LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 272, 11 August 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Reference to compulsory loans was made at yestorday's meeting of the council of the Wellington-Central Ghom'liei of' Commerce, when the following re#o! tion <jf tho Canterbury Chamber was submitted for cousideration:—"That this chamber strongly protests Against tho principle of compulsory loans for other than urgent war necessities, Mid considers the proposed action of tho Government as « dangerous precedent, and contrary to all principles of British freedom and liberty." Tho chairman of ! the Central Chamber (Mr. A. L. Hunt) considered that at any rate there should be uo compulsion until the voluntary method had failed. Ho had nn impression that tho Prime Minister proposed to limit tho application of compulsion to the raising of loans for several spccifin purposes—for soldier-settlement and other things connected with the war. i!o thought the chamber should carry a resolution expressing tho opinion that the Government could raise the lonns by voluntary moans provided the current rate of interest was oll'ered. The inertiug decided, however, to endorse the Canterbury resolution without unaudment.

On Monday the wharves were idle, but yesterday the watersiders returned to work as usual. The call for labour made at 8 a.m. yesterday was answered, but tho la'bour offering was insufficient. "Tho number of defectives in the city is larger than in the country," said the Rev. W. J. Comrio at tho Presbytery meeting last night. Ho believed that this was largely due to badlv-cooked food and insufficient food. Ho thought that this al6o was why • many city school children had not the physical stamina of the oountry children. In one caso a child stated that he had bread and butter for breakfast, or bread and jaiu, or sometimes merely bread. His mother always went to work before he got up. When ordered to hospital at Culverden on account of sickness, a drover named Stephen llighsted, 'belonging to Rothorham, shot himself.—Press Assn.' DunedLn farmers, saya the "Star," are evidently expecting high >pricos for their sheep. A well-known firm of butchers last week received an olfer of several lines of fat wethers, totalling over 2000, at prices rangini: from COrf. to 605., most of thorn being at the latter price. The prospects of cheaper mutton are not promising. Regarding the protest made by the Women Teachers' Association against tho introduction of tooth-brush drill among smaller children, the Education Department is prepnred to agrco that medical and dental officers shall meot representatives of the association to discuss the matter. The Education Board, while admiting certain difficulties, hopes that teachers will encourage tho proper care of the teeth. , "There is one thing I would like to bring before tha council," said Councillor Mr. W. Welch at the Hutt County Council yesterday, "and that is that tho Valuation Department be nsked to Tevnlue tho wliole of the county." Councillor Howell: "Oh, no, no!" Continuing, Councillor Welch referred to Day's Bay, which ho stated had not been revalued for seven years. As a matter of fact, it was over seven years siuco tho wholo county had been revalued. He thought it timo that something was <lone in this direction. Councillor Howell said that he did not agree with the suggestiob. The time was not opportuno to vnluo farm lands. Councillor Welch: "It ie absolutely ridiculous to go on as wo *ro doing." Tho mutter th«n lapsed. At the last meeting of tho Town Planning Executive fifty-sis now m«mb*r* wero olected. The recently-formed Wellington Cooperative Building Society held on Friday evening its lirst ballot for an appropriation from its funds of .£IOOO. 'I hero wore about ono hundred members present, and Mr, C. M. Bowden, F.1.A.N.Z., who waa in tho chair, gave a short address on tho benefits arising from a cooperative building society. Tho scrutineers announced that Mr. Jolin Robertson diow tho successful ninrblo. Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P., who had intended to be prosont, was unable to attend. Tho monthly meeting of the Petone District High School Committeo wag held last night, Mr. D. M'Kenzie presiding. Tho lioadniaster's report showed tho roll numbers to be: Secondary Department, 49 (average attendance i primary department, 733 (average attendance, 032),

The Auckland sugar workers ore trying to enlist the sympathy of Parliament in their endeavour to secure higher wages and better working conditions. A circular letter covering various phases of tho dispute, which threatened to culminate in ;i strike at midnight on Saturday next, has been drawn up, and will lie circulated amongst members of tho House—Press Assn.

