LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 44, 20 February 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The next meeting of the Third Wellington Military Service -Board will be held on Tuesday, 26th February, commencing as usual at 10 a.m:

At a well-attended meeting of the Women's International League the following motion was unanimously adopted : " That, in view of the serious allegations being made regarding the treatment of conscientious and religious objectors, "this meeting of women calls upon the Prime Minister to set up a civil publicand impartial tribunal to investigate the charges of ill treatment of conscientious objectors in.New Zealand and on board transports and at Sling Camp and in France."

The postion of Secretary to the Education Department, .which has been va»vacant for some time, has'been filled by the Public Service Commissioner bj the appointment of Mr. Alexander Bell, M.A. Mr; Bell, who is a native of the Geraldine district, South Canterbury, is 46 years of age, and has had nearly 30 years' experience in important positions in almost every department of the education service. About five years ago Mr. Bell was selected from a great number of applicants for the dual position of secretary of the Southland Education Board and High Schools' Board. -Three years ago he relinquished his position in Southland for an appointment in the head office of the Education Department in Wellington. He brings to Us new office a practical and intimate knowledge of educational activities and administrative work. • .

Considerable evidence was heard by Mr. W. G. Biddell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, when Stanton and Evans, motor garage proprietors, Molesworth-street, proceeded against the Zealandia Motor Importing Company, Ltd., to recover £34 12s for repairs to a car. The defendants made a counter-claim for £57, stating that, a car sent to the plaintiffs for demonstration purposes was used for the purpose of hire on a journey from Wellington to Trentham on 22nd October' fast, in respect of which £7 was claimed, and further, that the car was so badly damaged as to be reduced from the status of a new car to that of a second-hand car, in respect of which £50 was claimed. The case was finally adjourned to sth March. Mr. W. L. Bothenberg appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. J. S. Barton for the defendants. There is evidently an impression that reservists of the Second Division who claim to be in another class to that in which they have heen called up only require to attach to their appeal papers certificates of birth of their children That is not sufficient. The Military Service Board points out, states the Auckland Star, that it is necessary for such reservists to appear in person to support their appeals or supply a declaration or-, affidavit sworn before a J.P. or local constable. Frequently it happens that tho cases in question are not disposed of when called, for lack of information,. and reservist* run the risk of having their appeals formally dismissed _in consequence. The reason is that it is necessary to prove to the board that the -wife and children are still alive, and are being supported by the appellant. Instances have occurred where the appellants have been judicially separated from their wives, and have not been supporting 1 their children. On the other hand, an appellant's wife or children may be deceased, a fact which birth, or marriage certificates do not show. So that proof is best supplied by personal attendance, or the alternative as mentioned above.

When the name of an. appellant, a seaman, was called at the Auckland Military Service Board on Monday, the military representative said the reservist had been sent ander escort to camp as a Sectaon 34 man. The secretary of the Seamen's Union, who was 'appearing to support the appeal, said he was unaware that the man had been taken to camp. The seaman in question, a somewhat illiterate person, was arrested on 31st January, it is understood, for fail-ure-to register,' He was pulled up when endeavouring: to sign on another vessel. He had Jeft bis other ship on 12th January. Discharges produced showed that the man was a bona fide seaman. , The board, says tTie Star, decided to refer the appeal to the Wellington Service Board to' be dealt with.

*• "That's all the sugar I have got, and goodness knows when I am going to get any more," 6aid a large Hutt Valley retailer to-day, opening a bin and disclosing a limited quantity of brown sugar. Prom enquiries made, it appears that throughout the Wellington district there is a serious 6ugar\ shortage, ■ and it is stated that fruit for jam-making is' actually rotting for want of the necessary sugar. There is apparently plenty of sugar in Auckland, but the difficulty lies, in a serious shortage of shipping, the only boat carrying sugar being the_ ftf lowai, whose movements are said to be uncertain. The matter was introduced at the Petone branch of the Central Chamber of Commerce by Mr. Sibun last evening, who gave instances, of the uncertainty of the shipping. The Monowai, which should have been in Wellington at present, had not then left Auckland, and it was questionable how much sugar she carried. He had made enquiries aa to the cost of freight by rail, and had been informed that the charge was £4 13s 9d per ton, with no reduction for quantities. Considering he could land sugar in his store from Auckland, by boat and carrier, at 25s per ton, he thought that the railway charge was nothing short of a scandal. He moved that a remit be sent to the Central Chamber of Commerce, Wellington, asking that body to take up the mntter of high freights with the Government, and also asking that better provision be made for getting the sugar to Wellington district. Mr. J. R. Carey seconded the motion, which reoeived the hearty support of the meeting, and was carried unanimously. Mr. Williamson suggested that the support of the Nelson Fruitgrowers' Association should be secured.

