LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 28, 2 August 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A letter lias been received by the Speaker of the Legislative Council from the Soldiers' Workers' League at Auckland congratulating the Chamber upon its expulsion of the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill. The league maintains that there is no sign at present of any immediate development of a calm, judically-balanced mind amongst women, which is so necessary for tbe position of a country Justice of the Peace.

The Director-General of Agriculture, Dr. C. J. Reakes, gave some interesting information to the members of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to-day on the question of the life history of the tide, a pest which lias been for some time affecting cattle in certain northern districts—particularly in the North of Auckland. Investigations made by expert officers of the Department bail demonstrated that amended regulations were necessary in respect to the periodical dipping of cattle. Amended regulations would probably shortly be issued. Stringent steps had been, and were, he said, still being taken to prevent cattle affected by the tick being taken from one district to another. It was agreed "that the conference urge the Government t6 continue a vigorous policy to prevent tlio spread of ticks to clean areas, and if possible to make the regulations more drastic in this respect."

A cable message from Sydney, published yesterday, announced the institution on Ist September of a new cableletter service to Britain at 9d per word. It is explained that this rate applies to Australia only, and- that the rate for New Zealand will be Bd, that is, onequarter of the regular tariff. The reason why the cost will be less in New Zealand is that in Australia the Government charges a higher terminal rate than in New Zealand. The arrangement has not come into force yet in this Dominion, but it is undei-stood that it will be accepted, and no doubt it will begin simultaneously with that in Australia.

A remit from Southland relating to the present method of arriving at the unimproved value of tbe land was discussed briefly at the annual meeting of the Farmers' Union -yesterday, and it was agreed to ask the Government to see that the Valuation Department, in ifiaking land valuation, gives full consideration to all' classes of improvements affecting selling value of the land. A section of the report of the Minister of Labour shows that the total engagements made at the Department's employment bureaux in the year 1922-23 were 3987 (2296 to public works, 1691 to private employment); dependants, 4327 j in addition 398 men were assisted by the advancing of railway fares or otherwise, as compared with 4939 (2156 to Government works, 2833 to private employment) ; dependants, 4719 during the year 1921-22.

"The wide extent which the unemployment problem assumed throughout the various countries in 1921 and 1922 was felt in New Zealand far less severely than in the older countries of Europe and America," states the annual report of the Minister of Labour. "The height of the crisis was reached oveVseas between January and March of 1922, after which there has been a steady decline in the number of unemployed. All tlie appearances point to a great increase in production and a consequent demand for more labour in the near future.."

The damage caused to country roads by motor-lorry smd motor-car traffic was discussed at some length by < the delegates to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Farmers' Union .yesterday, and the following resolution was carried:^

"That owing to the great damage caused to roads by modern methods of traffic for. which at the present time country ratepayers are called upon to pay by increased rates on their properties, the Counties' Conference be urged to act without further delay by regulating the traffic as follows:—(1) By levying a just and reasonable license fee on all motor vehicles plying for hire or used for the carriage of goods. (2) Limiting the weight of the loads to be carried. (3) Limiting the speed of such vehicles."

Students at Canterbury College ate throwing themselves whole-heartedly into the work of student relief. Last year (reports the Press Association), when the matter of assisting students xn Europe was discussed at a meeting of the Students' Association, it. was decided that no association money should he senj to Europe. At a meeting of the association held in Christchurch last night the question again came up for discussion, when it was cleat 1 that the general opinion of the students had changed. It was moved, " That this meeting of the Canterbury College Students' Association expresses its cordial sympathy with the work being carried on to relieve distress among studedk iri Europe, and approves of the action of the New Zealand University in its efforts to assist in feeding students in the Tomsk University of Siberia." Mr. K. J. Comrie said that they should ooncentrate upon the Tomsk University. He moved an amendment that the reference to Europe be deleted. The amendment was carried.

