LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 220, 11 June 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The arrivals in New Zealand during the monlih of May exceeded the departures by 353. In the corresponding month of 1919 there was an excess of departures of 501. Tho number of Chinese who arrived in the Dominion during tho month was 97, including three females, whilo 58 Chinese, including one female, departed. Authority was granted at last night's meeting of the City Council for the erection of two additional stories to the Union Steam Shi,r> Company's premises at Customhouse' Quay. The City' Valuer has been appointed the City Council's valuer in connection with tho revaluations of tlio Patriotic Endowment Block. . The use of bad language on the football field has become somewhat common of late, and the authorities controlling tho Rugby gome have recognised! that stern sentences should bo imposed in order to suppress the practice. At last night's meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union an application was received from tho Horowhenua Union for the reinstatement of a player who had been ordered off all grounds for persistont use of bad language. It was ] pointed out 'that the man had undergone suspension for eight years, therefore it was considered that he had been punished sufficiently, and the reinstatement was approved. "I wish they would impose somo such sentences in Wellington," remarked Mr. T. H. Jones, : "for something of Itlie kind is necessary." A number of applications for trees and shrubs have been received by the Director of City Reserves (Mr. J. G. Mackenzie), In reporting this fact to tho Reserves Committee of the City Council Mr. Mackena"'stated that a big plant' ing programme was outlined for the reserves this winter, and in viow of this fact he recommended that no trees be given away except for publb purposes. The recommendation was adopted by the City Council at its meeting last uight. General William Bramwell Booth, of the Salvation Army, has accepted an invitation to be the chief guest and speaker, at a Now Zealand Club luncheon on June 18. It has been decided by the New Zealand Association of British Manufacturers and Agents to tender a complimentary luncheon to His Majesty's Trade Commissioner, Mr. R. W. Dalton, to » elcome him upon his return to New Zealand, and to give members an o[iportunity of hearing Mr. Dalton on some important topics. Tho Prime Minister has promised to be present. Tho luncheon will bo held on Juno 17, af 1 o'clock. Thero was a bijj parade of Kilbirnie Company Senior 'Cadets at Hatnitai on Wednesday night, when' Colonel C. J. Cooper, C.B.E. (retired list), formerly Coast Defence Commander, Canterbury, addressed the company, apd presented a ladies' challenge cup and silver medal to Cadet A. N. (Jrimstone, who put up the highest shooting score for the unit. In the course of a brief address, Colonol Cooper impressed upon his hearers tho importance of becoming efficient in their work no as to bo ready to defend their homes if called upon to do so ill the years to come. He complimonted Cajitain R. H. Nimmo, officer commanding tho .company, on the steadiness of alj ranks and donated a prize _tjj bo com-peted-ior at the discretion of the O.C. During the evening, marksmen's badges were presented to Sergeant 13. J. Nation and Cadet T. G. Kvans, and efficiency badges were handed to Sergeant-Major I'. D. Edwards, Sergeant E. J. Nation, Corporal J. Hedley, and Cndet C. 'Lanharo. Good conduct badges were awarded to Sergeant Nation, Corporals Hedloy, J. Butterworth, L. P. Easson, A. Harruon, K, Read, and Cadets C. C. Chapman, T. G. Evans, C. Innham, and R. C. Smith. In tho Afagistrato's Court yesterday morning Mr. E. Page, S.M., lined Jemes M. Emberson and John O'Neil 10s. etch, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for insobriety. According to tho monthly statement submitted to last night's meeting of ho City Council 125,G97| gallons of milk wero treated by the Milk Department duriug tho month of April. The revenue received amounted to .£9llß Is. sd. The revenue pea- gallon was 17d., tho cost per gallon 12.5 d., and tho working expenses per gallon 3.5 d. ■ Tho capital expenditure was set down at J!1C,7.12 10s. 7d. A debit balance of JJ4115 2s. fid. was disclosed. The Minister of Public Works has informed Mr. Horn, M.P., that tho ei.ivey of the extension of tho Lawronco-Rox-burg railway from Beaumont has beou commenced, and it is probable that the locating work will be sufficiently advanced to ennblo construction to start when tho mon at present employed" at -Clyde and Cromwell havo finished their ivork. ; —Press Assn. , A telegram from Picton received last ' night stated that the Pateona would not ; leave thero until 3 o'clock this morning. Slia will therefore be duo in Wellington abouit 7.30 a.m., and is to Isertli at the Ferry .Wharf,

