LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 17, 20 January 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that Sir Thomas Mackenzie and Lady Mackenzie were the guests of the Canterbury Branth of the Royal Colonial Institute yesterday afternoon, when high tributes were paid to Sir Thomas Mackenzie's work as High Commissioner during the war period.

In sentencing Stanley Peter Hern to a month's imprisonment for assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty, the Magistrate at Christcliurch (Mr. S. E. M'Carthy) said: "This offence of assaulting tl)r,jolice is getting too common, and especially in crowds. I have come to the conclusion that fines will not assist in putting down the practice."

The Tararua Tramping ChiVs Anniversary Day attraction is a trip from Kaitoke, in the Hutt basin,' to the Tauherenikau River, which ilows close" to the Hutt. but on the Wairarapa si'do of the hills. There ia a hut at the junction of the Tauherenikau and Smith's Creek, and there the party will spend Saturday night. The return trip will be xnade on Sunday, when a motor will, meet the party at Pakuratahi, and will convey its members back to Upper Hutt, at which township a Sunday train willybe available. The train departure times are: Leave Larabtou on Saturday, 7.50 .a.m.; leave Upper Hutt on Sunday," 5 p.m. The fair sex will be interested to learn that a lady will ] e ad.~

The danger from an epidemic of infantile -paralysis, such as exists in Christchuroh, was mentioned at the Auckland Hospital Board's meeting yesterday, when questions were asked as to the readiness of tlie hospitals to meet a possible outbreak there. The Hon. P. J. Nerheny, M.L.C., called attention to the necessity of doing something to cope with an epidemic, and Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., urged that the Government should be -requested to treat the ■ dise-ine as if it were one to be dealt with in a national fashion. The chairman (Mr. "William Wallace) said that when they got the massage department they looked for they hoped to be in a better position to deal with infantile paralysis if it did come. Mr. P. M. Mackay spoke of the necessity of the Government facilitating the treatment of children at PiOtorua in order to induce, them to go there in greater numbers. The question was left in. the hands of tho medical superintendent for a report. :

When addressing local busm-oss men yesterday with reference to goods which his country could export to New Zealand, the Consul-General for Belgium in Australasia, said that Belgium was now being rehabilitated, and that it was sending goods to Australasia, 'j'fce principal articles of commerce wer« basic slag, sheet glass and glaaswaTe, iron and steel goods, Manufactures of metal, and many kinds of textile goods. In 1913 the relative amount of trade between Belgium and New Zealand "had been : Imports from Belgium to New Zealand, approximately £130,000; imports into Belgium from New Zealand, approximately £18,000. Ho referred to the fact that in Belgium the Department of Foreign Affairs had set up a commercial bureau, and said that any inquiries regarding trade addressed to that Department would receive careful attention.

"I can't build schools without cemeiij/' said th« Minister of Education (the Hon; C. J. Parr) yesterday, "and I can't get cement if the iren at Taupiri ;>,nd other coal mines go slow. One result, therefore, of the go-slow pWicy is that the Minister for Education and th« Department are going to be seriously embarrassed in the construction of schools. With regard to the question of supplies generally the Board: of Trade has besn very fair in allowing us to build hospitals and schools without the'necessity for special applications for permits. Hos-. pitols and schools are plaoed next in urgency fo workers' /.onvss. This, howover, does not give us any priority in calling for supplies. It may soon become a question as.to whether ray two Departments (those of Health and Education), which must iook after the needs of the sick in hospitals and of the children in the schools, should not have some priority, some clear right to th« first call for such essentials as timber, bricks, cement, and building supplies generally." : ,

"A most interesting experience," was the way in which Colonel G. F. C. Campbell described in an interview the International Finance Conference at Brussels convened by the League of Nations. " I had an opportunity of meeting many financial experts, not only those of England and the Empire, but financiers" representing numerous .other countries; and the conclusion. I came to was that all the countries represented there were most anxious to re-establish their credit and to 'live within their means." There was no dissentient voice raised when the British representatives and the American representative told the delegates plainly that there was only one way to re-establish the financial position of their respective countries, and that was by reducing their expenditure, working harder and ceasing to spend money on fighting and armaments. Peace was the first consideration. I cannot but think that the free, discussion of the financial conditions obtaining in these various countries -was beneficial, and that the full effects of th« conference have yet to be felt."

"The teaching profession offers superior inducements to the Public Service," said the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Pair) in the course of a statement regarding the opportunities now awaiting young people. He was very pleased to notice that the improvements made by Parliament last session in the salaries of young teachers were attracting girls and lads to .the training colleges in increasing numbers. When he was* in Auckland a, fortnight ago over 2CO applications for admission to the training colleges there dnring the current year had been received. He visited Christchurch at the last week-end and was informed by the Education Board that 156 applications for places in the training college had been received. These figuTes were more than double last year's entries. The- position might not be quite so good in Wellington, on account of the inducements offered by tha Civil Service in the capital city, but he believed that if the young'people studied th« position they woud hnd that the teaching profession had the superior advantages.