Very serious losses of sheep as a result of heavy snowstorm^ and frosts aro reported from that high-lying stretch of country from about Athol (on the Waimea Plains line) and Mount. Nicholas (on the north-western shore of Lake Wakatip'u), and stretching away eastward to Coronet Peak and the Crown Terrace, states the Dunedin "Star." The Waikaia district has also suffered, and Blackstone Hill, which is at a considerable altitude. But tho area of the very heavy losses is, so far as can be ascertained, not nearly so extensive as the area that was troubled in 1895 and in 1903. The regions 'towards tbr coast are all right. And, though the frost this year lias been mighty hard, it is doubtful whether ils consequences are worse than in 1895, when in .one- district 1300 sheep were mustered out of 12,000, and men were put on to skin the corpses at £1 per 100 ; whilst in the Blackstone Hill district a flock of 27.000 practically perished, there being but few survivors, and those ruined by starvation. The reports now available are distressing, but they do not seem to constitute a record. •

There has been a very large increase in the electrical business of the Riccarton Borough Council, according to the chairman of the Electricity Committee (Councillor A. E. Steere). He stated at a meeting of the council on Monday night that applications for electric light and power were coming in every day (reports " The Press "). " The presentday tendency towards an all-electric house is creating an unprecedented demand," Councillor Steere snid. " Although numerous installations of electric cookers, lighting, and heating for dwellinghouses are in existence, yet in the power department we are continually being asked by our consumers to be allowed to increase their capacities. The system of the Borough of Riccarton at present is taxed almost to its fullest capacity, and to supply all the demands that we have to cater for th 0 present installation will have to be extended. Heavy mains, transformers, etc., must, be installed so as to provide the necessary extra power required. The future uf 'Riccnrlon electrically must'be provided for. We have in sight demands lor power on a large scale, and to meet these it is absolutely necessary • to enlarge our oystcm."

The New Zealand Farmers' Union Conference yesterday adopted a resolution in favour of all employees in the agricultural and pastoral industry being exempted from the operations of the Arbitration Court Act.

The Postal authorities have received advice from Suva that the Armagh left at noon on the Ist instant for Auckland. She carries for the Dominion 748 bags of mails from the United Kingdom and 806 parcel receptacles.

A resolution was agreed to at the New Zealand Farmers' Union Conference yesterday urging the Government to see that. New Zealand is represented at the World's Dairy Conference to be held at Washington.

In connection with the Sipritual Healing Msisioil to be conducted by Mr. J. M. Hickson. a revision of the itinerary has been made. The mission will visit the, nwin centres—Auckland, Wellington, Chrislchurch, and Dunedin—also Napier, Nelson, Gisborne, Pulmerston North, Greymouth, and Tjmaru. At the end of ■Mr. Hickson's tour there will be an additional short mission at Rotorua. The mission opens at Auckland on Ist Octo[ber.

There ar e apparently many who, in connection with the opening 'of the Arthur's Pass section of the East and West Coast railway on Saturday, ara mourning the departure of "the good old days," states the Ch'ristchUrch "Press." A .Christ-church man told a reporter yesterday that he remembered that when the north line was opened, first to Rangiora and then to Ashley, everyone who wanted to do so rode free on the railway on the opening days. This was, roughly, about fifty'years ago, and he was a hoy at the time.

A well-known New Zealand wrestler, Theodore Gudding, made his appearance before Mr. E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day, on a charge of conspiring with another wiestler, a, Hindu named Mahamed AH Sunni, to defraud John and Annie Sercomba of £305. On the application of Chief-De-tective Kemp, the accused was remanded to appear at Auckland, where the offence is alleged to have been committed, on Saturday.

