LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 250, 16 July 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The totail births registered for the four metropolitan areas'amounted in June to 863, as against 73G in May, an increase w 127. The deaths in June were 403, a doorcase of 23 as compared with the previous month. Of tho total deaths males contributed 221 and females 182. Sixtysix of th« deaths were of children under five years of age, being IG.BB per cent, of the whole number. Fifty-seven of these were under ono year of age.

It is notified for the information of all concerned tJiat tho time for receiving nominations for assisted' passages to New Zealand from Great Britain of wives or fiancees of New Zealand soldiers has been extended until December 31, 1920. This date is to bo final. . Soldiers conanrned should therefore comniunicato with the Under-Secretary, Department of Immigration, Wellington, before th® time limit expires.

The deaths of 202 persons of G5 years and upwards were registered for the four metropolitan and nine suburban areas during the month of June, as against. 206 in May. Twenty-two of the number died in tho Wellington metropolitan area, and of these 11 were mtiles and eight females.

Allegations that a number of jockeys were simply touts for bookmakers, and 6hould nover have been licensed, were made b.vNlelegates at yesterday's sitting of the Easing Conference. In order to cheok tho abuses obtaining under the present system, whereby { jockeys' licenses are issued by district committees, tho president (Sir George Clifford), at tho request ©f tho Stipendiary' Stewards' Committee, moved: "That all licenses be granted by a' licensing committee of the conference, and issued by tho secretary of tho conference." "ho machinery clauses attached to tho motion provided for the annual nomination by t.liu conference of a'licensing comniiltec of eight persons, one by cach metropolitan district committee; and further, that all applications for licenses should bo forwarded through the respective district committees of the metropolitan, districts. In support of the proposal it was pointed out that under the present system applications for licenses were subject to local influences. Tho proposal was favoured by 19 votes to 12, but not carried by the required two-thirds majority. It, therefore, lapsed.

A paTty of sportsmen who were prosecuted at Timaru for treepaßsing lu pursuit of game on the bird sanctuary at Lake Alexandria on May 1, pleaded that they were outsido the limit of half a mile from tho lako. The evi. denco showed that they were only a quarter of a mile from it. Decision was reserved on the legal point that the Gazette notice of tho sanctuary should lie descriptive, whereas it only defined the boundaries by reference to somo map.—. Press Assn.

The practice of racing under assumed names was reviewed by the facing Conference yesterdny, when Air. J. K, Perrett (Wanganui) moved as follows: "No assumed name shall bo used in any entry." The mover stated that tiiosu responsible for the proposal wero satisflod that it was ono of tho first alterations necessary if the clubs desired to purity the sport They quite realised that many owners who racod under assumed names wore very estimable gentlemen, but there were others who were not in this category. The latter registered under assumed names for tlio purpose of providing a cloak to cover practices which were' not in tho best interests of the sport. Incidentally, Mr. Tcrrctt mentioned that some owners used assumed names out of sentlmont, others on the score of good luck or for business reasons, and some for tho purpose of deceiving those who were nearest and dearest to them. Tho English Jockey Club had abolished tho usb ot assumed names, and it was tjmo tho New Zealand racing authorities followed suit ana made owners "oome out into tie open." The motion, which was supported by the Hon. 0. Samuel and the president (Sir George Clifford! was carried unwii. mouflly.

The disappearance of Mrs. Maud Elizabeth Barnard from hor home nt No. 11 Hall Street, Newtown, has not jet oeca explained. Tho polico stated last night Hint they had found no trace, of the missing woman. Mrs. Barnard has been absent from homo since Tuesday.

It is notified in the Gnzetto that next year only five New Zealand cadetships at 'the EoyaJ Military College of Australia will be open for competition.

Notice of proposed cancellations of industrial associations and unions, as follows, is published in tho Gazette, issued yesterday:—Hastings Master Ilorse-shoers Union of Employers; Hawke's Bay Mnster Bakers' Union; Manawiitu Master Builders'^Union; Palmerston North Licensed Victuallers and Allied Trades Union of Employers; Wanganui Master Plumbers' Union; and Wellington I'urnitilre and Furnishing Trado Union of Employers.

