LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 232, 25 June 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The following mails were dispatched from Sydney by tho s.s. Canastota, which left that port ou June 13, nnd has not beau heard of since:—For Auckland: 14 hags and 3 parcel receptacles; for Wellington: 19 bags and 5 parcel receptacles; for other places: 13 bags and 18 parcel receptacles. The Secretary. General Rost Office, has received advice from Apia, Samoa, that wiieless communication witn Papeete, Tahiti, has been interrupted since June 21.

The Postal authorities have received advice from Melbourne that the s.s. Paloona sailed at 4 p.m. on June 23 for .Bluff. She has on board thirteen bags of mails for Wellington. The Acting-Prime Minister has received a copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of unionists held in Auckland recently. The meeting considered the unemployment problem, and decided that the present financial stringency was duo largely to the large amount of capital and loan money diverted to war services. It recommended a levy on wealth for the purpose of paying off the war debt, and another levy for the immediate development of hydro-elcctric power, land settlement, and the erection of houses. It added a proposal that the surplus shown in the public accounts for the last financial yean should be used for authorised public works, advances to local bodies, end the erection of workers’ dwellings. Sir Francis Bell has replied that he has considered the suggestions made by fhe meeting, and he cannot advise the Government to recommend Parliament to adopt the financial methods outlined.

Tho total number of claims received by tho Wellington "War Relief Association during the period May 26, 1921, to June 20, 1921, xvas 323, comprising 35 new applications and 288 renewals and reconsiderations. Of the new applications 21 are the association’s responsibility and 1+ that of other societies. The association’s responsibility includes 10 Imperial, 1 French, 4 Australian,, 1 Belgian, and 1 Canadian case. There are still 144 cases under action. Of these 77 are the association’s responsibility, including Imperial, 3 Australian, and 1 Canadian case. The remaining C 7 are the responsibility of other societies.

All commercial travellers’ motor-cars have been called in. stated the Hon. G. J. Smith, M.L.C., when motoring matters were under consideration nt this week’s meeting of the Canterbury members of Parliament. Air. F. M. Johnston (a member of a deputation): "Yes, but we all hope they will bo out again. Surely trade won’t 'remain slack.” Mr. Smith: “They will ba all out again in six months.” At a meeting of the Auckland Executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. a member said he considered that every returned man should bo given preference of employment, even for a period of years. The president, Mr. E. W. Inder. was opposed to nn indiscriminate policy of preference to returned men. The problem of unemployment would have to be faced. b«t he suggested the advisability of the executive waiting until a report was received from the 'Returned Soldiers* Association conference held at Dunedin recently. Mr. C. J. Lovegrove expressed the view regarding preference (hat the fit and able soldier who had been given employment immediately on his return from the front should lie in a position to stand or fall with other men.

The officials in the Palais du Louvre have set a worthy example to Whitehall on the one ham! and the Wilhclmplatz on the other. The higher grades of the civil servants in the French Finance Ministry and their colleagues in the provinces have passed a resolution expressing their regret that the proposal to grant a. system of bonuses has not been favourably received by the Government, at tho same time, however- declaring stoically that their duty towards the nation shall not he influenced by this failure, nnd that in view of the gravity ol the present finaiycial situation thev intend to persevere in their arduous duties and to struggle against discouragement.

At the meeting <»f the Progress League last nigh* there was some discussion with respect to unemployment, and it was stated that there was an increase in th» number of unemployed. The Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright) gave details of some distressing cases that had come under his notice. Ho said that something had to be done, and it was suggested that the. Mayor should call a public mroting and sec what support could bo obtained. Mr. C. M. Luke said that some years ago, owing to the generosity oi th© public, they were able to gel. a sufficient sum of money to make the Queen's Drive, but money was more plentiful then tbaa now.

The Education Board is making efforts to -provide a movable school at Mornington. When a motion for discharge in bankruptcy was called at the Supreme Court at Auckland on Wednesday, before Mr. Justice Adams, His Honour remarked that the debts had been settled in full. It might be more satisfactory to fhe bankrupt, he suggested, if the bankruptcy were annulled. It. would, be a good precedent to others. Tho application was accordingly amended, and the bankruptcy annulled.

