LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2887, 27 September 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise tha.t tho s.s. JLoeraki, which sailed from Wellington on Thursday, carrying mails for tho Australian States and the United Kingdom, arrived -in Sydney on Jlonday morning,. By Order-in-Council, dated September 26, and published in a- Gazette Extraordinary last night, the importation of goods manufactured or produced in enemy territory, whether before or after the declaration of war, is prohibited, except with tho consent of the Minister of Customs. "Enemy territory" includes for tho purposes of this Order-in-Council ell territory in tho military occupation of an enemy State, but oes not include enomy territory at present in the occupation of tlw British. It is declared that goods shall bo deemed to bo manufactured or produced in enemy territory if not less than one-fourth of tho fair market value has its source in enemy territory. In the Supreme Court at Auckland yesterday, says a Press Association telegram, there was a sequel to the arrest of Rua, when Puke Puke Kawara was charged with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Constable Skinner, and attempting to discharge arms at liim. Tho case is likely to last some time. I Caustio references to New Zealand's Board' of Trad© were made at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce. Members said the institution was not a, Board of Trade at. all, but was a political body, made and used for political purposes. It was said aJso that the Board could not be trying to do much, as, notwithstanding the big field at present open to it, nothing was being dons. What was wanted was a Board on tho lines of the British Board of Trade. It was resolved to remit the following motion' to tlie annual conference of Chambers of Commerce:— "That this conference is of opinion the Board of Trade, New Zealand, as constituted, is not representative of the commerce and industries, of the Dominion. . That the Board 1 should be reconstituted, and have powers to .extend the internal trad'o of the Dominion, and also to establish other markets than thoao possessed by the Dominion at the present time."

Trafalgar Day trill be celebrated on October'2l by a gathering in Town Hall, organised by tho Wellington branch of the Navy League. A eolleotion on behalf of the French Red Cross will be a. feature of the prooeedings. . . The steamer Willoohra, which is bringing invalided soldiers to New Zealand; is expected! to reach Port Ohalmere this evening. The northern troops from the Willoohra will reach Wellington either on Friday or on Saturday morning. ! A question in regard to the discharge of New Zealand soldiers after the war was put ,to the Minister of Defence, Hon. J. Allen, in Auckland. He was reminded that the Prime Minister of Great Britain had stated that the British Army would be demobilised gradually, and that, for a time, men would be granted full pay. Mr. Allen replied that in the nature of things the return and discharge of the New Zealand force would be gradual. He did not think there would be the possibility of flooding the labour market, such' as probably was responsible for Mr. Asquith's statement. It was his opinion, said Mr. Allenj that New Zealandera would be able to go. back to their original occupations. At least he hoped so.

Nearly three months have passed without a bankruptcy being recorded in Ohristchurch. Speaking to a reporter a gentleman interested in financial proceedings said that tho war had done some good by discouraging over-speculation, especially in building, and thus putting business on a remarkably sound basis. He said he had never known business more sound, and the length of time elapsing since a bankruptcy had accrued was a record.

The Perano whaling party had an exciting chase the other day in Cook Strait, a large and valuable "sulphur bottom" being the quarry (reports the "Marlborough Express"). The chase ended in .a successful capture, but the whale sank before it could bo towed to the station. It is expected, however, that the_ carcase will come to the surface again, and a constant "look-out" is being maintained. Tho "sulphur bottom" whale is a rarity, and is much more difficult to capture than the ordinary species. The oil from the carcase is especially valuable. Mr. J. Oaughley, assistant-director of oducation, conferred with teachers in Ohristchurch about the grading system. As a result (says a Ohristchurch paper) much criticifem was disarmed, but Mr. Caughley admitted that there were defects in the system, and lie said he was quite propared to discuss thoso with the institute. , Owing to trouble having been caused to tramway motormen in Auckland by dazzling headlights on motor-cars, the police throughout the oity have been instructed! to enforoe the authority thoy possess under tho Lights on Vehicles Act. Thomas Brown, a fisherman, was, says a Press Association telegram from Napier, _ fined £5, iu default one month's imprisonment, for selling cargo from tho Tongariro, picked up on tho high seas. , Complaints regarding.tho working of tho city telephone system havo been more frequent than usual during recent months. A Dominion reporter wbo made some inquiries on this subject yesterday learned that the officers concerned with the operation of tho telephone system cannot fairly bo blamed for all' the troubles of subscribers. Many male members of the staff havo enlisted, and- many now operators havo had to be employed at work which cannot be learned thoroughly without much praotice. Tho war has increased the difficulties of tho telephone exchange in other respects, and apparently will continue to do so. One effect has been to delay the oomplete installation of the automatic system, which . will relieve the strain on the old osolsngo and eventually take its place. An automatic exchange at Courtenay Place, making provision for 3000 subscribers, is in process of erection, but supplies. _ are hard to obtain under war conditions, and an increasing number of the Department's experts are required for war service. The reporter was informed that the telephone staff is doing everything in its power to remedy defects and obviate causes of complaint.