S "Oh, I know all about that," remarked s a deputation of ono in tho person of c Mr. .u. E. Tonka at last night's meeting , of tho City Council! in answer to tho Mayor's assurances that his property ' thru.ugh which it was proposed to lay a 1 public, drain would bo l'ully restored, t Mr. Tonks said that lie objected to tho . drain traversing his property, as there wore two streets which offered alternative routes. Tho, Mayor assured Mr. Touks that the cut through his property ' was necessary, ami that ho uould get ) "a fair deal." - The secretary of tho town-planning 1 eonfereneo writes in conncotion with . tho reference in yesterday's report to . tho Stato being niado a party to townplanning provisions: "The report states 1 that Mr. W. S. Wjilson's motion that ■ the Stato be bound to conform to the i principles laid down by the Act, where- - as Mr. ,T. R. Palmer's amendment was really carried: viz., that the Government bo bound by tho Act only where au area was declared a town-planning c district." The total irajnber of Chinese who S havo arrived at Auckland since the be- - pinning of the year is now 3GC. In . tlio sarno period 138 Hindus landed r there. t In view of the complaints received from , the Post and Telegraph Department with • reference to tho condition of the iclo- - phones at taxi-stands in the city, the 3 City Council last night decided to- ask tho Department to alter tlhe instruments , so that calls only could be received. I At a large meeting of the Prankton branch of tho A.S.R.S. the following J motion was passed: "That the decision ' of tho waterside workers not to -work 1 any ships bringing Asiatics to New Zea- , land is appreciated by this branch of t tho A.S.It.S., and that they have our t heartiest support in the furtherance of , their expressed intention in connection ' therewith. Furthermore we aro dis--2 (justed at the Government's apathy in 1 this matter, and deplore the fact that 3 Labour should have to make _ tlie first move necessary for the creation of a white New Zealand." ! A decision to forward a resolution c embodying a request that an endeavour - should be mado to secure tho services of , Dr. J. A. Gilruth as bacteriologist for . the Dominion was agreed upon at tho t meeting . f tho Auckland Farmers' , Union executive on Tuesday evening. Several speakers roferreil in eulogistic ! terms to Dr. Gilruth's work on behalf 5 of farmers in the Dominion when lie I was previously in "tlio service of the . Department of Agriculture. The City Council 6at in committee last night to a late hour, and when ' they adjourned they were still' in eom--1 mittee TITo council wiTT resumo their - deliberations in committee on Wednes- • day evening. ; The membors of No. 20 Company Sen- . ior Cadets, Blenheim, have issued a L challenge to play a Rugby match with , any company of Wellington cadets, ex- ' cept teams from schools or colleges. No. J 42 Company (Kilbirnie) have been se--1 lected to represent Wellington, and the • match, may be played as a "curtain- ; raiser" to the Marlborough-'Wcllington' [ representative fixture, which is to tako , place shortly. During their stay in Wellington, tho Blenheim cadets will bo 1 the guests of the Wellington boys, with whom they will bo billeted. | The methods of railway construction ■ in New South Wales have been tho subject of inquiry by the chairman of tho Auckland Eailways and Development League, Mr. P. E. Cheal (reports the "Herald"). He has received a communication from the Under-Secretary for Public Works for New South Wales , stating that the work there is entirely ; in the hands of commissioners for the construction of lilies, but that all expenditure abovo iC20,000 has to bo voted , by Parliament. Mr. Cheal expressed the opinion that this method is a long 6tep in advance of tho New Zealand system of constructing sevoral 6hort lengths of lino about a mile a year in disjointed' and disconnected sections. It had been found necessary in New South Wales to appoint commissioners not under politi!eal control, with the view of confining expenditure to tho construction of tho most important lines. This, he considers, ought i to be" the future policy in the Dominion to ensure rapid progress in construction, encourace settlement, and increaso production. Ho said also that ho considered all future allocations for railways /in New Zealand should 'bo mado on a basis of two-thirds to the North Island and one-third to tho South Island. In connection with a Cetter of {-rotest from tho Protestant Political