LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3113, 18 June 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The possibility that Parliament may adjourn for a fortnight after assembling on June 28 having been, suggested, tho point was mentioned in Auckland to the Acting-Prime Minister, Sir James Allen. He stated that Tie saw no need for any adjournment, unless the Prime Minister (tho Right Hou.aV. F. Jlassey) and Sir JosepK Ward desired it. There was no reason otherwise why tho session should not go right on. The-business in liand was sufficient to warrant it, and he himself did not want an adjournment.

In the course of replying to a denotation- of carpenters at Auckland, the Act-ing-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) laid emphasis on tho probability in tho near future of many workers in. the nonessential industries having to turn their attention to industries of an essential character. "I think I ought to say," ho remarked, "that if the war is going on very I much longer I am afraid some of you who are engaged in industries liko carpentering will have to cast your eyes about to see if there is not some more essential industry for your employment. I am afraid that the more essential industries will have to Be given prominence, and that there may not be much work , in such an industry as carpentering if tho war lasts for long/' '

Tho heavy rain which fell on Saturday' was responsible for the postponement of tho sports which wore to bo held at Trentham by tho Thirtieth. Reinforcements, until a day to be decided upon this week.

An explosion occurred in the fish freezing works at Kaikoura. on I'riday (says a southern paper). The domo (weighing about 351b.) of tho compressed air chamber wae blown off and hurled through tho eastern wall of the engine-room, a distance of 75 yards, into tho Boat Harbour. Not muoh damage was done to tho machinery in the engine-room, but a portion of the building suffered somewhat. Mr. W. O'Connell. who was standing within a yard of the air chamber when it exploded, had a, miraculous escape. One piece just escaped striking him, and it passed over his head and partly demolished the switchboard. The explosion knocked him down, but he only sustained trifling injuries.

In reply to a question on Saturday Mr. J. A. Frostick, Efficiency Commissioner for Canterbury, said that lie intended to consult Labour as to the part it should play in dealing with schemes of national efficiency in which it was directly interested. During tho next fow days ho would issue invitations to representatives of Labour to meet him and discuss certain aspects of tho question. The conference would be fixed for this week, and ho hoped and believed that it would result in his obtaining- very valuable help. Mr. TJTOstick is still considering the importation of luxuries in order to place his views beforo the Efficiency Board. "E do not know when tho war will end," he said. "The person wlio prepared for the worst usually is tho ono who comes off best. All preparations should be completed in order that wo may be in a position to meet tho necessity tvlieii it arises."

The following temporary appointments have been approved by the Camp Commandant at Trentham:—Thirty-third Belniorcoments—Ptes. D. M. Bryan and I' , . Bettjeman, to be corporals. Thirty-first Reinforcements—Sorgt. H. B. l'ield, to to company sergeant-major. Q.M. Stores— Pte. B. Cameron, to bo lanco-corpornl. Serfrt. 'J , . H. Bapson, of tho 30th N.Z.I'U., to bo battery sergeant-major.

The National Efficiency Commissioner for Canterbury (Mr. J. A. JFrostick)statcd in Christchurch that tho Euilway Department had refused tho request of settlers at Maitai (West Coast) to l>o allowed to retain tho use. of a railway siding which hns been at thoir disposal for tho last twenty years. Tho position in regard to this siding is that it was originally laid down to carry ballast for railway purposes from a pit "in 'tho vicinity, but during the last two decades it has beon placed at the convenience of tho settlers, who say it saves them 'four miles of haiilago over bad roads. Tho Hailway Department apparently wants the rails on Hie siding for otlier purposes, but the settlors sav that there arc plenty of lijchtcr mild lying idlo at Tiaupo which could replace iiiose taken up. The Greymoirth Bnroiif?li Council, the Grey County Council and the local branch of the Farmers Union have made, urgent representations reBiirdin" the necessity of retaining the siding, and thoy have been backed up by the Advisory Committee of tho Innlion al Efficiency Hoard. The Railway .Department, liowdv.t, is adamant. It stales, that as the siding is no longer useful for hauling ballast, for which purpose il was laid down,, it must be removed.

Several important conferences will bo held in AVellington next mouth. Tim Labour Conferenuo will bo opened on .Inly 3, wliiio tho Dominion Conference- of Hie Farmers'' Union is fixed for July IM, 23, 2(i, and 27, tli« Racing Confurence and f.lie Agricultural and Pastoral Association Conference for the second week in ( l,uly; and tho Second Division League Conferonco on .Inly 18.

The Discharged Soldiers' Information Department lias dealt with 8815 men. up to tho ond of Inst week. The number of cases still in hand is 1115, of which 161 aro on tho "employment wanted' register. Ten unplaced discharged soldiers aro in Wellington.

The work of railway construction, said the Minister of Public Works, lion. W. i'rascv, in Auckland, is being pushed ahead as quickly as possible, hut ho added that tho progress is hampered conRidorably by the shurlago of engineers as well its of labourers. A special effort, he said, was being made to expedite tho construction of the tunnels on tho North Auckland lino near Ifaungatnroto. Jf these tunnels were delayed it would retard tho progress of other portions of tho work. There was therefore no intention of reducing the number of men employed on these tunnels.