The Conciliation Council at Christchurch yesterday, in the case of the farriers' award, agreed to an increase of a halfpenny per hour for floor men. Tho agreement is the samo as that made at Auckland ill March, and tho Commissioner suggested that as the Dmicdin application would he heard soon, a, Dominion award should bo sought.—Press Association.

Mr. John J. Virgo, the British iSational Field Secretary of the Y.M.C.Av, will be tho chief guest and speaker at the Now Zealand Club's luncheon on Monday next, when members will havo an opportunity of hearing an interesting story of the association's work with the Forces.

On the Oiaki Racecourse yesterday afternoon Detective-Sergeant Andrews and Raoeoourse Detective Kraetzor arrested four men, who will bo charged this morning with vagrancy. A further charge will probably be preferred against ono of the men for alleged gambling in a railway carriage.

The question ns to whether winners of prizes in any competition should accept them while the war is in progress was mentioned at the meeting of the Karon Defence Rifle Club on Monday night by President H. Marshall, who moved as follows: —"Until tho end of the present war the value of all prizes in the club's competitions be given to tho fund for the relief of wounded New Zealanders and their dependants; certificates only to be given to the winners of the various competitions." In speaking to the motion, which was carried, President Marshall asked why should clubs of all kinds not pay the value of their prize-lists into the patriotic funds of the country, for the relief of our wounded and disabled? There was no honour in taking prizes won to-day. At this time, the simple honour of a win should bo quite sufficient. "I believe," added the president, "that just as many entries would be received for competitions, shows, horse races, etc., even if it wore a condition of entry that the wholo, or a proportion, of tha prizes or prize money wore to be paid to tho fund for our wounded and disabled. This is, at any rate, tho position obtaining in this club to-day." The chairman further moved that until tho end of the present war no club challenge tropinos be competed for.—This wa,s also carried.

The Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce has decided to ask the annual conference of Chambers of Commerce to adopt the following motion i "That in view of the rnsatisfactory interruption of business which takea place at present with our statute holidays, this conference asks the Government to bring down legislation to Mondayise all holidays excepting Easter, Christmas, and New Year.

The' latest figures indicating the increase in war food prices are given by the Government Statistician (Mr. Malcolm Fraser, F.S.S.) in the Labour Journal for September. In groceries for August the upward tendency, whioh has been noticeable for two months past, continues, the increase for the month being 11 points, chiefly contributed to by potatoes and soap, and making the total war increase for the Dominion 17.42 per cent. In place of the heavy decrease of 40 points in dairy produce for July, there is an increase of 8 -points. Meat shows a further increase of 6 points on the average of ■the 25 towns dealt with. The result of the movement of all groups is shown in an advance of 8 points in the food index number for the whole Dominion. The index number is now —August, 1916: 1284; July, 1916: 1276; August, 1915: 1213. The increases for Wellington sinco the war period are as follow (July figures being given' in parentheses)— Groceries: 22.94 per cent. (22.56); dairy produce: 25.19 (22.27); meat: 17.06 (16.24); all food groups: 21.42 (20.31).

His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has received a message of thanks from Major H. H. Wright,.of the Seventeenth Reinforcements, for the fruit and other comforts (including a piano) supplied by. the Mayor's Patriotic Committee.

The Wellington Philosophical Sooiety meets this evening at ther Dominion. Museum, when Mr. C. W. Adams, editor of the "Now Zealand Surveyor," and a life member of the society, will read a paper oil "Daylight Saving." It is some years ago since Mr. G. V. Hudson first introduced the subject in his paper on "Seasonal Time," published? in the "Transactions of the New Zealand l Institute," and .since then the subject has become of world-wide interest. Dr. J. Allan Thomson will read a pper on "Brachiopods," and has some interesting exhibits. The concluding" item on the programme is a kinematograph exhibition of scientific subjects.