LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 70, 23 March 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association has been informed that the Defence Department has agreed to extend by three months the period in which applications will be received for assisted passages from England for soldiers' wives aaid fiancees, Applications will, therefore, be accepted until 30th June. During Easter week a conference of all football leagues throughout New Zealand is io be held in Wellington, for the purpose of discussing matters having to do' with the game. .Tine Wellingtori delegate will be Mr. P. C. Evans. The Petone Borough Council will be met by representatives of the Rugby Union, tho Football Association, and the Football League or Friday evening next in connection with the alteration of playing grounds this year. A grant of £50 towards the Petone pageant, which is being arranged in connection with the visit of the Prfnce of Wales, was agreed to ,by the Lower Hutt Borough Cotincil last nigiht. The Mayor stated that the function would be a Hutt Valley one, and tWy all wanted it to be a success. It had been suggested that the Petone Borough should donate £100, Lower Hutt £50,' and other local bodies £50. Students of Victoria College were in attendance at the opening of the,winter term yesterday &fternoon to meet the ""mof essors for the arrangement of classes. New students wer« welcomed by the Chairman of the Professorial Board (Professor Somerville), who, in a short address, pointed out the imporUnoa of the social and sporting sides of universityl life, which, kept in their proper perapectivt, were a valuable help to the educational efforts of the institution.

The stokers at the Pefcone gasworks have informed the Borough Council that they are not prepared to accept the increase in wages recently conceded (an additional seven shillings per week). They intimated their intention of joining, the Wellington Gas Workers' Industrial Union. The council last evening decided to ask the stokers to meet the gas committee of the council for the purpose of discussing the points in disagreement, A special visit to Trentham Camp will be paid by the members oi the Wellington branch of the British Medical Association on Wednesday afternoon. The visitors, who will bo accompanied by senior officers of General Headquarters, will inspect the' physio-therapy and Xray departments of the surgical division, and the medical wards, laboratory, and eye, ear, nose, and throat department of the medical division. Demonstrations will be made by variou» officers, and a number of interesting subjects will be explained. Later the visitors will be entertained at afternoon tea, and will witness the finals of the camp tennis tournament. ■ ■ , , • The danger of level crossings was dealt with by the Lower Hutt Borough Council, last evening on receipt of a letter from the Minister of Railways stating that the Department was aware of the dangers that exist, and had had -warnings posted up, and, wherever possible, warning bells'had been installed. It, however, rested with the local bodies to take action to ensure the public safety. The Mayor stated that the Goveramsnt was not justified in trying to throw the onus on local bodies. The Invercirgill Borough Council, was quite justified in approaching the Government to deal with level crossings, seeing that the loss of life had been great. Councillor Tovey, at a meeting of the Petone Borough Council last evening, expressed himself as not being, in- favour of the ratepayers' money being expended in entertaining'tha Prince of Wales. Any money allocated by the council should be spent in the interests of the ratepayers, but he did not object to the Early Set? tiers' Association receiving a grant towards the funds to help to make the function at the Petone beach a success. The Mayor (Mr, J. W. M'Ewan) replied with some heat, declaring that the visit of our future King would be an historic event, and it behoved the citizens of Petone to entertain him in a fitting manner. ' ' ,