Although Sir Robert Baden-Powetl was the initiator of the world-wide movement, tho Boy Scouts, it was loft Io New Zealand to give to the world scouting for girls. This interesting fact was stated by Brigadier-General Andrews at a. meeting of citizens jit Auckland on' Wednesday. Since the movement of the girN was inaugurated in this country, Australia, South Africa, India. Japan. Honolulu, the United States, and Great Britain have followed in our footsteps. The heavy bag of school books carried by so many girls slung from one shoulder came, 'in fora scathing d’-enuncio-fion at the hands of Miss Helen. Elizabeth Fisher, director of physical instruction in a lecture at the Y.W.f .A. at Auckland a few days ago. In Invercargill girls were not now allowed to carry this load unless with two straps, as it accounted for so many weak Isacks. and shoulders being out of place in the. average woman. The speaker gave an example of exercises that would counteract a raised shoulder, but. strongly denounced the practice for growing girls, of carrying weights slung in the usual manner of school-bags.— "Now Zealand Herald. ’

An experiment in *h* building of oVth houses in Auckland has proved unsuccessful, the climate having been found to be unsuitable. Some nine months ago tho Campbell and Ehrenfried Company acquired a section of Newmarket. and engaged nn architect, and a foreman with experience of the same claai of work in other countries, and a commencement was made to erect some houses. The walls wore constructed in levers of earth, but although all means were employed to bring the experiment to a successful issue the material absorbed so much moisture as to jeopardise the safety of the walls, which shrank to such an extent that it was f° u 'M I,n " posMblo to obtain adhesion in them. Even a portion which was finished on the exterior with piaster could not be Toliod upon for stability Wet weather frequently interrupted the work, and this rendered progress slow. in rne end the work had to be abandoned- " New Zealand Herald." The fact that there was no criminal business set down for liearjna at. the Supreme Court session at Hokitika a,s indicated in a Press Association gram, has prompted the chairman of the West Coasters’ Association U lr - “• J M’Grath) to send a telegram to the Mayor of Hokitika stating that the association rejoices in the absence of crime on the Coast, and tenders its congratulations to the Coast on there being no criminal business for the Supreme Court sessio*-

.Reporting to the War Relief Association yesterday, the Applications Committee said: "The Commissioner of I cnsione is still forwarding lists of men awarded ■ permanent pensions, and your staff will shortly be engaged m the compilation of the fourth return (siipplomentarv ro th« main return), for distribution to other kindred bodies throughout tho Dominion, giving details of domestic position war pension, etc., in respect to permanently disabled men for whom they are responsible. This work has been undertaken by you on of ®. 11 * ll ’ larger patriotic bodies throughout the Dominion.” . Father Free. S.J., the director of the Sicswei Observatory, near Shanghai, North China, who has saved thousands of lives during the past twenty years by warning ships at sea of «PP’™ oh ? n « typhoons (circular ' cylonic storms), has liX awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honour. Father Free, savs the North China Daily Mail,” keeps- the of the China Sea in constant, touch with weather conditions by co-operating with a chain of twenty stations stretching from Vladivostok io Tientsin, and from Tokio to Swatow. He has perfected system by which he can detect the track of the. tvpiioons which periodically sweep the China coast, wrecking ships at sea as well as devastating and flooding the towns. - Father Froc’s system has enabled the Sicawei Observatory to deteimlne the curve of any approaching typhoon, and vessels m the path of an oncoming storm are then warned bj wireless which course to take for safety.

The Hon. A. Myers, ALP., to w;W upon Imperial aud foreign affairs at the Awklnnd Orphans’ Club gathering on Saturday evening last (states the Star )• "The cost of the war to the great nations of the world,” he said "amounted to some forty thousand million pounds. In view of the irreplaceable loss in blood and treasure, erne would have expected eaca country participating in. such abnormal liabilities to be hard at work, annlvine its whole energies and assets to the wiping-off of the great debt, incurred, so that normal (conditions might once more obtain. But what do we find? Britain is spending 207 million pounds, or 20 per cent, of the year s total expenditure, upon her Army, Navy, and Air forces: the United States last year expended more than twice this amount for military and naval purposes, equivalent to 28 rar cent, of her total expenditure for the year; and Japan had increased her expenditure from lees than 20 millions in 1914 to 84 millions in 1921. Last rear Britain, the States, Japan, France, and Italy spent upon armaments '-W0 million pounds n ’ or6 i J^\ a " thev expended in fourteen years.- 1900-14. Tho International Conference at Brussels last year found that in 39 nations 20 per cent, of the annual expenditure was still being devoted to naval and military purposes. In face of this mad rush for armaments.” said Mr. v tif"anv agency tending to re-establish the peace and sanity of mankind should receivfi the utmost poesible support. The promotion of the entente between our own Empire and France, and the good understanding between ourselves and our first cousins, should be a persona! aim of every good citizen of New Zealand. A rapprochement between there three great nations would he a veritable, league of nations in itself, guaranteeing the peace of the world.