From Ist March there will be no more free counter lunches in hotels throughout Victoria. Many previous attempts' to effect this saving in the working coats of hotel management have been made (says Melbourne Argus), but owing to the difficulty of obtaining unanimity amongst those concerned the efforts have resulted in failure. Past experience has proved that mutual agreements arrived at by licensed victuallers have not been adhered to, but a /solution of this' difficulty has been found by an appeal to the Brewers' Association of Victoria, which has decided to refuse, to supply beer to any hotelkeeper who breaks the agreement regarding the provision of counter lunches.

Approval was notified at the Education Bo&rd meeting to-day of the establishment of a school at Solway, also the rent of the building proposed- to be used, 12s per week.

The sum of £29 Is 5d is to be handed to the Mayor's Patriotic Fund as the result of the recent cricket match between Wellington and Canterbury. ft was decided by the Education Board to-day that an endeavour be made to obtain the return to the schools of anj teachers who may bo on. home service ■with the military forces. Frederick Williams, of No. 10, Martinstreet, met with a painful accident while working in the Champion Biscuit Factory ■yesterday, his right hand being injured ~ in the machinery. He was taken to the Hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate one fingor. . ,

As president of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. .P. Luke) is seeking the opinion of bodies attached to the association as to whether the annual conference should be held this year, or remits be dealt with by the executive, as .was done last year.

Some amusement was caused at-the Police Court, Auckland, on Monday morning, when the name of one of the accused was called. A well-known solicitor was passing the prisoners' box at the time, and the constable on duty, who was apparently a new man, proceeded to usher the solicitor into the bos. It was only when the latter explained who he was.that the constable desisted,. Mean-' time the Court collectively smiled.

The annual picnic of the officers of. the Treasury and Audit Departments took place at Day's Bay yesterday. During the morning swimming events were held. Luncheon and aiternoon tea were partaken of in the pavilion. Tea. was provided by the ladies of the. staff, and the day was concluded by a dance in the evening hi the pavilion, the staff returning to town by the 9.20 boat. Following are the results of the isports events: —Swimming— Men: Vivian. Ladies: Miss Bagley. Diving: Wylie. Running—Ladies ; Mies Bagley. Married men: Highet Single men-. Wylie. Thread needle: Miss Ada-ms and Mr". Beattie.

At Wanganui to-morrow night the > schools and intermediate swimming championships . will be decided. Mr. A. Farnell, 'secretary of the ' Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Swimming Association, left for Wanganui to-day, accompanied by Janio Post (Wellington Girls' College) and Leo - Coogan (Newtown Marist Brothers' School), who will represent Wellington in the schools ■ championships, and Maude Allen and Edith Buckmaster (the girl representatives of Wellington in the intermediate events). Wellington's representative in the youths' intermediate championship, David Thurrell, is already in Wanganui.

A builder's claim was considered by Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., at the Magistrate's .Court yesterday' afternoon, when Thomas W. Ward, builder and. contractor, of Roseneaih, claimed from Mrs. Elizabeth . Drew, restaurant keeper, of Lyall Bay, the sum of £65 7s lOd, the balance alleged to bo- due for materials supplied, and work done in erecting a house and tearooms. Defendant entered a counter-claim for £43 10a, for work in the building alleged to have been left undone, incomplete, and defective. Sir Kenneth Douglas appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. A. J. Luke for the defendant. Judgment was given for plaintiff for £62 10s, and coats, »nd for the defendant on the counter-claim for £7 10s and costs. ■'

After a visit to Australia;, wKere Tie attended the convention of the Australian Workers' Union, Mr. C. GTayridler, secretary of the New Zealand Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union, has returned to New Zealand. Speaking 'to a reporter mth regard to his mission, Mr. Grayndler said that as the result of the recent decision of the A.P.U. to amalgamate with the Australian body, the convention had decided to form a branch o£ the A.W.U. in New Zealand. Legal advice was being taken with re-' 1 gaTd to the consitution to be adopted. He was confident that the movement would mark a new era in industrial development, in New Zealand. The policy of trie A.W.U. provided for'political as well as industrial action, but as the A.P.U. was registered as a trade union, and politically Labour was as yet only .in its infancy, it might be regarded as a practical certainty that the New Zealand branch would confine its efforts to its consolidation as a strong industrial union,, and would take no part in politics as a anion.