LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 270, 9 August 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"Ancient nations were more conscientious than modern nations in their treatment of the disabled soldier," said tne Rev. Robertson Orr in an address last evening. "The Jews gave tho best of the spoils to the maimed, but the best of the spoil in tho great war went to the big corporations. It still continues 60." A returned and disabled soldier in a southem city, with four and a, half years' ecrrice, told him last week-that he had not been making bread and butter since his return. Ho started on his own account, but when he sought business was told by many patriotic firms that they could not put business his way. They gave their business to large and prosperous concerns, and showed no sense of duty to help on the men who were trying to make up for years lost in active service. The soldier said that ho did not ask for any special consideration, but only for an opportunity to show that he could do as well as the big corporation. The sixth anniversary of the great war, declared Mr. Orr, should recall to oitlzens cmd business men their duty to help on the returned soldier.

Wholesale and retail traders will interview the Prime Minister this afternoon in regard to the Board of Trade Act. Thay will meet in conference this morning at D.30 o'clock, not 10,30 as previously arranged.

At the general meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, which is to be held in the club rooms on Wednesday next, some very important matters are to be dealt with. Tho notices of motion cover a very wide field, including the ever-important question of immigration. The principle of a white New Zealand will have Ihe attention of tho members. A member moving a resolution on this matter advocates that tho number of Hindus permitted to remain in New Zealand should bo the same as the number of New Zealanders in India. Tho housing question, income tax on pensions, and, co-operative purchasing nre among other items for discussion. Mr. R. B. Bell has signified his intention to ask questions concerning the association's land and property bureau, and this will give members an opportunity of finding out what has been done by this branch of the office. v ery large attendance is anticipated. Admission will be by financial membership card only.

Mr. A. 11. Cockayne, Biologist in (he Department of Agriculture, Mr. T. Builon. ex-M.P. for Geraldino and formerly Minister of Commerce, and Mr. Lindsay, of the Department of Agriculture, left on Saturday for Sydney to represent to (he Commonwealth, authorities tho ad visabloness of removing the embargo on tho importation of potatoes into Australia from New Zealand.

It is announced (says a London correspondent) that, orders have been issued for the battle-cruiser New Zealand, serving in the Rosyth Reserve Fleet, to be transferred from Devonport to the Nore for manning purposes. A reserve crew is to be selected at the R.N. Barracks, Chatham, to join the New Zealand on her fecommissioning at Rosyth.

There is an acute shortage of sugar just now. and the position is only partly relieved by the consignments unloaded yesterday (telegraphs a Christclmrch correspondent on Thursday). It was expected that the rise in price would be followed immediately by a slackening in consumption, but this anticipation is not being borne out in practice. The demand is just as keen, although grocers believe that some customers are already endeavouring to lay in slocks against an inevitable period of scarcity in the fruit season.

The measles epidemic in and about Dimedin seems to be persistent. No fewer than fifty-six notifications were received by the 'Health Officer for the twenty-four hours ended at noon on Thursday. The other notifications numbered only five from the whole of Otago and Southland, but it is disquieting tolearn that two of these fivo are American smallpox eases in -Invercargill.—Exchange.

A great International Produce Exhibition is to ))o held in the forecourt of Devonshire House on August 24, states an exchange. It ought to make the portraits within tho historic building turn their faces to tho wall at such un-heard-of and democratic incursions, even if only into tho forecourt. New Zealand, which can claim, if any country can, to international • production of food. .is to have its stall there, and Ijfidv Mills is to be in charge. Princess Louise is to open the produce market, which, by tho artistic »id of the Chelsea Arts Club, is io bo made to represent a French market place. As tho attendants at the stalls of various nations will appear in national costume, the Devonshire House market should be gay and picturesque, and it is hoped a monetary success, too.

A British Army Order provides that any temporary commission in tho regular Army granted during the war, and hold by an officer who has been roleascd from actual military duty, unless,previously terminated, shall be terminated as from the date of the official termination of tho war as defined by statutory authority.

On behalf of blind soldiers, Mr. Clutha Mackenzie asked the Auckland City Council for permits for such men and their escorts to travel on ono ticket on (he tramways. He mentioned what was done in this direction in other centres, and suggested that tho council should follow the custom of the Railway Department in granting permits to the men lie recommended, it was decided to forward to Mr. Mackenzie a copy of tho council's recent resolution declining to give free-pass privileges to disabled soldiers.—"New Zealand Horald." ,

Savs the "New Zealand Herald";—ln the course of a City Council discussion on the question of allowing push-carts on the trams, Mr. H. N. Bagnall, in support of such a practice, said that in Wellington, where it was permitted, the birth-rate wns larger than in Auckland. Mr. W. J. Holdswor'.h said the Public Services Committee, of which he is chairman, would object to the imputation that it was limiting the birth-rate. It showed Die weakness of the case to use such an argument. Mr. T. Bloodworth expressed the opinion that if it were Die du';v of men to take push-carts about thoro would be no question about having them carried on the care. Mr. H. D. Heather objected that such a statement was a reflection on ihe manhood of Auckland. Then Mr. G. Davis struck a new note, suggesting that if the prao'ice were nllowed (he council would linvo the Tramways Union demanding tho appointment of someone, to supervise the puttingon and off the ears of the push-carte. In the end a decision not to allow the innovation was reaffirmed.

