LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 91, 17 April 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"Common-sense" writes as follows to The Post: "In the interest of our boys who are .in camp, I would ask you to bring this, my suggestion, through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I before tho Government and tho public. I As it is a forthcoming .fact that the j great majority of our soldier boys will, iin the course of events, ultimately go ito the French front, would it hot be I in the interest of our boys that they wero afforded an opportunity by the Government to take- up a. course of con- ] versational French whilst in camp ? The benefits that would accrue therefrom, are !so obvious. Our boys would feel more ] at ease when coming in France, being j able to engage in some conversation, and , whilst here they would have something else to do besides roaming the streets and crowding the hotels. Officials and privates to whom I approached this subject all agreed with tho timeliness of tho suggestion, and wondered why the theme had not been discussed in the newspapers before this. Could. the Government not make an allocation, and secure a few competent teachers, preferably such whose native tonguo is French, to teach our boys in Featherston, Trentham, and in some important centres of tho Dominion. The outlay would bo insignificant; the -resulting benefits .would be immense."

The Postmaster-General advises that on and after to-day the maximum weight for parcels sent at the reduced ratei addressed to soldiers and nurses of British, New Zealand] Australian or other colonial or Allied troops on active service in any part of the world (including members of New. Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood) is 71b.

The National Committee of the V.M.C.A. would be plenser! to receive gifts of hockey sticks for r"*^'ham and Featherston Military Cami *" Many of the soldiers are old players and would enjoy a game in camp. All who wish to contribute sticks may leave them at tha offices of the committee in Baker's Building, Featherston-street.

On receipt of a report from the borough inspector last evening, on the subject of harbour pollution in the vicinity of the foreshore, the Petone Borough Council decided to forward the report to the Harbour Board,, with a view to that body taking action against the offenders to have tho matter remedied.

A description of 'Dunedin as "the chief commercial centre and market of the colony," as contained in an English commercial referen6e' work, came under the notice of the Central Chamber of Commerce. Yesterday it was reported that the' secretary of the chamber had written to the London author correcting, his statement, and quoting trade and population statistics. to show that Wellington, at least, is not second to Dunedin. ' "

Petone citizens had been expecting that their new 'bus service would have been inaugurated before this, but apparently the contractor for .the fitting of the body is experiencing some difficulty, owing to shortage of materials and men, in completing the work, and the 'bus will riot be availablo before next month.

The recommendation is made by the committee of the Auckland Hockey Asso- 1 ciation in its annual report that no man in the First Division o£ the Reserve be permitted to participate in the association's games unless ■ he holds an enlistment, rejection, or deferred certificate.

In place of moving a. general protest against it-he curtailment of {-he train service, Councillor Cox, at the Petone Borough Council meeting last evening, amended his notice of motion "to read: " That the Minister be asked to run one train at 9.30 p.m. from Wellington each day." In support of the necessity of Buch a train, Councillor Cox said that ■on the present 9.30 p.m. train he had, one evening recently, counted fifty-six waterside workers who wero returning after working overtime, and over 200 other overtime workers. Tho motion was seconded by Councillor Jones, who said that between fifty and seventy wool workers resident in'the Valley used the train each night after working overtime. The motion was carried.

Proposedl curt-ailment of railway services came in fou fori«f mention at yesterday's meeting of the council of the Central Chamber of Commerce. The president (Mr. C. M. Luke) stated that, he had expressed his views at a meeting' of another body. He certainly held this: that the rights of soldiers should be maintained. Ho was bound to say, however, that if the Railway Department ■ -was expected to release men for active service they must look for a con-1 siderable curtailment of the general services. Surely, however, something could be done in regard to suburban traffic ■without the ruthless cutting down which was proposed. Luxuries could be dealt with without depriving ifche people of so many essential services. First and foremost, however, they must place, the winning of the -wai^ and if the Railway Department could do something to this end the people must make the best of it. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt agreed with the president that the soldiers in camp should not be mad© to suffer, no matter how necessary it might be that civilians should be put to inconvenience, and he hoped that ways would yet be found of minimising the suffering of suburban residents. No motion was brought before tho meeting, and the council, passed on to the next business.

