LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 35, 10 August 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In reply to an inquiry by Mr. R: A. .Wright, M.P., the Minister in ' Charge of, the State Fire Insurance Office (the Hon. J. G. Coates) has stated that the question of paying a bonus to clients has been under consideration for some time, and it is hoped that it will bo satisfactorily fettled at an early date. A notification has been received by the Hutt County Council from the Bank of New Zealand that the rate of interest on the council's overdraft had been raised to 7 per cent, from the 31st July Members of the Education Board have marked with gratification • the fact that larger numbers of school children attended swimming lessons during the past year than was the cose in previous years, but in its report to the Minister the board expresses the hope that in future the figure will be even 'greater. "Tho full sympathy of their fellow members " is expressed by the New Zealand Bank- Officers' Guild, referring to employees of a bank who have not received the " long-looked-for bonus. The lack of consideration shown by the authorities of their wealthy bank towards tho; large number of their poorly-Daid" staff is most reprehensible," adds the guild organ. "What adds fuel to the discontent ia the fa«t that the directors, themselves men of affluence, a few weeks ago voted to themselves and the other shareholders a bonus of 2£ per cent., in addition to the usual dividend of 10 per cent." MembeTs of the "Chu Chin Chow" Company have proved themselves- very mindful of the pleasure of those who by illn«s* are hindered from seeking entertainment in the ordinary ;fray. Yesterday a party from the company, by permission of J. ,C. Williamson, staged a tabloid version of the robbers' escapade for the benefit of patients at Trentham Hospital. The programme was arranged by Mr. Robert Greig and Mr. Leslie Donaghey, and the following artists took part: Misses Griffin, Pearl Ladd, Lottie Sargent, Ethel Keys, Messrs. George Graystone, •' Liddle, V jTdckay, Burchell, Loffman, and Wignail. Miss "Josie Donovan played the accompaniments. Needless to say,, the performance was greatly appreciated. Lecturing on Brahms last night, Mr. Robert i Parker spoke of the part played by Remenyi, the eccentric, wandering Hungarian violinist, in/drawing attention to the composer. Mr Parker recalled an incident in his personal experience. Forty yeare ago he had been leoturing in the. old Athenaeum Hall in Wellington. At the end of his address he noticed an old man in a velvet jacket, and of foreign appearance, speaking from the body of the hall. The man came to- the platform and embraced the lecturer, and then introduced himself: "I am Remenyi." Then for a quarter of an hour the celebrated violinist entertained the audience with, tales? of his adventures in his wanderings. A ftowards Mr. Parker had the novel and delightful' experience of sitting in Remenyi's room at the hotel and hearing the celebrated Hungarian play most bi'illian-My. Bemenyi wandered far* in his lifetime—China, Africa, and Australasia, which in those days was well off the beaten track..' Prominence is given by the chairman of the Wellington Education Board, Mr. T. Forsyth, in his annual report to the Minister to the board's strong support of the oft-repeated plea of the principal of the Training College for hostel accommodation for students whose homes are outside of Wellington. The board very much regrets that practically no advance lias been made, although the lapse of another year and the increased numbers of students merely, serve to emphasise the urgency! of the need. The board repeats that as the great number oF youiig people drawn to State Departments in Wellington fill up every available place, suitable or less than suitable, accommodation for students, which is essential for efficiency in study, is not to be found. In this connection the board wishes to express its grateful thanks for the fine service rendered to students by the philanthropic' owners of tho Friends, the Students, and the Y.W.C.A. Hostels. A suggestion is made by the Chairman of the Wellington Education Board, in his annual report to tho Minister, that the removal of many of. the present limitations on administrative actions of boards would result in an appreciable saving of time and money and involve no sacrifice of efficiency. For instance, under existing regulations, the senior inspector cannot direct the organising .teadher, to any*school for necessary} organising --service without the previous sanction of the Departmoht. Similarly, the .board cannot appoint a temporary teacher to the staff of the Training College or Normal School without the previous sanction of the Department. Correspondence and delay are involved. It -should be quite possible to- effect a large measure of decentralisation and yet to maintain the essential integrity and officiency o{ the system. This would undoubtedly stimulate that local enthusiasm which is universally recognised • as co valuable a feature of the New Zealand system compared with the purely centralized systems of "Australia.'

