LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 41, 17 August 1917, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

_ We have received a number of additional letters from correspondents regarding the much-debated question of lowering the age limit' of men for active service. As it is understood that the Government will not now introduce any amendment of the Act in the direction originally indicated, and' will probably only accept as volunteers 19-year-old young men of proved physical fitness who have the permission of their parents to enlist, there is no advantage in continuing the controversy, which has served ;t very useful purpose.

There is no possibility - of the debate on.the Financial Statement concluding this week. There are still some eighteen or nineteen members who desire to place their views on the Budget in Hansard, ■and .this indicates that the discussion will last well into next week, especially as the tendency 13 for the afternoons to be occupied with questions and notices ■of questions. The speakeiis mentioned for the dtebate to-day are Messrs.- 0. J. Parr (who jnoved the adjournment last night), W. T. Jennings, and E. Newman. The Legislative Council again has the New Zealand Inscribed ,Stock Bill as one of the items on the order paper.

By proclamation in the Gazette the disease called or known as bilharziosis, or blood-fluke infection, or Egyptian haematiiria, or endemic haematuria, or bilharzia haematobia disease, is declared to be an infectious disease within the meaning of the Public Health Act.

Some months ago the Napier public were very surprised to learn that "damp" was entering the Napier Municipal Theatre. The chief overseer reported that parts of the well under the stage were almost continually under water, and rotting the building. The work of putting in ventilators and.puttine down a damp-proof screen is now well in hand. The lower portion of the wooden, "stays" supporting the stage is to be be replaced by a block of concrete, after which it is hoped the defectwill be remedied.

Amongst the appellants before an Auckland Military Service Board this week was George B. Bolt, aero-mechanic and flight instructor at the New Zealand Plying School at Kohimarama, who stated that he was engaged on work of a special nature, requiring expert knowledge of seaplane engines. He had been at the school for fourteen months, and was one of the school instructors essential to.the training of pupils for the Royal Plying Corps. The appeal was adjourned sine die, on the- understanding that appellant remains in. his present occupation.

A protest has, the New Zealand Herald reports, been forwarded by the Auckland United Flourmill Employees' Union against the statement made in Parliament by Mr. C. H. Poole, M.F., in reference to the respective (Qualities of Australian and New Zealand flour. The statement was considered to be misleading to the public and to be injurious to the flourmilling industry in this country. Mr. Poole's assertion that Australian flour must be mixed with the New Zealand product to produce good bread was emphatically denied. New Zealand flour, it was said, will produce a loaf of bread finer in texture and more palatable, which would keep fresh longer than a loaf made from Australian flour, which was harsh and dry. The union also decided to suggest that the tariff on imported flour should be increased from £1 to £2 10s a ton;

Giving evidence in. support of his appeal to the Second "Wellington Military Service Board, sitting at Masterton yesterday, Donald M'Leay, shearer and slaughterman, Bush Grove, stated that he had worked for three seasons at Waingawa works. He was also a shearer, and had shorn for eleven seasons. Three of his brothers had gone to the war. One '■was .killed and the two others had returned on pensions. Captain Calvert (to appellant): "Do you personally roant to go to the front?" Appellant: "If I had not an invalid brother practically depending on me I suppose I would want to go. My brother is practically an invalid, suffering from asthma." The foreman butcher at the Waingawa works said that last season they had to send to Australia for twenty men, as they wanted to cope with a big rush of sheep. The work then "slumped," ami the incident cost the company a good deal of money. . The company preferred to have the locally-trained men. Appellant was a reliable man. The case was adjourned for further enquiry.

Corporal George Johnson, of Wellington, apparently does not have much sympathy for " conscientious objectors" and other of that ilk. In a letter written from France ito his parents he says: "In a paper one of the boys got from Wellington I read where four or five men doing detention at Buckle-street had refused to work because they were not getting enough food. Well, they want to sand those chaps over here as soon as they can, and then 'they might have something to growl about, Compare the following list of rations which we receive with those •with which they were dissatisfied. We are issued the following rations every 24 hours:—Meat, J,-lb fresh, or 6oz turned, bread Goz, or hard biscuits Son. 3oz cheese, 3oz bacon, 2oz sugar, or 3oz jam, or 2oz honey, soz Machonichio's, .butter, l-50oz mustard, l-SGoz pepper. 1-16 tin of condensed milk, tea, lib to every 100 men. We are nil content with what wo get, though, of course, wo would like more. We know we are getting the bost that can bs obtainud, aud w« just grin and .heav-it."

A remit urging that all donations to patriotic funds should be free of income tax was adopted by the conference of patriotic societies yesterday. It was thought that this would tend to encourage donations.

Attention having been, called to caseswhere advances at usurious rates of interest had been made to returned soldiers and soldiers' wives, the conference of patriotic societies decided yesterday that where possible societies should notify; the Advisory Board when such cases occurred. Tho board in turn could consider the matter and take whateversteps it thought fit, with a yiew, to checking the abuse.