Second ballots necessary in connection witti"the annual election of officers of tho Waterside Workers' Union resulted as follow:—Disputes Committee (two required, in addition to L. Glover, who was elected on tho first ballot by an absolute majority).—J. Frew, 716; M. Carlson, 565; R, Gould, 500; W. Cousins, 431; J. Reid, 863; L. Hennessey, 328. No candidate secured an absolute majority, so a Ihiid ballot is necessary. For this Mr. Hennessey did not qualify. Coal Department Delegates (three required): D. Dotts. 188: J. S. Dunn. 179; T. Poarce, 168; D. Reidy, 173; J. Keogh, 117; M. Broadhurst, 115; J, O'Brien, 105; T. Cartwright, 105; G. Luff, 95. In this case, nlso. a third ballot is necessary. Mr. J. Smart is official returning officer, and Messrs. L. Brough and R. J. Seal are the scrutineer!),

A man named William Eeid, married, aged about 30, was admitted io the Masterton Hospital on Saturday suffering from a wound which ho had made in his nook with a, razor. His injuries are not likely to prove fatal. —Prcsß Association.

The results of tlio (Kugo Expansion League's second competition for pupils of OtnKo schools are interesting. The enterprise is warmly supported by the Agricultural Department, and tho small beginning made by the league is expected to develop widely throughout the Dominion. The conditions prescribe that each competitor is to plant one-twentieth of an acre in potatoes, tho work being dono under the tuition of tho schoolmaster, and the cultivation is to bo on the most up-to-date methods according to instructions given in the leaflet issued by the Agricultural Department. The agriculture instructors of the Education Board and '-ho Department lend assistance by looking over the plots and giving hints. After tho crop is gathered it is weighed and recorded, and each competitor is required to write an essay getting forth particulars of tho operations under nineteon headings. Q. M'Leod, who takes first prize, value XlO, is of Momona School, and is thirteen years old. Taking the market price of potatoes at £& per ton, as it was, on April 30, his crop turned in a profit at the rate of 487 ss. per acre. A special prize was given for the most successful girl competitor.

A perusal of tho balance-sheets of the four cheese factories operating in the Wangonui district—Westmere, Hapanui, Turakina, and Brunswick—for tho past •year shows that 1..e sales of cheese aggregated J152,619 and the whey cream 6ales JC2220, giving an aggregate return X'0t,839. The tonnage from the four factories aggregated 538. The advances to suppliers were .£37,356, and the bonus ,»22. The net roturn on butter-fat, for tho season was 2i.ad. per lb. As there are 105 suppliers tor the abovenamed factories, the-figures show an avorage of £Ui each. AVestmere paid 2s. ljd., Eapanui 25., and Turakina and Brunswick Is. Iljd. Although the average Tor each man is MU, many of tho suppliers received n good deal less and some, of course, in a large way, a good deal more. It is quite evident from the above figures that small dairy men straggling to pay interest on land at its present high value had not much to come and go on, especially after taking into consideration the long hours tho dairy farmer is required to work during the busy season—"Herald."

The Waterside Workers' Band played in tho Hospital grounds yes'-orday, and thereby raised J29 is. for the Hospital funds.

In conversation, with a prominent man in the freezing industry last week a "Poverty Hay Herald" reporter Vas informed that if the Bay district continues to have the same- amount of shipping as has been sent there during the past month the stores should be fairly clear before the commencement of the new season. The last season wa6 one of tho shortest experienced for some years past by local works. The stock dealt with, generally - speaking, ws not up to tho previous year's standard, on account of the dry weather experienced last winter. The newspaper's informant added that tho indications wore for an early season for the works this year, and n really good one was forecasted. The mild weather experienced had brought on sheep feed, although there was not much cattle feed about yet. The works would probably open in November next. There was a big shortage 'of sheep in both islands of the Dominion this year, and the drought last year caused a largo exodus of cattle from . Poverty Bay. Given good lambing percentages tho cheep shortage, should be replenished, but even if the calving was good (here would be a shortage of stock as compared with List year.