LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 138, 8 December 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The House of Representatives. yesteTday adopted the report of the Public Petitions Committee, on the C'hristchurch petition, praying for the appointment of women as • Justices of the Peace,' jurors, and police. The Committee had no recommendation to make. To a request by Mr. Mitchell for a Government subsidy bn unemployment relief subscriptions, the Prime Minister yesterday replied: "The Government will oft the public workg immediately under its control do everything possible to 'provide work for the unemployed, as it is considered that by so, doing it will be better both for the men themselves and the country as a whole." The Barnard Improved Safety Gun, Ltd., of Palmerston North, recently petitioned Parliament to introduce legis-. la'tion dealing with the use of pearifles and other firearms, yesterday the Defence Committee reported that it approved of the principle of compulsory attachment of a safety device on all pearifles, and therefore recommended that the' petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. The House adopted the report.

Provision of New Zealand flags for the Imperial Graves Commission on ! Gallipoli.'has (states the Minister of Defence) received attention by the High Commissioner for New Zealand, who, on the August, sent one four-yard New Zealand flag and one one-yard New Zealand flag to Lieutenant Mildenhall, one of the two New Zealanders on the staff of the Imperial War Graves Commission, for use on Gallipoli. Asked by Sir John Luke for an explanation of why so much butter was in store on 31st March, the Minister of , Agriculture stated yesterday that the quantity of butter produced in New: Zealand during the 1920-21 ! season was double that produced in either of the 1918-19 or 1919-20 seasons, which partly accounts for the greater quantity held unshipped at the 31st March, 1921. The main reason, however, was that the Imperial Government allowed 66 per cent, of the insulated shipping space available from the Ist January, 1921, to the 31st March, 1921, to be filled with free meat and cheese. The Postmaeter-General informed Mr. j J. A. Na«h (Palmerston North) yesterday that he regretted that he>was unable to consider favourably the request that the status of the Palmerston Post Office should be raised to that of a chief post office. • "As has already been pointed out," said Mr. Coates, "no benefit would result from the office being constituted a chief one. The special arrangement made in 1908 under which savings-bank ledgers are kept at Palmerston North to enable withdrawals to be made on demand gives savings-bank depositors the same facilities as those • enjoyed by depositors j at a place at which there is a- chief office. The residents have also all the other posta-l 'facilities and the telegraph facilities usually granted at a pla<:e- where there is a chief office. The fact that Palmerston North is responsible to Wellington for accounting and discipline does not affect the public in any way."

Cardiff does not feel that New Zealand should remains in ignorance as to its importance. .The Development Committee of that ancient and impoHant Welsh, city has issued most informative matter, some of which is received. It is concise, and shows that "Cardiff is the largest and most important city in Wales," with a city -population of 250,----000,. and, a population of 10,000,000, within a 90-mile radius. The area of this city is 18,000 acres, it is served, by 32 miles of electric tramways, with. 130 cars, and 26 'buses. Has 21 picture theatres, three theatres, 168 churches, 44 banks, 34,257 children enrolled in its public school register, 4640 students at its technical college, and 1090 at its university. The rateable value is £1,251,----445. Goal is the chief export. It claims,to be nearer New Zealand "than, any other English port," and it has a Lord Mayor. Cardiff is following other important cities, and towns in Great Britain by.making itself known to the world beyond the seas, instead of leaving travellers to' discover it for themselves. Reporting -yesterday on the petition of John Cecil Hill, of WeSington, that compensation toe granted him for loss of eemployment under the Defence Department, the Defence Committee of the House of Representatives recommended that the claim be treated on the same basis as that on which settlements had been ma/dc in the case of other members of tho Samoan Constabulary Force. The [ report was adopted. a

