LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 244, 9 July 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The poster authorities have been advised ed that the mails which left AVellington on May 31 last per R.M.S. Tahiti, via San Francisco, arrived in London on July 5.

“If every church member in this diocese gave one penny per week for foreign missions we would raise £12,000 a year towards the project," remarked u speaker at. last night’s meeting of the Diocesan Synod.

Another gift by Sir Benjamin Fuller to the cause of education—a further J 3500 —was recently recorded in the Sydney newspapers. The donor states that he'would prefer the amount to bo allotted to the establishment of a university students’ loan fund, out of which advances, without interest, might be made to really deserving poor students to complete a university course. Cases have been brought under his notice of students who have been compelled to abandon their university course through unforeseen financial difficulties overtaking them, and it is to remedy such a condition that he advocates the creation of this loan fund.

Doctors’ certificates commonly appear attached to affidavits fill'd in Supreme Court proceedings, but Sir John .Salmond Bars that is incorrect, states the Auckland “Star.” In a. case before him the other afternoon ho refused' to accept a certificate put before him in that manner. Ito pointed out that doctors were not privileged in any way. The method adopted of bringing their evidence was wrong. It was quite wrong simply to attach their certificates to the papers. If a medical man had any evidence to bring out it should be put before the Court in the usual manner on affidavit: just as any other person’s statement would bo given. His Honour eaid he would refuse to tako any notice of certificates put before him in the planner of the one which called forth his comment.

“It is a Gospel commandment to welcome the stranger,” remarked the Rev. H. G. Blackburne <it last night's meeting of the Diocesan Synod, in moving a resolution recommending to the support of church people of the diocese the work which had been undertaken by Uie C.E.M.S.. of welcoming anil caring lor the immigrants arriving in the Dominion. Mr. Blackburue added that while a great deal had been done it: the jaist year there was an urgent need for the creation of a special fund tor the reception of immigrants. Another speakei staled Hint 10.000 Old Country immigrants wore arriving in New Zealand annually, and that 70W ->f them «« Anglicans. The motion was cainod.

The Hutt River Board has made arrangements to secure the services of Mr. Laiug-Metuson, who will carry out all the engineering work of tho borough, and will bs available for consultation and advice.

For the purpose of considering the suitable recognition of the services rendered to the community by Mr. Al. .Haslam, headmaster of tho Petone District High School, who has received an appointment as [lector in Canterbury, a well-attended meeting of citizens, over which the Mayor (Mr. J. W. M’Ewan) presided, was held in the Municipal Buildings on Thursday evening. Speakers referred in appreciative terms to Mr. Haslam’s activities, in tho general affairs of the town as well as in matters of an educational nature. It was decided to tender Mr. Haslam n public farewell, and make him a presentation ou a date to bo arranged. Members of all school committees are reminded of the conference which will take place in tho Education Board's offices, Mercer Street, on Monday next. So far as Wellington is concerned this is an innovation aud is expected to prove of great benefit in brnging aehool committee members into touch with one another and giving them an opportunity, of discussing many matters ot general interest. Among the ’ matters set down for consideration is the question of a motion picture machine for the use of schools. An advertisement appears elsewhere inviting all school committee members to attend.