That a school or college should be known by its colours,' and that the pupils or students should take a pride in those colours, are among the beliefs held by the Director .of Wellington Technical College (Mr. J. H. Howell).' He recommended to the College Governors last night that some distinctive colours and a badge should be adopted for the 'Wellington Technical College. It had been the practice of students to wear a black cap with gold braid and a badge of three separate letters. "The cap is by no meane distinctive," stated Mr. Howell, "since black and gold are the provincial colours, of \he Wellington Boys' and Grids' Colleges, and are utilised in several other school caps. It is not possible for our pupils to be readily distinguished. I would suggest that brown and gold be taken as our colours, and that a monogram combining the letters W.T.C. be designed suitable for embroidery." It was left for Mr. Howell to produce a sample cap at the nest meeting of the board. Lack of playing areas isl the main difficulty facing League' football players. Speaking at last -night's annual meeting of the Wellington Football League, Mr. W. S. Brice said that they could look forward to a very successful season, but they would have to watch very closejy the allocation of grounds. They had possessed a ground at Petone for "five minutes," but owing to tyie action of a Labour member of the council, on whom they had depended, that ground had been lost. League was generally recognised us a working man's game, and it seemed strange that a Labour man should turn against them when his services were most needed.. The League had put in an application for five grounds in Wellington, | but it would be very lucky if it secured three. A deputation, he suggested, should wait on the Reserves Committee of the City Council, and urge that the necessary grounds should be allocated to League. This suggestion met with the approval of the meeting, and it was decided to ask as many players as possible to act as members of the deputation. The time-worn; Hutt and Petone gas dispute was again before the meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council last evening, when a letter from the Board of Trade, which met the two council* in conference, was under coneideration. The board made three suggestions: (1) The amalgamation of the two boroughs; (2) a new agreement regarding prices; and (3) the joint ownership of the gas works by both boroughs.' In ius covering letter the board particrula-rly stressed tho wisdom of carrying out the third suggestion,- and "strongly recommended" a settlement of the dispute. The Mayor (Mr. E. P. Rishwarth) said that personally he was against amalgamation, and in regard to the second suggestion ho said it 6oemed unreasonable that the Hutt should give away all that it had been fighting for for over four years, without any adequate compensation. Tho third proposal, the Mayor considered, contained a. reasonable compromise, for the gas works could be. successfully carried on on a joint ownership. Councillor Hobbs expressed the opinion that the Hutt should purchase a Jwif'share in j the Petone gas wo.rke. It, was ultimately decided to hold a special meeting on tmssday nigh' >»»*.£. to go <nUy into ifce matter, ,

A Tramway Officers' Union, similar to the one in Auckland, has been formed in Wellington, and efforts are being made to bring the wages and conditions into line with other centres. An annual expenditure of £750 .is incurred by tho Auokland City Council in paying for the services of the constables controlling the traffic in Queenstreet. It is suggested that the council phould provide shelters for the constables, so that they may not have to stand out in the streets in wet weather. Prefects are to be. appointedl in connection with the Wellington Technical High School. The Director (Mr. J. H. HoweH) believes that the system will be beneficial not only to the school, but also to the prefects themselves for it lavs upon them certain responsibilities, the carrying out of which tends to develop valuable qualities. The prefects are to wear special silver badges during their term of office. Tho City Librarian has arranged to supply the Technical High School with a valuable lending library of some 500 volumes., "I ara sure this will prove to be a great boon to the pupils, and wall bo much appreciated," stated the Director (Mr, J. H, Howell) in his monthly report, presented . last • night/ The Board of Governors decided to send a Jetter of $ianks to tha City Council, with whose authority the matter bad been arranged. Wanganui has Iseen having a bad run lately, owing to an inefficient gas service, caused by repair work and installation of plant (writes The Post's correspondent). Street lighting ha& consequently suffered, and enterprising burgJars have not been slow to take advantage of the disabilities under which; the town is suffering. Several places have been broken into within the past couple of. days, but the unwanted visitors have not been rewarded to any great extent. A return prepared by the Director of the Wellington' Technical College (Mr. J. H. Howell) and presented to the board at its meeting last night indicated that the average attendance at many of the classes was extremely disappointing. In this connection, Mr. Howell said lie expected better results from the institution next year of an annual fee in place of a term fee. It would be far better to have a few students attending all the time than a large number of studente attending irregularly. The total number on the roll this year was 1606, as against 1553 hsfc year. There were 1201 students attending the day and evening classes other than those connected with the Technical High School.

Prior to the war a promising trade was being built up between New Zealand and the Argentine in stud stock and fruit, but the outbreak of hostilities disorganised shipping and business fell off.' The Hon. W. Nosworthy (states a Press Association message "from Christchurch) has been in communication with the Shaw, Savill Company, breeders and orc'hardists, with a view to recapturing the trade, but inquiries show that an insufficient quantity of live stock would be forthcoming tor direct shipment. In regard to fruit, no satisfactory arrangements could be made, but the matter would again be gone into before the next season, in-the hope that the shipping companies would be able to meet the position, subject to satisfactory business arrangements .being, possible. In 1914, 65,932 cases of fruit \vere shipped to South America, 59,529 in the following year, and in 1916, when export stopped, 19,226.

