LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 127, 30 May 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Referring to the Military Service BUI, which was introduced to Parliament and j read a first time last week, the Prime I Minister said in Auckland that the measure would probably be gone on with this week. " There was an enquiry," 1 said _ Mr. Massey, "whether the first division of the Expeditionary Force reserve would be exhausted before the second division would be called upon. There can be no question that this is so, and the Bill really acts automatically in that direction." During ths absence from Wellington of Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, on Board of Trade Business, con. ciliation business in Wellington will probably be attended to by the Commissioners of the northern and southern districts.

Amongst the remits to be considered at the conference of the executive of the Public Service Association are three from Southland, West Coast, and Otago, to the effect that "the Government be asked to reconsider the question of payment of salaries to ■ Public Servants whilst on active service with the Expeditionary Forces, and that it be suggested that they should receive at least the difference between their salary at the time of joining the forces and their military pay."

Absent members and friends at the front were referred to "by the chairman of the Acclimatisation Society (Mr. li. 0. H. Tripp) last night. Mr. A. T. Lowe, in speaking on the same subject, made an appropriate"quotation irom the report of the society in 1885: "In years to come," it was stated, " our very existence may depend on being a hardy nation -of good shots, able to judge distances in rough ground, while the habits of observation and healthy use of eye and hand necessary to make a naturalist or successful fisherman are surely worth an effort to cultivate." Did the writer of these, words consider what a remarkable prophecy he was making? Many a lad must have found his experience and training in the rough gorges of Akatarawa, of great service to him at Gallipoli.

The Post's London correspondent, under date 21st April, says that "New Zealander," writing to the Spectator, asks for information as to the correct flag to fly on land. He says: "There is the Now Zealand flag—the Blue Ensign, with four stars of the Southern Cross—' and that, of course, is correctly flown anywhere in this ■ Dominion But it is merely a local flag, and there are many occasions when there is need of a flag which every Briton would recognise <is the flag of the Empire. Am 1, correct in saying that this is the Union Flag— i.e., the flag on which the crosses of St. George, St. Andrew, and St. Patrick extend from side to side and corner to corner of the bunting ? Is it not a fact that the Ensigns—white, blue, and red— are essentially sea flags? I shall be very grateful if you will give information on the point, as it is a matter of interest to many here besides myself." The editor of the Spectator gives the following information: " The Union Flag is the flag of the Empire—the flag which every subject of the King has a right to fly on land. This, then, is the flag to be flown on all Imperial occasions."

In order to stop the practice of certain Petone coal dealers, who have been obtaining municipal supplies of coal for their customers during the coal shortage by getting several orders in different names, thus evading the council's decision not to supply dealers with coal for retaiJ purposes, the council decided last evening not to allow any person to cart a-way more than 2cwt of coal from the depot in one vehicle. It was decided to inform Mr. J. Jacobsen that he had been refused a supply of coal for personal use in error, and that since the resolution of the council was passed no person had received more than 2cwt of. coal at one time.

Referring to the release of 100 quinnat salmon in the Hutt River, Mr. Tripp stated, at the Acc^matisation Society's meeting last night, that salmon had done very well in the south, and several had been taken on the minnow in the Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers. He had heard it stated that a. man was liable to be prosecuted for taking a qiiinnat salmon, but if he had the good fortune to. take a salmon on a minnow he should be entitled to keep it. In any case it wouldprobably be dead before being taken out of the water.

Writing from Marseilles to Mr.* M.. Cable, Traffic Superintendent of the' Wellington Tramways, Motorman A. Couper, who'left with the 9th Reinforcements, says he is satisfied WeDington has nothing to learn from France in the matter of tramway arrangements. In his opinion the Wellington cars are' far before those he lias seen in the Republic in the matter of comfort, both for motorman and conductors. Women are acting as the conductors of all the cars in Marseilles. The writer adds that he was m the best oF health and that the French people, who are most sociable, cannot do enough for the New Zealand soldiers.

Consideration of the matter of a right, of-way from the Hutt-road to the Petone Waterworks, in .the neighbourhood of the Woollen Company's premises, was reopened at the_ meeting of the Petone Borough Council last evening, when a communication was received from the company requesting information as to when the council intended going on with the work agreed to between the parties. The Mayor stated that the matter was held up owing to failure of negotiations with Messrs. Barber and Co. It was decided to ask the Woollen Company to hold the matter over pending a settlement being arrived at with regard to the balance of the right-of-way, and it was also decided to ask the Woollen Company for a further strip of "land fifteen feet wide, in continuation of the strip at present granted.

Opossums are not yet protected, though acclimatisation societies have for some time past urged that they should be in districts not mainly devoted to fruit farming. Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp, chairman of the Wellington Society, stated last night that in response to a deputation he had lately received a reply from the Minister of Internal Affairs in which he acknowledged the possibilities of the industry and the need for placing it on a better basis. It was hoped now that something would be done, so that the animals. might not be ruthlessly exterminated. Mr. W. EL Meld, M.P., in supporting the chairman's remarks, said that in Southland as many as 80,000 opossums were trapped and killed in one year. Poachers had already found the value of opossum skins. They killed the animals in and out of season in great numbers, and sometimes in o cruel way. If skins were exported out of condition the industry would suffer. He agreed with the chairman that steps should he taken to protect young and female opossums.

