LOCAL AND GENERAL,

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 119, 16 November 1911, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL,

The R.M.S. Maitai left San Francisco on 15th inst. with 395 bags of mails for New Zealand and d<& for Australia. ' Of late a number of trades and workers' unions have taken polls oii, the question whether registration under the; Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act should bo cancelled. The results of these polls have been announced, and it> would seemingly be gathered from, the published figures that a union has decided on cancellation. ,It is not alway* the right conclusion though, for section 21 (a) of the Act sets out that the Registrar may cancel the regisk'ation of any union if he is satisfied that the cancellation is desired by a majority of tho members of the union. A case in point occurred recently when a union of workers decided to take a poll on tha question. There were nearly 1500 member* of the union, but only about 400 voted. Of that number there was a majority in favour of cancellation, . and it was given out that the poll had been carried. This, however, is not the case, as the total polled votes did not constitute a majority of the members of the union. Ono of the important questions in an appeal against a conviction for a breach of section 30 of the Gaming Act was as to whether a double racing chart was " published " within the terms of section 30. His Honour Mr. Jiißtice Chapman, in denning the word this week, said that its exact meaning must depend on the context in which it was found. To prove publication , of .an obvious libel it might bo sufficient to show that the manuscript containing it had been handed to a printer with the object of getting it printed j to prove publication as a breach of copyright something more would be required. It was quite certain that publication need not bo to the whole public. A newspaper was addressed ,to the reading public, and waa therefore published generally. A circular was addressed to those whom the sender selected : it was therefore published to them and to bucH. others as he must contemplate as possibly likely to see it. The public was seldom the whole public. The term might be limited to those who could read. In the same way an endowment was for the public benefit, though its founder might restrict its benefits to a class denned by himself. Tho expression was nearly always in some way limited. In. the same way publication was, practically speaking, always limited. The document in question was in effect a circular. ( If its circulation was illegal it was published to those whom it was sent and beyond them to such as in the ordinary course might and* did see it. When it was intended to satisfy a jury that a libel had been published in a certain newspaper the usual course was to prove the purchase of a copy. From this the jury was entitled to infer not merely ' that the copy had been published but that an issue had gone forth to readeti to such a number as must exist in order that th* newspaper exist. A private telegram was received from Napier yesterday to tho effect that labour for wharf work at tho port is very short, and that men who are suitable for the work can rely upon three to four months' steady employment. Invercargill papers rrport thai Sir John Kirk, who wns ihoujiht to be on board the Melbourne boat duo last Monday, did uot arrive. Arrangement* which had been made for meetings in connection with hi« tntamui to pkoe children from his schools in New Zealand households and oa fftHSft w££« Lthersfore. jjpfl^p.onc<ir ' ~ " " «