The necessity for the employment of efficient racecourso detectives has not lessened in tho slightest degree during tho past year," remarked Sir Gcorgo Clifford in the course of his presidential address at yesterday's sitting of the Racing Conference. "Tho undesirable element is still horo in numbers, the racecourse being one of his principal hunting grounds. Although tho Government has taken a stronger hand in enforcing the law, illicit betting is still rampant in every centre." At a later stage in the proceedings tho president reiterated his remarks when urging tho adoption of the following remit: "That the conference select detcctives, who shall bo specially put on as racecourse detectives, at all meetings to take charge of the courses, the conference undertaking to pay, by levy from the clubs, the salary and expenses of these men when on this 6pecinl duty." He 6trougiy urged tho conference -to make arrangements effectively to police all racecourses in order to cope with the small army ot undesirables who drifted from one meeting to another. In the course of a general discussion it was pointed out that five or six men of high standing 111 the police force of the Dominion were prepared to undertake the work, and they had the advantage of knowing praetioally every undesirable in the country. Opponents of the proposal con-tended-that tho Government should enforce its regulations relativo to race-' oonrse supervision. Eventually the proposal was rejected in favour of a resolution requesting the president' to interview the Government with a view to securing moro effective supervision of racecourses by detectives,'

, A by aeroplane from Auckland v? is contemplated by Messrs. Walsh Brothers, of tho former city, . and Mr. Vivian Walsh, has been visiting towns en' route, with a view to selecting suitable landing-places. It is intended to stop at various plaoes on the rw • t, Blv m sll ?, rt Passenger flights. Captain Russell will be the pilot in charge of the machine.

In the Magistrate's Court at Timaru yesterday a publican was prosecuted for allowing drunkenness on his premise" Ho explained that tho man came into tlie bar intoxicated and was refused whisky., lo pacify him and save cject"nt*™ , probabl .r.causing a branch or the peace ho was given a soft drinit. 1 lie police came in just after. Tho Magistrate held that tho explanation was satisfactory, and said that the Jicenseo had done tho best thing under W circumstances.—Press Assn. lho deaths of 33 persons who died !™ ta m «" 1 ' rfnn K ie i 'I!* 11113 foUr and ~"1° suburban areas, and of these iS were males and 24 females. i,/' 10 " e s essi ty for purging their own houjo before approaching . the Government with a request to curtail further tho activities of bookmakers, was cinASf iT" 1 ? Prosjdent (Sir George I Clifford) at yesterday's sitting <jf tho liacing Conference. Ho was speaking to « i. nl i 0 ii P r °P!«iii<f disqualification for not less than six months in the caso of any owner (or person having an interSe) II,nl:ill S ft wager with a bookmaker on any Jiorse in the race ■the president pointed out that it was the duty of the confcrenco 1o endeavoui to put down tho practice of Rome owners m trafficking with bookmakers. Soma owners openly flouted the present prohibition contained in the rules, and this reacted against tho welfare of the turf, lho passing of lho resolution would show the Government that tho conference was acting in good faith in urging that tho sport of racing'ehould be still further protected against the operations of bookmakers. Tho remit was carried unanimously.

When Canterbury members were interviewing the Minister of Public Works yesterday, Mr. Burnett (Tomuku) ntated that they considered the Bullcr Gorge railway should take precedence over any other railway in tho South Island. Mr. br. Forbes (Huriinui) disagreed. lie could not consent to the Buller Gorge lino being placed ahead of the South Island Main Trunk. A brief argument on the point indicated that the Canterbury members had considered the relative importance of tho two lines, aha had been unable to reach agreement. The Court of Appeal was yesterdav eugaged in hearing the appeal of' 11. onushall against a judgment of Mr. Justice Herdman declaring certain "paper'' roads in the county of Kaikoura to be pubtic roads, bnushall contended, throughout the Supremo Court proceedings, which culminated in tho judgment referred to, that tho County Council was wrong in removing fences ho had erected across these roads.