The synchronisation of the holidays observed by all public educational institutions has proved very beneficial, states tho chairman of the Wellington Education Board in his annual report to the Minister. The benefit would be increased if private schools observed the game dates.

During the address of counsel in 'ths Supreme Court yesterday afternoon any reference to the fact that an accused man is entitled to the benefit of the doubt was greeted with a cautious but quite audible "Hear, hear," from the body of the Court. "There is some one interrupting at the back of the Court," at last said Mr. Justice Beed. "I don't know whether he understands that he can have a week in gaol if he is caught. It is just as well for him to know that."

A fine exhibit of war posters, forming part of the national war collection, is now on view at the Dominion Museum. The posters, which come chiefly from Britain and the United States, inchidie many striking designs. They relate to recruiting, the raising of war, loans, and the campaigns -undertaken "during the war years in support of- economy. Some of them are the work of well-known artists, who gave of their best in national ca_uses. They range, from -.he guiln to the gay, and are of historic value as recording .the sentiments and emotions of war yoars. Another of their features is the presentation of effective portraits of some of the soldiers and statesmen who were proimiieat-Lu the Great War. The collection is bound to interest very many ■people. v

■In a fraternal communication from the English Bank Officers' Guild, London.. Mr. H. P. Mburant. secretary ,'of the New Zealand Bank Officers' Guild, was informed that "like our own guild you appear to have many obstacles in your path; but (the London secretary wrote) I am confident that if the bankmen will only give you the necessary support the aims and ideals for which you stand should be speedily achieved. We,, as a guild, have not yet obtained recognition, but our membership steadily increases and to-day stands at over 28,000, which I understand constitutes a record for any similar association for the short time we hove been/in existence, and I think we cah fairly claim to have brought about many changes in the banking world as the driving force of the guild to-day is considerable."

A very strong protest hag been carried by the Seatoun and Bays Association against ;the Government action in vetoing the City Council's request for,the abolition of the Ord«r-in-Cbu,ncil granting special 'privileges to workers using the tramcaiis before 7.30 a.m., at the expense of those using the care'from that time onwards. It was pointed'out that the loss had to be passed oil, and, unless the Government'would make up the leficit, other action should be taken. By all kindred associations entering an emphatic protest, no doubt the injustice could bo attended to. It was decided to request the Eastern Suburbs League' to again take the matter up, and "arrange whatever action was necessary, a<< the burden of team" fares applies to a'l outlying suburbs, and often comes a hsavier expense to those receiving a smaller income -than travellers on what are known as "workers' caw." The Outlying Districts Committee of the City Council is .being invited out to the die tricti

It is commonly remarked that manypeople entitled to relief at the public expense refuse to apply for it, because they object to being the subjects of "charitvj' and tha word is wrapped up in the ii tie "charitable aid." With a view to removing to some extent the association of ideas, the Health; Act. 1920,. delated the words "charitable aid" from the* title of hospital /boards. The New Zealand Journal of Health states that a circular has been sent to hospital boards, advising them to discontinue the term "char-: itable aid committee," and substitute the term "social welfare committee." Some boards have already adopted this d«»ienation for such committees of their boards. It is also suggested;' that such expression's as "financial assistance" of "granting of "relief" should be used instead of such expressions as "giving of charitable aid," and that the term "pecuniary relief" should'be used when it was desired' to differentiate such relief from medical relief. The Department's opinion is that all guch matters should b« dealt with by the hospital boards, and that in cases of misfortune, due to no fault on the part of the person need"ing assistance, any objection to applying to hospital boards should be removed.