League, tho Mayor, in explanation, said that tho council had granted permission to the Reman Catholic people to make a street collection in aid ot the funds cf the orphanage at tho Ilutt. That took placo during an inopportune time while tho Prince was here, and as the return was mcst unsatisfactory another t'ay was granted, but a protest had. been made that tho object of the collection was not set out on the boxes. Anyhow, a full announcement was made in tho papers as to the object of the' collection, so that no ono was under any misapprehension in connection with it. Everyone knew it was for the orphanage, and aj that institution mado no discrimination as to religion in the children they received, he thought tho council had acted in the proper spirit. Tho council approved the Mayor's action. "That the Greater Wellington Townplanning Association be informed," ran a clause in a Tramways 1 Committee report at last nighfs meeting of the City Council, "in reply to tliei.r request that preference should bo given to long-dis-tance passengers in connection with tlio revision of tram fares, that special consideration was given to this matter when the new scale was adopted." Councillor Shorland, in moving that the clause bo referred bnok to the committee for further consideration, urged that the time during which workers' concession tickets operate bo extended thalf an hour. Ho also suggested that tab question of increasing the Sunday fares should bo considered, seeing that the council was put to extra expense in providing the Sunday service. The Mayor, in reply, said that Councillor Sliorland's suggestions were premature. His Worship nppeilod for a montlii or two's grace, in order to see how the new system of cjiarges worked out. Tho clause was adopted as it 6tood. The "Digger" is fairly resourceful at a pinch, but ho would havo to get up extra early to go ono better than the long-servico "Tommy" oi tho following story General Sir <3. F. Milne, generally known to hjs men as "Uncle George," who commanded the British Salonika foroe, and now is in command of Constantinople, earned a reputation as a bit of a martinet. Once when inspectig a battalion of infantry at Salonika he snapped out to a very youthful platoon commander, "What's that man's name?" pointing to a man jn (lie front rank. The unfortunate youth who had only taken over the platoon 'the previous day and had no idea what the fellow's name was. lost his head, turned very red,' mijii siisped, "Smith, sir!" Like a flash tho General turned to iho man in cukstion, who was standing just behind, and barked, "What's your name, my man?" Without a second's hesitation ctme tlio answor, "Smith, sir," "H'm!" Show me your identification disc." Lost it yesterday, sir, and reported samo to quartermaster-sergeant, Gir," "Produce your pay book then, d it!" Without a moment's hesitation' came tho reply, '7,eft it in mv kit. sir." "Oh. indeed," said the general: "Lot me see. you'ro an old soldier, aren't yon?" "Bight years' sorvice. sir." "Humph! I thought as Much." said "Uncle George," with a j twinklo in his eye and passed on to tho next platoon. .Thalt is tho esprit do corps of the regiment. No officer will give a man qfvay if ho can help it, nor will a soldier let an officer down for tho credit of tho regiment. A„Press Association tolegram from Wliakatano reports that a leading Maori chief, Hurunui Ananui, rall>:d a meeting of representatives of t-hu principal , public bodies at tho Maori Pa on Wed- , nesday, to propose a joint Maori and pakelia war memorial. There was a largo attondßueo, and Hurunui's proposal was unanimously adopted. A representative eommittco was sot up to decido oil tho form of the memorial, and to erect it regardless of cost. The Natives desired tho memonil to be erected at the .sacred Pohaturoa rook, near tho hndiug-place of tho original Maori canoe in Whaka- , tano town, and this was unanimously j approved. j The' City Council decided last evening e to make a grant of «£SO towards tho funds < of tho New Zealand Aoademy of Fine, i Arte. R

