LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 247, 13 July 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Postal authorities have received advice from 'Sydney that the s.s. Moeraki sailed on July 9 for Wellington. She curried 1470 bugs of Australian and United Kingdom mails, including 35 from the East and four from Africa. I “There's nothing more inefficient thati[ our railways,’’ said Mr. L. A. Edwards at yesterday’s meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce. “They're a perfect disgracel” Reporting to the 'Wellington Presbytery last night, tho Rev. Dr. Gibb stated that the League of Nations' movement which Presbytery had promoted, was spreading satisfactorily. A committee, it will to remembered, was set up by Presbytery recently, with the idea of forming unions in the various congregations, which unions should enrol members who were in sympathy with the League of Nations’ project. Dr. Gibb stated that some Wellington. congregations had formed unions already, that the movement was spreading through the country, nnd that Labour had manifested interest in it. Other denominations than tho Presbyterian were also taking the matter up. The advisability of racing clubs acting in concert in an effort to put an end to the abuse of the issue of complimentary tickets of admission to racecourses was discussed at last night’s mooting of country racing clubs. It was stated that the number of “dead heads’’ patronising meetings had grown to such dimensions as to become a serious drain ( on tho resources of clubs. Instances were cited where tho finances of w clubs that had cut down their complimentary tickets to a bare minimum, had improved allround. both the goto receipts and the totalisator investments showing big increases. The conference passed a motion placing on record its opinion that complimentary tickets should be issued only to office-bearers, owners, and trainers. When the organ recital was given at tho Town Hall on Sunday evening contribution. boxes were placed at tho door —not personally presented—into which anyone who felt so disposed could put a coin by way of showing his appreciation of the music. When this money was counted it was found to total J:9 Us. sd. This was considered a splendid return, in view of tho fact that tho average receipts for week-night recitals did not amount to half that sum. Since April tho receipts for week-night recitals have failed to reach X's. ’The receipts for the last four week-night recitals were as follow:—X3 6s. Gd., .£2 Gs., £4 7s. 6d., and j>3 10s. For each recital a doorkeeper and ticket-seller had io bo paid, in addition to which there was tho cost of the advertisements in the papers, the programmes, ami the lighting (to say nothing of the rent.and organist's salary), At Auckland yesterday (reports the Press Association) Mr. J. W. Boynton,S.M. gave his reserved decision in tho charge against Cornelius M'Devitt, who used an order for a railway concession ticket without 'being entitled to do so. Accused war not a railway, servant. He presented an order at Auckland for a quarter-fare concession ticket to Wellington, saving it was for his wife. Accused used the ticket for himself. When detected he tried to bribe an inspector. How be got possession of the order was not disclosed. The Magistrate sentenced accused to fourteen <lays' imprisonment without the option of a fine. On counsel’s representation, this was increased to thirty-two days, allowing accused to lodge an appeal. A charge against F. C. Bremir, of having permitted M'Dovitt to exercise the order in question, was dismissed, though it appeared to the Magistrate that there must have been some collusion to have enabled the scheme to bo worked.

TF’the inquest into the circumstances attending the death of Evans, who was run over by a train at Kciiapoi on Monday, the Coroner returned a verdict that death was due to shock following tho injuries. No blame was attachable (o° anyone.—Press Assn. When delivering reserved judgment at Christchurch yesterday in the case of Percy Maurice'Alills, licensee of the Cafe do Paris Hotel, charged with employing an unregistered barmaid, who produced a certificate of her sister, the latter being ignorant that tho certificate was being used. Mr. M'Carthy, S.M., warned licensees against employing barmaids without ascertaining if their certificates were genuine. Ho said there appeared to -be an illicit traffic in barmaid certificates. Tim onus of proving the genuineness of them was on tho licensee. Mills was fined .£2 and costs.—Press Assn. According to an Auckland Press Association message the Roller Mills announce thatt he priceof flour has been reduced to 4122 2s. Gd. per ton for sacks, less 2} per cent.

Two thousand eight hundred and thirty-six persons received instruction at the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium last month.

Charged with defalcations of borough funds totalling X 64 at Ashburton yesterday morning, James Henry Allred Fodder, lately Acting-Town Clerk, pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence. No bail was applied for—Press Assn.

