LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 83, 5 October 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It was decided at last night's meeting of the .Wellington North' Ratepayers' Association, to send a deputation to the Baths Gommitte of the City Council in reference to the proposed lepid baths in Murphy street, Thorndon.

Two pictures have been purchased by the Council of the New Zealand Academy for its permanent collection. They are "Drought," an oil painting by Miss B. C. Dobie'j and "Once Upon a'Time," a dry-point etching by Mr. Linley Eichardson. They are at present being exhibited at the Academy's annual show, which closes on Saturday night. Of "Drought" "The Post'" remarked in its notices of the pictures: "This is one of the finest works in the exhibition, t and one that should not be allowed to leave Wellington."

The flag which will be flown at the new' Curran Street School, Ponsonby, at the weekly ceremony of saluting the flag, is one with a histpry associated with the British Navy and the final conquest o\ Germany. It was flown on a- British patrol boat-of the Ehine flotilla after the Armistice (states the "New Zealand Herald?'). In presenting the -flag, a Union Jack, to the school, Lieutenant C. H. Palmer, 8.N.V.R./bf Sarsfield street, Ponsqnby, expressed the hope that the Navy League would be remembered in connection with the gift, and that many junior members would join up from the new school. \ ■

The hearing of the industrial dispute in regard to the pay and conditions of work in the typographical and related printing trades was concluded by the Arbitration Court yesterday afternoon. In the course of-the proceedings yester day reference was made to the industrial production in New Zealand to-day compared with former years. His Honour Mr. Justice Frazer remarked that there had been a falling off, although there was an improvement visible at present. He waf not blaming any particular section, but for a time there appeared to have been a general slackness. Subsequently, hi? Honour also remarked that it was noticeable that in other parts of the world v.'aces were coining down. The question of the hours of labour had, he said, also to be considered, and the capacity for turning put a- certain quantity oi work in osrier to maintain our industrial position.

The Ellesmere County Council has received a report by the Dominion Analyst, Mr. J. S. Maclaurin, of) the result of his analysis of Taumutu beach gold samples. It ■ states that seven samples of beach sands from between Lake Ellesmere and the mouth of the Rakaia river were forwarded by Mr. F. W. Manton, "Wellington, in October of last year. Three of the samples contained no trace, of gold, while. four others contained 22 grains, IS grains, 11 grains, and 7 grains of gold per ton respectively. "Whethei these amounts are payable depended 1 upon the quantity of material available and facilities for working.. Further prospecting and systematic sampling would seem warranted. At it« September/meeting, the council, after hearing objections from the landowners at Taumutu, who were afraid that dredging operations would result in their land being damaged by the sea waters, declined to consent to a dredging license being granted.

A suggestion that a certain proportion of the income tax revenue should be set aside for the payment of war pensions was made before the War Pensions Commission yesterday afternoon' by Mi. A. F. Roberts. The majority of taxpayers, he thought, would not object to being taxed for war pensions. Reductions in taxation were being asked for, and the first »reply of the Government was: "Look what we have to find for war pensions." That argument usually silenced the taxpayer, who did not wish to improve his own pocket at the expenseNjf war pensioners. "My theory," he said, "is that some special provision should be made, and that a certain proportion of the income tax, say, the first 6d in the £, should be set aside for the purpose of war pensions. The amount could be modified as the demands for soldiers' pensions "gradually decreased." Ml. A. Gray, K.C., the next witness, agreed that the proposal was a. reasonable one. The money, he said, had tc come out of tho Consolidated Fund somehow or other. , . .

Every adult member of the Anglican Church of the Province of New.Zealand is supposed to sign a declaration of membership. The .names of those who make this declaration are placed on the parish roll, and only those whose names have been enrolled are entitled to vote at parish meetings. At' present every parish and parochial. district is entitled to one representative in synod, and those having 200 or more names on the" roll may have two representatives. Some members of the Auckland Standing .Committee at a recent meeting expressed the opinion that it would be a good thing if no parish had more than one synodsman. The advent of the woman voter was also discussed. This innovation might possibly largely increase the number of synodsmen (says the "Auckland Church Gazotta"), and this was considered undesirable. In order to meet this now .situation, the committee deckled that the roll number necessary to entitle- a parish to a second representative should be increased from 200 to Hie Auckland Diocesan Synod will be auked to nanction this proposed amonduieufc oi church law,.

The Turkish Baths in Mariners street are now being pulled down. Representatives of sixteen amateur operatic societies from different parts of the Do-minion met in Wellington yesterday, the principal business of discussion being consideration of the appointment of a producer in place of the late Mr. Tom Pollard. Mr. A. W. Newton occupied the chair. After considering various applications, the conference decided to offer the position of producer to Mr. T. S. Foster, of the Nellie Bramley Company.