Dr. Hector, of Lower Ht^tt, informed The-Post to-da.y, that about 5.15 o'clock last evening a beautiful comet rose over the hills on the eastern sido of tho harbour, practically, due east. It was, ho stated, quits as bright as a star of the first magnitude, and had a long, -curved tail. It was-easily visiblo in the moonlight and part daylight, and resembled tho great comet of .1802.

Decision was reserved by the Court of Appeal yesterday in the Wanganui Dairy Company case, the argument in which extended over four days.

The proposal to .alter the date of Anzac Day this year from 25th April, to the 23rd, owing to the\ municipal elections falling on the former day, does not find favour^^ith returned soldiers. At tho meeting\^f the Returned Soldiers' Association the chairman (Mr. J. D. Harper) expressed the opinion that tho commemoration should be held on one day only 1. (Hear, hear.) It was decided to write a letter of protest to the Acting-Prime Minister, pointing out that returned soldiers could only recognise one day as Anzac Day, and ask him to pass an Act of Parliament whereby the commemoration of Anzac Day would not bo disturbed. Another speaker thought it was an insult to those who look part in the landing to ask them to commemorate Anzac Day on 23rd April. The chairman pointed out that the Town Hall would not be available for a memorial service on 25th April. Voices: "Can't we get a church?" (Hear, hear.) Sergt. Walker moved, and it was unanimously decided, to ask the ministers of the various churches to arrange for the holding of a joint memorial service on 25th April.

"We hear a lot about national efficiency, science, and industries, but what about 6 o'clock closing?" asked a member of the Industrial Association, at the meeting last night. The Chairman (Mr. F. J. Evans) stated that the matter was referred to the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen} by a private .deputation, recently. Sympathetic regard, was given by Sir James Allen to the numerous representations made.

Building activity has. been very great in the borough during the year just closed, reported the engineer to the Lower Hutt Borough Council last evening. Sixty-four permits were issued for buildings of various kinds, which included thirty dwellinghouses, seven, motor-sheds, one woolshed, one factory, ono hotel, one stable, and twenty-three additions and miscellaneous. The value of the buildings so erected is £21,082 10s, nearly £10,000 more than last year.

soldiers are not always aware that if they have been discharged and require medical treatment it is not necessary for them to pay for it. This information- was advanced by Mr. J. D. Harper, chairman of the Returned Soldiers' Association, at its meeting last evening. The Chairman added that it was laid down in the regulations that any such man must be treated free by the authorities, and if there was any trouble in this direction''the association would take the matteT up.

Politicians who talk glibly and without thinking are, in the opinion of Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh, M.P., not the sort of persons to be encouraged. During the course of ,Jiis addTess 'afc Petone last evening he was by no means complimentary to the "unpractical politician." He denounced in plain terms the- Reform ,P*rty, the Liberal Party, and the Labour" extremists, and gave all the kudos to the fair-minded, thinking politician whose advocacy of his own particular section did not blind him, to the public good, i

Petone'a wharf is supplied with., lifebuoys by the Harbour Board, but owing to the number which have mysteriously disappeared the board has thought it wise to put one in. a- case, -which .is locked. At the Petone Borough Council meeting last nigEt it was alleged by Councillor M'Kenzie, who was supported by Councillor Gaynor, that recently one or two deaths from drowning might have occurred because this buoy was not easily available.' The council decided to inform the board-that the council would in future be responsible for the buoy, and that it would be made easy, of access.

