LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3143, 28 July 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Protest against the reappointment of Mr. Winston Churchill was made in the House of'Eepresentatives by Mr. G. V. Pearce. The reason, for his complaint was that he blamed Mr. Churchill for tho Gallipoli blunder, which had cost this country so much. He declared that tho appointment of Mr. Churchill to a Ministerial position was an insult to the people of the Australasian colonies, and he liopecl that the Government would inform the Imperial authorities that this was the opinion of the people of New Zealand.

An inquest will be held this morning concerning the death of George Arthur Tulloch, the soldier who was picked up in un unconscious condition, in Cuba Street on Thursday, and who died soon' after his' removal to the Victoria Hospital.

"The Americans simply love, to spend money," said Mr. Godfrey Magnus, of Wellington, who has just returned from a visit to the United States. "The country is inordinately prosperous, and money is very plentiful, but the means of spending it have developed' co-equally with the inrush of gold. In the hotels and restaurants, which are as a rule very luxuriously furnished and appointed, the tipping habit prevails to nil extent that is almost embarrassing to a New Zealander. In New York I learned that 20,000 dollars had been paid for tho cloak-room rights at the Waldorf-Astoria for one year, and no one would dream of reclaiming hie. hut and coat without giving at least a tea cent, (.id.) tip. If a small parcel ,is brought to your room it means ten cents,; though it could just ns easily be left in your room. It is a ten cent, tip for the most trivial service. As the result of the • European war the wealthy people of .the States have concentrated in New York for the season, and it is a matter of the-utmost difficulty to get a room, and prices rango from 41 to 10 dollars a day for the use of the room only. As for meals, tho prices paid at the leading hotels make one gasp, and I have known 100 dollars to be paid for tho use of one table near the performers at a fashionable cabaret, and that table would not be occupied until .midnight, the "night out' consisting of dinner, the theatre, and then the cabaret. They are sticklers for fashion, too. For instance, it is not correct to be seen in a straw iiat after a certain date, and on May 15 a change takes place from the bowlor and felt hat to" the 'boater.' Men's fashions are ruled with a rod of iron by a group of leaders in that line of business, who say, in the cut of an evening dress, and no ono in the swim would dream of being seen in a dress suit of the previous season's cut. Souuds silly, but it is so!" Tho National Council of the Australian Y.M.C.A., prompted by their recognition of the need and by their appreciation of tho magnificent support jvliich the .Tews of Australia have given to the Y.M.C.A. war work, have appointed Mr. Harold Boas, son of a Jewish -minister at Adelaide, Jewish representative of the association for special service to Australian Jewish soldiers at home and abroad. A petition was presented to the Houso of Representatives by Mr. 'luthrio yesterday , from Mr. Ernest Short, of Fcilding, the well-known etud breeder, a&kiug for an inquiry into the action cf the Defence Department ' n calling up his sous under C'lauso 35 of the Mililarv Service Act. Ifllß. The following resolution was passed by tho Farmers' Union Conference esterday:—'"Hint lamb in the cold stores of New Zealand not required for the soldiers slioiild be sold in the Dominion, and that the prices ex store should be tho prices paid to tho fanners."

On cold (lays you will find delicious warmth and rich refreshment in a steaming cup of : Desert Gold Tea, which is still the Queen of Teas. Its popularity is due to the careful selection rnd packing of Ceyl«n's choicest ' teas, which make a. beverage inviting aroma and tempting flatour. The pure goodness of Desert 'Gold ensures economy in useit makes mom cups of tea fo the pound than inferior brands. Order the 2s. grade of Desert Gold for highest value. —Advt. . i .

The annual report of the Immigration Department; laid on- the tablo of tiie House by the Prima Minister yesterday afternoon, stated that the number of arrivals in .New Zealand from the United Kingdom during tho year elided March 31 Inst was 3503. Of this total 638 were assisted to tho Dominion by tho Government. These comprised 1)9 men, 3SO women, and 219 children booked to the following provinces:—Auckland, IGS; Canterbury, (14; Hawke's Bay, ill; Marlborough, 13; Nelson, 8; Otago, 20; Southland, 17; Taranaki, lit; Wellington, -(U ; AVesllaiid, 22. They comprised 9!) domestics, G farmers and farm labourers, 2.5 wives and children of sucli, and. 508 separated relatives. Last \ ear's total of assisted immigrants was'the lowest since the initiation of Iho scheme in 1005, the figures for the previous vpnr being 1103, for 1915 29SG, and for 191 1 5001. The Government is not accepting the nomination of men eligible for military service, but the inquiries' regarding the number of women in the United Kingdom under forty-five years of ago who lave lost their breadwinners through the war, and who may Im* willing to emigrate to New Zealand under the existing scheme of as-, sisted passages to take up domestic service in the Dominion arc being continued.

