LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3173, 25 August 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sir James Allen announced in tho House of Representatives yesterday afternoon that botli parls of the Twentyeighth Reinforcements had arrived at a port of call. Information has been received (says a Press Association telegram from Duncdin) that steamer communication from Isew Zealand to Sydney is to be reopened at an early date. What salary are you working for? asked the military representative of a Jlarist Brother who ga,vo evidence before the Military Servioo Board yesterday. "Wo are working with pleasure for tho caueo of Catholic education, not for salary. We receive .£6O to i!SO per year," was the reply. Mrs. Kathleen Violet Allen, whose husband is at tho front, died suddenly at her homo in Boulcott Street on Thursday morning. An inquest will be hold this morning. "They get travelling expenses; tho more they travel the more they maie."—Jlr. I'ayne on ono of the privileges of Ministers. Tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) will preside at tho sessions erf the Supremo Court which open in Masterton on September 10.

"They open Parliament with a prayer," said Mr. It. A. Wright, M.P., at tho opening of tho new Salvation Army Boys' llomo on Thursday, "and a very lino prayer it is. There is a strangers' gallery there, whero ladies and gentlemen come to listen to the eloquence of members. Strange to say, they only allow the ladies in to listen to the prayer. Tho men aro not allowed in until afterwards, which the reverse at Bellamy's, which has a sign up, 'No ladies admitted.' Evidently Parliament thinks that the ladies of New Zealand are moro in need of prayer than tho men." (Laughter.)

In reply to tho Hastings Chamber of Commerce, which urged the retention of the services National Efficiency Board, Sir James Allen says: "No effort, on my part will bo spared to keep tho National Efficiency Board in existence. Valuable work has already been done, and there is much raoro to be done."— Prsa Assn.

The Superintendent of Police yesterday received a telegram from Carterton stating that the dead body of a man was found on the bank of the Waiohine River, near Waihakeke, on Thursday night. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, and quite beyond recognition.

If a burglar was found in tho house the average representative of the feminine sex woilld probably quickly reach a fitate bordering on hysteria. There are, howevor, exceptions. At tho Magistrate's Court at Wanganui (says tho "Chronicle"), a lady resident of Wanganui explained what she did on finding a nocturnal visitor on the premises. Sho set out to capture him, but a badlyscared burglar managed to get out into tho yard. Tho lady followed hard on his tracks, and had a *hot at liim with a flower-pot, but the aim,, to use the thrower's own expression, vas unfortunately not true. The burglar then took a blind leap into the neighbouring yard.

In criticising the war profits, tax in tlio Houso of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Sir Joseph Ward quoted some results of the tax which he stated he was assured by the Commissioner of Taxes were typical. Under the war profits tax an assessable income of £67,000 ; of a farmer paid nothing at all, another farmer with an assessable income of ,£5003 paid ,£llO4 profits tax, whilst the income of a third farmer of .£914 paid Jiloo. Quoting business incomes, Sir Joseph Ward stated that an assessable income of 000 paid nothing, neither did incomes of ,£99,700 and .£92,118, but an income of <£2400 paid <£840. A professional assessable income of <£1950 paid no profits tax, but one of ,£36 no Daid .£7G7 and another of .£lOls paid ,£132.

New X-ray appartus is to bo installed at Wellington Hospital, and the board recently adopted tho suggestion of the Medical Superintendent (Dr. s Barclay), that a, medical practitioner be engaged to take sole charge of this branch, devoting himself wholly to the work. On Thursday tho Superintendent reported that he had been unable to find anyone locally, willing or qualified, to take the post. H© was, therefore, authorised to write to Colonel D. J. M'Gavin, N.Z.M.C., seeking his assistance in engaging a man from England or Frauce, prqferably a Now Zealander.

At the meeting of the Trades and Labour Council on Thursday evening the, matter of increased prices for meat caiuo up for consideration. The council passed tho following motion:— "Seeing the price of meat has been increased by about one penny pel- pound, the Government bo called upon to open meat shops in Wellington, so tlmt the people may get meat at a reasonable price."

A.t Thursday's meeting of the Hospital and Charitabio Aid Board tho desire of tho peoplo of the Horowhenua district la sever themselves as far as hospital and eharitablo \aid work is concerned from tho Wellington district was approved. The district will be attached to the Palraerston North Hospital District. The resolution, which was moved by the Rov. H Van Staveren and passed, was as un-der:—-"Thiit this board accepts the suggestion of tho Horowhenua County Coiin. oil in terras of its letter, subject to the council taking over the entire control of tho Otaki Hospital and Sanatorium..

' Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M., held an inquest vesterday concerning the death of an infant wlio-o bodv was fonnd 011 tho beach at Lvall Bay. The medical evidence was to tho effect that the. child was tully developed and was -born about threo days, but there was no indication that the child had breathed air. There was water in the body, uid it was evident •■hat the child was cither stillborn or had been placed iu water immediately it had been born. Tho examination showed that the latter theory was the more correct one. '.the Coroner returned a verdict that the child was found dead on tho beach at Lyail Bay,,but there was no evidence to show tho cause of death.