Tlio body of W. Cook, aged fifty-six, has been found in St. Leonard's Creek, North Canterbury. There is evidence that Cook met with an accident wliile riding a horse.—Press Assn.

A cablegram lias been received from Mr. Israel Cohen, of the Zionist organisation, stating that ho will' leave Sydripy for 'Auckland by the Niagara on August 19 (reports tho "Star"). Accounts received by the Auckland Zionist Society .state that Mr. Cohen was tendered a civic reception on his arrival at rel'tli, and that at tho opening meeting the small Jewish community of Perth subscribed JC'BOOO for the Palestine He. storation Fund. Enthusiastic meetings have also been sinco held in Adelaide and Melbourne.

The world's record of 104 hours for continuous piano playing was broken by Mr. Albert Steele at tho Queen's Theatre on Saturday evening (says the Christcluirch "Press"). Sir. Steele, who commenced playing at 3 p.m. on Tuesday last, bettered the record, which was recently made by an American, by one lioiir two and a half minutes. Mr. Steele showed no signs of fatigue at tho completion of the time he had set out to play for, and continued for an extra few minutes. He was wrapped in a blanket and carricd to a car, being cheered en route by tlio crowd. Before being allowed to mako up his arrears of Sleep he was exercised in the open air for two hours.

"It took me six hours to get home lost night," stated Councillor M. "ff. Welch at the Hutt County Council yesterday. He was referring to tho 6latc of the Main Hutt Road, between Wellington and Petone, which he alleged was in on exceptionally bad .condition, lie had even heard that soveral of tho municipal milk wagon-drivers were contemplating refusing to bring the milk into town, and to return with the empty cans, if something was not done to the road at onco. Local kdies contributed ,£4BOO towards the maintenance of , tho road, and they had received 110 satisfaction.

The Prime Minister stated in a lettei to the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce that the Government wonhl carefully consider the suggestion of tho chamber that a conference should bn convened to discuss the establishment of the beet sugar industry in Now Zealand A communication from Christohurch mlvised the chamber yesterday that n movement was already afoot in Canterbury to start tho industry thcro. The promoters were working under the guidance of an expert.

The Statutes Revision Comniittc.o of the Legislative Council is to meet on Friday to consider tho Marriage Amendment Bill, which wns referred back to the committee recently in order that representatives of the Roman Catholic Church might have au opportunity to give evidence concerning cortain statements made respecting that Church s laws in relation to certain marriages.

A. deputation representing the Wangn; luii Borough Council and the Wanganui Harbour Board waited on tho Primo Minister last night to secure his assistance in giving some Telief to the congestion tliat now obtained at tho port and the railway statiou and goods yard Mr. Vcitch explained that the deputation bad previously met Mr. M'Vxlly, General Manager of Railways, who had. held out no hope of giving relief from the present ccaigesdion except by tne building of a new station, which ho promised to expedite to 'the best of his ability as soon as the'local bodies agreed upon the site. It was explained that it mi"ht be years before n new station would be available, and in the meanlimo the port was losing trade because of the congestion. Mr. Mnssey said the problem was a difficult one, but ho would consult the General Manager o Railways and seo if some method could not be evolved which would give eomo measure of relief.

A lecture, under tile auspices «f the Brooklvn Horticultural Society, was (riven 'in Waldie's nail last evening by Mr. J. M'Kenzie, superintendent of city reserves. Mr. Jackson, president of the society, presided over a large audienco. Mr. M'Kenzie, in the course of his remurks on rose culture, remarked that horticulture seemed more general in the South Island than in tho north. The first essential in successful rose culture was, lie said, an open sit.uai.ion. It 'was a mistake' for roses to too close to other trees or hedges. Mr. M Kenzieoiso referred to pruning, and touched bneilj on different types of roses. Duriiy? the evening musical items were contributed bv Mr. Coventry, the Fleming Trio, and iti'r. Eickctt. The lecturer, who answered numerous questions, was accorded a hearty voto of tnanks.