LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 79, 2 April 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Moeraki, which left Melbourne on the 31st u'.timo for Bluff, carries 14 bags of mail from Australia, and 17 parcel receptacles for Wellington. The growing popularity of the Tongariro Park was indicated by the fact that during the last two months therecord number of 800 tourists had passfid through between Tokaanu and Waimarino. This conveyed some idea, remarks the "Wanganui Herald," of what the traffic would develop into with an up-to-date hostel accommodation and improved roading facilities. Some days ago the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr. H. L. Tapley) sent a telegram to the Prime Minister suggesting that; as the citizenß of Duriedin would be unable to see H.M.S. Hood and other j ships of the Imperial Squadron, arrangements should be made with Admiral Field to come south about to Wellington instead of by Cook Strait. The fleet would then pass off the Ocean Beach, and enable citizens and school children to get a good view of the vessels. Mr. Massey has replied to the telegram stating that he has placed the request before Admiral Field. The question as to whether the Palmerston North Hospital Board should take over the Otaki Sanatorium was raised at the last meeting of the board: Sir James Wilson, the chairman, asked for an expression of opinion from mem-'1 hers as to their attitude on the question. "Personally," remarked Sir James, "I do not think the board will take over the sanatorium : that seems to be the genera] opinion. "It would be advisable for a deputation from the board to wait upon the Minister of HeaJth and the Director-General of Health, Dr. Valintine, with reference to the whole question. It was resolved that a committee be appointed consisting of the chairman, and Messrs. Nash, Homblow, Monk, and Vincent, the same to visit the sanatorium and draft a report for the consideration of the board. One of the matters to which the muni: eipality o£ Auckland is paying some attention is tree-planting in the streets. Discussing the subject, Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., an eminent authority on the question, remarked that it was far from settled as to which were the best kinds of trees to plant in the streets. "There is a very wide field for experiment in tho use of New Zealand trees for street planting and civic ornamentation, and the lack of success with regard to past activities is probably very largely due to lack of scientific knowledge of soils and of expert knowledge as to the particular kind required by each class of tree." he said. "Some trees, for instance, require acidity of soil, and will iuevitably perish if placed in an alkaline soil The right conditions could readily be obtainet,l W e application of a special kind oi fertiliser required, and that is where tlie need for expert knowledge and experiment comes in. Slow-growing trees and the less hardy varieties, many of which would be quite suitable for park ornamentation and street planting if given a good start, should be raised in nurseries, and not transplanted straight from their natural conditions to thoso"of c:ity streets and reserves. None of tlie exotic trees which have been planted m and around Auckland can equal many of our native trees in grace, beauty of i loaf, or ju variety of eoluuriag "

■" We have taken up the attitude that it is a matter for the New Zealand Management Committee," remarked a member of the Wellington Rugby Union's committee last evening when a circular was received from the Wairarapa Rugby Union in connection with the appointment of the manager of the All-Black team. The circular set out at length the record of Mr. E. M'Kenzie,. whom the Wairarapa. Union desired to see appointed to the position. A resolution approving of the action of the British Navy League in fully supporting the Singapore Base proposal was carried by the executive of the Wellington branch of the' Navy League yesterday afternoon.' Captain Chudley who was in the chair, said that the New Zealand branches were in hearty sympathy, and suggested that the resolution should be forwarded to the Prime Minister (Mr. Massey). If business men here were to act as the business men of London in regard to the same matter something would happen. The manner in which the trade between Auckland and the Eastern Pacific Islands has been developed was indicated by figures quoted by Mr. A. G. Lunn at the meeting hold in the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber to protest against proposed alterations in the cargo steamer service between Auckland and the Islands (says the " Herald "). Mr. Lunn stated that the Auckland trade had been so extended that the amount of caoital invested in it represented between a quarter and half a million sterlins. The amount disbursed by the Southland Education Board on the conveyance and board of children who live a lone distance from the nearest public school was £1952 last year. There are seventviiyo schools where parents have availed themselves of the provision thus made i -ij Ee Partment for educating their children. Conveyance allowance was paid in respect of 380 children, and boarding allowance in respect of 17 children. . "The hospital has been very crowded most of the year and we propose to furnish