"Why do we have to go to Wellington to get a chairman?" That was the potent question asked by Mr. C. H. Opio at the meeting of the Wainiakariri Biver Trust ;it Christchurch yesterday, reports the "Sun." "People have asked me," said Mr. Opie, "wliy this board has to get a chairman from Wellington, I don't mean any personal reflection on you, sir, and I could wish that you were a Christchurch man. But why on earth should this board have to send up to Wellington' for its chairman." The chaifman (Mr. J. Wood): "Tqu'll have to ask the Government about'that," Mr. Opie's remarks were ruied out of order because the matter under discussion at the moment happened to be the appointriient of an. engineer to classify the board's rating area,

There were 14,535 factories registered in New Zealand at the end of March last, compared with 14.013 for Jhe previous year, states the annual report of the Minister of Labour, the Hon. G. J. Anderson. Factory workers numbered 92,----608, a decrease of 4372 during the previous year. The falling-Off is due to the recent depression; the larger factories have found it necessary to make reductions in their staffs, and a considerable number of the men thus thrown out of employment have started small factories on their own account. It.may be doubled whether many of these establishments will survive, -and a return to normality will probably cause a reversion to the former position. Thetis were I^2o accidents in factories, compared with 1692 in 1921-22 and 1575 in 1920-21. Nine accidents proved fatal, compared with 12 and ill during the two preceding years!

"Here in New Zealand we have opporunities of town-planning given to very few.communities iii the world," said Mr. J. It Cruickshaiik at New Plymouth. "In the Old Country age has had its sway for'so long that town-planning is impossible." As an instance of the difficulties that confront municipalities in the Old Country which desire to improve their towns, Mr. Cruickshank quoted an instance in Cardiff A side-street connecting the two main streets was too narrow for the traffic, and he had. been told that it could have been widened in 1885 for £6000. The council of the day had not been sufficiently far-sighted to realise the necessity of the w°rk, and had turned down the proposal. To-day the same work would cost £15.000. He thought that town-planning should be a feature of New Zealand municipal life, and stated that he had notes on the methods employed in. the Old Country to lay before the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce if it desired to consider the question.

" The inadequate provision for feebleminded children continues to be a blot on our social scheme," states the Director of School Hygiene in his annual report tj tire Health Department. " Year oy. year the problem increases in urgency and magnitude. I refererd to this Subject in My last report, and I.again quote Dr. Baker's contention, that ' with a population .of a million the problem could, I think, be faced squarely and dealt with] but as the population increases it will ( get out of hand.' The problem is steadily getting out of hand. The report of the Venereal Diseases Committee clearly gives expression to! the opinion that sound and wholesome training in childhood should'be regarded as a. fundamental in dealing with those evils of which venereal disease is merely a concomitant. Educational authorities are agreed that even without giving any specifically sexual Instfuotion—which is essentially ' the function of parents—the school can do much to create a more natural and wholesome attitude to sex matters in general. A problem of this kind, however, related as it is to some 'if the fundamental problems of human life, is not one which should be entered upon without the most careful planning."

It is astonishing what a man with a mind for registering happenings in numerals can discover, which . the average citizen is content to leave to those who traffic in differential calculi, the problem of the missing link, and other obscurities (remarks the Auckland "Star"). Many otherwise normal folk will burn daylight and the candle at both ends in order to figure out the chances of this and that steed in a horse race, but to calculate how much they have benefited in exercise and the saving of car fares by walking to and from their work for a year would savour to them of the height of absurdity. There is, however, a business man in Auckland who for the past three years and a half has walked six days a week to and from his office without once tramming it. blow high or low, and he has gone to the trouble of working out just what the walking represents. He finds that by the shortest route he paces 2920 steps from homo to office, which makes 5840 for the day, 35,040 for the week, 1,752,000 for the year, and 6,132,000 steps for the three and a half years. He estimates the distance he has walked in the time to he 3276 miles, and the actual saving in tram fares £22 15s 4d, while in the whole period he has worn out. two pairs of boots. He considers the benefit of the exercise to his health as worth a good deal more than the actual monetary gain, which amounts to nearly £20. To those, people who like to argii'o tliat time is money, :md put the argument into practice by lying in til) the'break* fast boll rings, this suggestion will, of co.ur.re, make ad appeal.

The Standard Insurance Company has purchased an old building on, a'2o-foot frontage in Victoria street, Auckland, at a cost o£ £600 per foot, for conversion into its own offices, states a Press Association telegram.