"The council of tho Central Chamber of Commerce endorsed the following resolution yesterday:—“That tho Levin Chamber of Commerce enters an emphatic protest against the Government committing tho country during tho present financial stress to tho enormous sum of money involved in the carrying out of the suggested railway deviation at Palmerston North. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to tho ActingPrime 'Minister, the Minister of Railways, and the member for the district. That tho affiliated chambers of commerce to asked io support the foregoing resolution.”

“All books are supplied to school children in the Old Country,” said Mr. C. J. Ward at yesterday’s meeting of tho council of the Central Chamber of Commerce.

“Tho Prince Consort and Queen Vittoria were charmed with the playing of Mendelssohn.” said Mr. Robert Parker during his concert-lecture last evening. ■‘lt is said that oti eno occasion ho so delighted them at a private recital in one of tho palaces that the Queen asked whether she could do anything for him. "Show me the babies.’ ho asked. And the Queen took him herself to the nursery. where he was shown the infant Edward. who later became Edward VII.” “I strongly hold tho opinion that every took should to provided free to Slate school children,” said Mr. C. J. Ward at yesterday’s meeting of the council of tho Central Chamber of Commerce. "What is the position? The more children a man has tho more ho is taxed through the school books. Yet we are asking for big families!” The Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday endorsed the action of the Masterton Chamber in forwarding the following telegram io the Acting-Prime Minister:—“Masterton Chamber of Commerce directs attention Londoii cable report re Royal Commission sugar supply, and strongly suggests fullest investigation of position before Government renew contract with Colonial Sugar Company, as apparently enormous stocks are held by British Government, in addition to those at Java, Cuba, and Mauritius.”

Tho cost of transporting racehorses on the New Zealand railways was the subject of tho following remarks by the president (Mr. John Rowe). at yesterday’s conference of trotting clubs: “A matter which has been repeatedly brought under my notice during the last twelve months is, I think, deserving of the earnest attention of this conference. It is a question of the cost of railway transit. 'As you are no doubt aware, prior to the war animals travelling to compete at race meetings nild agricultural shows were carried one way free. In those times tho freights were little, if any, more than half what they arc now. Since peace was declared tho agricultural associations have had the concession returned to them, while the unfortunate racehorse owner si ill suffers under more than the extreme charges which were levied during the war period. I think it is the duty of this conference to try and obtain some concession or remission in these charges, and I hope to-day that you will move in that direction.” Later the conference instructed the executive to approach the Government with a view to presenting the clubs’ case for a reduction in the rail charges.

In eulogising tiie services rendered to the sport by Sir George Hunter, M.P., in connection with the Gaming Bill, the president (Mr. John Rowe) expressed the opinion at yesterday’s conference of trotting clubs that the circular letter sent oat by Mr. Bruce, of the Country Clubs Conference, on the subject of totalisator permits, was erroneous. He (Mr. Rowe) had toon told by members of Parliament that the letter was not one tor the trotting people to worry about, and it did more good than harm to trotting Later Messrs. R. A. Armstrong and I. H. Davey attended and explained by means of correspondence produced that they had committed no breach of faith with the country racing clubs. Their action was endorsed by conference, and it was decided to .wait upon the Country Club s in further reference to the matter. . ,■> Reference to the popularity of Mendelssohn’s overtures in Wellington musical circles was made by Mr. Robert Parker during his concert-lecture at the Art Gallery last evening. He called attention to the fact that both the city organist and the Wellington Professional Orchestra had played some of the beautiful works at recitals and concerts.

**Ma-uv of the motorists agree to pay a tyre tax," said Mr. L. A. Edwards at yesterday’s meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce. “They want to know how much, and are prepared to dump it down, for they believe that as they are wearing out the roads they should pay for them. But I think the other way nbout. I hold that the ratepayers money is being wrongfully used in bad construction, and as it is poor construction that causes pot-holes, which wear out a car. the car-owners should be comnensated rather than taxed by the local body."

