LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 45, 21 February 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The problem of arranging something like a definite system in granting relief to returned soldiers and their dependents arcee at a meeting of the executive of the Wellinßfbn War Relief Association yesterday. TBe Chairman (Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp) stated that at a special meeting of the Relief Committee a, motion was passed approving of the adoption of a scale of allowance a's a. basis of advancing relief. He said that the scale had been adopted by the Christchurch Association. As we were getting to the Second Division it was important that some definite system should be adopted. The scale was only a guide, but it would be useful in dealing with individual cases. In addition to the amounts set out in the scale, applicants could still appeal to ttfe Tmahcial Assistance Board for further relief in re6pect to rent. It was agree* io allow the further consideration of the question to stand over.

One of the most memorable sights at the Sol way Show yesterday was the extraordinarily laTg-a collection of motorcars—cars of all sizes and value, but mostly of the expensive type. A big space set aside in the show grounds for parking cars was quickly filled, but still the cars came on, not in ones and twos, but in tens and twenties. At 1.30 p.m. there were cars everywhere, and it was then that a Post reporter endeavoured to arrive at somi estimate of the number. 'He commenced a systematic count, and after reaching the astounding figure of 900,- he was lost in the maze of petrol-driven vehicles, and gave up the task. It would have been impossible to make an exact count, for cars "kept coming and going all the time, but to say that there, were 1000 cars at the showwould be no exaggeration. What a vast amount of accumulated wealth! Put the average value of the cars at the low figure of £400, multiply £400, by 1000, and the result is £400,000. The majority of the cars came from the immediate surrounding district, but there were some from as far afield as Hastings and Wanganui, and a very, big number from the districts in between.

Speaking last night on the land policy of the Government, Mr. .Holland said that the whole of the land was owned by a mere handful of men, and yet young men were told to "fight for their country." " Every man would fight for his country," said Mr. Holland, ''if he had any land to fight for, but wiro", in the words of Ingersoll, will fight for a boardinghouse? When you want men to fight for a country, you need to make sure that they have some country * to fight for." . '

An inmate.of the Thvercargill Reformatory, Stanley Fountain, was charged at the Police Court at Invercargill last week with refusing to work when requested. He pleaded guilty. The gaoler said that prisoner had been twice punished for committing the same offerice.' He still refused to work. He had been sentenced to two years' hard labour by the military authorities, and had formerly been stationed at Wellington. He adopted the attitude of refusing to work for the Government without payment. The work assigned to Mm was not heavy. In answer to the Magistrate, .-> prisoner had nothing to say. The Magistrate, in convicting, and' sentencing prisoner to ten days' bread and water, said he could, not defy the regulations like that. Discipline must be maintained.

In connection with the New Zealand school championship swimming meeting, which commences at Wanganui to-day, a conference of delegates from the various centres is being held, with the object of furthering the art among the young people. It is worthy of note that at the ■ recent local schools' ..championship meeting the competitors numbered 95 (50 boys and 35 girls). In addition to the names mentioned last night the Wellington Centre has sent Cyril Claridge, of the Kilbirnie School, as its second representative at the Wanganui meeting.

The following resolution, passed by the Belief Committee, 'was adopted by the executive committee of the Wellington War Relief Association yesterday:— "In November, 1917, we requested the Hon. Minister of Defence, to equalise the difference between Imperial pay and allowance and New Zealand pay and allowances, in . respect to the dependents domiciled in New Zealand of Reservists serving with the Imperial Forces. The Minister has agreed, in part, to our request, and instructions riave been conveyed to the Treasury and to War Expenses Branch to make up the difference between Imperial and New Zealand pay."

The committee of the Canterbury Microscopical Society has decided to apply for £20 out of. a grant of £500 placed by the Government at the disposal of the New Zealand Institute to aid'research workers in the ■ Dominion. The society intends to use the money, if the sum is awarded, towards the establishment of a microscopical slide library, and to' ontomplogical work in Canterbury. This will include investigations into the habits and life histories-of insect pests in Canterbury orchards. The slide library will be classified and indexed, and the slides will be available to members for use at. 'leisure in their homes.