Preferring to the consorship qf picture films, Miss Coad, at last night's meeting of the Women's Social Investigation League, stated that a number 1 <jf teachers had asked their pupils to write essays on pictures they had seen. The result was that the children's impressions were written down in a plain, naked way, -and it was apparent the children thought that what they were seeing were everyday happenings. She did not like to contemplate what their minds ..would be like when they readied twenty-one. Hardened sinners would not be in it.

' "Is electric cooking practicable ?" was a question asked of Mr. Lawrence Birks last night. In reply, Mr. Birks referred to what was actually done in the sixteen houses of the. Lake Coleridge settlement. There electricity was used for all purposes. In Ch'ristchur-eh, he understood, tile cost of cooking by electricity was from 10s to 15s per month. If every house in Christchureh now wished to use electricity for cooking and such purposes, it ■would mean a load of 25,000 kilowatts, about five times as much as they could supply with the present installed plant, but the demand was -coming and would be met gradually

The difficulty in. obtaining material for the Dominion's telegraphic and telephonic services ; -which, has arisen since fclie war is becoming accentuated. The carrying out of the automatic telephone installations in. Auckland and other centres, for which arrangements were made by the Government four years ago, has been indefinitely delayed. The Department is proceeding with the equipment of the satellite exchanges at Ponsomby, Mount Eden, and Renuiera, as far ac the material an hand will permit. The new central exchange will be located in the new building to be erected in W.ellesleystreet.

Four horses which were drawing the Blenheim-Netherwood coach, bolted at Stronvar on Tuesday last. One of the leaders slipped and fell, pulling the others off the track, with the result that tho whole turnout rolled down a steep siding with a descent of about fifty feet. Two horses w.ere killed, one having his back broken and the other its neck. At the bottom of the cliff the driver (James Shaw) became lodged under a horse, but, though in a dazed condition, managed to extricate himself. He escaped serious injury, but was much bruised and shaken. There were no passengers in'the coach.

At about 6 o'clock last evening Mrs. Gibson (mother of Mr. Thos. H. Gibson, postmaster at Te Aro) was alighting from a tram car, which has a high step, when she missed .her footing, and fell heavily on to the roadway, fracturing one of her thighs. Mrs. Gibson, who is about 80 years of age, was coming from Newtown, and had intended to get out near the Kent-terrace Presbyterian Church iv order to return to her son's house on Bosworth-terrace, off Austin-street, but was overcaxried to the. corner of Vivian and Cuba streets, where the accident occurred. Her husband died a few weeks ago. It is reported to-day that she is doing as well as can be expected.

Speaking at a meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board this week, the Mayor (Mr. EL. Holland) said that during the last twelve months the losses through fire in the city ■ had amounted to only £9168. The value of the insurance on the buildings in which fires occurred, and of their contents, was £49,000. The loss to insurance companies was £8007. The properties endangered by fire totalled in value £92,630. Considering that the capital value of property in the board's district was £13,000,000, that the area was 6407 acres, including 171 miles of streets, the record was a very creditable one. He moved a vote of congratulation to the brigade, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Holland added that tho expenditure on fire prevention in Christchurch had been £6000 less than in Dunedip for tho'same- period.

The question as to whether or not the tram lines from the Napier powerhouse to the Port wers sinking, - caused some discussion at a recent Borough Council meeting (says the Napier Telegraph). To the casual observer the lines ara lower than the road, and the water collects there in great puddles, which no doubt gave people to believe that the lines had sunk. Equiries made by a reporter show that the lines have not sunk a fraction of an inch, except at bends, and these are kept "packed up.' 1 At the .meeting one councillor suggested the relaying of the, track on a concrete base, but another councillor said that they were found to be too "noisy" in Auckland and Dunedin; consequently thoy were pulled up. and relaid on a similar syscem to the existing track in Napier. With the exception of a town in Western Australia, Napier has the narrowest gauge tram-lines in Australasia.

Speaking- to an Otago Daily Times representative concerning t/ho rabbit industry in Otago, Mr. C. Todd said he had had 33 years' experience in connection with the trade, and had arrived at the conclusion that it could not be emphasised too strongly that the rabbit industry militated against the real prosperity of the province and the Dominion. The country now rabbit-infested would, if cleared of the pest, support hundreds of people who had no inducement to go on to Otago Central lands under existing conditions, He knew the Otago Central land well, and he was satisfied that it could be made as productive as almost any part of New Zealand if handled properly. The wire netting of holdings, and leaving- the rabbits to their natural enemy, plus judicious poisoning, would soon nave the effect of clearing the land and converting it into good pastoral, country. All the low-lying areas could be made intensely productive in -regard to fruit and lucerne.

At a recent meeting of the parishioners of St. Thomas's it was unanimously agreed that the parish should give one of the pillars (£1000) for the proposed Cathedral.

Through the efforts of a party of New Plymouth townspeople, calling themselves the Pierrots, nearly £2000 has recently been raised for patriotic purposes by means of entertainments, etc.

It was stated to the House of Eepresenatives last night by Mr. A. E. Glover, that a man who had been released from Koto Koa Island,: where lie had served' a term as an. inebriate, had gained the D.S.O.

There is a considerable demand at the present time for gramaphones and gramaphone records for nse in the military camp institutes. The national committee of the Y.M.O.A. would be glad to receive such gifts to be forwarded for use and benefit of the men.