As a result of the activities of supporters of the two candidates for the Lower Hutt Mayoralty, 600 names have been added to the Borough electoral roll. "There seems to be a wonderful amount of ingenuity in the motor business," commented nis Honour Mr. Jus--tice Hosking at the Nelson Supreme Court while a witness was describing the various motor-car deals he had entered into. Three members of Ihe Hokitika Fire Brigade have completed a total of 125 years' service. They are: Foreman Wallace, 47 years; Superintendent Braddon, 41 years; Foreman Boss, 37 years. All three hold the gold 'star of the N.Z.F.B.A. "At the first possible opportunity," said the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister in Charge of Friendly 'Societies, at the A.O.F. dinner last night, " the Government will bring up a scheme for pensions for th« blind." He referred especially to the hardships of people afflicted in their old age. lounger persons had a chance of learning to read. He could not aay definitely, but it fcemed that the first advance would be in the direction indicated. * ■. Reference was made by the GovernorGeneral at the Foresters' triennial dinner last night to the loyalty of that ancient order. He had received the following telegram, and would transmit it with great pleasure to His Majesty—a resolution passed at the conference that day: " That this meeting of the Ancient Order of Foresters, .in conference assembled, do reaffirm its continued loyalty to His Majesty the King, and hope he may long reign over a United Empire." A serum for the inoculation of rats with an epidemic disease io that they would exterminate themselves wag' referred to in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. R. A. Wright, who asked if the Minister 'of Health had heard of this method of ridding ourselves of rats as a source of plague infection. The Hon. C. J. Parr said that he had-no knowledge of the serum, but he would ask the Health Department to make inquiries concerning it.

The contract for the supply of headstones for war graves in New Zealand. haß just recently been completed (stated the Minister of Defence yesterday) and arrangements made for delivery of 160 stones to complete Palmerston North and Featherston cemeteries within twelve months. The number required for Palmerston North cemetery is small, and these will be the first delivered. They should be ready for erection within the next two or three months. The work of the Palmerston North returned soldiers in regard to these graves is appreciated by the Government. Full consideration hag been given (stated the Hon. J. G. Coates yesterday) to the Canadian Act for life insurance for soldiers. "Although in many respects it is a liberal measure, in others it is not as favourable to the soldiers as the. New Zealand scheme. The insurances in Canada are restricted to sums payable on the death of the soldier, and mast be paid to certain relatives, and may affect any war pension otherwise payable to such relatives. Under the New Zealand scheme the soldier, it insurable, rr^y take out any class of policy, and the policy is absolutely his own property and is independent of any pension pay-: able to such soldier or that may become payable to his widow." Questions relating to the Miramax ■workers' dwellings were asied in Parliament by Mr. P. Fraser, and answered by the Minister of Labour (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) as follow: —(1) Whether the cost of 'experimenting with a plasteringmachine at Miramar has been placed as a charge on the workers who occupy the houses erected there by the Housing Branch of the Labour. Department.—lt was not. (2) Whether a joiner was employed for at least, a period .of six months at a'wage rate of 3s 3d per hour in making good the defects of joinery supplied under contract by a joinery firm.—No. (3) What was the contract price for the erection of the wooden fences in front of some of the workers' dwellings at Miramar?—£2 10s (labour only). (4) Was the lowest tender for the erection of those wooden fences accepted!— Price was satisfactory. A rumour to the effect that two linotypes had been sold by the Government Planting Office for £250 each, and that one of them had afterwards been sold by the purchaser for £825 was mentioned in the House of Representatives by Mr. G. Witty, who asked if there were any truth in the statement. The Minister in Charge of the Printing Office (the Hon. G. J. Anderson), himself a practical printer, said that the Department had decided to increase its monotype equipment and to sell two old-pattern linotype*. They were set ..for wide measure, and would require considerable expenditure to adapt them to the needs of a newspaper office. Tenders were called, and the machines sold. He could not remember the exact price, but the saJe was made by public competition. If the purchaser had afterwards been able to sell one for £825 he was a very lucky man, and he and other printers would like to be able to dispose -of their own old linotypes at the same price.