Can a local authority or the Health Department compel a landlord' to provide a water supply for his tenant? The question arose when the Petone Borough Council last evening was discussing, a complaint nwi'e by two residents' of Koro Koto to the Health Department about the insanitary state of the tanks on their premises, which complaint had been forwarded to the Borough Council to investigate.- The council decided it had power to put the tanks in a sanitary condition, but the question of the powers of the council should the landlord simply remove the tanks and not replace them, was left undecided. The matter of taking action to, compel the owner to improve the conditions was left in the hands of .the borough inspector.' " None of us can say how taxation-will be adjusted when. Parliament meets," remarked Mr. A. H. Hindniarsh, M.P., at a public meeting at Petone last evening. Perhaps it would not be adjusted next session or the session after. Probably the new Parliament would do, the adjusting, and it was the duty of the workers of the city-and the smaU farmers to see that they were properly represented in Parliament, in order that the taxation was not adjusted in the interests of the large property-owners. .If the people were to be adequately represented they would', have to see first of all that the best men were placed on local bodies. Local bodies would be able to'do a good deal in the way of food distribution and other important matters' which- would arise.'

Before proceeding with the ofdinaiy business at yesterday's meeting, the president of the Central Chamber of Commerce (Mr. C. M. Luke) expressed his gratification at the news that Amsrica had decided to throw in her lot with the Allies. It must be a source of satisfaction that this decision had been arrived at after two and a-half years of war, and after the President of. the United .States had sought, with all the power of a. great- man to maintain neutrality and yet safeguard the righte and privileges of democracy and civilisation. Having) well considered the position, America' had spoken with' no uncertain voice,. expressing her determination to do all in> her power to advance the Allies' cause. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt erfdorsed the state- ' ments of the president, emphasising the , bond of a common language between I England and America. In! time to come , the great English-speaking nations might be faced with greater tasks than that now before them.

It is not an uncommon sight to see outside the wharf some thirty or forty expresses and lorries fully laden and waiting their turn to go to a vessel's aide and. unload. The fact was mentioned by Mr. Vickerman at last night's meeting of the Industrial Association* Mr. Viekernmn stated that very often loads were carted* to the wharf, and then returned, and it seemed to him to be a big waste of time in these days when there was a general outcry for efficiency. Another i speaker stated that ifc was no exaggeration to_ say that a steamer arrived 1 one day with space for forty tons of cargo, whereas 900 tons were waiting. There was great congestion in Wellington as regards shipping. In some instances goods for Wellington from Auckland had been carried through to Dunedin, and then returned—about four months later. Shippers suffered heavily, for they were charged detention rates at 5s 6d per hour. Mr. Mainland blamed the facilities on the wharf, and said it was quite possible to formulate some suggestions to alleviate the trouble. The Industrial Association should be able to ascertain what was wanted, and suggest the same "to the Harbour Board.'Finally, Messrs. Evans, Vickerman, and Mainland were appointed a' sub-committco to go into the matter of wharf traffic with the Chambers of Commerce aiul other bodies' interested. A deputation.will later-ovait upon the, board..

After a lengthy discussion in .committee last night, the Wellington Industrial Association decided not to take any active part as a body in the municipal elections next week. The point that the association was a non-political body was stressed by several speakers.

For brevity, to-day's sittine of the* Magistrate's Court, as far as police caees were concerned,, was something in the ■nature ' of-a record. One first offending inebriate was convicted and discharged, arid Richardson M'Cloy was remanded till to-morrow on a charge of assaulting Alice Jones. Accused was represented by Mr. P. H. Putnam.. •

At the Lower Hutt Borough C^uhA meeting last evening, the Mayor *nd councillors made a strong protest against the proposed curt-ailment of the suburban trains. The refusal to have a late train on Friday night will prevent hundreds of boys and girls returning home after their work in Wellington. The opinion was expressed that the two late 1 trains on Saturday nights were being put on for golf players and other pleasure seekers.