" North work is normal," report* th» Telegraph, Office. To-day is being observed as Labour Day in Gisborne, states a Press Association telegram. Mr. T. M. Wilford. conned for George 'Alfred Tracey, which is charged wah theft, asked tbe Chief Jnstfce (Sir Robert Stout) yesterday to defer the cas9 until nezb sessions, as accused is not in a 1 fit state of health. His Honour agreed. The prisoner cam© up today, -when his bail was renewed, A I'espectably-dressed young man named William Joseph Dwane stepped into the Supreme Court dock yesterday afternoon to answer charges of indecent exposure. Mr. T. Neave appeared for the Crown and Mr. T. M. Wilford for aceuied. The Court was cleared during the hearing. The verdict was one of not guilty, and prisoner was discharged. Meows'. H. Baldwin and G. London, members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, attended a meeting at Lower Hutt yesterday, convened for the purpose of forming a committee with a view to holding a "Hospital Saturday" at Lower Hutt. There were only two persons present, viz., Rev. Mr. Joshua and Mr*. Jotles. Apologies were received from Mrs. Wilford, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, and Rev. Father Lone. In view of the circumstances it was decided to hold the meeting aS/ some future date.. The Registrar of Patents yesterday delivered his reserved decision in the case of Johnstons and Hoskings's application for letters patent for a pasteuriser for skim-milk and whey, which was opposed by E, D. Berry* It was alleged that the applicants derived their invention' from the opponent's, but the Registrar held that the inventions were distinguishable, and allowed the application, subject to an amendment of the speciflcatione. Mr. C. R. Dix (solicitor) and Messrs. Higgs and O'Donnell (patent attorneys) appeared for the applicants, and Mr. Hunter for the opponent. Some time ago a deputation, headed 'by Mr. ¥. M. B. Fishor, waited on the City Council to urge the construction of a recreation ground between Nairnstreet and the Ohiro-road. Mr. Fisher has received a reply from Mr. J. R. Palmer, Town Clerk, who states that the council has had before it a plan prepared by the City Engineer of such proposed ground, but while the council recognises that the creation of a recreation reserve in this place will be of value to the city, there is no possibility of the work being carried out this year out of revenue, or until a loan is obtained. The City Engineer's estimate of the cost of the work is £13,805. In the course of his contradiction at the General Assembly of a statement that St. John's Church (with, other*) was, too expensive for working men to become members, the Rev. Dr. Gibb said: "In the session of St. John's we have representatives of the bricklayers, compositors, and bootmakers. I say they libel this Church who declare that it is not the Church of the working man. Look round your elders here and see whether they are fashionable members who .represent us in this assembly ! " ' This (telegraphs our Dnnedin correspondent) evoked a roar of laughter. The Rev, Mr. Erwin (Otago Peninsula), who had introduced the subject, said, at the ■ request of the Moderator, that he would withdraw the statement so far as it concerned certain churches, "but," he added, " the essential matter remains that the cost of membership in many of our churches excludes the man who has practically no margin to work upon." There was a chorus of "No, no." Mr. Erwin : "I know what lam speaking about,"., He concluded , with, the opinion that the Church would never" bo .the" Church of New Zealand unless it received nob only the respectable and wealthy sinners bat also the outcast dinners. , . - , The Journal of the Department of Labour reports on the condition of trade in Auckland during last month as. being satisfactory, all classes being busy. Enquiries for men for the building trade wero being made at Gisborne, where, also, the prospects of trade and labour wero very bright. There wafi a little tightness of ready money in Napier, but reports generally indicate good business. In Hastings and New Plymouth a- good deal of building is going on, and the prospects for the future are encouraging. In the latter district unsettled Weather played havoc with stock in many parts, while all through the district the milk supply has not shown the increase ex- , pected. The prospects in regard to the future development of oil and ironHond were never brighter than at present. There 1 is a general feeling of confidence in the future progression of the town and district." There ie a continual de^ mand for carpenters, and tailors are ecarce in Wanganui. There is general activity in Masterton, states the report. Shearing is in, foil swing, and a busy time was anticipated at the freezing works. General business was also showing an improvement. In 'comparison with the corresponding period of last year ? a decided general improvement has obtained in "Wellington. With the exception with some branches of the engineering trade, there is an appreciable activity in most of the factories. There are very few idle men about Nelson, but, owing to unfavourable weather, conditions last month were not so good on the West Coast. Ly Christchurch and Dunedin a decided improvement is noted. No scrambling at stations, no bothei at all, when you check your baggage through us. Wo collect, check, and deliver baggage immediately. Cheaper, safer. The New Zealand Express Co.,Ltd.— Advt. Now is the time when the people of thiß country will have to take serious thought and exercko the vote to the best of their ability. Tho day i* here when the merits of the men who offer themselves for Parliamentary honours will have to be considered and duly criticised, and it is tho people's task to select and return the best men for national work in this land of freedom. Every one must think and judge for themselves, but it will bo a popular vote for values in lustre coafe at C. Smith'a, Ltd., Cuba-street. Lustre dust coats in tussore colour, trimmed on collar with fancy braid, new style panel back, 10s 6d ; another line in good ehudee of grey, with deep collar, trimmed braid, 14s 6d; special line in ladies' cream lustra ooafcs, with panel back, deep collar, and handsomely trimmed silk ancT braid, 12s 6d each.— 'Advt.