“I don’t care if the whole world is behind him. I will decide this case according to the evidence,” remarked Mr. P L. Hollings, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Blenheim. Counsel had observed that the Sheepowners’ Union, and, in fact, all the high-country tanners, were behind his client (but not financially), in a case dealing with affairs of Blusterers and tho terms of their employment. The lady was giving evidence in a case, and was particularly anxious to fully explain the position to the Court (states the "Star”). Her own counsel failed to stem the steady torrent of words, so the gentleman appearing for the other side intervened. "Perhaps, Your Worship, I could shorten matters by an explanation. I am afraid the witness is wound up to "O " "Even if she is,” remarked Mr. E. U. Cutton, S.M.. “it is no use trying to stop her. ■ Let her run down.’

The average wages earned by the men on the Sumner Road, relief works, Cbristchurch. after the last “measure up,” were about 10s. a day. One man, an expericnccd dgvvv, earned 17s. a day, and some received is low as 7s. and Bs., most of the latter being men who had never done that class of work previously.

Speaking at the dedication service of memorial windows to fallen, soldiers nt Trinity (Methodist) Church, Kingsland, on Sunday, the Rev. C. H. Laws, principal of the Wesley Training College, recalled tho words of Colonel C. R. Mockesv, “War is a young mans tPime. “We have only to look round this church,” said Mr. Laws, “andl read the names inscribed on these beautiful memorial windows to realise how true those words are.”

Before Mr. E. Page, S.M., yesterday William Binns, a youth in fho employ of the Post and Telegraph Department (Air P AV. Jackson) proceeded against E Gordon Bender, dentist, Wellington Public Hospital (Mr. 11. 11. Cornish), on a claim for L5B Is. 6d., damages arising out of 'ft collision between plainfiii s mo’tor-cyclo and defendant's motoi-cal on December 4, 1920. Plaintiff alleged that his motor-cycle was destroyed, and that he suffered severe bodily injuries whereby he had been incapacitated raid unable to work for fourteen days. The collision, which occurred at the corner ot Willis and Ghuznee Streets, was alleged to have been due to the unskilful handling of the motor-car by defendant. The defendant counter-claimed for «£lO, for damages to his car. A number of wit-nc-sscs were cullwl. tlie crsb for the defence had not concluded when the Court, adjourned. Tho hearing will be resumed this morning.

The action of the Government in commandeering totalisator fractions was resented at yesterday's conference of trotting clubs. Delegates authorised the chairman and executive to meet the Now Zealand Racing Conference, which sits at Wellington, this week, with a view to making joint representations to the Government on the subject. It was held by members that the fractions were rightly the property of clubs.

Mr. H. Buddle, solicitor, was among those charge*! in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., with a breach- of the by-laws in driving his motor-car without a tail light. Mr. Buddle pleaded guilty, and said he desired to direct attention to the partial manner in which the by-laws were administered by the police. On a daj when he had been out to the races he counted 24 horse-drawn vehicles on the Hutt Road without lights. lie had driven through to Seatoun and counted IS horse-drawn vehicles on the roads between 5 and 6 p.m. without showing lights. If the police desired to discharge this duty fairlv, they could any evening between 5 and 6 o’clock on Jervois Quay see quite a number of vehicles travelling without lights. They seemed to j<o out of their wav to punish the motorist. Senior Sergeant Cox, of tho Mount Cook Police Station, said that when a constable called upon Mr. Buddle he refused to give any information. Mr. Buddle said that ho expected to hear some such remark. Ho did not furnish the constable with, any particulars, because on a previous occasion when he was interviewed by a constable m respect to driving on tho Hutt Road he "ave all particulars and said he would plead guilty, with the result that he was fined .£4, while others who had told the constable to "find out” escaped. Defendant was ordered to pay the costs, «s. According to Mr. E. J Norton American Consul, who was tho guest at a Millions Club luncheon in Sydney last week, a great deal of criticism which has been levelled at America is justified. „* came into the war late,” he said, and up to that time it, was thought that we had profited over the war at the expense of other nations. Well, I can t disprove that statement. Wo did make money out of the war. But tho figures I have seen of the cost of the win- show that tho war cost America three-fifths what it cost Great Britain. That is where Great Britain spent JCS, we spent .£3 And, as an associate of the Allies, America spent the money./ne had made out ot the war. She lent millions of dollars to European countries—and, in all likelihood, some of thoser loans will be canvelled because of tho utter inability of the indebted countries ever to repay them.