"Who can say that the High Commissioners we have appointed to icpvcsent us in London have been suitable nu-n lor the position? One of tho men wo appointed was not fit to preside at a Methodist School picnic!"— Mr. llindmarsh ill the House of Representatives yesterday. He was speaking at the time cf tho necessity for Britain to tako more care alter tho war regarding the appointment of consular and trade icpreseulatives for .Britain in different parts of the world. Tie said , that the British practice was to give these positions not to flip best men available, but to men with influence who wanted billets.

Tho Minister of Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) replied yesterday to statements made at the last meeting of tho Wellington Education Board relating to the admission of two students to'the Wellington Training College. The fact, he said, was that tho regulations for the admission ..of Division A students to a training college required as an essential condition that the applicant must have completed the course as a pupil-teacber or probationer. This condition had not been satisfied in the caso mentioned hy the board. In ono case fthat (f Jliss T.ublow) the Nelson Education Board had certified that the applicant had completed her course as probationer, but inquiry had elicited the fact that though she had acted as a probationer for her first year, she had been described by the board in its returns as a relieving teacher, and paid out of the relieving teachers' fund. To recognise in this case'the first yenr of probationer service would be tantamount to approval by til Oeepartment of a, breach of its own regulations, and an unwarranted payment by an education board. The attention of the Audit Department had been drawn to the payment. In the second case (that of Miss Priestley) the Wellington Education had accepv?d as correct a statement in tho application form that the applicant had completed her service'as puuil-tencher. But as a matter of fact she'had not..completed her service, having still another year to runi The personal hardship in each caso was recognised, but it was the Education Board's fault, by their failure to follow the regulations, that had caused Ihe hardship, not the Department. The Department could not allow its regulations to be broken at will, and then condone the breaches simply because hardslim arose in individual cases.

When the Tokomani was torpedoed by the (ienn.nis on her voyage Home in lftlt she carried Ifll'carcasses of frozen miilton, a donation from the New Zealand Branch of the Poor of Groat Biitain ond Ireland and Belgium Relief 'fund, to be 'used for the relief of British ami Belgian people who were in distress as the, result of the war. The meat was not insured, and. the general .-ecretavy of the fund (Mr. Iv. W. Shallcrass) was duly informed of that position by the Xew- Zealand High Commissioner. Now better news has coine to hand.' The .High Commissioner advises tliat actions were brought in the Courts against the shipping company for. loss .of cargo on the ground that the vessel was o.ut of its course, when torpedoed, and a decision was 'obtained that the company was' responsible for the value of the cargo. On learning these facts the High Commissioner got into touch with the average adjusters, and after negotiation ..btained a settlement of 50 per cent, of the value of the mutton, and that sum (4)314 Ss. 7d.) has accordingly been paid. ■ The High Commissioner considers this very satisfactory, especially having regard ; to' the fact that the consignment was not insured.

Concrete roads, rive .the. roads of. the future, says Hi*." Godfrey Magnus, who has' .just returned from . the . United States. There such roads are being laid dowa in all parts of the country , .to. meet the demands of the ever-growing motor traffic. He had the great pleasure of travelling over the 500-mile concrete road that joins San Francisco to Los Angeles. "It is perfect travelling at last," says Mr. Magnus. "The action of the car is so smooth that you could imagine you. were travelling on silk."

A story is related, says the Auckland "Star," regarding a man who enlisted foe, active service, giving 'his age as fortyfour years.* He passed the training tests successfully in. camp, and had been upon final-leave: His-wife-,went to Wellington to see her husband before he left for the' front,. and when chatting with one of the officers she chanced to mention her son at the front. Being asked her- husband's age, she replied, "fiftylive years," and as a result of her. frankness "took her husband home again for being oyer age. For months past more wet weather lias been experienced in the Auckland district than during " any' corresponding perjod, within the memory of the oldest resident? '- Since - the beginning -of the month Tin.-of rain-has fallen. The Auckland "Star" states that one-of the re: suits of the continued wet weather has been to render many country roads almost impassable at the present time. As a result, goods sheds at some country stations are stated to be crammed full of stuff that iNs impossible 1 to cart away under existing conditions.