additional beds in an overflow building in the grounds," said Sir James Wilson, chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, at a meeting of that body a few days ago. "This overflow establishment will make provision for any epidemic that, may occur in the district," he added, "and will relieve the pressure on the hospital." A very poor response has been made to tho appeal by the Auckland Chamber of Gpmmerce for subscriptions to make a fund of £750 to advertise Auckland at the British Empire Exhibition. Only £285 had been subscribed up to Saturday, and this sum represents a very small number of individual donors (says the "Herald"). It was-originally intended to close the list on Monday, but it was decided to leave if open for a few days longer, during which time special appeals will be made. Failing a more satisfactory response, the fund will be" abandoned. The " Herald " mentions uy way of contrast that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce has raised a fund of. £1000 to advertise Wellington. " They will'be creating a class of professional ' cadgers ' if the members of th» N ew Zealand team are paid only 3s per day." ' This was the opinion of a delegate to the Obago Rugby Union meeting at which the question of allowances_ to, players was discussed. The position at the present time is that there' is to be no payment to players for out-of-pocket expenses, but most of the Rugby unions! are.-urging that*payment should be made. At the Otago Union's meeting Mr.-W. J. Wilson said that he thought it was absurd for the English Rugby Union "to suggest' that it could not play the. All Blacks if they were I paid. ' The' English Union paid its players the last time they toured New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) If the All Blacks were not paid,_ they should nut be sent Home. " Who made the money?" he. asked, and his own answer—"the play-' ci's " —was greeted with applause." . The difficulty of obtaining a house was stressed in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon by a defendant who was charged with failing to comply with I an order for possession. "For the last six months," he said, "I've been searching' the town from end to end; if it's possible to get a house, I'll get out to-night." Counsel representing the owners suggested that there were plenty of empty houses at Muritai. The Magistrate (Mr. E: Page, S.M.): "Well, what about Muritai?" Defendant said he had been there, and found that the rent was £2 Ss. How could he pay that and keep his wife and four children, when he was earning £3 15s per week The Magistrate adjourned the case for two months to enable defendant to find other premises. "I know it is very difficult for you, but you will have to leave," he added. The fact that during the past two years there has been a wonderful improvement, both in the numbers competing and in the general standard of shooting at rifle meetings, is no doubt in a large measure due to the attraction offered by His Excellency, the GovernorGeneral; who, in 1921, with the object of stimulating interest in rifle shooting in the Dominion, presented a handsome challenge, cup for competition among cadets. The trophy was awarded to the New Plymouth Boys' High School in 1921, Nelson College in 1922, and New Plymouth Boys' High School again in 1923. The latter performance was a remarkably. good one, for 316 cadets fired, and the average, counting every boy, was 76.8 out of a possible 100. Other units deserving of special 'mention, are New Plymouth Technical School ■Cadets, 72 strong, with 78.8; Nelson College,. 312 strong, ■ with 63 : Dunedin Technical College, 161 strong, with 64.7; New Brighton Cadets, 108 strong, with 62.7. Wearing a chorister's cassock and surplice, Mr. Walter Nash, the national sec'etary of the New Zealand Labour Party, spoke, on Sunday evening from the pulpit of St. Matthew's Church, Auckland, on "The Church and Labour." There was a. large attendance.- "I cannot see that tho Labour Party is in any way running in conflict with the way ot Christ," said Mr. Nash. He pointed out that there were 169,000 people who were living in unhealthy conditions, due to the la-ck the way of life was the way of Christ, tianity was not a code or a'system. it was a life. Service rather than services was ,the aim of Christ. Dealing with thu Labour movement, he said that, like the church, its membership was open to all who subscribed to its objective. And that objective was the establishment of a system whereby the whole means of livelihood and production should be socialised. Socialism was the organisation of the production and distribution of the essentials of life for the benefit of all. That part of their business, commerce', or social life into which. Christ could not enter should not be. The Labour Party would, ho added, do all in its power to enable the church to do its work, provided that work was in accord with what they deemed was the way of Christ. He believed that the movement of the church' and the Labour movement would flow into each other, and then thoy would know to the full that the way of life was the way of Christ. A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states that George Parson Miller. (159) died suddenly in hospital, where he was being treated for injuries receiveo in jumping from a tramcar on 23rd March.

