LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 275, 14 August 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An explanation in regard to the new vise charges by the American authorities in connection with the passport/! of passengers bv steamers calling at Honolulu is made by the American Consul-Gen-eral, Mr. 'A. A. Winslow. He states that tho regulation does not affect .British subjects onlyl but is applied without discrimination to all passengers who are not American citizens. Mr. Winslow adds: "I quite understand that this regulation is somewhat anneymg and not well understood by the uninitiated in. New Zealand, but I can assure you that it means nothing against .good, loyal British subjects, and they are welcome in anv of the ports of the - United State* when 'arriving under proper regulations.

A cablegram 'has been received by tho New Zealand Rugby Union from the manager of the New Zealand team (Mr. T. Jones) as follows:--'' Despite injuries can rake team Wellington, Wednesday,-. 18th. Amended rules now in force Australasia." The New Zealand team is to play Wellington at the Athletic Park on Wednesday nest.

In, tho House of Representatives yesterday Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt) asked if the Public "Works Department had a report on the electrification of the railway from Wellington to Upper Hutt, and if so, would tho Minister place the report on the table of the Houso in order that members might know the cost of this work, he Minister of Public Works (Mr. Coates) promised to inquire on the point.

The quarterly mooting of the Public Service Superannuation Board was held at the board-room, Wellington,-on Thursday, Mr. J. H. Richardson, C.M.G., presiding. Twenty-two contributors retired under section 35 of the Act, by reason of age or length of service, wore granted allowances of a. total of ,£4451 i per annum, and two contributors, retired ns medically unfit, were granted allowances totalling .£134 per annum. A retiring allowance was refused in tho case of ono contributor whom it was sought-to retire as medically unfit, as the medical evidence was not conclusive. The cases of four contributors, previously retired as medically unfit, were reconsidered, and it was resolved to continue the ■ allowance nlreadv granted. . Twelve widows and twentv-two children wore granted tho statutory allowances, amounting to '.£502 per annum. ". In consequence of retirements under section 35 of the Act, accrued compensation to the amount of became a liability of the Superannuation Fund and a corresponding, relief to tho Consolidated Fund.

"Commercially speaking, America is enjoving a real harvest of prosperity," said' Mr. J. B. Merrett, who returned to Ohristchurcli on Wednesday morning. "At tho same timo there are indications now that, financial niMi arc preparing for the worst. Banks are willing in overdrafts and reducing their advanocs. 1 while the high rate of exchange is militating against the export trade. The, high cost of living in America would startle Now especially in food and'clothing. Tailor-made suits are being sold at iEffl. It is impossible to Ret a decent meal under Bs. On the dining-cars of the railway trains meals averago from 6s. to Ss." Wages arc rising every week. Whiie wo were in San Praieisco, the carters struck for 2Ss. a day. refusing to deliver moat and dairy produce, unlil their demand was granted. It was granted.'"

The "Wellington Chamber of Commerce Journnl" is tho latest-local publication of interest to the commercial community. Tho first number include? a lengthy report of the last meeting of tho Wellington Chamber, of ..Commerce, and gives interesting reviews of recent judgments of the Court of interest to importers.

The work of the Eopntriation Department does not appear to have slackened off to anv extent. The last four meetings nf tho District Board libto dealt with 3)7 applications for various purposes; 75 of those were for business loan 9 and 118 for furniture loans, tho balance being for training in trades, and general. In addition there are numbers of businesses already established requiring attention and supervision. The employment flection still shows numbers of applicants, mid there are a number of solniors who hnvo taken up work in order not to b» idle. Theso men * are looking for employment offering more prospects. The Department is therefor anxious that employers .should communicate every vacancy to th? office.

"I have no fines for pillagers," said M.r. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., at the Lyttolton Maoistrate's Court on Wednesday, in sentencing a, man to cue month's imprisonment with hard labour for stealing soap cut of a vessel's hold. Previously, His Worship had remarked that many men working in vessels eeeiued to have vory koso ideas as to what constituted tho rights of property. He further expressed his determination to do all in his power to put a slop to pillaging in steamers.

Arbitration matters from southern districts' are being deliberated upon in Auckland by Mr. W. Scott, employers' representative, and Mr. J. A. M. Cullough,' workers' representative. Tho President of the Court, Mr. Justice Stringer, is dealing with Arbitration matters as quickly ns permitted by tho criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, and .the work is being dealt with fairly quickly. It is anticipated that, the southorn matters will be disposed of before -the Auckland sittings, which will open on September C.