In the Magistrate's- Court yesterday Mr. S. B. M'Carthy, S.M., fined Joseph Henry llorrowmen ,£5 and costs, in default one month's imprisonment, for failing to .notify the Government Statistician of change of address, as required by the-Military Service Act... '

■The Education Board lias decided against State school children being allowed to take part in the Violet Day- movement in 'Wellington.

When the mailboat from Australia and New Zealand "is approaching Victoria (8.C.). it is boarded by a U.S. immigration officer, whose business is to find out which of the passengers :ire going to the States. He is given facilities for doing this, and -when any person purchases a railway ticket at Vancouver for anywhere in the States tliey hare to see the immigration ofiicer and have it endorsed, w'liicli little operation costs eight dollars, (instead' of four dollars as formerly). If the visitor is leaving the States again within GO days lie may, if energetic enough, get a refund of the whole of that nioncv, the operation is said to be a little difficult, and many let it go bv the board for that reason. Mr. W. J.'S. Hayward,'of Wellington, had to make tliree calls on the officials concerned, but, determined not to be beaten l>v the wily "Yank." he succeeded in reclaiming his eight dollars. The Wellington 7.00 promises to be not onlv ono of the most interesting attractions in . Wellington from a zoological standpoint, but it bids well to become ono of the city's fairest beauty spots. The "Roso and Carnation Club are d° l,, S valuable work in the establishment of what promises to be one, nt the micst roserie.s in Wellington. P" Vi ' o-n week last thev planted 110 fewer Hum Jail of tlio newest choice rose trees, ninkimr ill all linn trees. which cost the club £58 The aesthetic idea, lias been grafted on to the- 7,00 with such effect that another piece of bind has been placed at the disposal of the club, and is .to bo planted this season. January and I'cbruary next should see the roscry a blazo of lovely colour. A IMIII takon ill Keatlierston on Thursday on the question of constituting a borough resulted:-For the proposal, 73;' against. ■<; informal, 1. . From Auckland to tho Bluff housewives are singing the praises of. "NO RUBBING" Laundry Help, because it has abolished washboard skvery. ■ A good reason, isn't it?—Advt. ■

Three members of Details, 'J'reJitham Camp, have been sentenced by courtmartial to imprisonment with hard labour for eleven months for disobeying lawful commands given by a superior officer. A member of F Company, Twenty-third '.Reinforcements, found guilty of: (1) Deserting His Majesty's service, and (2) losing by neglect his equipment, clothing, and regimental necessaries, has been sentenced to 50 days' detention, and to stoppages of pay for deficiencies of kit. A member of J Company, Twenty-sixth Reinforcements, found guilty of absenting liimself without leave and losing by neglect his equipment, etc., has also been sentenced to 81 -days' detention, and "to stoppages of pay i'or deficiencies of kit.

Very late last night, or rather early this morning, Mr. 11. G. Ell raised a debate in the House on the question of tiapping rabbits, llis idea was that' rabbits should not be poisoned, but in view of the shortage of food the rabbits should lie conserved for food. E\ery member who had any knowledge of the rabbit est was oil his feet at once, to say thai the scheme was no aood. The general opinion was that the tripping of rabbits induced the farming of rabbits, and that it was not effective in reducing the pest. The opinion of. the Minister of Agriculture was that it might be well to stop the export of rabbits altogether in order to prevent trapping. He was going to. havo inquiry inado into this vivy question. He believed that a commissioner would have to be appointed to look after tho rabbit question, and nothing else, in the South Island. Tiio' increase in tho pest all over'the country had been alarming.

■ Messrs. Baldwin and Raywnrd, patent attorneys and" consulting engineers,, of 215 Lambton Quay, Wellington, report that recentlv they acted as ugerfts In filing tho following applications for let'ters patent of New Zealand:—F. Marsh, Leeds, boot protector; A. R. Alolloy, Carterton, loaf holder; H. B. Murphy, W'aikanae, flax catcher; T. Ritchie, Sydney, fumigating; H. Crump, Auckland, extension table; S. S. Alhvill, Hautapu, ma-chine-gun: Lyell and M'Leod, Lytt.elton, motor; W. Perry, Masterton, f.roin; F. W. Page, Morriusville. earmark: T. (.'mnmings, Awakiuo, drench administering; 11. Rumble, Bunbury, retaining wall; A. O'Connor, Dubbo. plough; H. Ziman, Sydney, life jacket; E. Stern, St. Louis, vehicle tyre? Egerton and Thornton, Auckland, ointment.