LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 151, 23 December 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An investigation of the new bonus question by the executive committee of the Public Service Association—including interviews with the Acting-Minister of Finance and the permanent heads of the Audit and Treasury Departmenthas convinced the committee that "it is satisfied, that it is not possible to make the payment before Christmas." The bonus will be paid early in the New Year.

Strong efforts are being made to bring about the immediate removal of the restrictions imposed upon the proprietors of picture theatres relative, to the hours, and in view of the hoped-for relief the prie'e of admission to the Wellington shows have been reduced as from Saturday last.

A Press Associations, Telegram, from Auckland states that Albert Grant, three years old, was suffocated by swallowing a large pebble, which lodged in the gullet, compressing the windpipe. • ■"

Recently provision was made by the Government for returned soldiers securing advances from the State for the pin> chase of houses up to the amount of the Government valuation upon the properties. On Thursday last (sa.ys Christchurch Press)., the widow of a. soldier who was killed in action eighteen months ago, and who hag- four children, mado application to the Government Lands Department for such assistance, but was informed that the Act did not apply to her. The woman said she was being turned out of the house she was renting, and «6 her husband had liyed in it, she wished for tilt! sake of olcl associations I la remain hi Ji ( which she CSuW <li> i*

Captain E. J. Thomas, house manager at the Auckland Hospital, is seriously ill in the institution. When the epidemic broke out he was far from well, but he got up to supervise the equipping of temporary hospitals, and suffered a relapse.

A correspondent writes: "I would like through the medium of your paper to acknowledge with gratitude assistance from the War Relief Association. I think it is hardly sufficiently known and realised on how many occasions the dependents of our soldiers have been-help-ed when temporarily embarrassed. What particularly appeals to me is that help, when given, is done so unostentatiously and the recipient is spared a great deal of the unnecessary publicity which is generally .employed." '

Details are given in the last issue of the Wangonut Collegian of the high distinction gained by Flight-Major Keith Caldwefl, son of Mr. D. R. Caldwell, of Cambridge, Waikato, and gr:;\>-°" of Mr. James M'Korrow, of Wellington. In 1914 Major Caldwell was a; pupil at the Wanganui Collegiate School. Upon leaving he joined the R.F.C., being one of the first' pupils to pass through the school of Kohimarama. Since then he has gained the Military Cross and has been • given command of a squadron, while lately his services have been rewarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Bathing facilities are being provided for the German internees now at Narrow Necic camp, on the shores of Eangitoto Channel, Auckland Harbour An ■arrangement in regard to the use of a small portion of the 'Narrow Neck beach by the prisoners of war now interned there was reached at a conference between the Defence officers and the Mayor of Dovonport (says the Herald). It was agreed that the prisoners be permitted to use a small unused portion of the beach immediately below the camp, between the hours of 5.30 a.m. and 8 a.m. only, It was stated that a guard may be easily maintained, and that the public will be in no way deprived of the use of the main beach.

■ Our clients have had assurance of the absorption of their whole output, whether shipped or in store, by the Imperial Government," remarked Sir George Clifford at the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company's annual meeting in Christchurch last week. "If a .higher price might have been procurable on an open market, we may justly feel satisfaction m having accepted the Imperial offer without haggling or demur, content if we have helped in some infinitesmal way towards the final triumph. The conditions under which the Government has acquired produce of various lands foiT'a specified period will prove^advantageous to our clients by giving fixity of price during an interval of change and uncertainty. As an experiment, it may further prove of value in outlining any future scheme for shielding the Dominion against exploitation through inequitable methods of trading."

A movement is being inaugurated by Wanganui County. Council to endeavour to secure • co-operation of various local bodies_ with a view of selecting an engineering expert to proceed to America to investigate the latest methods of roadin§, bridge building, and up-to-date machinery. The proposal is to approach the Patea, Waitotara, Rangitikei, and Waimarino^ County Councils to ascertain the respective views on the matter, and , if the proposal is carried 'to ■ fruition, to share the expenses that \ such a trip would involve. At last week's meeting of the Wanganui County Council, the opinion was expressed that if an expert with a knowledge of the local conditions' of the territory embraced were despatched on the mission contemplated, the information, obtained would be of an invaluable nature.