Proclamations are gazetted prohibiting the exportation.' from the Dominion, save with the consent of the Minister of Customs, of ■sheimcals, drags, and chemical preparations, and scrap metal, also o£ postage. stamps to any other destination than the United Kingdom and British possessions and protectorates. :

Reports of the librarians at the Central and Newtown Libraries show that the demand for books was greater in July of this year than in the same month of 1916. From the mam library 10,334 books were issued, an increase of 1356 on last year. 'Nowtown issued 6628 books, against 5482 last year. At both libraries the. number of children's books issued constituted a record.

"That strong representations be made to the Government that, in the opinion of this association, all reservists called up and failing to answer the call to the Empire's aid, be deprived of all civil rights." Such was the nature of a motion from. Hawkes Bay, which cams before the Conference of Patriotic Societies yesterday. It being considered that the matter was outside the functions of war relief societies, the motion was withdrawn under pressure.

After The Post went to press yesterday, M*. SS. E. M'Carthy, S.M., heard, in the Magistrate's Court, further cases .in which Rowland Thomas Bailey, Inspector of Shops, proceeded against certain shopkeepers on charges of selling tobacco and cigarettes after hours. W. Lee and Co., for'selling cigarettes, were fined £10 and costs; Wan, Kee Bros., for selling tobacco and cigarettes, £5 and costs; and Wong Young and Co., for selling cigarettes, £2 and costs.

It is stated by the Christchurch Star that on behalf of the United Federation of Labour, Mr. Hiram Hunter, national secretary, has written to the Prime Minister emphatically protesting against War Loan interest being free of income tax. "Take the money compulsorily as you have taken the men," he writes, "and do not burden the pTssent and coming generations with, a burden they have no right to bear." In conclusion the Government is challenged to go to; the country upon its Budget proposals.

A. remit dealing with the- raising of money for patriotic purposes was carried. by the Conference of Patriotic Societies yesterday as follows:—"That all appeals, to the public in the nature of the soldiers' _ homes, hostels, art unions, and. the kind should first be submitted to the local associations concerned, for their consideration and approval. For instance, an appeal by some society or body in Wellington should be approved by the War Belief Association, which would signify to other associations that the object is worthy of consideration and support."

"People axe beginning to button up their pockets now," stated Mr. R. Macduff Birrell (Gisborne} at tie Conference of War Relief Societies yesterday, when he moved the following remit:—"ln view of the inability of the public generally to continue their voluntary subscriptions, owing to the heavy weight, of special war taxation, it is desirable that the Government relieve the various patriotic societies by imposing extra taxation for further relief of returned soldiers, on such a general basis as shall ensure that the weight may fall in just and fair proportion on all those who con tribute." There was a general request that the remit should be withdrawn* and Mr.. Birrell agreed witi but little hesitation. .

Common salt and Lake Coleridge would not appear to the "average person to bear any near relationship to each other. But they do. Lecturing on the Lake' Coleridge hydro-electric scheme last night, Mr. Lawrence Birks made the connection clear. "The imports of common' salt for the past five years ha,ve averaged 24,000 tons per year, worth about £72,000," he said. "Of this a substantial portion used to come from Germany. That ,it is possible to pro-, duce salt by evaporation of sea water is demonstrated by the success of the van-, ture at Geelong, Victoria, where 20,000 to 30,000 tons per year have been produced for some years past at a very lowcost. The sea water of Cook Strait contains 3.33 per cent, of sodium chloric— that is 40 tons per acre foot. It would thus require the avaporation of only 600 acre feet per year to supply the whole of the Dominion's requirements, and in this hydro-electric power will take an essential part."

Generally speaking, Chinese show little enthusiasm for Court proceedings, and especially is this the case when they themselves are. the central figures in the every-day comedy-drama. As unconscious humorists, however, they are often delightful, and it can truly be said for them that they are always ready to join in the laugh, even, at their own expense. One cannot offend a Chinaman by laughing at him. This was exemplified in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when several Celestials answered "Whaffor!" to charges of selling tobacco and cigarettes after hours. A simple young fellow, withan infectious grin, provided most of. the comedy.' "How do you want to swear: With the Bible or "a, match?" _ queriedthe Magistrate when the smiling one stepped into the witness-box. "Aw ! any way '11 do," came the quick reply, accompanied by an expansive grin. The Magistrate proceeded to administer ths oath; when "John" interjected with "not much." Later the same witness described a customer as a "little tall thin man," while another Chinese, upon being asked if he was the company, had no hesitation in admitting that he was. Probably the best bit of humour was provided by a defendant - who did not appear, but who wrote a letter to the Magistrate. He informed the latter that he was too busy to attend the Court, but that if Ms Worship would send somebodyround to his shop he would be glad to pay the fine. "He seems to regard the fine as a sort of license," smilingly observed Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M.

Following on a retirement of about three-quarters of an hour in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, the jury returned a verdict of guilty in. the casein which Thomas Miles was charged with the theft of £30 odd from a Dfe turned Maori soldier. Sentence \vapostponed until to-morrow morning.