LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3140, 19 July 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Yesterday was Arbor Day, and in a few cases the city schools applied to the City Council for shrubs, and were supplied, but on the whole tho wiso injunction to "plant a tree" was neglected by most people. Arbor Day-was not officially recognised by tho Uty Corporation other than by disposing of certain nursery stock. There wore many applications, but no further plants and shrubs are available for tho public.

\_ few days ago a question was nsked in the House of Kopresentatives as to whether any dentists had boen appointed to the Dontal Corps who were not members of the Dontal Association. the Minister read to the House yesterday a report ho had received on the matter. Tho reply was that when appointments are being made the question of whether or not a dentist belongs to the Dental Association is never raised. The Minister also gave the names of five dental corps officers who do not belong to the Dental Association. One of the results of tho police campaign to ensure that all men of military age are enrolled as reservists has been that a number of mon who have been drawn in ballots and have failed to report themselves have been found out. Sevoral were arrestod yesterday and handed over at once to the military authorities. The police investigations have greatly increased the business to bo dealt with by the Government Statistician, and the offioe is daily inundated with inquiries from all over New Zealand.

At a District Court held at Featherston Military Camp,.a soldier was found guilty of desertion and also guilty of losing by neglect his equipment and regimental necessaries. A sentence of 112 days' imprisonment with hard labour was imposed.

Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., gave:notice in the House yesterday of the Day's Bay Sanitation and Water Supply Bill and the Wellington City Trading. Department's Eeserve and Renewal Funds Bill.

His Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, yesterday heard an appeal from the decision of Mr. L. G. Beid, S.M., in awarding W. H. Trengrovo, of Courtenay Place, motor garage proprietor, JE2O damages against Patrick Cavanagh, of Kaiwarra, dairyman, The case arose out of a collision between tho respondent's motor-car and tho appellant's cattle on the Hntt Road in April, 1916. The Magistrate had found that the appellant was negligent, and the grounds of the appeal were that the evidence did not support this finding, and that tho respondent had been guilty of contributory negligence. Mr. M. F. Luckie appeared for the appellant, and Mr. ,T. J. M'Grath (instructed by Mr. Howard Hill) for the respondent. His Honour userved his decision.

Yesterday morning the police, in response to a telephone message, went to a house in Clifton Terrace and took possession of a female child, four weeks old. The child had been apparently abandoned by the mother, who is unknown in the vicinity of the house. The infant has been committed to the Wellington Receiving Home pending farther information.

Replying to a question by Mr. W. H. Field the Prime Minister stated yesterday that the Government is inquiring for a block of land near Otaki for returned soldiers' settlements. Tho Government has been disappointed regarding a block near Levin.

About'3.s p.m. yesterday the Fire Brigade was called to Alfred Street to deal with an outbreak of firo at No. 4, a three-roomed houso occupied by Thomas W Dolden. The blaze was suppressed before it had done more than destroy the mantelpiece and damage the wallpaper. A proposal is made by l Mr. George Hunter and other members that the Government should impose a duty of 10 per cent on motor-tyres, and distribute tho money among local bodies for the upkeep of roads. The reply of the Minister 13 that it is unlikely that a revision of the tariff will take place this session. The Hon. G. W. Russell informed the Houso of Representatives yesterday that legislation would be introduced this session to provide for tho extension uf the kinematograph film censorship to rover posters and. advertisements relating to picture shows. Replying to a question by Mr. R. Fletcher in the Houso of Representatives the Minister of Defence said that no complaints had been made by tho military authorities sinco the first year of tho war that over-indulgence of liquor by the New Zealand Forces had affected training. It was a fact that on repeated occasions compliments had been paid to the physique of our reinforcements, and not only to their physique but also to their discipline and sobriety.

The world-famed Stotson hat, in Black, Brown, Slato. Grey, Fawn, etc. Plain felt 255. Valour, 325. 6d. to 425. George Fowlds, Ltd., Manners Streot.—Advt. •

A paragraph appeared in ono of the Wellington newspapers indicating that Captain Malcolm Ross was acting as cousor of correspondence at tho front. Mr. .T. V. Brown drew tho attention of tho Priino Minister to the paragraph, suggesting that Captain Ross ought not to bo allowed to keep this position as well as Unit of official correspondent. Mr. Mn'ssey said ho had no knowledge of tho ap-' pointmont of Captain Ross to tho position of coneor, adding: "I don't believe for a moment lie has beon so appointed."

