LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 120, 22 May 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

There has been some doubt as to which badge men discharged as unfit after being in camp were entitled to obtain. The .Recruiting Board has now decided that such men who are honourably discharged but have not been on active servico are to receive the khaki armlet. The period of active service, it may be explained, dates from the time when orders for embarkation are issued. Men sent back and honourably discharged after being away from New Zealand are entitled to the red badge.

The call made by the .Defence authorities for another 200 meri to go into camp at Trentham was poorly responded to by the Wellington and Canterbury military districts. The quotas asked for from each of the four military districts were: Auckland 53, Wellington 67, Canterbury 47, Otago 33. Auckland responded with 47 and Otago with 17; Wellington only supplied 13 and Canterbury none at all. The districts have now been requested to make up their respective deficiencies, and to send the recruits into camp with the 17th Reinforcements next week. Auckland and Otago have supplied full quotas for. the 16th Reinforcements. Wellington district, however, is still 86 men shoi't and Canterbury 68.

A suggestion was recently made by the Wairarapa Patriotic Society that the Stoney -Creek Estate, near Marlborough, should bo purchased for the purposes of settlement by returned soldiers. The estate, whicii Iras an area of some 19,000 acres, will be visited by Mr. J. D- Ritchie, Chairman of the Land Purchase Board, who wilt report on the" proposal.

- A report by the City Council auditor shows that the result of the twelve months' working of the electric lighting s\'stem shows a balance of '£20.917, as against £16.315 for the previous year. This amount has been reduced by appropriations of £10.358, which include £5000 written off the old station plant and £5000 for goodwill, thus leaving a balance of £10,558, as against a net 'balance for tho previous year of £5515. The depreciation and renewal fund^ amounts to £59,961, but is not repre-"* sented on any liquid asset.

To-day the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) received, through the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W-, Russell), a communication from Colonel Obed Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Emigration in Canada, dealing with the work of the Canadian clubs in the large cities of the big dominion. Colonel Smith states that the clubs are essentially Imperialistic and patriotic in their object. Their inVariable practice is to secure the consent of any distinguished visitor from overseas to talk for lialf-an-hour at a business men's lunch. In Winnipeg the lunch is often attended by 800 men. These clubs realise that gentlemen of distinction and prominence from New Zealand frequently pass through Ca.nada, and they extend an invitation to all such to address the. Canadian clubs on matters of public interest arid importance. The clubs are anxious, to get into early touch with any intending visitor. In handing the communication to a Post reporter, tho Mayor stated that the New Zealand Club in Wellington was doing excellent work, and had more than warranted its existence.

A deputation is to wait on the Hon. W. H. Hemes, Minister of Railways, at 2 p.m. on Thursday to urge the acceleration of the train service in the Wairarapa district by the cutting out of the suburban, stops. The deputation will be introduced by Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby, the representative of the district.

A Press Association message from Sydney states that Mr. Hugh D. M'lntosh has purchased the Sydney Sunday Times.

The Government steamer Amokura is now laid up in the stream at Wellington for three months. Arrangements have been made for the boys 'to receive tuition tinder a Technical School instructor at the Amokura's clubhouse, on the Thorndon Esplanade. Classes will probably commence this week or next Monday.

Yesterday being a fine day, large numbers of people visited the Botanical Gardens, where tho Patriotic Society's brass baiM played several selections. Among the items were a contest selection, 'Rossini,'^ South Island contest selection, "Maritana." The band has a very good membership, and gave an enjoyable programme.

Work on the Waterfront, which has been very slack for some weeks past, now shows a slight improvement. At this time of the year under normal* conditions the rush season has just ended, tho _ bulk of primary produce exports having left the country; but "'shipping was not available for the busy seasaii, and it was to be expected, therefore, that operations would be somewhat prolonged.

"Shouting" and six o'clock closing of hotels were the subjects of a resolution passed by the congregations attending the Vivian-stTeet Baptist Church yesterday. The resolution read as follows: —

"That this congregation earnestly urges upon the Prime Minister that, in the interests of the moral and physical fitness of the nation and of national economy and military efficiency, he should bring forward and pass into law without delay the necessary legislation to make 'shoiating' illegal, and to provide for the closing of the liquor bars at 6 o'clock p.m. daily until the close of the _.var, and for six months thereafter*'

Arising out of a dispute in an auction room, a man named Harry Christian; Jensen was charged in the Magistrate's Court this morning with assaulting George Edward Blake, auctioneer. The assault was alleged to have taken place on Wednesday last. Jensen countercharged Blake with assault. The informant was represented by Mr. P. W. Jackson, and the defendant by Mr. H. F. O'Leai'y. In his evidence, Blake stated that he had1 sold some furnitures for Jensen, and had given him a crossed cheque. t Jensen had been unable to cash the cheque and -had returned to the shop and accused Blake of robbing him. While Blake was seated at a table in his office, Jensen struck him over the left eye, causing serious injury, which had necessitated medical attention. In defence Jensen stated he had received provocation in that Blake had struck him on the lip and kicked him. The Magistrate (Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M.) found that Jensen had started the trouble, and fined him 40s, with costs (£1 7s). Tho counter-charge was dismissed.

As the winter approaches the volume of work offering for skilled tradesmen is usually much diminished, and the number of such workers out of employment shows a marked increase. This year practically all skilled trades are in the fortunate position of having plenty to do. Weekly and/ monthly reports issued by The Labour Department show that what little unemployment obtains at the present time is almost wholly conlined to unskilled occupations, and even men who have no trade have not long to wait for work, especially if they will accept country jobs. This state of affairs is attributed not to greater prosperity than obtained in pre-war years, but to the enlistment of great numbers of skilled workers. Improvement of conditions in occupations to which no apprenticeship is necessary had also affected the employer of journeyman labour. Where advanced prices of materials have not restricted the output, the employer has now, in some, instances, to make sure of his labour by offering a wage above the minimum rate.

Whitmore-street Art Gallery is dosed to the public as from to-day, and the valuable collection, including the nucleus of the National Art Gallery, has beeii removed to a place of safety. The gallery is now about to undergo extension. It will be brought right out to the street-line, and the main entrance will be in the centre, with rooms and offices on either side. The tipper floor will be a, water-colour room, and probably the Chevalier Collection will find a home iv the gallery. The main gallery will be as it is, the light coming from above., The contract price of the work is £1162, and Mr. F. de J. Clere is the. architect. It muy he recalled that the Government promised £600 towards the work. This sum the Council of the Academy of Fine Arts declined to take up for the present, as the war broke out soon after tho grant was promised. However, gentle-*' men have guaranteed the money, so that the work will be proceeded with at once. The council hopes that the reconstructed gallery will be ready for the Academy Exhibition some time in September.

On -the motion of Mr. D. M'-Keiuie, seconded by Mr. Albert Spurr, the Petpne District High School Committee has passed the following resolution :— " That, owing to Leslie' Manning (a pupil at the school) breaking his leg through no fault of his own, in tho playground during school hours, the committee wishes to know whether* tho Wellington Education Board would assist the parents of the child by paying the medical expenses incurred at Wellington Hospital." Failing assistance in this direction, the committee recommends that the board should communicate with the Minister of Education, and 'ask him to set aside a sum of money as an annual allowance for the inauguration of a echool children's accident fund, and to point out that as employers are liable

for accidents to employees, so the Gov

ernm.nt should bo responsible to ,the j Education Board for any expense that may bo incurred through the accident to a child during school hours on school "'premises, the child being at work educationally in the same manner as the worker is industrially.