Dr. C. Coleridge Farr, of the Canterbury University College, has been honoured by the offer of a year's,work in establishing the new magnetic observatory in Western Australia, at Watheroo, about 120 miles north of Perth. In making the offer, Mr. l L. A. Bauer, Director of the Department of- Research in Terrestrial Magnetism, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, U.S.A., writes:—"lt has occurred to me that your valued and experienced services may be available for the installation of the observatory instruments and inauguration of the worjc in terrestrial magnetism, atmospheric electricity, and earth currents. As.it is probable that the work -will take as much as a year until everything is in successful opera' tion, could-you induce the authorities of your college to give you a year's furlough?" Dr. Farr, in passing the offer on to his board, eaid that considerations of a private nature had compelled him very reluctantly to decline the invitation, so he did not propose to ask for leave from the board's service.

A paragraph in Saturday's Post stated that fears were entertained, as to the safety of two fishermen who had left the Old Pilot Station on Friday -afternoon about 3 o'clock, and had not returned on Saturday. The police, however)-were informed yesterday that the two men were safe at the lighthouse. They had intended to return home on Friday night, but rough weather came up, and as their boat was. an 1 old one they decided to camp for the night on the beach north of the beacons. On Saturday morning the men were given breakfast at the lighthouse, and another attempt was made to get home in the afternoon. The boat was half-way across the entrance when a. strong southerly blew it-back to the shore south of the lighthouse. The boat was moored after some difficulty and the men camped for the night. During the night the gale grew, /and in the morning it was found tha^ the mooring rope had ■broken and the anchor had dragged, allowing 'the boat to drift 'for some distance. She was then submerged, but not damaged. The men,, one of whom is well up in years, have been well looked after by the lighthouse-keeper, and are both well.

A very commendable piece of work done by Constable R. Anderson, of the Wharf Police, in . connection with a burning accident which terminated fatally on Friday evening, was disclosed during the hearing of evidence in the inquest on the victim of the accident, a little boy, Stanley M'Conaghey, by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., this morning. The little fellow had been put to bed by Mrs. Edith Brown,. of 110, Aro-street, with whom he was boarding, and . a candle and a box of mutches were left in the room. Apparently he got up and struck a match, with the result that his flannelette nightdress caught fire and flared up. Constable Anderson was returning to his home about 8.50 p.m. when he saw a glare in an upstair window of the house. He knocked and tried the door, but getting no answer, burst in, and found the little chap already badly burned, crawling towards the door of his ioom. Quickly wrapping, the child in the bed coverlet, he rushed downstairs with him' and jumped oi> an Aro ; street car which was then run back along the. line as far as Dr. Robertson's residence. The doctor at once sent the child^ and the constable to the Hospital, and from the time the child's plight war discovered to the arrival at the Hospital only fifteen minutes elapsed. ■ Evidence,, was given to the effect-ihat the child, who ha/3 been with Mi's. Brown for some time, had always been carefully and well looked after. A verdict wiis returned that death was due due to shock following burns accidentally received.

Sir James Wilson hits been, rc-eleeted chairman of the Maiiawatu County Council, with which body he has been a valuable member for many years.

An observant correspondent points out that by an extraordinary coincidence all price-^tickels disappeared from most of the windows of Cliintise fruiterers on Sat-' urday night. Such unanimity was surprising, especially e.o. as f/hinceo are, rather punctilious in thin respect. The correspondent-infers that the prices were mnde when the customer entered the shop, and wen; graduated according to the uflluencc, gullibility, or other characteristics of the customer as he appeared to the shopkeeper This may explain why New Zealand appleu were sold at Is per pound.

The Hon. G. W. Russell was asked at Ashburton on Thursday \l it were necessary now for women travelling to the Old Country to pay the fees of 10s and (supply photograph in th« same way as during the war. He replied that in normal cases passports were being issued to women merely on application, but no instructions had been received from the Imperial authorities to discontinue the two conditions stated. "It is as well to let it be known," the Minister "added,

"that, the authorities state that the restrictions on women travelling from the United Kingdom to New Zealand will continue until all soldiers have returned."