Registration is reported by the Mercantile Gazette of H. F. M'Neill and Co., Ltd., as a private company. The capital is £1000 in 1000 shares o£ £1 each. Subscribers—Wellington : H. F. M'Nmll 800. Takapau: W. R. M'Leod 100. Mangamahu—W. E. Collins 100. Objects: To acquire as a going concern the business- of land and estate agents heretofore carried on at Wellington by H. F. M'Neill under the style of " fi. F. M'Neill and Co." .

One ounce of sugar was»ed daily in each New Zealand home means 65,000 701b bags in the year.

One first-offending inebriate was arrested last night, and was this morning fined 20s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, by Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M.

An interesting arrival at Kirkcaldie's is a shipment of smart black and white Shepherd's Check Suitings. This is a material which is at present scarce, so this new selection will be eagerly sought. The widths are from 42 to 50 inches, and prices are 6s lid, 8s lid, and lls 9d yard. Inspect the fine qualities. Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd.— Advt.

No present more useful to a soldier than a good pair of khaki socks, Is 6d, 2b 6d, '3s 6d, 5s 6d, at Goo. Fowlds, Ltd., Mannei's-fltrcot.—Advt.

The Post's Mastertori correspondent telegraphs: —Through the efforts of th< Commercial Travellers' Red Cross girl* and others, the sum of over £1000 was taken at the Masterton Show • yesterdaj for, patriotic purposes.

The Education Board yesterday acj cepted with thanks the gift of a sitd from the trustees of the Riddiford Estate for technical and secondary school pur 4 poses at Lower ■ Hutt ■ j

The public was attracted in large numj her to the Basin. Reserve laet evening' when the" Wellington-Patriotic Society'^ band played selections. The stillness of the night added much to the pleasure oi the concert, which was greatly apprej ciated by those present.

The Wellington War Relief Association continues to receive letters of appreciaj tion from those to whom assistance had been given. By the last mail from] Home there came to hand a note written} by a leading stoker on 1 a warship of thel Grand Fleet in the North Sea thanking the association for assistance granted to! his wife. I In the annual report of the principal) of the Teachers' Training College it .is stated that during the past year the] war exacted a toll from past students of 15 wounded and 6 killed, the latter! being Lieutenant-A. V. Young, Sergeant! G. G. Matheson, Sergeant J. Cuthbertj Lieutenant J. S. Marsden, W. S. Rule! Captain D. C. Bowler, M.C. t

The .chairman of the Wellington. Waif Relief Association (Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp) said at a meeting of the executive committee yesterday that he had received : mpy of the annual report of the Wa Contingent Association in London. T!work done was excellent^ especially tha, in connection with the Soldiers' Club.! ■Russell-square, 1 in providing accommodation for New Zealand soldiers when on . leave in London. Mr. G. Shirtcliffe' endorsed the chairman's remarks. '

The abnormal growth of grass this! season was most favourable to farmers in the county who had 1 set aside fields for the purpose of saving the grass seed, states _ the Ashburton pruardian. Reports indicate that in the majority of instances the grass seed has yielded exceptionally good returns, and lias paid many. farmers far better than wheat-growing. Several large cheques have found thenway into the Longbeach district this year as a result of the grass seed and 1 co*cksfoot harvest.

"Mr. John Logan Stout (eon of Sip Robert Stout), recently appointed to the ■ Bench, entered on his initial duties on the goldfields circuit last week. Prior to taking the bu6ineus at Cromwell on Wednesday, states the Argus, Mr, Brodrick, on behalf of the Bar, congratulated Warden Stout on his appointment, and welcomed him to Cromwell. He assured his Worship of the utmost assistance [ from the Bar, and hoped the relations be-| tween Bench and Bar would continue asl harmoniously as in the past. ?In reply! Mr. Stout wae brief. He thanked Mr.| Brodrick for the welcome, and trusted! everything would "run emoothly." The! newly-appointed Warden also received at hearty welcome in commencing the busi-j ness at the Clyde Court. ' I

