Page 6 Advertisements Column 3

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 104, 4 May 1915, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL ■» N The Postal authorities advise that the Auckland-Vancouver despatch of, 26th March, which arrived at Vancouver on 10th April (two days late), reached London on the Ist inst., nine days late. The mails which left Wellington on 19th March, per s.s. Mokoia, aud connected with the Brindisi despatch, per R.M.S. Mongolia, arrived in London on 2nd May (two days late). To meet cases of distress caused by the war, it has been proposed "that the Government bo urged to raise by taxation for the purpose of forwarding monthly payments towards alleviating the distress caused by the war, and that this taxation should include a percentage on land, income, and wages On a graoS nated scale." This will come before the Conference of the Wellington Provincial Farmers' Union, to be held at Pahiatua. A; heavy surcharge on enemy goods, to be imposed at the conclusion of the w&}'> was suggested by Messrs. E. H. Christie and Company, in a letter received by the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. The writers were afraid that the sentimental feeling would die out very soon, and people would again be induced to purchase German goods' because of their cheapness. A surcharge as high as 50 per cent, was suggested. Discussion of the subject was held ov.er for V c present. Mr. J. Lewis, general secretary of the Wellington branch • of the Patriotic Society, 18, Grey-street, writes to The Post : — " I was very pleased to read '/Smoker's ' letter in your issue on Thursday, suggesting that every smoker in New Zealand should forego his smokes for one week, and, while still purchasing his .usual supply, should hand it over, for the use of our boys at the front.' 'I feel sure that the suggestion will commend itself to all worshippers of ' My Lady Nicotine,' for smokers generally are good sports and in nowise niggardly. I shall be most happy to receive contributions of this nature, and will take the necessary steps to ensure that such gifts shall reach the intended destination." It was decided at yesterday's meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce to promote an important conference to consider the extension of British trade and other important trade topics. It will probably be held in Wellington either in July or August, And invitations to send delegates are to be forwarded to the various chambers throughout New Zealand. This is the outcome of a recommendation by a sub-committee. Mr. R. W. Waterhouse said he thought the time had arrived when they should do something practical towards protecting British trade in such a way as to penalise Germany. It would be "wise to strike now, in the hope of getting some measures on the Statute Book during next session. Mr. C. W. Jones thought that it would be advisable to hold the conference while Parliament is in session. Administration of endowment lands will engage the attention of the Wellington Farmers' Union Conference, to be held at Pafiiatua this month. The executive will propose : " That the conference approves of the proposals for amending the National Endowment Act as follows : — Section 3 of the principal Act to be repealed. All national endowment land held at the date of the passing of this Amendment Act shall, as suitable opportunity occurs, be sold for cash, oi 1 leased with the option of purchase. Where lands are already leased, the option to purchase to be offered to the present lessee at the actuarial valuation of the State's interest in the land, and tlie payments by way of instalments of not less than X) per cent, of the ascertained value. All moneys arising from the sale of endowment lands shall oe reinvested by the purchase of city or town properties, which shall become a part of the national endowment land, but must be disposed of by leaaeJiold for a term oi' years. ",