William Naismith, laundry.nan, was fined 10s. and costs by Mr. L. G.' Eeid, S.M.. in the Magistrate's Court yestevday for driving a stationary engine without, holding a certificate. Mr. J. O. Peacock, w-ho upneared for accused, explained that tho certificated engineer employed liy Mr. Naismith was suddenly called awav to Hastings, and owing to the difficulty of getting labour at short notico Naismith. who had a largo experience of machinery, attended to tho engine. Eolwvt Mason, an uncertificated engineer, who .was connected with Mr. Naismith in driving tho engine, was convicted and ordered to pay costs. A question regarding the exemption of dairy famiers and daily factory workers'from military scrvico was asked in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson. Mr. Wilkinson asked whether the Military Service Boards had been instructed to take notice of tho classification of industries as made by tho Efficiency Board. It appeared, ho said, that some oi the boards were not taJrine any notice of tho classification under dairy farming was declared "most essential." Men wero taken from dairy farms without any regard whether /those farms could be worked or not without them. Also, skilled men wero being taken from dairy factories. Sir James Allen, said that all military service boards had had tho classification sent to tiieni, and had been instructed to act upon it as far as they can.

The new fever pavilious which have been erected in the hospital area at Fcat'nerston Camp are now ready for occupation, when tho come along.. But at present there is only one case in the ward. Other parts ot the hospital are also comparatively envpty. The cottage for the uso ot relatives of sick men is noaring completion and will prove a boon to those parents ami others who have: to come from a distanco and wish to be near their soldier relatives during theii brier visits. Many other'improvements'have been carried out in the hospital block, which is now a widespread yet compact! v arranged organisation tor dealing efficiently with and preventing sick-, ness in the camp. In tho House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. Parr 'gave notice to ask the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the fact that General Godley, so far as the Army Corps is concerned, is appointed and paid by the Imperial Government, ho will inform the House the precise nature of the existing engagement, if "any, between the New Zealand Government and General Godley as regards tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force. slat-, ing the length of his twin and his duties. At a meeting of the Holy Pamily Confraternity, held at St. Gerard's Church, it was unanimously decided to erect a permanent memorial to the late Mr. Pred. W. Crombie, who died of wounds recently in France, and who was for nearly eight years secretary to tho confraternity. Tho 111011 on the confraternity intend to set about the work immediately, and to this end si committee was" appointed. As several of the late Mr. Crombie's friends will be anxious to assist in the erection of the memorial, the committee will bo pleased to receive help towards this object. The form that the memorial will tske will depend on the efforts of the committee. It was thought that about .£l5O would be required.to defray the necessary cost. The Very Rev. Father Roche, C.S.S.R., presided. The weather is getting spring-like. Does it suggest to you lighter boots. See our glace kid, 3!>s. 6d., 21s. Gd., 225. Gd., to ,15s.—Goo. Powlds, Ltd., Mannors Streot.—Advt. "No Rubbing" Laundry Help is what is recommended for washing clothes clean without rubbing or injury to tho hands or fabrics.—Thompson Bros., Ltd. -Advt.

1 lie returned soldiers who arrived afi Auckland an Wednesday will land at the Glasgow Wharf at 7 o'clock this morning. The Mayor (.Mr. J. p. Luke, C.M.G.)' will lie present to give tho men an official welcome. No ceremony is proposed, as there have teen difficulties in tho way of formal receptions, and tho soldiers* themselves have expressed tho desire that tliero should Vie no formality to delay their reselling their homes, 'l'ho Mayor, however, is appealing to owners of motorcars to be at the Glasgow AVharf at th& time stated to assist in transporting the men to their homes. Major Pryor, commanding the Motor Service Corps, and;. Mr. Stott, of the Automobile Association, have been communicated with, and have: promised to assist in this respect. Mr. W. H. Field gave notice in tha' House of .Representatives yesterday, try ask tho Minister of Industries and Commerce—(l) 'Whether tho Board of Trader has yet inquired into 'the reason why, bacon is being retailed in Wellington at Is. 3d. to Is. lid. per pound' whereas far-'' mers are understood to bu receiving notmore than Cd. per pound for their baconer pigs, and at the same tiino relinquishing] all by-products? (2) Whether tho atten-' tion of the Board of Trado has been* drawn to a pamphlet issued by a cooperative bacon company in which appears a statement by a director of tha company indicating that one of the objects of the company is to limit the supply of bacon on the Now Zealand market to a quantity which may be considered sufficient for that market, find to ship the surplus green to England? (3) Whether there is not danger of such a; policy having the effect of lowering the price of pigs to farmers and prejudicially affecting those ivho arc not shareholders of the company, and of increasing the price of bacon to consumers, thus following to some extent—doubtless, unintentionally—the methods employed by the American Meat Trtist! 1 (4) Whether this matter is not one.'roquiring investigation by the Board of Trade?