Speaking to an Otago Daily Times Ye porter on the subject of the penguin oil works at Macquarie -Island, concerning which there has been some correspondence between the Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Premier of Tasmania, Mr. Joseph Hatch, the forme 1- lessee of the island, said that the allegation mad-e that it was the custom of those working on the island to boil penguins alive was absolutely without foundation. He said that during the time. he held a le»sa over the island he had never known an act of cruelty to take place there. Further, owing to the irresponsible statement made concerning the works of the island, ar» oil industry which should be encouraged at the present time was being crushed. He purposed delivering an Mldress in Dunedin on this question, when he hoped, by a series of lantern slides, to show the people how the industry had been conducted.

Utilisation of the cinematograph to extend a knowledge of the Empire's activities, and the customs and manners of the various peoples under the British Flag, was discussed at some length by the Victoria League Conference at Auckland. The chairman (Mr. W. J. Napier) said that the majority of the pictures shown in New Zealand were American, and did not foster the traditions of the British Empire. Americans failed to understand the British veneration for historical places and shrines. A great deal of useful knowledge might be imparted by means of films depicting British industries. Moving pictures were now arriving! at a stage when their selection shouldl be under Government control. Miss A. (Auckland) drew attention to the fact that really educational pictures were not given sufficient prominence in advertising mediums, whereas the less elevating films were brought before the public at every opportunity. The conference passed a motion drawing tho attention of the Government to the fact that many of the moving pictures being exhibited in New Zealand were undesirable, and suggesting that all pictures should be classified in such a way as to exclude children under 14 years of age from certain classes, and that the Government be requested to a4d a woman representative to the film censor's staff.

A preliminary estimate of the profits which wit) be shown ,by the various Dunodin city trading departments for the financial year ending 31st March indicates that the ratepayers should have much cause for satisfaction (says the Otago Daily Times). It is expected' that the revenue of the tramways department, which has enjoyed: an unusually favourable year, will reveal an increase of more than £20,000 over that of last year, and that the net. profit will be about twice as much as it has ever been before.- This result is due to a number of causes, including th* reduction of the concession tickerti for 16 rides to 14, the increased service that has been instituted on a number of lines, the holding of several important functions in the city during the year, and the fact that people are using the oars to a greater extent than they did formerly. In the electric power and lighting and water departments the revenue this year will probably be found slightly to exceed that of last year, but the Gas Department, although, it has experienced a satisfactory year, will probably, not show quite the same margin of improvement as tho othe.r trading concerns, owing to the high cost of coal and other necessary materials It is satisfactory to learn that in all the trading concerns of the city ■ th« revenue ha» shown a marked increase, but at the same time the working expenses have been much heavier. .

It was reported by the Mayor (Mr. E. P. Rishworth) to the Lower Hutfc Council meeting last night that the accident to Councillor West was more serious than was at first thought, and it would be some weeks before he would be able to be about again. Councillor West warn granted leave of absence.