A meeting of the Wellington branch of the Educational Institute, attended bv nearly 260 teachei-s. was h«ld on Thursday night. Mr. L. J. Watkins, of (be Training College, gave a second demonstration of drawing, and so interesting and instructive was it that Mr. Watkins has.been prevailed upon to give a third demonstration at an early date. The president. Mr. A. C. Blake, announced that fhe secretary of the Education Board had promised, subject to confirmation by the board, to pay t e rent of the hall for this lecture ns the board recognised the great benefit teachers were receiving from such lectures. A motion was passed congratulating M . C. N. Haslam, 8.A., on his appointment: fio th a inspectorate in Caniorbury.

Speaking at the A. and P- Association’s amoke concert at Palmoroton North. Mr. W. 17. Fold. M.F;, sard that amongst the most important problems which the farmers had to solve were the doing awar with preference to unionists, the regulation of water-aiders work nnd the supplv of phosphates at cheaper rates, ns well n« the matter of cheaper freights for getting their produce to the Home markets.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board it was resolved that the chairman of the board be paid by way of remuneration fbr his services the sum of £lO6 per annum, in accordance with the provision contained in the Itospitaln and Charitable Institutions Amendment- Act, 1920.

It was the bounden duty of the. Government to find fresh markets for New Zealand products, wan the text of Sir John Luke’s speech at the A. and P. Show at Palmerston North. All our eggs were in one basket. At. present £75,000,000 worth of produce was being imported into England and New Zealand would have to produce more and participate in larger . degree than obtained «t present, not only in the Old Country, but in foreign and new markets.

Burglars entered n store in Hankey Street on Thursday night and are reported to have stolen a sum of over £BO.

Further evidence of the increasing favour of the »ir as a means of transport is given by the request recently received by Mr Leo A. Walsh, of the New Zealand Flying School, from fhe Fiji Government asking him to carry out certain experiments among the islands of the Fiji Group in connection with the establishment of aerial mail services. Mr. Walsh will leave by Hie Union Company’s steamship Tofua at 10 a.m. tomorrow, in company with Captain A. C. Upham, an officer in fhe employ of the New Zealand Flying School. They will take with them, a machine known as the Supermarine Four-seated Channel Type flying boat, which is the only one of its class in the Dominion, and the largest in New Zealand of the species of ’planes regarded as flying boats. It can fiy continuously for three and a half hours at a stretch, carrying three passengers and a pilot. Captain Upham will pilot the flying boat, on the tentative tests that have been arranged, and when Mr. Walsh has become fully convinced of the possibilities of the services suggested he will report to the Fiji Government. An inquest, was held yesterday morning by Air. F. K. Hunt, S.M., upon William George Green, 45 years of age, a cabman, who died suddenly on Tuesday at his residence', No. 5 J'lntrance Street. The medical evidence showed that death was due to heart failure, and the Coroner found accordingly. A. meeting of the Executive Council of the Wellington Competitions Society was held on Thursday evening, Mr. L. K. Partridge presiding. A number of letters were received from music warehouses in other centres accepting the position of the society’s agent in the various centres. The secretary reported having received applications for copies of <be srllabus from all parts of the Dominion, and that a large number of entries w<*vo already to hand. It was resolved that all entries should close on July 18. A suggestion to hold a conference of representatives of all competitions societies was favourably received and a sub committee was appointed to draw up a draft agenda and report to the executive with a view of bringing the matter before the various societies for their consideration.

Like many other public bodies, the Auckland Hospital Board is some difficulty in "raising the wind.” There were two letters before it at its last meeting, one from tho State Advances Department, declining to allow tho board to offer more than 6 per cent, for the £20.000 loan it is trying to raise to finance works now in progre's; and the ■other from tho bank, notifying that for tho future the 'board would be charged f Mi cent, on its overdraft—which is a iffietty solid one, something .like £20,000. Several times during the meeting when necessary works were mooted, the answer had’ to'be "board has no money, and can’t do anything,” and the work of the institution is being very much hampered generally through inability to raise money.