At their 2000 centres at Home and abroad, the V.M.C.A. were hosts at Christmas time to a million and a-half men in the Army. At the huts in London, American, colonial, and travelling soldiers were entertained to Christmas dinners; concerts, dramatic performances and parlour games followed in the afte> noon and evening. In the huts up an down England and Scotland the'men i training were entertained in a simil;; way. The men .in Prance, Salonika Egypt, and Mesopotamia were also pro vided with sp&rial Christmas fare. Athe headquarters of the Y.M.CIA. In Tottenham Court-road, London, £here was a great Christmas tree in the hall.' The Christmas dinner in the evening was preceded by a cinema exhibition and' followed by a concert. ;

A few days ago a young man,' John) Anderson, cams to the city from Otaki. After two days' hard drinking he found himself "broke," and in his • efforts to raise some money overstepped the law. He was brought before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.,'at the Magistrate's Court today, charged 1 with iiie theft of a sack of coal from Koberstein Bros.' yard, and, further, with begging alms in Thorndonquay. "Be made the mistake of approaching a plain-clothes constable, with the result that he wa6 watched, and later arrested when seen to stop other people. Aocused said he had no idea what he was going to do with the coal. The Magistrate said that an able-boclied man should not .have to beg, but gave accused! another chance, and ordered him to. comeJ up for sentence when called upon. j

A protest against the Mayor's support of the Gas Company's appeal 'to the Government for coal supplies was embodied in a resolution at the last meeting of the Wellington Plasterers' Union. The resolution was as follows : —"Thai this union most emphatically protests agiiinst the action of the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) in recommending to the Government that the State Mine svpply the Wellington Gas Company^ with more coal, which would be to the detriment of the private consumer who cannot get his wants supplied by the State Mine depot, as at the present her cannot get more than two hundred-! weight at a time, although 'lie mine was supposed to be mainly for the general; public's benefit. Wj view with distasts the. Mayor's appeal for a, wealthy coml pjiiiy, as it is.a very bad precedent." I

"Mk Herdman looked after the T)is-j charged Soldiers' Department with infi-; nite care and grace. He gave a square des.l to everyone."—Dr. Thacker at Mr. PcJson's meeting last night. The gate takings at the -MasiertonShow this year amounted to £254, com| pared with £208 last year, telegraphs' The Post's Masterton correspondent. "My opinion is that town-planning will never be a success until the Government' takes' it in hand," said Mr. J. P. Luke at his meeting last night. The Defence authorities have confirmed the appointment, as from 19th January, of Canon F. Feilden Taylor, C.P., as Pj incipal Anglican chaplain at Trenthaw Military Camp

Permission was given, by the Educai tion Board yesterday fot; the taking: of 4 box collection at the school in aid oil the purchase by the Zoological Society! of a tiger for ths Zoo. ' j

Tenders have been invited by thi Education Board for the erection of : new school at Seatoun, and the executiv< committee of the board has been em powered to deal with the tenders.

For Progressive People.—No-Rubbing Laundry Help, Golden Rule Soap, Golden Rule Candles, the delight of thrifty wives] Wra. Campbell, Ltd.—Advt.

Passengers ! Be happy! Check' bag! gage through us. We collect, check, del: liver on arrival. Tickets issued. If yoJ have one please produce it. The News Zealand Express Company, Ltd., 87-91$ Customhouse-quay.—Advt. | The Opening of the New Season's Goods.—The Dress" Department at "Th<f People's Store" is brimful of pretts Fabrics for' autumn and winter wears Handsome French and Japanese Silks anf among the new importations, and the dainty colourings and richness of qualita will surely interest the lady of taste] As for price—well you know the oxcelj lent value that has been maintained fof; years past at C. Smith, Ltd., Cuba-strcetj Whon in the city dont' miss seeing the good things now showing in the windows -Advt. 1