That in all schemes of land settlement, it be the policy of the Government to provide adequate transport facilities before placing settlers on the and, was an Auckland remit adopted by the Farmers' Union Conference yesterday. J

"It is generally recognised," says the annual report of the Minister of Labour "that on the whole the New Zealand Workers Compensation Act makes better provision for the workers than those of other countries. An investigation of the various Acts in force elsewhere is being made, in order to see how far such is the case, and to ascertain whether any of the provisions examined could with advantage be recommended for adoption in New Zealand."

"We are told on every side that the fanner is the backbone of the country," said the president of the Wellington branch of the Marine Engineers' Institute, Mr. A. Basire, at a gathering of members last evening, "but if the farmer is the backbone then the engineers are the legs on which the backbone is supported. We freeze his goods and take them oversea to the great markets of the world, and if it were not for the engineer the farmer would still be producing in pounds where to-day he produces in tons/

When a litigant wins a case he is usually optimistic enough to hope that he will recover costs from the other side, but the hope is not always realised. During an argument regarding costs at the Supreme Court to-day, the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) referred to a famous English case, in which the successful litigant had to meet a bill of costs for £200 or £300. "I hope that your Honour will not take that as a precedent in this case." jocularly remarked counsel for the defendant.

"In regard to the administration of the Weights and Measures Act generally, we are approaching the Departments concerned in Great Britain, Australia, the Lmited States of America, and other countries, suggesting that the several countries should keep one' another informed as to the requirements laid down in their territory from tune to time. Such an arrangement should ensure that New Zealand is not made a dumping ground for ecales, measures, etc., that are rejected elsewhere; it will also enable us to keep in touch with new devices in weighing machine's and with the latest developments in weights and measures inspection."—Extract from the annual report of the Minister of Labour.

When the toast of the Press was bein* dealt with at the social gathering of the Regimental Band in Hamilton on Thursday, a speaker, who was in America a few months ago, paid a high testimony to the standard of the Press of New Zealand in general. His experience of American journalism had ehowii him that "Murder," "Suicide," arid "Divorce" were the blitzing headlines mainly to be encountered, with the morbid and extravagant details that followed (reports the "Waikato Times"). It Was a treat to get a New Zealand paper, he added. In a (reliefal testimony of the clean standard of the -Press of this country the speaker said that It was such that a child could read it without harmful effects. This was not so with the quality of the American .-•'news'* sheets the speaker had encoiiritered, and he remarked that he -had viewed a good number during some months in the coun< try.. :■.-■• ■■ ..;. .--- . .-,,— -.

Matters in connection with the Empire Exhibition were discussed at a meeting of the Dominion Advisory Council last evening, when Mr. Bennett presided. A report was received from the Canterbury District Committee to the effect that arrangements had' been completed with the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand to prepare a secondary industries exhibit which would fill the allotted space of 4000 feet. ' A sketch of decorative work proposed to be undertaken by Mr. R. Wallwork, depicting the forests of New Zealand and the sawmilling industry, was adopted as a portion of the mural decorations of the New Zealand Court. Intimation was received that Romney breeders would send representative sheep to the Exhibit tiom The Corriedale breeders have notified their non-intention of. exhibiting. A letter _ was received from the Canterbury District Committee embodying a number of resolutions from the various local bodies and other organisations protesting at the inaction of the shipping companies in not making adequate arrangements to cope with the passenger traffic stimulated by the Exhibition, also at the apparent disinclination of the companies to reduce fares to at least 25 per cent.

. "He is a man of no class, and should not be allowed about," said Detective Trick-tabu nk at the Magistrate's Court to-day, when referring to Walter John Newman.-alias Numim. who appeared before Mr. E. Page, S.M., on charges of drunkenness and vagrancy. The detective described how on two occasions lie had questioned the accused, when the latter was loitering about the Post Office, and had learnt that lie was not doing any work, although each time he maintained that he was commencing "to earn his living" on the following day. He was cautioned and finally was arrested in a state of helpless drunkenness. Constable Munro also emphasised the vagrant habits of the accused, who, from the dock, however, denied that he was icilfe and disorderly. He had come to Wellington from Lyttelton, where he had been working, about 26th June, when he had about £12 in his possession. "This man has a long list, of previous convictions for various offences," remarked tho Magistrate. "He has been warned by ' the police on several occasions and will be sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour." On the drunkenness count, the accused was convicted and discharged.

