LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 124, 18 February 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A big gorso lira blazed for a long while on the hills overlooking Ohiro .Road last night. The Fire Brigade turned ent and spent a busy time in subduing the Hames. There was also another gorse fire at Roseneath during the night, ami this burned fiercely for some time.

“Gentlemen, all the schemes which promise high wages without relation to production are illusory—are mere will of the wisps,” remarked Mr. C. I’. Skerrett, K.C.. in his presidential address io the Welfare League conference, yesterday. “It does not matter,” he added, “whether the system is capitalistic, or Bolehevistio, or whether the industries are nationalised—there is a constant relationship between wages, or the standard of living, and production. You cannot for any lengthened period and under normal conditions, under any system, have high wages or a high standard of comfort, unless it is reflected in the increased production of the country.” Dense smoke arising from the plantation of young pine trees at the back of Wellington Terrace, in a line with the head of Ghuznee Street, yesterday afternoon caused many in the city to think that this fine grove was being destroyed. On inquiry it was found that in order to prevent fire in the city plantations the director of reserves (Mr. «J. M'Kenvie) was taking the precaution of employing some of his stuff to go through such reserves systematically, thin the trees out. and burn off the pine-needles, which become a means of spreading fire at this time of tho year. At the same time people are warned to bo extra careful with matches and fire in or near the reserves or Town Belt, in order to prevent destruction by fire. During the hearing of a divorce petition in the Supremo Court yesterday, counsel for the petitioner had. occasion to call as a witness a little girl aged nine years. Mr. Justice Hosking said it was unfortunate that such children should bo called in a case of the kind to give evidence against father or mother. “I can’t refuse to listen to her evidence.” ho added, “if she will know enough to toll the truth.” During the same case His Honour referred to the witness-box as “out of date,” and a “barbarous institution,” when he permitted a female witness to sit in a chair.

Two borough loan polls wore taken in Waimate on Wednesday (reports the Press Association). 'They resulted:— Electric scheme, per suction gas, £50,000 — Votes for, 120; against, 201;.informal, 24. Gasworks purchase, £lO,OO0 —Votes for, 69; against, 241; informal, 35. There are nearly 800 names on the roll. At Christchurch yesterday Michael Myliea, an elderly man. was charged in the Magistrate’s Court with attempting to deliver tobacco into Paparua prison. Tho evidence showed that accused placed a packet of cigarettes in the prison van, which was standing in the vicinity of the Supremo Court, and is used to convey prisoners to and from Paparua prison. A fine of £5, in default a month’s imprisonment, was imposed — Press Assn. In connection with the visit of the. New South Wales tennis team, the quarterly report of the management committee of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association states that the committee has decided that the New Zealand Association cannot, accept tiny responsibility for the expenses incurred by associations in the management of matches with visiting teams and the entertainment of such teams. A recommendation to this effect is made for the council’s consideration.” “How ar© the roads near your farm ” was the question put to a witness' before the commission inquiring into the proposal to form an Akarana county. “Oh, pretty fair,” was tho candid reply. “I was on tho council for a time, and saw to that.”

“I have seen a great deal of tho world during tho last four or five years, but as a picture of agricultural prosperity the Canterbury plains will be very hard to beat in any part of the world,” said tho Prime Minister on Wednesday. “I have seen nothing to beat them. So far as I am able to judge tho wheat yield will be an average one, and possibly, a little more. If it is average, we. shall have enough wheat in this country for our requirements. I do want to see sufficient wheat grown in this country for ourselves.” Included in some new electricity bylaws which were adopted by the Christchurch City Council on Monday is (says an exchange) a provision for the establishing of nn examining board to conduct examinations for the licensing of contractors and of fitters of installations of electric lighting, heating, and motors for low-pressuro supply. This board is to consist of the general manager of the city’s electricity department, or, in his absence, tho electrical engineer, the president, or, in his absence, the vice-pre-sident of the Canterbury branch, of the Electrical Contractors’ Association, and the chief electrical inspector for tho council of the Fire Underwriters’ Association of New Zealand. Councillor F. R. Cooke and other Labour members tried, but without success, to induce the council to add to this board a representative of the workers in this particular industry. It may be added that hitherto these examinations have been conducted entirely by the city’s electrical engineer.

The Rev. C. F. Askew, St. Mark’s, Wellington, acknowledges with thanks the sum of 21s. from “6 TI.P.” for the military (chapel fund. The sender writes: “It is a great project, soon to Lake material form, and my only regret is that my funds '.'ire inversely proportional to my admiration for the scheme. I am an Imperialist, and I think that the pi/bjeet is a fine mov« in that direction.”

A waferside worker named Jack Montesini, 19 years of age, single, residing at 18 Martin. Street, mot with an accident while working on the Miramar AVharf yesterday evening. He slipped on the rails which run along the' wharf and received injuries to the head, which rendered him unconscious for a while, and necessitated Ills removal to the Hospital. His condition last night was reported as not being serious.