Claims for a new award have been filed with tho Clerk of Awards by the Wellington Plumbers' Union. They are on similar lines to other claims filed'some timo ago by the Now Zealand l'lumbei's' federation, a minimum wage of 2s. an hour being asked for. Tho federation wished to obtain a Dominion award, but owing to'a question of procedu.ro arising, it has beon found necessary to file separate claims in tho various industrial distriots, and make arrangements for consideration of tho matter by tho Conciliation Councils and the Arbitration _ Court in the various centres. The Wellington' case will come before the Conciliation Council on August G.

"Arrangements are being mado by the Imperial Government for an, exhaustive report on tho mineral resources of every part of the Empire, New Zealand included, and an organisation has already been set up with this object in view, said the Prime Minister in the House or Representatives yesterday.

The visiting delegates to' tho Second Division League Conference were entertained by the Wellington Committee last evening, when a dinner was given in their honour at the Grand Hotel. Some eighty guests wero- present. The toast of "Our Boys at the Front" was proposed by Mr. T. B. Slipper (of Wanganui). and responded to on behalf of our absent heroes bv Dr. Paterson (of Geraldine). The toast of "The Visiting Delogutes' was duly honoured, and responded to by Messrs. Pattle (Otago), Dolan (llawke'a Bay), Goodman (Canterbury), List (Taranaki), Connolly (Geraldine), and Creamer (Auckland). Tho Rev. Mt. Tockor (South Canterbury) proposed the toast 'of "Our Soldiers' Dependants," and j.O'nted to the fact that tho greatest ?aoriflces were made by those who remained behind and gave their loved ones in the causo of Empire. The toast of "The Prcsidont of the Conference" was proposed by Mr. G. P. Bewley (Dunediu). Musical items rendered by Messrs. Blick, Iveaney. JN'orm'nn Aitkon, and Albert Russell were greatly appreciated by those present, and encores wero the order of the evening.

Referring to the treatment of crippled soldiers, the Minister of Defence 6tatcd in tho House of Representatives that tho Government had oolleoted all available information regarding the provision made for the training of thoso men in other countries. Tho timo had not iimved for launching a scheme in Now Zealand, because the Government could not tell vet what number of men would need training. Crippled New Zealand soldiers were receiving training and were being fitted with artificial limbs m England, where the facilities were adequate, and be bad arranged to send back to England some returned men who needed to Iw fitted with artificial limbs by experts. Tho whole matter was receiving attention, and the Government would be ready to act when tho right time came.

"I realise that there is a great deal to be said on behalf of the poople who are agitating for the suspension of Territorial camps during the war, said bir Jamos Allen in the Houso of Representatives. "But the Territorial camps aro ovor for the presont year and there can be no more troublo until next ieoTuarv. I feel that if wo break the continuity of our Territorial training it will be very difficult to restore it. Between 13,000 and 14,000 of the men who went into the Territorial camps have since joined the Expeditionary Foreo, with their valuable experience and training. That fact is mating for the efficiency of our Now Zealand Army today That is why. as Minister of Defence I hang on as long as I can to these Territorial camps.

Speaking in tho Houso -of Representatives a few days ago, Mr. A. 11. Hindmarsh rated the Defence authorities soundly for their treatment of a returned soldier who, it was alleged, could not get admission to the Wellington Hospital, although he was in sore need of hospital treatment. The Defenco Minister gave tho Honse the facte of the case yesterday Tho soldier had an injured arm, and tho medical authorities recommended him for treatment as an out-patient oi tho Hospital. He was so treated tor a timo. It was then decided that an operation was necessary, and the man was informed that he would be admitted to tho Hospital as soon as a bed was available: The man was apparently under the impression tliat he should be admitted at once, and felt aggrieved because tho Hospital authorities would not take him in. At the timo tho Hospital was full, and there were • numbers of operation cases awaiting admission.

The Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has sent a letter to the War Relief Association sugesting a method of overcoming the difficulty experienced by drivers of vehioles in carting goods to Kelburn, especially between Ghuznoe Street and the upper part of Mount Street. _ The society's suggestion is that the association should provido a returned soldier with a suitable horse and necessary harness) and that the man should - bo stationed at the top of Ghuznee Street Teady to hook his horse on to any loaded vehicle for which assistance was required. The society expresses 1 its belief that a returned soldier could make a good living at the w-ork, and says its inspector wonTH be gUd to supervise the working of the horse and see it was well cared for.

A referenco to New Zealand's war debt was made by Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., in addressing the committee of the Auckland branch of the Second Division League on Monday evening. No one, he remarked, could say exactly how much the Dominion'* had to pay. We had to bear not only all the expenses incurred in New Zealand, hut also all costs arising in Europe in connection with the feeding and equipment of our Foroo. Evon all the costs of food, clothing, the shells and ammunition fired by our mon were debited to the Dominion. He did not suggest that the expenditure was unnecessary or inadvisable, as our men at the front wore entitled to every consideration. Now that married men wore to he called upon the country would have to face a still heavier expenditure on account of the difference in the pensions and allowances to single and married men. Those who remained behind, Mr. Parr added, would have to submit to very severe taxation of both property and incomes.

The matter of filthy lucre- in a literal sense was brought undor the notice of tho Invercnrgill Chamber of Commerce at their meeting on Friday last by Mr. H. W. Royds. Mr. Royds remarked that the two loading banks in New Zealand hud recently issued splendid balancesheets, disclosing immense profits, yet they supplied to their customers bank notes of such a filthy nature that, were a private tradesman to serve goods in a like condition, he would be prosecuted by the Health Department. Now that notes were legal tender, they had no option in the matter (formerly they could have asked for gold), and ho was of opinion that they should nsk for cleaner notes. The hands which handled them handled foodstuffs immediately afterwards, so that none could tell the dangers of the dirty notes. Other speakers agreed, Mr. Hoyles suggesting that o specimen note be sent to a bacteriologist in order that its "population" might bo ascertained, and Mr. Moffett offering fumigation as an alternative if new notes could not be issued. It was decided to place tho matter before the Association of Now Zealand Chambers of Commerce.

Tho House of Representatives agreed vesterdav to givo leave for one week to tho membor for Grey, who is st'll w gaol serving a sentence for breach of the \\ai Regulations. The previous _ day -Mr. a. Walker had asked permission to jnme without notice for leave for Mr. \\ el>o, hnt a few members raised objection, and Mr. Speaker advised Mr. Walker to g yo notice of his question. Mr Walker did not give notice, but yesterday ho again asked permission to move without notice One voice ''No" would ta/f™!™ his doing so; and Mr. T. W. Rhodes did actually call "No." Mr. Speaker ignored tho objection, and Mr. Rhodes did not press tho point.-

The tact and energy displayed by Wellington grocers in trying to cope with tho enormous demand from housewives for tho famous "NO RUBBING" Laundry Holp. ia most EroJewflrthj,—Adst,

A demand for tho standardisation of school books was made by Mr. G. Witty on a question addressed to the Minister of Education (tho Hon. J. A. Ilanan). The Minister replied as follows:—"Standardisation of class-books throughout tho .Dominion involves'a change in tho books now in uso in a largo proportion of schools, and such a step is not regarded ns desirable when economy is imperative in so many homes. For the time being, therefore, I am not disposed to rdopt measures that, whilo intended in the interests of economy, will have immediately an opposite effect. I favour any sthenic that will enable pupils to procuro their books at cheaper rates, and tho question of supplying them either through tho education board* or through a eer.-tral depot will receivo consideration." A suggestion was mado to tho Minister of Railways by Mr. Leo and other members of tho House of Representatives that ha 6hould discontinue concessions in fare 3 to theatrical companies and circus companies. The Minister replied as follows:—"The practice of granting, at tho convenience of the Railway Department, first-class accommodation on payment of the full second-class ordinary faro to theatrical, concert, and circus companies has obtained on the Now Zealand Railways from the earliest days. So far as tho New Zealand Railways are concerned, it represents the of what is n world-wide' railway practice, being a concession in accommodation and not on the ordinary rates, and as it mainly referred to people who were travelling for a livelihood it was considered undesirable to suspend tno regulation in the first case, but the question of withdrawing the concession is now under consideration."