A poll at Cambridge on a proposal to borrow ifiO.OOO for electric power purposes was carried' by 198 votes to 3.— Press Association.

Indignation was expressed at a meeting of the Whakatano Chamber of Commerce (states a Press Association • message) at tlie treatment alleged to have been meted out to Mr. J. D. Holmes, district engineer for tho Public Works Department at Tauranga, wlm has resigned his position, and hopes to be relieved at the end of August. It is feared that his resignation may result in further delay in tho work of construction on the East Coast railway. Speakers at the meeting declared that Mr. Holmes was a young, abi.e engineer, who, during tho three months lie was in charge, accomplished a wonderful change in Hie progress of construction. A resolution was carried protesting respectfully but firmly to the Prime Minister against the rotten system of the Public tiervice Commissioners, under which'promotion by seniority throttled tho Julvrmci'uient of ablo young men. and drove them into private work," also urging Air. Holmes s' retention.

The deaths of 24 persons who succumbed to influenza were registered in New Zeokand Inst month, and of these 23 were fivo years and over, and only one under five years of nge. There wcro live registrations in Wellington.

Colonel R. J. Colling, C.M.G., Chief Executive Officer, Dominion Kille Association, rccoived tho following cnbfe message yesterday morning:—"Natiomil liille Association regrets that British rillo team cannot uccopt tho cordial invitation of tho Dominion iiillo Association to make Now Zealand a stopping-place in its tour."

Tho oase_ brought by tlio Wellington City Council against tho Featberelon Cooperative Dairy Company, Ltd., which was adjourned from Thursday of last week until yesterday, was again adjourned for a week. It is understood that the case is to be withdrawn.

■the provisions of tho financial instructions and lUlowiuico regulations relating to medical attendance and sick lenvo have been extended to cover tho whole of the pereonnol of tlio Now Zealand Permanent Force, including those temporarily employed.' Keturned 6oldiers suffering from a rcorudesceuco of disabilities contracted oh active servico sliall bo deemed to bo "first clnss" sick, and reduction to half-pay will be automatically effected. In tho casos pi temporarily oniploycd personnel placed on sick leave oil account of disabilities caused by wounds or sickness contracted in '-lie late war, normal sick leavo should not usually exceed ono month, tho soldier being discharged at the end of that period, and his caso thus brought into its proper status under tlio Commissioner of Pensions. If, however, reeoVery is likely within a short period a recommendation should be mado to the general officer oommanding for continuance of full yay. j

Tho Potone Friendly Societies' Dispensary iias been registered as a friendly society. 7 With reference to the announcement lecently m<k by tho Defence Department authorising tho issue on loan of lurniture for shelters of patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, tho following is tho procedure for obtaining lie articles:—fhe patient will forward r^ p J lcat , lon , or "'9 furniture to tho A.JJ.M.S. of the district, who will cei*"fy that tho patient has been provided wall a shelter by tho Department, and 1? u P rev '°usly been supplied with tho articles. The foregoing application aud certificate will be forwarded io tho district ordnance officer, who will arrange for supply, and take n receipt (in duplicate) from tho patient. Ono copy of receipt will be forwarded by tho ordnajioo officer to the A.D.M.S., to be placed on tho patient's medical file, for reference purposes. The City Council has informed the manager ot the English Pierrots (who Ims booked tho Concert Chamber for a number of weeks and paid a deposit on bookings) that the company must forgo tho use of th® hall every Monday evening, as it is then required for a series of leotures to bo given under soma arrangement with the Professorial Board or College, and for ■which no hiring fee is to bo paid. As such lectures usually attract from 70 to 100 people, it is that tho City Council might consider (Mowing tlia professors the use of tho council chamber (only used now once a fortnight), which would probably suit tho lecturers better than the Concert Chamber, and would prevent inconvenience and loss to tha Pierrots.