: "Nothing but good can come of honest criticism," saye the chairman of the Wellington "Education Board in his annual report to the Minister, "ao long as ,the real purpose is not overlooked, namely, the good of the child. Id reference to the recent legislation, which determines promotion on the basis of the grading, I. wish to jjssure you that piy board will endeavour to perfect ihe method and obtain from it the very best results possible. The board heartily approves ,of tlie substantial increase in salary afforded to ■ teachers during $he year. As, however, the competent teacher who desires' steady promotion must "at present obtain it by promotion to a higher grade, most generally in other schools, the number of changes has been so great as to endanger, the maximum efficiency of the service, and it becomes urgently necessary to devise some modification of the existing enactments which- shall give fair increase of emolument to the deserving teach & without,' in the great majority of cases, the present necessity of frequent change from school to school., Some modification of the present system on lines similar to those of the. Civil Service should be effected, and, if possible in these services, should be equally possible in the ediuca tion service." Originally the risk of pilferage was covered by the underwriters for the full "insured value," remarks Accountancy, Commerce, and Insurance. As this value was anything from 15 to 25 per cent in advance of cost, the merchants treated the settlement as a satisfactory cash sale, and went •to sleep. The underwriters found that this indifference to pilferage on the part of the importers was encouraging the crime. The question was how to awaken the merchant's interest, so that he would use his forces to put down this form,of petty thieving. The only way. was to make him puffer a small proportion of the loss on each settlement. This led to a clause' being framed by Lloyds, and afterwards .adopted by all the reliable companies, to the effect that the underwriters' liability bo limited t& 75 per cent, of the "insured value." But the importer forthwith increased his insured 1 value so that 75 pet cent, of such would btill brine him in a profit, and continued h,is indifference. So marked had this become that the shippins companies were not even advised of a large proportion of the goods stolen. It then became necessary to frame another clause with the hope of awakening the importers. This clause restricted the underwriters' liability to 75 per cent, of tho prime coat of the guodi. plus the nhni'gea. »rir<r to shipoinsf. This means that the importer will be somethin? out nf Docket nn every mifernse recovery. The ionvnal nhove punted pub' lishes in f»ll the American insurance compniiies' clause on theft and. (or) pillage, which is even more stringent than that adopted in Ndu Zetiland.

It is anticipated that the municipal motor-bus service in Palmerston ] North ■ will be in operation in a fortnight's time. The Hutt County Council has decided to pay at next meeting a sum of £60 required, by the Public Works Department for improvements to Paekakariki Hill load. ' '. \ ' There was a large attendance at the funeral at Bonny Glen of the late Hon. B. X Simpson. Among those representing Jhe Government and public bodies were : The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Messrs. W S. Glenn, M.P., B. Newman, M.P., ' G. H M'Plute (Commissioner of Crown Lands), and H, V Lethbridge (Manawatu A. and P. Association). Four. clergymen took part in tho, bunal N service. ■■••.' . ' , • Jogeph Nathan and Co., Ltd., the proprietors of the well-known infants and invalids' food "Gsaxo," recently made an issue of £300,000 worth of preferred ordinary shares in their company in London. The jssue had to be closed within two days, as .the total subscriptions received from the public then amounted to £650,000, and a great deal of difficulty was experienced in making allotments to meet all demands. "~ The reports from y the matron, director, and visiting committee of the Wellington Boys' Institute wei% ' presented ,at a meeting held recently, and considered satisfactory. It was decided to hold a jumble sale for the purpose 6t raising funds to help the edurjtional and sport-' ing departments at the Institute Building, Tasman-street., The cause being one well worthy of support, it is confidently expected that well-wishers will forward a plentiful supply of donations, and these will be received by the Ladies' Auxiliary. A: reply to the Hutt County" Council's Request for the installation of warning bells at the level crossing south of the Paekakariki station has been received from the Railway Department. The request could not be Agreed to, but the Department offered to erect a. danger sign board if provided by the council. This, it wa« pointed out at yesterday's meeting of the 1 council, would be of no use, as houses obstructed the view of the line. The council decided to. write again to'-thji' Department stressing the need of warning bells. A supply of 50,000 Allied Viotory, medals, was shipped'from Britain for Mow Zealand on 13th June last, and it i« expected will arrive shortly.' These medals will be issued to members of tile New Zealand Expeditionary Fore* who entered the theatre of operations during the war period. The medals are ot' yellow metal. One one side they'bear the inscription': "The Great War for Civilisation 1914-1919," and on the other the figure of Peace. The issue of the British General Service Medal to ineiubers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and to the next-of-kin of those who fell will probably be completed about t November The Defence Department ie at present putting these medals at the rato / of 600 a day through the machines usedl to'incribe the soldiers' names on them.. When the work on the British War - medals is finished the machine will be used for .engraving >he Allied Victory mediala. , ■■ * . Messrs. T. E. Corkill and D. G. Clarke >vere last night appointed by the Wellington Presbytery to th« Board of Governors of Scots College.-