The fourth annual festival of the "Wellington Competition Society will commence at the Town Hall at the end of next mouth. The prizes offered by the society exceed £5OO. and championship gold medals are. offered for the various sections. His Excellency the GovernorGeneral has offered a cup for the winner of the bovs’ elocutionary championship, and Messrs- Stewart, Dawson and Co. are donating a challenge shield for the children’s chorus. 12-10. A large number of entries are already to hand, but competitors are reminded that ell entnes wi 1 close at the secretary s office, 40 At Ul>« Street, on Monday, July 18, A Press Association telegram from Nelson states that John D. Asbury, aged 41, a single man. died in the hospital as the result of an accident at the Lower Moofete. Deceased is said to have a sister in the Wellington district. A meeting of the National Executive. Council of the National Progressive and Moderate Labour Party was held yesterday, under the presidency of Mr. U Jb. Statham, M.P. Mr G. H. Foster. (the president of the recently-formed A'lckland District Council), attended for the first time and was cordially received. Arrangements were concluded for the further propaganda of the party’s policy per the medium of public meetings at the vanone centres, also the calling of a Dominion conference at an early date. An inquest will be held at-9.15 o’clock Ibis morning into the cause ot deathi of Oliver Scott, who died at the Welling ton Hospital on Thursday morning while under an anaesthetic. Vendors of lignite coal are likely to be hard hit by the lifting of the regulation which provides that hard coal, shall not be sold except with a proportion of lignite, states a Christchurch paper. The manager of one firm of coal merchants said the demand for «?al to winter had been comparatively light because of the absence of bad weathei, and also no doubt because of the price to which coal had risen. The sale of lignite coal was bound to ) tail off when ihe- restrictions were lifted, he said. Manv people who of necessity had to use lignite coal would probably continue to use it. because they had. been to do ao. hut there wae no doubt that many lignite mines, especially those which had sprung up recently, would have to close down. Some of these mines were 'so situated that the cost of railage and cartage practically equalled the cost of the ooal, and they would he unable to compete if hard coal were freed from its companionship with lignite and placed on the market at a reasonable price.

The price of tobacco was the subject of a statement recently, by an Auckland merchant, who deals extensively m this commodity throughout New Zealand. The reported reduction in rates in Christchurch, he said, applied mere.y o one or two lines for which there was only a limited demand, and of which stocks had accumulated. In reducing the price of these tobaccos the Christchurch merchants were doubtless following the practice of selling at a reduction in order to get rid of stocks. There was no likelihood of an immediate drop in the nrice of tobacco and cigarettes in general, ns the American conversion rate was still' against British importers of raw materials. Most of the tobacco and cigarettes imported into New Zealand. he said, were of British manufacture. Kentucky tobacco had recently fallen in value in America, but this variety was not known on the New Zealand market.

A large hole in the window of the bottle store of an hotel in Gloucester Street. Christchurch, was the objeot ot various speculation the other morning. Ono surmise was that someone had been gazing too ardently at the array of 11quor display cd. behind the window, and had pushed his face through. Apparently however, someone had punched the hole in the window during the night, and in the words of the licensee, he had "helped himself fairly generously" to the bottles which stood within his reach. The following officers have been elected in tho newly-formed New Zealand Retail Booksellers’ Association :—l resident, Mr. H. C. South (Wellington); vice-presidents, Messrs. G. 11. Bennett (Palmerston North), P. A. Edmiston (Auckland); executive, Messrs. D. H ■ Whitcombe and W. Maokay (M elhngtou) H. J. Pit her (Masterton), and C. W. Poynter (Wanganui); general secretary, Mr. Frank Ross.

It appears that hitherto there has not been any kinerna censorship tn Melbourne. ‘ Major Baird, the Chief Secretary, intends to introduce into the Legislative Assembly next session a Bill to provide for the appointment of a censor to have charge of the releasing ot films of local production. The measure will probably also give the censor eeitain powers respecting posters which aie displayed for announcing or illustrating moving pictures.

"1 do not hesitate to say that this is not the time for this community to face the abolition of Saturday work, whatever the future may bring in the way of industrial progress,” said Judge Beoby when matters in connection with the building trade were referred to the Arbitration Court in Sydney. Ihe Judge said that in his previous recommendation he had stated that, the working week should be five and a half days That was the general rule laid down, but exceptions were provided for in cases where it was clear that operations could be more successfully or economically carried out on any week of fivo days. '1 here was no doubt whatever that he had meant that live and a half days should be a working week. ITe u,d not intend to bring about it five days’ reek in any industry. He hud no hesitation in sayin- that the unions would be ill-advised to "insist njion closing down on Saturday work. They could not have ’httorent standards of industrialism. If they hail one seel ion working five days a week >5 law, and another section by law woi kiu- five and a half days, they knew by experience that, there would bo an immediate agitation for an equalisation of the standard.