The North Island section of Returned Draft No. 201, which disembarked at Dunedin on Friday, arrived in ■Wellington yesterday morning by the Maori from Lyttelton. The contingent was met by the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P Luke, CM.Gr., M.P.), who extended the officers and men, some 200 all told, a hearty welcome. Thirty motor-cars, pro-' vided by the Volunteer Motor Corp, under Captain Pryor, assisted by Mr. Stott (secretary), conveyed the men and their next-of-kin to their various hotels and destinations. The Northern men left by special train for Auckland at 2 p.m. / t j

There was some discussion as to the number of balls to be played to ..the over at a meeting of the Auckland Cricket Association, and finally it was decided to play eight balls to the over on resumption of the championship matches after the holidays. In regard to representative matches against Wellington and Canterbury, the Auckland Asso ciation decided to suggest to the Wellington Association that a match should be arranged to be pHayed during peace celebration week, and to inform the Canterbury Association that it was unable to suggest dates at present, but would try to arrange the matter later. the rules governing the Heathcote-Williams Shield matches were>also considered, and it was resolved that the New Zealand Cricket Council be^asked to amend the rales so as to give local associations the management of the matches.

"I have been to the pictures and seen men shooting and robbing. They never seem to get caught, so I thought I would like to do the same," was the explanation given by a thirteen-year-old and very bad boy when he was brought before Mr. F V Frazer, SM., at the Juvenile Court on Saturday to explain why he had run away from his home in OKristchurch, attempted to obtain a-suit of clothes by means of a forged order-, and generally having given his parents endless worry The boy's explanation was mentioned to Mr. E. P Mills, Probation Officer, who said that, there was no doubt in his mind that long school holidays were responsible for j more juvenile trouble than were pictures of the blood-and-thunder A variety ' "The youngsters are content to stay^at home for th« first week. In the second the backyard palls, and in the thfrd and fouxth some youngsters begin to look round for real excitement. If children can spend their holidays in the country, it is a different~matter."

At the last annual meeting of Viekers, Ltd., the great armament firm (held in October), it was reported that the output for the preceding year had amounted in value to £25,000,000. The profits paid out to shareholders totalled £870,. 000, equal to 3i per cent, on the turnover for the year. It was explained that this 1 comparatively low percentage was due to the accounting system necessary und«r the Acts controlling the company, and was really the reflection of the profits made in the preceding three years. Mr. Douglas Vickers, chairman, said the firm was likely to remain an armament firm after the war. It would still be necessary to enforce the will of the majority, whether they remained separate States or joined a league of Nations. There would be enormous problems of construction, which would keep every form of engineering' fully employed. There would also, he hoped, be a large field for'spreading British trade abroad, for many things learned in the war taught them the value of repetition work v on a scale never before attempted in this country

A section in the report of the- Committee gave, rise to some discussion on the question of repatriation'at a meeting of the Southland War Funds Association last week. The report referred to the action taken by Parliament in the setting up of a Repatriation Board. Mr. J. Fisher emphasised the importance of the scheme's not centring round Wellington only. Too great an effort could not he used to see that Southland had an organisation which, while working in harmony with the centre, would have an individuality of its own, and would get a fair share of all benefits. Otherwise there was a prospect of the men drifting to the north, where better opportunities would be offered. In regard to disabled men, he urged' that they should be absorbed into civil life aa quickly as possible. The matter was referred to the committee, which, at a subsequent meeting, passed the following motion: "That it be a recommendation that in the administration of the repatriation scheme that provision be made for the establishment of Provincial Boards, and for the appointment of ait officer in each province throughout the Dominion, and that such boards be endowed with administrative and constructive powers."

"Old Soldier" writes to the Wanganui Chronicle:—Apart from all this talk aibout the rights and -wrongs of Lieutenant Crampton's action and methods in the local Detention Barracks, the man in the street is curious to know how many of the shirkers under Lieutenant-Cramp-tori's control were, persuaded to don the King's uniform and go and do their duty like men. I think you will agree with me that in time of war, men .who are' in command of, be it an a.rmy or be it a place of detention, are judged by results, not methods, and I think that if the figures were made public one would find that a very- large proportion of the men placed under Lieutenant Crampton's care, saw the error of their way, and realised that their place /was in 'the firing line fighting Germans instead of defying a British officer.. Even the mothers and. fathers of well-loved sous do not question the methods of Marsha] Koch if he decides that the New Zealand Division shall take a certain village, even if he is quite aware that the doing of it will probably cost New Zealand 500 lives. How much more so, then, should results be looked at in the case of the Wanganui Detention Barracks, than methods. This is essentially a case where the end justifies the means and a publication of *the number of men who have'left Lieutenant Crampton's charge to go and fight would probably close the mouths of a few of those who think this, an excellent excuse to get one back on to New Zealand's .military ;.sys.>