LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 299, 12 September 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In discussing the unemployed question with a reporter, Mr. Mitchell, M.P.,1 said that if all who required little jobs done would have them dione now it would greatly help the position. There were numbers of people who could offer a day or two’s work in digging, excavating, draining, fence-mending, hedge-cut-ting, and- many other such. jobs. If people who could afford it would have this work-done now, it would help materially. On Saturday evening at the Competitions, Mr. Gordon Lavers, the judge of music, read aloud a letter he, had receiver! which detailed a string of protests. One of these complaints was that a competitor had entered in an "under 12” class and vet was allowed to enter in an "over 12” class; another was that the merits were all wrong; and the final one was that the judging was “ebook.” The writer hoped to receive a "reasonable” reply. Mr. Lavers said that he was thinking out his reasonable reply, but in any case he was going to take the letter back to Sydney with him as a curiosity. A Press. Association , message _ was recently dispatched from Hokitika in which it. was stated that an action for substantial damages for alleged fraud and misrepresentation; was threatened against the promoters of the Groat Western’Timber Company by Mri Hill. -The comlfany informs the I’reßs Association that it’ resents the suggestion conveyed in the telegram, this being tho first suggestion by Mr. Hill of fraud or misrepresentation in connection, with tho company 'The action was threatened, after Mr.’ Hill had been adjudged by the Supreme Court to be a member of the vendors' syndicate and .liable to contribute the sum of .£5OO.

"The thoroughly-relialffe worker is one, of .the most independent men'in society," observed the president of the Employers Association (Mr. T. S. Westen) on Saturday. "He can always find an employer glad to give him a job, and in this country he can always go ahead. It, is true .there al's no Crown lands now vacant, compared with the position in 1886, but it is also f clear that the daily farm <sf the future will be one of much smaller -area than at present. With improved herds and better methods of tilling, a man with fifty acres will do better than the man with one hundred acres nt present. Subdivision of present areas will subsequently follow. Consequently, just as in 1886, many a young ijellow, who was driven .reluctantly to come north and go into the bush, has reason now to bless the. mischance that drove him from town employment into his present prosperity; so' the steady young fellow who now takes his fate in his hands, and endeavours to acquire farm experience, even at a temporary low wage, null probably be in a much better position ten years hence than the man wire sticks to the town.”

A movement is afoot in Otago to arrange for a big shipment of apples to England about April. The Cooperative Fruitgrowers’ Association of Otago is (says the "Star’) taking the initiative, and is communicating with the various apple-growers, advising them that if a consignment of 25,000 cases or more can be arranged for a vesseLcan be bot to load them at Port Chalmers. It is probable that a conference will be called to settle the outlines of the scheme. So far very few Central Otagoapples have reached London. Recent shipments from Australia would have turned out well if the apples had all arrived in good condition. A vessel leaving here at the end of Apiil would be able, to get the best of the picking df Cox’s Orange, Jonathan, and one or two other kinds, and deliver them in London in June, at a time of year when prime apples of suitable size (not too big) fetch, big prices. In Juno of tins year such apples were selling in England at up to 30s. for a 401 b. case. This price or anything would give a handsome return to growers, even after paying the Ils. per case or thereabouts that the transit charges would come to. At a meeting of the Karori School Committee last week it was reported that a vote of parents in connection with the introduction of the Nelson system .of Bible instruction into the school had resulted in 75 per cent, being in favour of the proposal. The committee will make arrangements with clergymen interested. The committee expressed concern at the attitude of the Education Department in connection with the longoverdue provision of accommodation for the increased attendance of scholars. It was said that the Department had declined to pay rent for tho use of temporary premises, and, had also refused the committee’s appliciition for additional room for tho main school. Tho committee decided to place the matter before the householders as soon as official advice is received.

The president of the Employers’ Association'(Mr. T. S. Weston) referred on Saturday to some of the statements made when a Labour deputation interviewed the Acting-Prime Minister on the subject of unemployment. “Neither I nor the Employers’ Federation as a whole believe in badly paid men,” he said. "At tbe.same time there is only so much in a pi'fit pot, and any man who has an intimate inside knowledge of tho wholesale trades, the retail trades, and the eheepfarming industry, is blind to economic fuels if he hopes to pay permanently the high wages of the' last two years. Another thing I would like to emphasise is, with regard to immigration. Labour is of no value unless it is suitable for the jobs that are vacant. Many of the immigrants now coming into the country have taken jobs which I men here were either unable or indisposed to fill. In spite of tho bad times, certain branches of our agricultural industries are expanding enormously, and their demands for labour must be met. Of course, every man with human feelings —and employers have these, in spite of what extremists often say—must sympathise with many of tho men, especially sailors and other married men with young families. 1 feel sure that employers generally will endeavour to co-oper-ate with the City Council and Civic League in their efforts to alleviate cases of distress. If Labour leaders will recognise that employers . also have their troubles, and that the present is ;>. cornmdii 'difficulty, not affecting them alone, then they will be better able to take the joint, action necessary to deal with the problem and to successfully solve it.” <

Mr. G. Mitchell, chairman of the Civic League, which is endeavouring te raise funds for the relief of unemployment, stated on Saturday: "I found five men and a woman waiting at my office at 9 a.m. yesterday morning. The five men were unemployed wanting work; the woman came to donate one pound, and to offer her services to help to get work for them. This was the first donation to the Citizens’ Relief Fund.”

