General News

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21581, 18 September 1935, Page 12

General News

"Backyard Workers" Strong criticism of the "backyard worker," who does some of the work of a legitimate industry without accepting the obligations of those regularly and permanently engaged in it, was made at yesterday's Conciliation Council on the leadlight and glass workers' dispute. It was pointed out that the "backyard worker" seldom owned sufficient machinery to compel him to register his premises as a factory. If he employed labour other than that of his family he concealed the fact. It was in consequence very difficult to discover his existence, and unless it could be proved that he was an employer of labour he could not bp made a party to an award. Assessors on both sides of the table promised assistance to each other in tracing his activities. One assessor, described the "backyard worker" as a man who "took a mean advantage of his fellow men." Lawyers' Fees Some interesting facts about lawyers' fees •were mentioned by Mr C. Weston-Wacher at the Public , Administration Society's meeting last: evening, when, he was discussing the institution of a state legal service. He said that the fee was originally intended rather as a present, such as was given in Norman times, when a litigant's counsel consisted of a group of his friends who were present to advise him in the court. The pocket in the, back of a barrister's gown was a survival from the time when it was useful when he turned his back to receive these presents. Mr Weston-Wacher also mentioned the custom of counsel appearing for a man" without fees or for a nominal fee paid by the state when the client was too poor to afford it, another survival of the traditional relationship between counsel and client. Credit of the Dominion When Captain N. A. Rattray, of Waimate, toured through Great Britain recently, he found that everywhere the integrity and reputation of New Zealand as a sound financial country stood high. In an interview on his return to Canterbury yesterday he said that he was certain that New Zealand's financial reputation had gained considerably in Britain through the Dominion having had a definite continuity of policy due to long years of conservative political control. Englishmen were willing to trust New Zealand, he said, and the general attitude in England about such domestic questions as New Zealand's high exchange' rate was that it was the Dominion's own business. In no case were New Zealanders blamed for putting up the exchange. New Zealand had an extraordinarily high standing in England, Captain Rattray said, and that reputation had been enhanced' by the splendid impression created there by the Dominion representatives at the King's jubilee, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W- Forbes) and the Minister for Finance (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates). Many Grants from Rugby Union Grants to varioiis organisations, totalling approximately £72, including one of £SO to the Relief of Distress Fund, were made by the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union at its meeting last night. The following were the grants approved: Relief of Distress £3 3s; St. John Ambulance Association, £5 ss; Timaru Pipe Band, £3 3s; and the Timaru Municipal Band, £2 2s. All Christchurch bands who have played at Lancaster Park this season for representative matches will be granted £3 3s each. Small grants were made to four clubs who have entertained visiting teams during this season. Branding of Exports That a New Zealand exporting house had recently been called upon to pay a penalty of lft per cent, of the invoice value of a shipment of a New Zealand product to the United States was mentioned by the Minister for Industries and Commerce, the Hon. R. Masters, in a letter received by the council of the Auckland Cham-, ber of Commerce. The penalty had been imposed because of a breach of the United States, Tariff Act, which provided that imported merchandise and containers must be properly marked to indicate the country of origin, the marking to be in legible English words. Instead of branding its goods with the words "New Zealand" the company penalised had used the letters "N.Z." The council decided to thank the Minister for his reminder of this provision in the United States Act. Grass-grub Plague Grass-grub threatens to drivfe a Taranaki nurseryman from a property of five acres which has been providing him with a good livelihood. The pest has devoured the roots of practically every plant on the property, and every effort has failed to destroy the grubs. Eight thousand two-year-old macrocarpa trees are withered and dying, as well as other trees and flowers. The nurseryman applied to the Plant Research Station at Palmerston North for help, but was informed that there is no known remedy. Similar trouble has been experienced before by the owner of the property, but never on the same scale. He had heard that cold temperatures destroyed the grubs, and as an experiment he rolled 30 grubs in a ball of snow and kept it for a fortnight. At the end of that period the ball was broken open and the grubs were as vigorous as ever. Unusual Claim for Damages Wet weather in August was the underlying reason for the Morrinsville Borough Council being called on to compensate a householder for the loss of three fox terrier pups. In anticipation of celebrating Arbor Day.with a parade of school children, the council instructed its workmen to dig holes for planting trees in Cureton street, but heavy rain fell the next day, filling the holes with water. A resident of this street missed his three pups, and after advertising and notifying the police found them drowned in one of the holes intended for the trees. After considering his claim for compensation, the council at a recent meeting decided to offer him 15s "without prejudice." It was considered that the pups had a market value of 5s each at the time of their drowning. Sermons in Stones A piece of scoria from the bottom of Mount Eden crater and a stone from the terminal moraine at Franz Josef Glacier, Southern Alps, represent New Zealand in a unique rockery that Dr. F. W. Hall, of Summerville, Georgia, United States, has been constructing in the grounds of his home during the last 12 months Pieces of stone have come through the post from many parts of the world for this unusual display, which contains a great wealth of interest. Each piece of stone speaks of some historical event or has some natural significance. In the collection a stone from each state in the American Union is arranged in the order in which the States ratified the constitution. The spot where Noah's Ark came to rest, Mount Ararat, is among the historical points represented. Two of the most prized stones came from an aide-de-camp to the Duke of Gloucester, and were secured during the Duke's recent tour of Australia and New Zealand. Cricket on Sundays "Even Supreme Court judges play golf on the Sabbath," said Mr F. B. Logan, chairman of the Hawke's Bay County Council, when the council was discussing its attitude toward Sunday play on parks under its jurisdiction. Finally it was decided to refer the matter to a committee, which will report back to the council. The question was brought before the council when the Combined Transport Cricket Club sought permission to use Farndon Park for cricket on Sundays. "Personally I see no more harm in playing games than in going for a drive," said Mr Logan. "Some like to take their holidays actively, and others passively." In Case of' Calamity A highly-trained and thoroughly efficient organisation, the duties of which will be to give assistance at a moment's notice in the event of any calamity such as earthquake, flood, fire, or epidemic, is to be formed in Napier soon. The scheme, which has the support of the Mayor, Mr C. O. Morse, originated with the Napier unit of the Legion of Frontiersmen.