An instruction issued by General Hoaduarlere states that it is "noticed that a number of officers on being struck off the strength of the N.Z.E.F. have failed to carry out the instructions 'laid down, and have omitted to notify the officer commanding tho district in which they reside whether they wish to continue their servioe in tho Territorial Force, or be placed on the reserve, etc. Unless the instructions on the point are complied with by September 30, 1920, the officers will bo deemed to have resigned their commissions, and will be struck off tho strength accordingly. ltecentiv there was in 'Wanganui a man with his wife and five children. Tho man appeared to be unfortunate, two incidents being a fire on his busincKS premises aud a consultation with his creditors (states tho "Chronicle"). The Itoman Catholic Church authorities gave assistance, likewise tho Charitable Aid Board. Several attempts were made to place th« man at work, but lie did not make much headway in that direction, liot.i the man and his wife had plausiblo tongues, and their combined tearful pica was irresistible. Finally it was decidcd to send the stranded family across to Tasmania, whence they came, and the necessary financial help was arranged, with the result that the family leit for Wellington. Shortly afteT thoir departure there wero disquieting rumours. It js alleged that just beforo going, the man, in a spirit of bravado, produced a roll of notes close on .£3OO <n value ns proof that he was not in destitute circumstances. The Charitable Aid Authorities took the matter up, and the T»lice at Wellington "intervened just as the family was about to leave for Australia.

Mnrton residents have decided to take 6teps to build a- public hospital. Tho sum of .£3OO ha 9 already been subscribed. —Tkss Assn.

American smallpox still lingers about Otago (says the Dunedin "Star"). Thcro wero 20 patients in tho Logan's Point Hospital on Tuesday morning, which means tli'at tho placo was full, and Dr. M'Kibbin was making arrangements to senjl eight of these patients, who are convalescent, to Quarantine Island, so as to provide room at Logan's Point for other persons who liavo the disease in its moderate type. Kvery now and then another case of this sort comes 'before 'the

health officers, and they are handling them with the closest care. So far theiro are no deaths, but this American smallpox is at its best n dreadful complaint,. and it leaves disfiguring pocks. The mainstay of the preventive measures is vac-

cination, so Dr. Mlvibbin again informs tho public. In Invercargill, where tlio people readily submitted to tho vaccination, there has not been a new case for four weeks, and the number of patients in the ICerr Hospital there has fallen from 20 to 6. In Dunedin tho vaccinators are taking school after school, as iliey offer, and Dunedin in thereby getting the benefit of an insurance which would be greater if tho response was more gonoral. London is threatened with an outburst of grey or cream-colourcd bowler lints this spring (states an exchango). "The Outfitter" declares that an attempt is being made to popularise these light-coloured bowlers for tile cunny days that are to come. A hat of this typo may have a band to match, or tlio band may bo black. Ono specimen of tho more funereal variety of this type of headgear has beon seen with a black hand and black edging to the brim. The West End has not yot reached tho straw hat season—it is always later than tin suburbs in taking to the straw hat.

It is stated tlmt while fine straws promise to be chief favourites, the pedal straw is likely to be moro prominent than the coarser description that i'b often known by the name of "rustic." Tho new cargo scrvico between Snn Francisco, New Zealand, and Australia, which has been decided upon ; by tlio General Steamship Corporation of San Francisco, was inaugurated on Tuesday by the arrival of the steamer West Matavah at Auckland from San Francisco (says the "Herald"). It is the intention of tho owners of the West Mahwali to maintain a regular monthly scr. vice with tlirea cargo vessels, each about 8800 tons dead weight. Tho itinerary includes Honolulu. Auckland, and Wellington. and Australian ports. Free dental treatment for school children will shortly bo introduced in Auckland (states the "Herald"). Recently the chief dental officer communicated with tho Auckland Education Boards and the City Schools Committee, asking for tlio use of a room at. the Beresford Street School, at present used as a laboratory, as a dental surgery. The board and tlio committee approved_of tho room being utilised for the purpose.