During his visit to Great Britain, Colonel G. F? C. Campbell was impressed with the new and more hopeful phase taken on by industrial disputes there. "The last threatened strike of the coalminers in England," he said in an interview, " was avoided by free discussion between the Government, the employe**, and the employed; and what struck me as being ipeculiar was not the fact that the Government took a hand in the discussions, but tho prolonged discussion which took place, and the reasonable and sensible attitude taken up by all parties. The conclusion I came to was that Labour is now more under the control of its executive. officers in the Homeland, and that the executives of the Labour organisations, as well as the employers, recognise the terrible responsibility of throwing the country into an industrial upheaval. If the course of action taken in regard tt> the discute I have referred •to is an index of what is likely to happen in case of future disputes, I think it augurs well for the ultimate understanding and co-operation, between the Government and Labour and Capital, which we all hope to see."

The Hutt' licensing Bench will meet at Lower Hutt on 2nd March, Ist June, 7th September, and 7th December, and the Otaki Licensing Bench at Otaki on 9th March, Bth June, 14th September, and 14th December. :

In opening St. Thonial's Horticultural Show yesterday, Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P., emphasised., the importance of using and beautifying the waste spaces of the city. He referred particularly to the site of the old tramsheds, and the ground in front of the hospital. Both these places could be converted into beautiful gardens.

The Tirnaru Hospital Board 'yesterday considered the need for a second consumption sanatorium for the South Island, and, a* a site has been selected in Central Otogo, the board decided to urge, the Government, in view of the "tragic consequences" of\the lack of such an institution, to push on the building without delay. • Dr. Eric Corkiifaßd his wife (formerly Miss Edith Morrison, of . Wellington), were among the New Zealanders who returned by the Manuka. Dr. Corkiii, arws? serving as a major with.the R.A.M.J. dining the war, filled positions in. vai£ ous British^ hospitals, and has now returnea to settle in New Zealand.

The.executive of the South Canterbury R.S.A. has decided to appeal to the "Defence Department to retain the present Orthopaedic Hospital at Tirnaru, or, if that is impossible, to procure another building for chronic cases. and for tho convenience of discharged soldiers of South Canterbury.

A motor-cyclist, John Gilberteon, twenty-three years of age, and residing in Happy Valley, met with a painful accident lost evening through Ms machine skidding on some loose gravel. His leit ieg was broken above the ankle, and he also received minor cute and bruises. He*was taken to the Hospital, where ho is making good .progress. ■ '

Mr. J..W. Kinniburgh, who is about to leave for Auckland, was presented by the members of the Hataitai Bowling Club with a gold.and'enamel'badge conferring life membership, at.a social gathering last evening. The president, Mr. W. J. Young, occupied the chair. Mr. H. A. Huggins, who was one of the conveners of the first meeting to form the club, made the presentation on behalf of his brother members. Mr. Kinniburgh was one of the founders of the club, and has held office continuously as president, director, or secretary, since the inception of the club in 1909.

Some excitement was' caused' in Cubastreet about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when an outward-bpund- ■\VaJlaoe- ■ street car struck a horse and ridei", doing slight injury to one o£ the animal's legs. The horse, which had been standing quietly by the side of the road, suddenly took fright upon* the. approach of th'a car, and commenced to rear and plunge. The rider with admirable skill, regained control of the horse, but not before it hadi crashed into a bike nearby, and travelled a'short distance down the street. An appreciable amount! of, footboard of the tramoar was splintered or broken oK by the force of the impact.

Touching on the possibility of trade in Belgium for New Zealand products, the Consul-General for Belgium in Australasia,' pointed out to business men yesterday that extensive cool stores had been erected in Antwerp, and that through the Belgian Government distribution was mad« of frozen meat. It was true that-up to the present the bulk of that.meat came from South America, but there was no reason why New Zealand should not in the next few years develop an extensive trade with Belgium in this commodity. Belgium was also interested in hides and flax. For many years manufacturers in his country Ijad been purchasers of New Zealand:; wooJ, and at the first New Zealand wool sales, for this season .there had been Belgian buyers in attendance.

Through the kindness of the Hon. C H. Izam, the 'students under instruction in bee-keeping at. the Trentham Military Hospital paid a visit on. ■'Monday last to hJs'up-to-Uate and well-equip-ped apiary at Upper Hutt. Mr. Izardi himself is an ardent apiculturist, and spared no pains in imparting much valuable information to the soldier students, whose intention it is to embark upon commercial bee-keeping on discbarge. The time selected for the visit was most opportune, as the honey flow is in progress, and tbo inhabitants of the hivesi are working industriously for a maximum, production with a conspicuous absence of go-slow. At the conclusion of the tour of inspection, hospitality was dispensed among the visitors by the host. Thanks was expressed by the vocation officer ov the men's behalf to Mr. Izaa-d for the kindly interest he had at all times preserved in furthering the vocational welfare of the soldiers under training.