Some of the settlers in the district between Kotorua and Taupo have prepared a petition for Parliament, asking for the construction of a railway to connect the two places. They state that about 2,000,000 acres would be benefited by the line, and propose that this area—lands within twenty miles of the railway—should be declared a rating area. Oown, European, and Native lands all to be placed on the same footing. They offer to have their lands' rated to the extent of one shilling an, acre as a contribution towards the coat of the proposed railway, conditionally on the line being opened 1-for traffic on or before Ist January, 1926, the rate to be payable in one sum on Ist January, ,1927. ' An undefended divorce suit was Jbeazd in Auckland on Saturday by Mr. Justice Sim. Maida Dufaur M'Kinncm petitioned for a dissolution of lwr marriage with John Thomas M^Kinnon, journalist, of Kjohukohu. The petitioner gave evidence that she was a cousin of her husband, They were married at Wellington on 11th October, 1907, and the witness loft the same day for Sydney, taking with her the respondent's son, aged five years, by his first wife. Tha respondent had arranged to follow petitioner to Sydney. During tho first y«ar of their marriage the respondent had sent' her about £90, and had frequently written stating that he was going to join her at Sydney, but had not done to. Petitioner was now keeping a boarding-house in Sydney. John Joseph Butler, solicitor, gave .evidence that the respondent instructed him to enter an appearance on his behalf, but witness had thatiday received a letter from the respondent ptating that the tetter admitted' tho allegations in the divorc« petition. The respondent also stated that he had never lived with his wife, ajid had no desire to do so. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months. Costs on the lowest scale were . allowed the petitioner* , A correspondent ("Poor Old 1 Grandmother"') joins in the protests which" have been published regarding the lack of town-planning ideas as evidenced in the building of cottages at Miramar. The size of the buildings and the'bsence pf ground are stressed by the correspondent, who says: —"Even if each of these homes stood in the midst of, say half an acre of ground, it would still be deplorable. There are many wet. days, and many hot days, when mothers and' children are obliged to stay within the four walls. We make an outcry (and rightly) about our schools being overcrowded, yet children are in school but a few hours, compared with the time they must; spend in the house ; nights as well as ; days, in these small rooms. How can we expect healthy children? How shall' mothers of men be healthy, and if not healthy, then they will not be happy. Why are , there so many divorces? Because husbands and wives are ■ unhappy. Why are they unhappy? Bbt cause in nine cases out of tan, they are unhealthy ; they r live in an unhealthy atmosphere. Wprking men and women, after a day of toil, require at least fresh, air-and pleasant surroundings. , , . While I am on the subject of dwellings, I would like to say a word about washhouses. The average washhouse isa tremendous factor of pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis, inflammations, and', hosts of other complainte, brongh.t on .by. chills. They are responsible for many thousands of deaths. In the Turkish: baths'people pass from the heat and steam to rooms of graduated coolness^' -but wives and mothers on washing.days pass from their , steam bath (i.e., washhouse) straight out' into the cold air, not once, but many times during the course of the day.' Often young mothers have saidl to me: "Yes, my baby was born with a cold, you see 1 used to. catch a fresh cold nearly every week before baby came." On making inquiries, I always found the washhouse to be a miniature steam bath. Surely our architects and builders could plan a washhouse with a high roof, and why not have a hot-air cupboard fa,dry clothes? Utilise the heat fromthe copper." '

. Special mention of the instruction given to returned soldiers at the Wellington Technical College was contained in the aniwal report of Mr. J: H. Howell (Pirector), presented to the Board of.- Governors last evening. Classes for returned soldiers have beenconducted on behalf of the Repatriation Department in motor engineering, commercial training, and in preparation for the Public Service Entrance Examination. Twenty-four soldiers attended the motor class, with excellent results, in spite of the difficulties due to want of adequate space. Most of. these qualified, and were now following the trade, while others were continuing their training this session. Nineteen attended for commercial training. Some of these were already, in. business, and some were preparing for the University's Bookkeepers' Certificate. The Public Service Examination classes had a large entry, but a considerable proportion found that classes on four evenings at the end of their day's work were too exacting, and the nnmbers rapidly declined. More than twenty of the students, however, were preparing to sit for the examination in June next, while about an equal number wouldi be sitting at the end of the year. In addition to tho above a large number of returned soldiers who were in occupations during the day had been admitted to the evening classes; more than 300 class entries have been made by them. Since the regulation governing the ri,ghts"bf tenants and landlords were so amended as to give tlie tenants the right to retain possession if he could prove to the satisfaction of the Court that his ejectment would result in an undue degree of hardship—greater than the hardship which would be the lot of the landlord^nd owner, were he refused possession—many tenants have been in a position to smile broadly at the discomfort of their landlords. "Ouu hardship will be greater than theirs," they congratulate themselves, "and we stay on.'' A decision given by Mr. W. G. Ridxlell, S.M., this morning, however, shoWB that j hardship or no hardship a tenant is liable to ejectment if he has allowed his rent to fail in arrear. The defendant, j 'Lewis Gestro, butcher, of Wadestown, j was ordered to give up possession of the , dwelling in question to George Fair Blrowne and Frank Robert Waters by 23rd April, and to pay accrued rent amounting to £8 10b and 1 £1 19s costs, j Mr. B. Kennedy appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. P. W. Jackson for the defence.