LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 147, 22 June 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Some days ago in the House of Representatives Mr. Hindmarsh mentioned an instance in which Staff SergeantMajor Archer, formerly of the Scots Greys, and a South Africa War and Zulu Rebellion veteran, also another staff ser-geant-major, had been subjected to ungentlemanly conduct by two officer^, who, it was alleged, ordered them out of a. first-class railway carriage at Lamb ton Station. The Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister of Defence), in reply to the allegations, says that the whole matter is still the subject of a Court of Enquiry. '

"No general scheme .for soldiers' insurance has, so far as I am aware, been adopted by any other Government," said the lion. Jas. Allen, in reply to a question by Mr. C. 11. Boole. "The system adopted in New Zealand of providing pensions in case of death, disablement, or incapacity arising from active- service meets the necessities of a soldier's dependents in a. more satisfactory way than the payment of a lump sum of * £200, which, under ordinary investment, would bring in interest amounting only to about £10 pei" annum."

Without notice, Mr. G. R. Sykes asked the Prime Minister, in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, when the Government proposed to bring in a Bill dealing with the early closing of hotels. Mr. Massey replied that anything done in that direction would be done under the War Regulations Bill, which is now before Parliament. It contained no provision for early closing. All the same, the Government thought it was only a fair thing to hold the War Regulations Bill over until petitions on the subject had been dealt with. They were now being considered by the M to Z Public Petitions Committee, and evidence was being taken. He did not know when the Committee intended to report, but its report when it came along would be to a certain extent a guide to the members of the House. The Bill would be proceeded with as soon as it was fair to do so.

A novel method of exploring the hinterland of Papua has been suggested to the Commonwealth by a Swedish airman named Dr. Eric Mjoberg. Dr. Mjoberg suggests that he should be given permission to establish stations at various points, and conduct reconnaissances from those stations into the unknown parts of the territory by aeroplane. An application to do 'this was made to the Lieuteriant-Governor of Papua (Judge Murray), but, fearing that such a thing might cause difficulties with the natives, Judge Murray declined to give the desired permission. ,He communicated instead with the Minister for External Affairs (Mr. Mahon) on- the matter. Mr...Mahon, in turn, communicated with the Imperial authorities, and •ho has now received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies an intimation that the Swedish Government lias advised Dr. Mjoberg to desist from his intentions unless he obtains the consent of the Federal Ministry. It is understood (says the Sydney Herald) that the consent of the ComnionwAtth Mill-i«t*S>-is not likely,- to ia-givta.