A notice in this week’s Gazette states that the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal to be established between the United Kingdom on the one hand and Germany on the other hand under Article 304 of tho Treaty of Versailles has been constituted and' is about to begin work in London. The president of the tribunal is I’rofe'-'-sor Eugene Borel, a .Swiss jurist and professor of public and int-rnatiowd lawin the University of Geneva, lhe Butish and German members are respeetivelv Mr. R. E. L. Vaughan Williams, K C.', of Lincoln’s Inn, and Dr. jnr. Adolph Nicolaus Zacharias, Senats-prasi-dent of the Hanseatic Obcriandcsgericht. A "rent nart of the work of the tribunal is to decide as to debts under Article •wji; of the Treaty where a dillorenee lias Arisen between an enemy debtor and an enemy crrditoj or between the Br t sh and German clearing offices. Under Article °97 the tribunal can determine compensation to be borne by Germany in respect of damage or injury ml icted on the property, rights, or interests of British nationals in German territoiy ns they existed on August 1, 1914, AVeek-end Cables Reinstated.—The Pacific Cable Board is glad to advise that arrangement's are now completed for reinstatement of the week-end rate from New Zealand to United Kingdom under TWT chissilicaiion oi.:,v. 11 i. regretted arrangements cannot yet be made for the week-end rale io bo available from iho United K’ugdom to New Zealand. Neither TW I nor 111'1’ classifications are available to Canada at present. The regulations as to t'ho use of figures to express numbers and quantises, and the use of commercial marks will i>e the same for week-end messages as now in force for the deferred rate, but messages must be written in plain English or French language and bear an intelligible meaning on the face of them: otherwise thev are not admissible at the week-end late.— Advt. I

The quarterly report of the management committee of the New Zealand. Lawn ’Tennis Association states that applications from clubs for tho holding of annual championships cannot be considered unless at least six first-class grass courts and suitable conveniences and space for stands can be provided.

Mr. Massey, addressing school children at Rnngiora on Wednesday, said that there was one branch of education which he did not see represented. "Where is your New Zealand flag ” he asked Mr. AV. A. Banks: “We couldn’t find one.” Mr. Massey: “I won’t take that excuse. It should bo part of the education of every New Zealander to be taught to respect tho New Zealand flag in other words, the way in which the rising generation are taught to respect their country. AVe in tho British Empire live under the freest Government of the world. Next time I visit this school I do hope to see a flag worthy of the Empire at the top of tho pole here.”— “Lyttelton Times.”

If you want the finest wool where do you come?” asked Mr, G. D. Gi’eefliwood, addressing the Prime Minister at Ambeilev on Wednesday. “If you want the primest mutton where do you come? Io North Canterbury! If you want wheat to feed our people where do you. come. To North Canterbury 1 And if you want a champion record-breaking horse where do you come?” Mr. Greenwood s answer to' this question was drowned in laughter. Mr. Greenwood is a wellknown owner. “Last night, when I shook handp with the Prime Minister, he concluded, “he recognised me, I suppose by these (motioning to the ends of his somewhat elongated moustache. 'How is Gloaming?’said he!’"—"Lyttelton Times.”

It is seldom that a person loses about £25 and is not aware of his loss until he notices an advertisement in a newspaper stating that a sum of money has been found; but such was the experience of a Goro resident who lost £26 on AVednesday (savs the Mataura "Ensign”). Qn noticing an advertisement in the newspaper stating that a sum of money had. been found, the person in question put his hand into his hip .pocket, and was surprised to find that his wallet was missing. Naturally, he lost.no time in interviewing the person who inserted, the advertisement, and was gratified to learn of a lady who found it shortly after it was lost.' ,His money was returned and the finder duly rewarded.

A plea that th® racecourse regulations governing attendance at race meetings unfairly discriminate between the. unjust rich and the unjust poor was raised in the Police Court at Auckland on AVednesday morning by counsel, appearing for a labourer, who was charged that on January 29, “being a person excluded by regulation,” he trespassed on the Takapuna racecourse when races were in progress. “The law favours the rich,” declared counsel. This man goes to tho gate and he sees there other people who should be excluded by tho same law that excludes him, consequently ho is tempted to go in. Tho racing clubs frame these regulations themselves, and they limit the prohibition to persons convicted under the Crimes Act. Other persons with the respectability of money, but with convictions against them under other statutes than the Crimes Act are ‘welcomed in. The income-tax juggler, the fraudulent bankrupt, and the profiteer, who have been fined £lOO or £2OO for their misdemeanours can go to tho races while a poor man fined 40s. for a trivial assault is barred. The regulations show discri mi fation and partiality against the poor man in favour of the rich.” In convicting the accused, the Magistrate said ho had.no option but to administer the law.—“ Star.”