" I am not one of those who believe in leaving everything till the war is over," said Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, at yesterday's meeting of the council of the Central Chamber of Commerce, in commending the work of the Forestry League. The leaguo, ho said, was formed to cany out- iwork in which they were all interested, and was acting rightly in preparing for action^ before the war came to an end. Ho suggested that the Chamber should apply for membership, and indicate its support of the league's activities. On the suggestion of the president (Mr. C. M. Luke), Mr.- Hunt gave notice of his intention to move to this effect at the next meeting of the council:

The Auckland rock oyster season will be opened oa Ist May. .Speaking to an Auckland rapotter, th©\ Minister for Marine (Hon. p. W. Russell) stated that every~enort will be mad* by the Department to sell the oysters in such quantities as ■will meet the necessities of all classes of consumers. A busy season was anticipated The Minister also said that iie was giving attention to the question of extending the Dominion's oyster fisheries. At one time the finest oysteTS sold in Wellington came from Queen Charlotte Sound. x lt was, he said, proposed to open new beds in suitable localities, and to make it possible for tho use of oysters as an article of diet to become much more general than at present.

•A deputation from the Wellington Industrial Association in reference to an export duty on New Zealand timber, scientific research, and the establishment of scientific libraries, application of science to industry, utilisation of waste products, and apprenticeship matters waited upon Mr. W. Ferguson (chairman, of the National Efficiency Board) yesterday afternoon. Mr. F. J. Evans reported afe\a meeting of the association, last night that the deputation had received a very sympathetic hearing, and it was felt that the matters mentioned would receive every consideration. The discussion had. been a most valuable one. Mr. FeTguson was unable to give any definite answers, because all the matters mentioned, in addition to such subjects as horse racing, amusements, and the continuance of A, and P. shows,-would all be considered later before any recommendation was made to the Government.

It is some considerable time now since anything was heard of the proposed amalgamation of the boroughs of Petono and Lower Hutt._ Certain advocates of the suggested fusion have, however, not allowed the question to fade into the dim past, and one of these is Councillor A. Anderson, a candidate for tho Petono Mayoralty. ■ Speaking last evening, Conncillor Anderson made it plain that he was a strong supporter of the change, which, he said, would result in great saving to the ratepayers of both boroughs.. As an instance, he mentioned the municioal coal busfuess, and contended that this' could be made a great economical asset to both boroughs. If Councillor Ball (Lower Hutt) and himself were placod in the respective Mayoral chairs, he could promise the people that the proposal would ha pushed for all it was worth.

An unfair disadvantage at which New Zealand shipbuilders are placed in their competition with Australian firms was brought before the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce by the president of the chamber, Mr. E. Burns (states the New Zealand Herald of Saturday). He said that he had been informed that if a ship built in New Zealand were transferred to the Australian, register a substantial duty had to be paid to the Australian Government, but if a vessel built in Australia were transferred to New Zealand no such impost was levied. ■ He was further informed that engines and boilers imported for steamers built in the . Dominion were subject to a duty of 22i -p6r cent, but if they were imported for a' steamer built in Sydney •they would be admitted free. The council decided to obtain further information on the' subject before-passing any :esolution in regard to it.

A teolmical point which «ros©-at the 'trial bci'ora the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) ol Thomas M'Namara, charged with attempting to commit an offence upon, a boy, came before the Court of Appeal for adjudication yesterday afternoon. During the hearing of the case the Crown Prosecutor asked a witness if the-boy had made any complaint, and, if so, what was the nature of the complaint. Counsel for the prisoner objected, submitting that such, evidence was admissible only in certain cases of assault on females. The Chief Justice admitted the evidence that a complaint had been made, but not as'to the nature of the complaint. Ho reserved the question for the Court of Appeal. The jury found prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to five years imprisonment and declared an habitual criminal. Mr. J. W. Salmond, K.C., argued for the Crown and Mr. H. F. ,o'Leary replied on behalf of prisoner.' The Court of Appeal reserved its decision.

During the year ended 31st March last, 813 members joined the Wellington ■ Returned Soldiers' Association, but a num- . -ber of them have transferred to other associations. ' s ■ The total value of the buildings erected in the Petone borough for the current year is £11,980, and the building fees paid to- the local Borough Council £37 10s. "I am informed by-those who know New Zealand that our roads will compare favourably with those of any district on. this island," said the Mayor of Onslow - (Mr. C. C. Crump) during his address to the electors at Ngaio last night.