It; is not so long since beoch timber was looked on as of no value, except for firewood; but in consequence of tests conducted in Australia comparatively recently a wonderful demand has sprung up 1 for this class of wood, which when thoroughly seasoned is being used extensively "in the manufacture of pianofortes and billiard tables.. Besides, several- other articles are being steadily manufactured. The waste pieces are now used in the manufacture of cheese crates and beer barrels. A gentleman connected with the timber industry, who gave these, facts to a reporter (says a southern exchange), stated that beech was of no use unless it was thoroughly seasoned, biit when so treated it was recognised as having the greatest resistance of any tim'trer uow procurable in quantities. When varnished and pclished, he declared, beech greatly resembled oak. Iho demand for beech may be gathered from tho fact that'two Southland miUV alone are turning out from 12,000f v t. to 16,000 it. per 'day. Some time ago. the Makara County Council eaaed applications for the position', of countv foreman and roadman. Four replies were received, two for each position. .The wage offered for the roadman vfas 13s. per day. The council decided to increase the wage offered- to 14s. p'erUlay, and as a result 12 applications for the position of roadman were received, replies coming from such places as Dannevirke, Hastings, and Taihapo

Surplus stocks, of textile goods, the propertv of the Indian Government, are lying in various centres of India, ftwaitnm purchasers. Information on this matter has been given to the New Zealand Board of Trade by H.M. Trade Commissioner. ■Wellington. The goods are:—Flannel used (various kinds), at Calcutta. Karachi. Bombav, Madras, Agra, and Lahore; nuttee cloth, various (Indian-made woollen tweed), at Calcutta, Bombay, Lahore, and Fatchgarh; mosquito netting (various width?), at Calcutta, Bombay, Lahore, and Agra; woollen mittens (IN 5.1.. including lingerless). at Cnlcutto, Bombay and Lahore; kit bags (1.T.). at Calcutta, ' Bombay, Agra, Lahore, and Fatehgarh. Inquiries for goods lying at Calcutta must be addressed to the Assistant Controller .(Textiles), 30 Strarnl Koad, Calcutta; for goods at Karachi. Bombav, and Madras, inquiries must-1>" addressed to the Assistant Coiitrnii-r (Textiles), New House Eoad, Cumtom Baliard, Bombay: for goods-at Agra, Lahore, and Fatehgarh inquiries have to be ( acldvessed to the Assistant Controller (TeYtiles), Kashmiri Gate, Delhi.

A member of a firm 6t manufacturers' agents in Birmingham lias written to the firm's-New Zealand agent? on conditions in Germany, as follows 1 :—"I dad an opportunity of going over to the Continent, including Germany, with one of my most important .South African customers. It was a very short trip,'.but I saw qui!* enough to draw the conclusion that n« far as Germany is concerned she is mil t'oing to be nnyrhin? -like eo rompelit-.'ve for the next ten years as she was in f u M. 'Labour conditions there ar« twenfr ffmes worse than they' are in England; and the rates that arc being paid for uiljnur are enormous. The average skilled workman gets a minimum of- fen marks per hour, and it must be remembered that a mark in Germany is still ns much a mark as a shilling is a shilling in England."

The secretary of the Board of Trade (Mr. J. W. Collins) notified that until stocks of locally-manufactured condensed milk bought at the,'old rotes are exhausted, no alteration in price will bo permitted in resiK-ct of such milk now in stock.' Any increase oyer.present ruling price will be considered a breach of section 32 of the Board of Trade Act, and action will bo taken accordingly.

At the request of a number of students of the "Wellington Technical College, a preliminary meeting was called to consider the formation of a Students' Association. This meeting was held last evening in the Industrial Hall, and was attended by a fair number of past and present members of the college. Mr Walls took the chair, and explained what would be the scope and. objects of the association. A provisional committee was set up, consisting of Misses Bolt, Oklfield, and Welsby, and Messrs. Lamb and Hutchinson. Miss Jones was appointed provisional secretary. A. further meeting is to be held on September 17 to receive the report from the provisional committee on (he proposed constitution of the association.

The discovery of the fatuous Broken Hilt mine and all tho history attached to it since- then will bo dealt with by Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., in a lecture to be given by him, on behalf of the Broken Hill Fund Distress Committee, at the Paramount. Theatre, i,n Sunday evening at 8.