The proposed "health week" was discussed by members of the Wellington North Ratepayers' Association last evening, and it was decided to appoint Dr. W. E. Herbert aa the association's representative at the general meeting to be held on Monday evening next. Councillor H. D. Bennett explained the steps that had been taken to ensure complete success, and said that a plan of campaign was now being drawn lip. The assistance of scliool-teachers, members of the medical profession, and members of vari-* ious associations was being sought by the promoters. Health talks, health demonstrations, and lectures in home-nursing and general hygiene would be included in the programme.

Schemes for planting Cook Stra.it with oyster beds were referred to in the House of Representatives by Mr. B. M'Callum (Wairau) yesterday. He mentioned the proposal of the late Dr.' M'Nab, and asked the Minister of Marine whether he had any information on the point. He also wished to know whether tha introduction of salmon into the Wairau River was likely to prove as successful as in the Waitaki. The uister of Marine replied that two or three years ago Stewart Island oysters were planted off Cloudy Bay. They had not been sought for since, but as soon as an opportunity arose the Department would test the result. Quinnat salmon had been established in Wairau River, and a success similar to that/in the Waitaki was expected'in a very short time.

Some ironmongers are stated to have large stocks of revolvers of which, owing to the provisions of the Arms Act, they are unable to rid themselves. Mr. David Jone3 (Kaiapoi) referred to this in the House of Representatives yesterday, and asked the Minister of Defence whether the Government proposed to take over the stocks as sales were possible only to people with permits, which were rare. The Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes replied that he had heard of only one instance of large stocks of revolvers being held by ironmongers. The Government had not yet decided to compensate dealers with such stocks, but he would place the matter before his colleagues. Those with stocks of revolvers could always export them.

"No one can be really intellectual in New Zealand unless he was born in the Orkneys and educated at Otago Uni,versity—or that appears to be the opinion of the Chief Justice, Sir Robert l^out," said Mr. H. P. Richmond at the Auckland Rotary Club luncheon a few days ago. In the Chief Justice's, opinion, said the speaker, the intellectual centre of New Zealand was forever fixed south of the Rakaia River, and North Islanders especially were excluded from any claims to culture (reports the "New Zealand Herald "). Despite this opinion, Mr. Richmond said, he had no hesitation in stating that, of all New Zealand's sons, no other man had proved so valuable to the world as Dr. Truby King, a native of Taranaki.

' The Mayor of Palmerston North (Mr, J. A. Nash, M.P.) waited upon the council of the .Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce on Monday to urge further action by that body in the endeavour to have a chief post office established in that centre. Mr. Nash spoke of ?he difficulties that beset the officials and the inconveniences to which the public had to submit and pointed out that in having Palmerston North as a chief post office centre, these grievances could be removed. Little could be done in Parliament by a member on such a matter, and all the other members were too intent on the interests.of their own electorates to assist. A deputation was appointed to interview the" PostmasterGeneral. ' '

Upon the opening day of the angling season Mr. G. Cook, of Tuatapere, secured two fine specimens of the Atlantic salmon at the mouth of the Waiau River, states the " Southland Times." He forwarded both the fish to the Southland Acclimatisation Society, and the members who attended the special meeting on Monday evening were able to view the beautiful fish. Although they were quite small as Atlantic salmon go, the largest of them was 2ft 3jin in length and ll£in in girth, and weighed just 51b. The other weighed 3£lb. The long, clean, racy lines, and the beautiful blue and silvery markings-of both fish \^ere much admired. The difference between them and trout was easily noticeable. The society, to whom Mr. Cook made a;gift of the fish, decided to send one to the Auckland and the other to the Weir lington Acclimatisation Society, as many inquiries had been received from anglers of the North Island respecting the Atlantic salmon. ,

Insistence that the health of the pupil should be treated as the first plank in the educational platform was the main note struck by the Hon. C. J. Parr (Minister of Education) at the opening of additions at the Avondale South school. To spend money, he eaid, in cramming children with knowledge and to neglect their bodies was largely a waste, and the Government had now recognised that the health of the pupil was the first consideration in education. Next year another important department of school health service would be inaugurated—the dental service. The Government had undertaken the training of 33 dental nurses at Wellington. A two intensive course had been provided, and the nurses would deal with the teeth jof- school children. Only two years, ago j there was great opposition to the employment of women for this work, but the New Zealand Dental Association, to its credit, had recognised the danger lurking in the fact that 80 per cent, of school children had bad teeth for which no treatment was provided, and it had given the scheme its unselfish support, and had made its realisation possible. Doctors and others who had seen the work of the - dental nurses had expressed satisfaction with their attempts, and nurses would, be sent out next year to the different cities, towns, and country districts. The expenditure in this direction was justified,'-' because the worker with a large family could not meet the dentists' bill for his children.