"I hone-stly believe tho boom has burst," said a Chrisrchurch land agent to a reporter. He gave as his chief rea. sons for tho development the withdrawal of advances to returned soldiers nnd settlers and the high prices of building material. "Tho housing problem is still as acute as .ever," he said, "but prices have risen fo "such an exrent that the peoplo can't buy. The price of limber has made somo big rises latbly, awl the fact that thcro Is "no money available for. returned soldiers ha_s made ft groat difference. Wlion "tho advances were in full swing two out of three of our clionts were returned soldiers. Then tho advances to settlers have been stopped, and moreover new business ventures have absorbed a lot of capital. Instead of taking up mortgages at 0 per ceuv. people arc buying up shares nnd debentures in companies which offer lnggi>r returns and are as safe, if not safer, investments Tharo ts always a possi. bility of a crash such as in JSM, which was entirely duo to lending money out on inflated value's,"ai* is being done now. Profits in tho land selling business liava admittedly been big. Hardly any capital has been necessary, nnd the operat. in? costs have'been comparatively small. Recently a well-known Irird agent fold his goodwill for .ElOllfl. nml during five years he find possibly taken J310.000 out of the business. Nowadays practically every .'and agent in Christchurch has his motor-car, Tlioeo who cngnged in farm businesses made still greater profits. Tho rate of commission is fixed by the Chamber of Commerce, but often a man is willing to pay double- those rates to effect a good sak I honestlj believe, however, that tho boom lina burst. Businnsi) has slackened off greatly. Recently two agents have gono out of business. Bigger firms will, of course. 6tand it out, while tho small man will co down or get out."

The sottlemont between tlio Auckland City Council and the Tramway Officers' Union provides for increased pay in Uio form of a compromise, the union beins met half way, but clerks are excluded. —I're&s Assn.

I/ist night, between-8 and 0 o'clock, Frederick Allen, residing at 70 Dixon Street and believed to bo a, waterside worker, was found dead. Tho body was taken bo the Morgue and an ingueet trill be ItcSd.

The faot that tho prica of an ntrl« cultural tractor doubles in tho space tliat elapses between its export from America and its arrival in New Zealand, was personally brought under tho notice of tha Auckland Farmers' Union Executive by Mr. W. E. Dunning, of Ivatikati. Ha stated that to carry outwork cn liis farm he lvad to purchase such a tractor r/ a cost of ,£SOO, whereas the price in America was 1000 dollars. Ho pointed out that the difference was made up in duty, freight, and agents' profits. The executive decided to bring tho matter before the Dominion Conference—Auckland "Star."

It is understood that tho New South Wales Government lias completed arrangements for an entirely fresh medical examination of Mr. Georgeson, the witness whoso evidence is required bv Mr. Justice Pring to enable him to furnish his report as ltoyal Commissioner into tho operations of the State Wheat Office, and the personal financial aifaira of Mr. Graham®, ex-Ministor of Agriculture. It has also been suggested that there aro additional reasous why the inquiry into tho transactions of the State Wheat Offioo shouCd be resumed, says the "Sydney Morning Herald." Certain statements have been made about things far more recent than the Georgeson contract, Which are considered tc be sufficiently serious for Ministers lo send them along' to theßoyal Commissioner, and to warrant, if necessary, the Government in still further widening the scope of Mr, Justice Prints inquiry.

- Australia holds the unique and proud distinction of having been the only British dominion which maintained a flying corps of her own in the great European conllict. Canada, South Africa, <rad New Zealand all contributed hundreds of efficient flying officoTS, but they were trained and retained on the establishments of the Eoynil. Air l-'orce. This point was emphasised by Captain Wriglcy, D.F.C., in ft lecture to members of tho Australian Natives' Association at Pitxroy on tho activities of tho Australian Jiving Corps in France, and his flight to Darwin by aeroplane last Novoipbor to meet Sir Ross Smith. _ Australia's quota consisted of four service squadrons, a wing headquarters staff, four training squadrons, and a repairing section, the total strength of w'hich was roughly COO otticere. One squadron alone registered flitl flying hours over a period of twelve months. Tho wastaes in human life was appalling, ho said, the average life of an observer or pilot being about five months.