatrick, of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. The receipt is as follows :—" Received from W. Fitzpatrick, 2nd Battalion N.Z.R.8.. 12 (twelve) German prisoners. (Signed) H. T. Harmsworth, for A.P.M." Rifleman Fitzpatrick brought in these men single-handed at the Battle of Messines, where he was subsequently wounded in the knee.