"I reckon the three hardest-worked men in the Empire," said Brother George Sheat, of Canterbury, at the Foresters' triennial dinner last evening, when the Governor-General was the guest of honour, "are Lloyd George, Billie Hughes, and Bill Massey. I would'nt have their jobs for all the tea in China and a thousand a year chucked in. I heard a couple of working men the other day discussing things, and you would have thought that they could reconstruct the Empire in two acts. They thought His Excellency could do his pait of the job at £2000 a year, and if the Prime Minister couldn't do 1 his for £1000 they were prepared themselves to ' take it -on for less. Now, neither of those men had enough brains to run one of my hen rooste, if I gave them the wheat for nothing. If I'd had a gramophone record of what they Baid Mr. Massey would have paid me £1000 for it. Never in the annals of Now Zealand has ( a- Cabinet had such a trying time as the present Cabinet is having now. "We recognise that. That is why I paid my land tax of £140 Is Id without a growl." (Laughter and applause.) A contingent of Wellington show dogs returned yesterday from Auckland after hayinff competed with considerable 1 success in the northern city. The trip, however, was, marred by, an. unfortunate occurrence on the way to Auckland, the I most valued member of the troupe, the I well-known bull-bitch phampion, Clevelock Sally, being smothered on the train between Frankton and Auckland. Clevelock Sally was imported front England about five years ago, and had never been beaten in tilis country. Shewaa entered in the Champion oi Ch&mpiont class at Auckland, and was expected' to carry off the honours. Dog fanciers were greatly disappointed to learn oi the happening., as the animal was much valued for breeding as well as show purposes. The loss is a severe one to the owner, Mr. F. S. Maloney, of Wellington South, who stated that Cleve lock Sally was worth £300. Principal Wellington prize-winners at the show were:—Mrs. A J. Baudinet (Pomeranian), Mrs. M'tean (bull-dog), Mesdames C. Neala, C. Bott, and Phipson (Pekinese), and Mrs. F. House (Pomeranian). Mrs. Baudinet's Gold Spec won nine first and a challenge cup—big honours for so, young a dog—arid her Orange Mite won the Williams Grand Challenge Stakes (puppies).

Th« House of BepreMntaitrw 'ftpproved yesterday of th« wcommend*. tkm of ths Public Petition* A to h Committee that a petition praying fo* legislation this session providing for assistance to blind people should be referred to _ the Government for favour-* able consideration. Some idsa of the work of friendly societies could be gained from the' figures given by the Hon. G. J. Anderson, at the triennial dinner of the A.O.F. last night. In the laat 34 years the societies had expended' £1,776,000 in sick pay, £479,000 in death benefits, and £1,592,-; 000 in medical attendance. Smoke was seen to be issuing from the basement of the National Bank of New Zealand, Grey-street, at about 6.30 o'clock last evening, and the Fir« Brigade was called to tie scene. Ib was found that some waste paper near a fireplace had become ignited, but ths outbreak was being extinguished by th« custodian when the bridage arrived. No! damage was done. Just prior to the cessation of work on the. steamer Waimate last night, a waterside worker named James Evans fell down a hold, striking some cargo about 15ft below. He received injuries to his back and neck, and wa* conveyed m the Harbour Board's armbulance to the Hospital, where he is now progressing favourably. The patient is a married man residing in Wellington-terrace. A paper entitled "Notes, on New Zealand Fishes," by Mr. Allan K. M'Oulloch, Australian Museum, Sydney, and Mr. W. J. Phillips, Dominion Museum, Wellington, was laid on the table at th« meeting of the Philoaophital Sodiety last evening. Seven species of fishes from New Zealand waters belonging to various families, and examined \>y the authors jointly, were dealt with in th* paper. One of the species dealt with was new to science, and two others had been previously undescribed. The paper was illustrated with four plates.

Business of a formaj nature only was transacted at the Hutt River Board meeting last evening. Mr. W. T. Strand occupied the chair, and there were also present Messrs. J. Mitchell, S. Clendon, and J. Mabey. The overseer (Mr. F. Kerehaw) reported that all the gorse had1 been cleared off the stop-bank with the, exception of that on the old bank by Sharpe's. The plantations of young trees had been cleared of grass immediately round the trees. There had been only one small fresh, during the month, and no damage had been done. The punt and pile-driving (fear were being put in order for use during the summer. Tha foreman of the shingle department (Mr. Clarke) reported that the work was proceeding very satisfactorily. Pleading for more help to the friendly societies from the Government, whicn was represented by the Minister in Charge, the Hon. G. j. Anderson, Brother George Sheat, of Canterbury, at the Foresters' triennial dinner last night, said that, while all were filled with the idea of benevolence, tKe societies were up against the hard facts of life—chiefly the high cost of maintenance, which had gone up with the cost of living. To help a man, when he was down and out/ that was the true brotherhood of man, and when the Government subsidised the societies, they were subsidising them for work which otherwise ffie Government would have to do itself. The Government subsidised the millers to put a cheaper loaf on the table, and surely there wta » case for subsidising the societies. The Minister, in reply, pleaded the exigencies of the financial .situation, but if anything could be done, it would be done. "' .V