The average house-renter, or, at least, the house-renter who iias recently- removed into his present place, would probably be very well pleased indeed if his rental worked out at nu higher figure than one day's pay standard generally set down as a reasonable weekly rent by the Railway Department, but, t:> judge by a discussion during ■ the meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Railway Officers' Institute at Auckland, there are houses and houses, and circumstances and circumstances. The question was brought up by a remit from Westland: "That the assessed rental of old houses, purchased by the Department from outsiders, be based on the purchase price, and not oh the current estimated cost of construction." Interesting details of rontals came to light during the discussion on this remit, and once again the question was arfced: Why should a First Division man have to pay a higher rental for a departmental house than a Second Division man? The difficulty, ;it was admitted, was the mandatory rule of a day's pay for a week's, rent, but it was thought that it .was Unfair that the Department should raise rents above those charged previously by private landlords. It was recognised that it was n most difficult tusk to place the Department's scheme on an equitable basis. Wlwt the General Manager was endeavouring to do was to obtain s-ufikicnl money from rentals to cover interest on the loan to provide the necessary sinking fund. The remit received unanimous ascent.

•£ remi* from Palmerston North providing That the auctioneers and agents be made responsible for payment for sales m yards and paddocks," was briefly discussed at the Farmers' Union Conference to-day, and was referred to the executive for inquiry and consideration.

At the present time a concession of 25 per cent, freight on all cattle consigned for slaughter and intended for export is allowed by the Railway De--partment. It was pointed put at the conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to-day that there were very few cattle sent by rail which were not intended for export. The trouble of discriminating was very great, and ifc would therefore, it was urged, be Letter to make the concession general. A resolution to this effect was adopted by the Farmers' Union Conference to-day. The present-day rivalry between the principal cities of the Dominion was the subject of comment by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, at the commercial travellers dinner in Auckland on Saturday evening. "Auckland," said Mr. Gunson 'is undoubtedly the premier city of the Dominion." He added, on tJ,V subject of civic jealousies, that he did not believe he had ever mentioned Wellington in this connection in his public addresses, as he considered that Auck-. If.nd had quite enough to do in its own confines without drawing invidious digtinctions with other centres.

v jT,hls ,ls, the worst case I have ever had to deal with. The boy is thirteen years of age, and has not yet passed m,"J l™?™ » Df ing °ne year he olllv am , » 9 a"e,n<latices out of a possible 400 stated Mr. Laughton, school attendance inspector, in a case at Lower Hutt yesterday, before Mr. F. K. Hunt' S.M., when William S. Hurcombe was charged with failing to send his boy to school. Accused Was fined 10s on each of two charges, and the inspector was advised by the Bench to take immediate action should there be any future failure to attend.

A collision between a motor-bus aiid a motor-cycle at Rona Bay in February last resulted in the driver of the latter vehicle, Arthur Campbell Paterson,' ' a Sr"?. Servant' Proceeding against J. R. Al Uregor, a motor-bus proprietor, for the recovery of £200 by way of damages. In this connection Mr. W. G. Kiddell, S.M., gave his reserved decision at the' Magistrate's Court t6-day. holding that the mishap had been due to the contributory negligence of the plaintiff, who was therefore not entitled la recover any damages. Judgment for the defendant, with substantial costs, was therefore entered. In regard to tbs claim of John Henryj Graham, who was a passenger with, the drive* of tho cycle, the Bench decided that he had received injuries as a result of the negligence of both Paterson and M'Gregor. "He has chosen to claim from the defendant," remarked the Magistrate, "arid as the defendant's negligence contributed to the plaintiff's injuries, without any negligence on the part of the plaintiff (Graham), he is entitled to recover damages, which I fix at £33 9s, which includes doctor's fees and damage to clothing." At the hearing Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell appeared for the plaintiffs, Patersou and Graham, and Mr. R. Kennedy for the defendant; M'Gregor.