LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 29 March 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The statement made yesterday that the conference, between the City Council and representatives of its labourers would resume on Holiday next was surprising, in view of the council's determined stand against the request of tho men for a private conference. The explanation is that the union has consented to the conference being resumed in. public. A point, of interest bearing on the powers of local bodies was raised at a Chamtier sitting; of tho Supreme Court yesterday, when counsel moved (on.behalf of tho Johnsonville Town Board) for a direction as to service in the case of the Town Board v. certain local landowners. The defendants obiccted to a proposal to construct a septic tank on their land in connection with a drainage scheme, and the question arose whether the Town Board had power to carry out the work, seeing that it would be outside the town district. Mr. Justice Cooper remarked that as a very important public question was involved lie would order the SolicitorGeneral to be joined as a party to the action. A certificate of registration has been issued to tho Now Zealand Federated Furniture Trades' Industrial Association of Workers. This means that individual unions have banded together throughout New Zealand. An application for a Dominion award is tho next step to be taken. With reference to the suggestion of the ivow Zealand Educational Institute that the Education Boards of tho Dominion should hold their monthly meetings as nearly as possible on the same date in each month, in order to facilitate tho working of a scheme for the simultaneous announcement of school stall vacancies in all tho districts, the Wellington Education Board, at its meeting yesterday, signified its willingness to meet in the second week of tho month (excepting in January, the period of the recess), provided that the other boards in New Zealand meet in that week also. ' Sir. K. Mauger, speaking at tho llcchabitc Conference in Melbourne oil Tuesday of last week, said thero were 22,000 youths in Melbourne alone whose haunts were the street corner, the hotel, and the dancing saloon, and at these places they were steadily deteriorating. Tho country v.*as face to face with the problem of juvenile depravity. One of the most prominent educationists had told him a few days ago that lie would rather entrust the destinies. of Australia to children of It years of age, -fresh from school, than to tho same children seven years later, the reasoii being that tho growth of the spirit of enjoyment and pleasure had outstripped the educational advantages. Tho "ticket" which will seek election next month to the Eastbourne Borough Council, under the leadership-of Mr. D. liobertson, includes, besides that gentleman, Messrs. G. L. VSannalyne, H. G. Button, F. Crease, 1?. Dohertv, W. llobbs, .T. Hutchen, F. W. Mackenzie, and It. C. lienner. Mr. Shortt (present Mayor) and his supporters are to hold a meeting this evening at,which an opposition,."ticket" will probably bo nominated. . The sum which Mr. P. J. Goldfinch has agreed to pay the City Council for the right to display advertisements on tramcars is ,£51)00. Unaccepted tenders wer« those of J'!. F. Chandler (j£2000), and the Dominion Sign Company (.£3000). Mr. Goldfinch guarantees that the council will receive the amount: of his tender during a period of three years. His position is that of an agent receiving 25 per cent commission on all sums received for advertisements, subject to the guarantee provision stated. Upon inquiring at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon a reporter was informed that the contract with Mr. Goldfinch had not yet been signed. The large section of the community interested in tho movements of the coastal steamers are notified that tho shipping telegrams are now exhibited on the new notice boards outside the General Post Office, instead of within the vestibule. Tho purpose of removing the location of the telegraph board is to prevent" the congestion which occasionally, takes place in tho vestibule at tho foot of the main stairway leading to the floors above. The new board is contained in a box, lighted with electricity, and crectcd on a level with tho eye. The proposed superannuation scheme for employees of municipal bodies was brought forward at last night's meeting of tlie Karori Borough Council by the receipt of a letter from the Town Clerk of tho Wellington City Council, asking for certain particulars regarding the number of employees of the council, tlie wages paid to them, age, etc., so as to enable a scheme to be submitted to actuaries for a report. In moving that the letter bo referred to the Finance Committee, tho Mayor remarked that tho matter had been before the Municipal Association for somo years past. Two actuarial reports had already been prepared, anil the request seemed to be like a duplication of the work already done. Tho council would have no difficulty in giving tho information asked for, but before going further he thought the Finance Commiltea should go into the matter. As bo had said, the information had been given to tlie executive of the Municipal Association before.