A young lady who -was walking along the beach at Opunake on Saturday came upon the body of Mr. George Dobie, an old resident of the district. From the1 position of the body it would appear that Mr. Dobie had fallen over a. cliff. He lived in a street nearby, and it is thought that in going- home the previous night he missed his way in the dark.

Pursuant to instructions received -from the Public Health Department, the Petone Borough Council last evening decided to serve notice on a ratepayer, who owns considerable house property in the borough, to have considerable repairs effected to seven dwellings in order to bring them into a sanitary condition. Twenty-eight days were granted -within I which the necessary work must be done.

At the coming conference of the delegates to the Annual Conference of the Executive Council of the Public Service Association consideration will be given to the constitution of the Appeal Board. A remit from Nelson will urge an alteration "to allow of a, Stipendiary Magistrate of broad sympathies and a wide knowledge of.officials being chairman. A Wellington remit will recommend that appellants and respondents be given a statutory right- to be heard in person, or by solicitor, or by agent, in ajl cases before the Public Service Appeal Board; a case to be struck out on non-appear-ance of either party at the time and place fixed for the hearing, and costs to be in the discretion of the board. It is pointed out that the respondent Public Service Commissioner is usually represented by Mr. A. D. Thomson, assistant Public Service Commissioner, who is a barrister and solicitor. Mr. Thomson appears really as counsel for the Commissioner, being allowed to address the Appeal Board and to cross-examine witnesses. •• ' . .

Camp canteen charges were further discussed by the Petone Borough Council last evening, on, receipt from the Minister for Defence of the schedule of rates charged. The Mayor stated that there was a tacit admission that the Charges at Featherston had been higher than the Trentham charges, when the Minister stated that they were practically the same, but in future would be identical. It was 'common knowledge that improvements had been effected since the riots. He had good information for saying* that the charges on -the Trentham schedule had been exceeded at Featherston, and instanced tinned sheep's tongues, which Were scheduled at Is 4d, but had been charged for at the rate of Is 6d. Councillor Anderson thought the whole system was wrong, and he moved a resolution requesting the Government to take over the can-, teens. The motion was seconded by Councillor Forsyth, who said he had knowledge of soldiers having been exploited. ' The resolution was carried unanimously.

A youth named Harold Guppy, em-' ployed by Keir and Co v carriers, was proceeded against by the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the Magistrate's Court yesterday on a charge of cruelly ill-treating a horse'on Ist May. Captain J. Henry, inspector for the society, stated that at about 3.30 p.m. on the day in question he saw the defendant in Post Office-square in charge of a horse and lorry, the latter being loaded with sheet-iron, barbed wire, and other heavy goods. The horse was unable to draw the load, which in witness's opinion, and also that of a bystander, must have weighed well over three tons. He ordered the defendant to take off halE the load and transfer it to another lorry. This was done. The horse was in good condition, but the load was excessive. For the defence, Mr. P. J. O'Regan called evidence to show that the load was not more than two tons, and ev«n if it was excessive the youth was only carrying out his orders. It was also stated that on the day of the alleged offence the wheels of. the lorry became embedded in the soft macadam, and this prevented I the horse pulling the load. The Magistrate (Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M.) agreed that no case of cruelty bad been proved. 1b might have been a case of overloading, but it was' certainly not one of cruelty. The' case was accordingly dismissed. Mr. H. L. Machellj, appeared for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

In response to a circular letter from the Lower Hutt Borough Council the Petone Council agreed last evening to the holding of a further conference of local bodies to consider the matter of hospital levies. Councillor Brocklebank, who did not agree with holding a conference, said no good could result. Two courses' were open to local bodies—• either to object to present administration, about which he had heard no complaints, orl to object to the method of collecting levies through the local bodies. With regard to the latter, the proposal for' nationalising hospitals had been turned down by the Municipal Conference and no good would come of further discussion at present. Councillor List favoured a conference. He considered that the two councils should endeavour to work together as much as possible. He was much surprised at. the action of the Mayor of Lower Hutt in voting against nationalisation. . The Mayor considered that no harm could come of further discussion. / He had at times. strongly criticised the Hospital Board's expenditure, alleging that its methods.were out of date. He desired to know why the expenditure per occupied bed in. Wellington was £101 per annum,, while the Thames expenditure was only £80 per bed, and also why, in spite of the charge at Thames being lower, the return from patients amounted to £29 per bed, while that of Wellington was only £17 He noticed that under every head the ex.penditure at Thames was less than at Wellington. There was, he said, great difficulty in arriving at the receipts and expenditure of any one department in the Hospital owing to the method of keeping the accounts. He believed the time would come when the whole medical service of the Dominion would be nationalised. The Mayor and Councillors Forsyth and Anderson, were appointed delegates to the conference.

Commenting.on the length of the list of undefended divorce cases set down for hearing a-t the Supreme Court yesterday, Mr. T. M, Wilford stated.that he had on one occasion put through seven divorce cases in fifty-five minutes. "I am not oat to break records " was the rejoinder of his Honour Mr. Justice Hoslring. " I waoit to do what "the law re-' quires one to do, and that is to see that there is no collusion and that divorces are granted on the evidence."