'The evil is on tho increase,", states tho annual report of the National Dairy Association, referring to losses of butter and cheeso in transit on tho railways. After referring to desired improvements iu tho strength of puckage, tho report reads"Thoro is another factor that requires to bo remedied without delay; that is the pillaging of boxes of butter and crates of cheese from railway trucks whilst in transit. The evil is on the increase, and when three boxes of butter aro lost from a consignment of 200, as between loading station and destination, it is time tho Railway Department took responsibility for losses incurred, and adopted preventive measures to minimise tho constant annoyance and serious loss now prevalent. The association lias represented the importance of this question to the Minister of Railways on several occasions without success. The practice is allowed to drift, and ia growing daily worse." The Miramar Borough Council is to !i,° '"formed, in conformity with a City Council decision last evening, that tho request that the new car mileage charge slioiu'd not como into force vntil Ji.no U, bo not acceded to. The question of making an effort to offer a suitable welcome to immigrants belonging to tho Presbyterian Church, was raised at. tho meeting of th*> Auckland Presbytery on Tuesday evening by tho Rev. C. J. Tocker. Ho said that the need for it had been borne in upon him last week through meeting two young people just landed from tho l'aparoa. They were both Presbyterians. These two knew no one, and had nowhere to go. Ho heard of the case of i man, his wife, and threo children, from the samo boat, who were in a similar plight. The need for action would become more urgent as schemes.for immigration wero developed on a larger scale. The matter was being taken in hand by the State, according to an announcement by the Minister of Immigration, but for them as n church it was not right that, nothing was bein# done towards meeting and welcoming their own peoplo nmong the\ immigrants. It was decided that a com mittee should be appointed to go into the question of immigration, and report to the next meeting of tho Pre^bytwy. Support is to bo given by the City Council to the recommendation of tho New Plymouth Borough Council that the Government be requested to extend tihe operations of tho State Advances Department to allow of larger amounts being granted to local authorities by way of loan. "There's one matter which we, as an Industrial Association, will have to take ui) sooner or later," said Mr. J. A. Frostick at a meeting of the executive of tho Canterbury Industrial Association on Tuesday evening—"that is as to what the term 'bonus' means. Is it wages or what is it? Not scores, but hundreds of awards wero made with tho proviso that the 'bonus' should cease six months after the end of' tho war. Not only was this not the case, but the bonuses have been confirmed and others added to them. A union which doesn't like to go and ask the Court for .£1 10s. has no hesitation in asking for 6s. and a 'l>93us' of -Is." Other speakers expressed the opinion that tho bonuses would be withdrawn when prices fell, pointing out that the proviso for withdrawal six months after the end of the war was made when it was thought that prices would drop after the war, whereas they had gone up. Tho City Council last evening gavo support to the following > resolution of the Palmereton North Borough Council; —"That tho Government bo requested to at once uso every endeavour to obtain adequate supplies of cement so urgently required by local bodies throughout New Zealand fur the purpeso of undertaking the important works which they have now in hand." An appeal to all branches of the Farmers' Union to organise a canvass of their districts to ascertain the number of farmers willing to find employment for immigrants of both sexes forms part of a scheme to be launched by the Auckland Fanners' Union executive to encourage immigration to t.he Dominion. The decision was unanimously come to at a meeting of the executive on Tuesday evening after the pros and cons of tho proposed scheme had been very fully discussed.. Mr. J. E. Makgill moved tho resolution for tho adoption of the scheme. Ho said the idea of tho settlement scheme was to provide for immigrants for whom no suitable work was available. The scheme would help to open up our unimproved lands, and would also be giving good training to tho newcomers. There would be a great deal of initial expense before returns wero obtainable from the land, but -ultimately the scheme would provide much cheaper land in an improved state than was obtainable under present conditions. There is also provision in the scheme for the Government to be urged to at onco provide blocks of unimproved land suitable for small farms, with tho object of having the areas developed by gangs of men, including a large proportion of immigrants, under competent supervisors. It was suggested that such blocks, when ready for settlement, should be balloted for, t.he men who had been engaged for at least a year in the development of them to have preference at the ballots. A suggestion was also put forward that the Immigration Department ho requested to provide financial assistance for the canvass of the districts and the compilation of an employment register providing details of available situations.