The Secretary of Marine (Mr. G. Allport) informed a Post reporter to-day that a communication had been forwarded to the Postal authorities. enquiring if there was any chance of obtaining a. small wireless set in New Zealand for the Government training steamer Amo'kura. Provided a suitable set can be obtained here, the installation will be proceeded with as soon as possible, but otherwise it will necessarily be delayed for some time. The Scot "names" always. In the Supreme Court this morning a witness was asked whether a representative who had approached him for the sale of certain cash registers had said that he "was a German, but hated the Germans." He replied in ithe affirmative. Whereupon counsel immediately demanded : "Now, Mr. Ross, do you think that is possible? You're a ■Scotchman, and suppose Scotland was at war with New Zealand, would you say that you were a Scot and hated the Scots?" The witness: "Well, I don't know, its fine to be prudent at times." It does not appear to be generally known that a police officer can refuse to state, when giving evidence on oath, the sources of his information. A case in point occurred recently in the Magistrate's Court, Gisborne, when a Maori was the defendant against a claim of £15, the value of a bullock iPßged to have been sold by him. The case was previously before the criminal Court, when Detective M'Leod gave certain evidence. He gave similar evidence in the civil case, but refused to answer Mr. Dunlop's (counsel for defendant^ query as to where he got most of his information. Mr. "Barton, S.M., upheld Detective M'Leod, and said that an officer was not bound to divulge the sources of his "information, as it might defeat the end of justice. An unusual position arose during the hearing of a case in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. A young man named Victor Cameron was charged with the theft of a bag of sugar valued at 17s, the property of the Wellington Harbour Board. Several witnesses were heard, and although the accused was unable, to satisfactorily explain his ownership of the sugar, it was proved conclusively that the article in question was not the property of the Harbour Board. On the application of the police, the charge was amended to read "from a person or persons unknown." Mr. H. F. O'Leary, who appeared for the accused, submitted that his client could not be convicted on the grounds that^t had not been proved that the sugar was stolen. CounseL quoted an authority to prove his contention, and the Magistrate (Mr. W. G. Biddell, S.M.) adjourned the case in order to look into the matter. For some time past a strong agitation has been developing against the embargo placed by the Federal Government on the export of copra to America, says a recent message from Melbourne. The export of this commodity to the United States was prohibited unless a guarantee was given that an amount of glycerine equivalent to ihat which was produced from the copra would be returned by the consigness to the Commonwealth. The American manufacturers, however, declined to give this guarantee, and approximately 80,000 tons of copra., valued at over £2,500,000, has been lying in the stores at Sydney for some time past. As copra deteriorates with storing the position is regarded as serious. During the last few days a number of conferences were held between the Federal au- i thorities and representatives of the interests concerned, and it has now been decided that the embargo should be modified where space is available on ships bound for the United Kingdom. The copra must be. consigned to Great Britain. However, copra may be shipped to America upon obtaining a permit from the Minister for Customs. A trial was given the exciter turbine at the Wairua Falls power station on Tuesday, and the first electrical illumination from the new plant was switched on. The trial proved a complete success. The starting of the large turbines and full power trials will take pla-ce next week. The power station at Whangarei is rapidly nearing completion, and current should be available in Whangarei in about two months' time. " Is it in the interests of the Empire to send more men to the front and "less food on which to feed them?" asked Mr. F. Mills (president) at the annual meeting of the Ayrshire Breeders' Association at Palmerston North yesterday. "We have to fill our reinforce* ments," said Mr. Mills, "and Mr. Massey has asserted that he is afraid that the excellent quality of our products will not keep up because of the shortage of labour. Well, I think that is a reflection on the people of New Zealand. We know that many producers have left with our forces, but we also know that many men" who are not producers still remain in the Dominion, and will remain here." The matter was worthy of the utmost consideration of the. Government. Mr. Mills also pleaded for the full internment of aliens, and gave instances where, in South Taranaki, alien-born men were taking over the farms vacated by loyal New Zealanders who had gone to the front. Another member gave his experience of disloyal Swiss in Taranaki. It was remarlcable, he said, that jubilations always followed any alleged success of the Germans. , As a result of these, factory managers had joined together and in future would refuse to receive milk supplied by any aliens. Pure food legislation in America, as Mr. E. Clifton observed when New Zealand Commissioner in the States became an enactment through sheer necessity. The adulteration of food with the addition of preservatives, the use of condiment to disguise an already injurious condition, had increased so largely that drastic legislation was provided. The statute deliberately set out mandatory provisions. Discretion by the officer whose duty it became to administer this Act was not included. The administration was popularly supported, indeed it became a crusade. From what he observed of the working of the Act it was impartially and liberally administered. Unfortunately a consignment of New Zealand butter became entangled in its provisions. It was especially involved owing to the presence of boron compounds. At first the whole consignment was detained and stood in danger of being confiscated. Later the officers found that certain boxes contained 'but traces, and with considerable labour those in which too large a proportion of this preservative was found were separated, and finally.it was but these that were detained. From all that he could learn of the transaction the officers were fully warranted in their action and earned out their duties with more than fairness, indeed with liberality. If it became a question of endeavouring to overcome the presence of. certain proportion of boron, it is probable that personal representations to Washington would be successful. "The best sales-people are notoriously the worst cashiers," said Mr. Ross, in the cash register case at the Supreme Court to-day. To-day is the first day of the big " Down Quilt Week " at Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd. Considering that blankets are sca-rce and expensive, your visit should be a foregone conclusion. See the seven windows displaying handsome quilts.—Advt. Notwithstanding' war conditions men can still obtain a Hard' Felt Hat at 10s 6d. High quality from. Geo. Fowldn, Lti, MannprSiStreet^-rM^t,