A record number of entries has been received this year for the New Zealand University Degree examinations. Following are the figures, .those for 1920 being given in parentheses: —LL.B, and Law Professional, 930 (866); Bachelor oi Commerce and Accountancy, 1454 (1074-J; Bachelor of Agriculture, 16 (16); Diploma in Education, 9 (4); Diploma in Journalism, 9 (4); Honours, M.A., M.Sc., and LL.M., 90 (94); Engineering, 123 (90); 8.A., 715 (592); B.Sc., 187 (150); Certificate of Proficiency IB.A. standard), 99 (83).Membsri's of tho Makara County Council, while discussing the question of unemployment at Friday’s meeting, were generally agreed that if a rate had to lie struck in the county for the purpose of affording some measure of relief unemployed residents of the county should have first call upon the moneys so raised. It was therefore formally resolved: “That tho council make its own arrangements to provide for unemployment within its own boundaries, and would advise other local authorities to make their own arrangements in liko manner, so that it will not bo necessary for the Hospital Board to make the proposed additional levy."

During the past week or two tho losses of electric light bulbs from the Town Hall have been abnormal. The actingcustodian informed a Dominion reporter that no fewer than: seven bulbs had been removed from, one particular fitting lately, so that the room concerned had now to be kept locked. He explained that tho bulbs were absolutelv useless to anyone ter household purposes. They were bulbs made to take a current of 220 volts, direct from the power-house, whereas the bulbs for ordinary household purposes were made for 105 vo l ts. To illustrate the difference, he «aid that a 220volt bulb would only,.give a faint glimmer of light on a house circuit, but. if a 105-volt bulb was used in. a Town Hall fitting&t would blew out at once, owing to tho very much higher voltage. "Theft is far .too common now, and the only way to influence the public mind is by making the punishment imprisonment,” remarked Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., at the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court on Friday, when, sentencing a young man, aged 22, to imprisonment for having committed theft from the house at which ho was staying.

The removal of tho Awanui wifeless station is one of the suggestions made by the Chief Telegraph Engineer (Mr. E. A. Shrimpton) in a report to the Government. "The radio station at Awanui, by reason of its semi-isolation, is comparatively more costly to run than would be tho case if it . were situated nearer to the main lines of communication and the main centres of civilisation, . he says. "Its situation is such that it is easily vulnerable from the sea,, which is an undesirable feature when it is con-, sidered that this is our most important long-distance transmitting . station, and is responsible for maintaining communication with Samoa and the Cook Islands. Tins is a subject which, while abroad. I discussejl with a number of interested authorities, and it was generally recognised that if placed, say, in the centre of the North Island, near to "The Main Trank railway', its reliability of operaTion, particularly in time of war, be greatlv enhanced, and at the same lime the station would be brought closer to the main centres. This would bo a distinct asset both from the point of view of annual charges and of linking up the station with the principal land lines of the North Island. If New Zea-‘ land is ultimately to form an efficient link in the Imperial wireless chain this station will hwe to ho modernised, and such an occasion might be regarded as a favourable one for fls removal to a less vulnerable locality.” "That was a very silly act on your sart/’said Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., to a man at Christchurch last week, who admitted charges of. refusing to leave the platform of a Slimier tramcar when requested to do so by the conductor, end of refusin to give his correct name and address. "It was more stupid than anything else, and under the circumstances I will not impose fide, because the costs are heavy. You are convicted and ordered to pay the costs, L 3 18s. A number of prisoners in. Lyttelton Gaol spend their spare time te good advantage. During the past 12 months on© man read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. A study of the languages is a favourite hobby with some, and quite- a few are making good progress at shorthand and other commercial subjects. —"Sun." A programme of music was played on the hospital‘grounds yesterday afternoon by tho Waterside Workers? Band. A collection was taken up in aid of tho Ewart Hospital billiard table fund, 4s. being received.

A strong stand against anything savouring of disloyalty was adopted by returned soldier students at a meeting at Canterbury College on Wednesday night, reports an exchange. Some time ago the ex-service men at the college decided to present a cup to the College Athletic Club in memory of the men who fell at the war. and it was made a condition that any person -who had refused to render personal service in the. Forces, or had obtained exemption on the grounds of conscientious objection, should be ineligible to compete for the cup. At the last meeting the conditions regarding, the cup were confirmed, and m iu discussion on loyalty generally’t Wf is shown that prompt measures would be taken to put down the dissemination of sedi-. iious , “Thorf practicability of establishing wireless telephone stations in such situalions as lighthouses _and the -remote island dependencies of New Zealand has received careful investigation,” reports Clio Chief Telegraph Engineer. “While such communication is quite practicable under certain <fonditions, it was found that development work along these lines had not,y w et reached that degree of finality which could bo desired. Most of the ’wireless telephone equipments that would otherwise he suited for such situations .lack (list robustness and freedom from feoniplications which are essential to the successful operation of wireless telephony at isolated stations by an untrained personnel. ’ Rapid _ strides. are, however, being made in this direction. I dm keeping in touch with the same, and confidently -anticipate Ireing able shortly to make /definite recommendations. To enable the Post and Telegraph Laboratory to carry on research work in. this fast developing branch of radio science I have secured a limiJkxl amount of apparatus to enable experimental work to ,bo done.”

By consent of a majority of the parents and guardians of children in th« Kilbirnie School area, the introduction of the Nelson system of religious- instruction in that school from Standards Ito VI has been authorised. • Complaints that the Government houses al Miramar have not yet been connected with the sewerage system were recently made by the Seatoun and Bays Progressive Association. 'The housing branch of tho Labour Department, states that it approached the/ late Miramar Borough Council on tho question of drainage before the contracts for the erection of the houses were begun, and everything to expedite the matter baa been done.