In addition to the receipt of £5500 from the Rhodes Trustees, the Victoria College has, during the month, received £150, the fifth and last grant from the New Zealand Society of Accountants, and £364 2s 6d from the Education Board for fees of training college students. A tribute to the memory of Major F. Stuckey, who was killed in action on Gallipolij- is published in the King's Collegian, the journal of King's College, Auckland. Major Stuckey was a member of the college teaching staff during three periods comprising fifteen years. By his will he bequeathed to the college his private library, £100 to form the nucleus of a fund to build a school swim-ming-bath, and £100, the^ interest on which is to provide an annual sixth form English prize. When the investment of a sum of £3500, from the S. A. Rhodes estate, came before the Victoria College Council last night, the Finance Committee recommended 'that it be invested with the Bank of New Zealand, on fixed deposit, for two years, at 4 per- cent. Thereupon Mr. M'Callum remarked: "The Government will give you. more than that." Mr. Aitken said that the amount could easily be invested in Government securities at 4£ per cent., but after some discussion the recommendation of the Finance Committee was adopted. In reply to a question by Mr. Okey (Taranald) as to whether the Government, seeing the great shortage of meat in Australia, owing to drought, will communicate with the Home authorities with a view to sending a portion of the commandeered meat for; consumption there, the Prime Minister states that neither the Commonwealth Government nor any State Governments in Australia has communicated with him on the subject. He understands that Queensland has again commenced its export of meat to Great Britain, so that apparently the shortage is not so serious as it was some time ago. Motorists of Wellington do not find themselves to be altogether in accord with the recently-amended bylaws of the City Council. More especially objection is taken to the provision that in some streets cars are not allowed to stand for longer than ten minutes, and for oi;e hour in less frequented streets. A meeting was held yesterday afternoon, and as a result a deputation, with Mr. C. M. X' Banks and Mr. W. A. Pryor as the principal speakers, will wait on the Bylaws Committee of the City Council at 3 p.m. to-morrow. The motorists will urge, the extension of the ten-minute limit, and failing that the establishment of paths or stands where they may leave their cars without fear of prosecution. The abolition of the hour limit in some streets will also be advocated by the deputa-, tion. "We were*given a trial trip through the poison gas the other day," says Private C. Evans, of the Australian Forces, writing from France to his mother. The letter is published in the Sydney Morning Herald. " A trench was filled with gas from a cylinder in the bottom, and we marched through with our gas helmets on. The helmets are pretty hor-rible-looking affairs, and you feel as though you are being smothered in. them, but the feeling soon wears off, and you can wear them all day without being troubled. We were also run through that gas that makes your eyes water and temporarily blinds you,.but it had • no effect on me. We are to be inspected by General Joffre to-morrow, so it will be a case of boots polished and faces shaved. France is absolutely wonderful. When you see women and little children working from daylight till dark in the'fields, you wonder whether England and Australia are doing anything like their share in this war. Travelling practically the whole breadth of France, I did not see one able-bodied man of military age who was not in uniform. Even the soldiers on guard at the bridges and railway lines are men who would be too old for the firing line." An important point was raised by Mr. A. HalljSkelton at last Tuesday's meeting of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Mr. Skelton said he noticed that Major C. E. Maguire. medical superintendent of the hospital, was announced to take part in a public meeting in the Town Hall, called to discuss the Government's attitude towards the movement for the early closing of hotels. He questioned whether it was right that the superintendent of the hospital, being a public servant, should speak at such a gathering. It was a partisan meeting, and as hotelkeepers and brewers helped to support the hospital as ratepayers, there might be some feeling on the matter. The Chairman (Mr. M. J. Coyle) said he did not think the board had any right to interfere with what Major Maguire did in his own time. Dr. Florence Keller also protested against any interference ; /with Major Maguire. She said that _while it was true that the institution was supported by the hotels and brewers, they also helped to fill it. She desired to say, as a member of the board, that it was entirely out of their realm to dictate in matters of this kind to those whom they employed. The Chairman,.who stopped the discussion, agreed that the board could not take any action. At a sitting of the Juvenile Court today before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., two boys were convicted.and discharged I for riding bicycles at night without lights in Riddiford-street. Owing to structural alterations, Shortt's Picture Theatre will be closed during the day for the whole of next week. The nightly sessions will be maintained, starting at 6 o'clock. Prices for stock in the Sydney market continue at a high rate. At last week's sales the principal averages for bullocks were:—l 6at £25 2s 7d, Bat £25 2s 6d, 8 at £23 Bs, 50 at £20 15s 2d, 9 at £19 Us sd, 10 at £19 9s Bd, 45 at £19 4s .7d. "It is stated," said counsel in a Supreme Court case yesterday, " that your representative states that the installation of the register would mean a saving of 25 per cent." His Honour: "That's not a fact; it's a prophecy at law." . , The council of Victoria College last night accepted with thanks a gift from Professor Marsden of a tube of radium containing point 95 milligrammes, valued at £25. The college now possesses radium to the value of £325. "You can't make men or women honest by cash registers, any more than you can by Act of Parliament," was the comment of a witness in a case heard at the Supreme Court to-day. Men of the city, men of the country, see] the boots at 19s 6d, 16s ,6d, 28s 6d sold at Pearson's Corner Cuba-street. Tan willow boots, 255, best value on the market.—Advt. Organisation plus equipment enables us to give our clients the most efficient carrying and forwarding service south of the line. The N.Z. Express Co., 87-91, Customhouse-quay.—Atrvt. I wonder how many of ue here in Wellington, think (when we read of the adventurous doings of those destroyera in tho North Sea amid terrific blizzards, etc., scouting for enemy ships) what it really means to our general welfare and comfort if those gallant crews aboard their little ships failed. No doubt we should 1)0 facing greater discomfort than we can imagine. They guard our great battleships, who in turn are protecting the many freight-laden vessels supplying us with our requirements, as will bo seen .at C. Smith's, Ltd., .of Cuba-street, who are showing the newest London styles in Coat&iCpstujnes,.. Furs,, etc.—Advt.