TKe freezing works in OtagD are very active. The number of sheep killed at the South Otago Freezing> Works 'so far exceed the figures for this time last year hy over 6000. Appreciation is expressed in the annual report of the Wellington Trades and .Labour Council that during the year the council had been successful in inducing: the Justice Department to appoint two members of the council Justices of the Peace. "This has been much appreciated by union secretaries," states the report, 'who have hitherto experienced difficulties when they have required signatures from men of this rank." ■ The recent action of the Maori Hill Association Football team in circularising clubs with reference to the alleged shortcomings of the executive of the Otago Football Association came up for discussion at a meeting of t"he governing body of the sport in Otago (reports "The Post s ' Dunedin correspondent), and: as . the result of the motion moved by a delegate the club was suspended until an apology is forthcoming. As the Wellington College Old Boys' Rugby Club has been unable to obtain a. gymnasium for suitable nights during the coming season, it has been decided to commence a strenuous campaign with a view to raising funds for the erection of the clubs gymnasium. This information was conveyed t 0 the Wellington Rugby Union's Management Committee last evening, with a.request for any assistance that could be given..-' * "In no part of the Empire," says the annual report of the National Rifle Association of Great Britain, "has greater effort been made than in New Zealand to get the full strength to compete (in the Challenge Shield meeting) and to obtain real mass efficiency. Nowhere also has the enthusiasm in competing for the trophy of the Governor-General been greater. In view of the enormous increase in numbers, the disproportionate showing in the prize list is in itself explanatory and quite inadequately indicates the sterling work which has been done, and should' ensure success in the near future." A number of Dunedin confectioner's seen yesterdays (says " The Post's " Dunedin correspondent) all reported that in _ consequence of- the reduction in certain lines of chocolates manufactured by Dominion firms the demand had increased, in many instances by over 100 per cent. Tablets' of nut milk chocolate which were now selling at half their former price were evidently being rushed by sweet addicts, and one shopkeeper stated that he was finding it hard to. obtain sufficient stock to cope with his customers' newly-acquired taste for this particular delicacy. The All-Black team to visit England will carry its own barrackers. The fact that the New Zealand Rugby Union has called upon unions to approve or otherwise 11 concerning ' applications by people in their particular districts who desire to travel with the team gives rise to the assumption that the party to sail from these shores will be large (says the Christchurch " Sun "). These supporters of the team, of course, will pay their own expenses, but all the same it is surprising that some of the unions have not raised-their voices against the size of the party.being increased beyond players and officials. The presence of ofl-siders, some of whom may be prepared to lend sympathetic ears or pockets .to players, is hardly in the best iuterests of discipline. There are other objections as well. The -Administrator of Samoa, Major - General Richardson, read the following radio-telegram from His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand .at the. recent'opening of "the Island Council:—"On the interesting and historical occasion of the first meeting of the rp-cently-constitued Legislative Council of Western Samoa, I desire to convey to you. and to members of the Council my warmest congratulations. • It must inevitably be a matter of satisfaction and pride to the people of Western Samoa that so noteworthy a step forward towards representative- Government as the_ institution of a Legislative Council, which is partly,elective and partly nominative, should haev been made ill a period of a little over three years. It, is in the confident belief that the Administration will be supported and strengthened under the changed conditions that I express, on behalf of the Government of New Zealand, the satisfaction with, which the new departure •is viewed, and our heart's good wishes for the future." The tourist traffic for the season is just about finished, and booking for tie various scenic resorts has eased off greatly. At the Dunedin office of the Government Tourist Department at present there are not many visitors from overseas visiting the various - resorts, most _ of. these having left before winter sets in. Bookings for the Easter holidays, have just commenced, and should' augment the returns for the next few weeks. It is stated (says " The Post's '" Dunedin correspondent) that a- great many more people would, come to .the Dominion if they could land at one end of the country and leave by the other end. At present they have to double back ,on their tracks, and as they often have only a minimum of time this is a decided drawback. A regular ' service from the Bluff to Australia would help considerably to remedy matters. "I have- decided," said the Administrator at the first meeting of the newly-constituted Council of the. man- ' dated territory of Western Samoa, "to concentrate my efforts on what I consider to be the three most urgent problems, viz.: 1. The need for the improvement of ' the health of the natives and the provision of better sanitation and water supplies iir the villages; (2) the reorganisation of the administration of those valuable assets, the property of New Zealand, viz., the Crown Estates, so as to ensure that a revenue is obtained therefrom and applied to the benefit of Samoa, ;is intended by the New Zealand Government; and "(3) "re " duction in the cost of administration, me JNew Zealand Government he roil-" tinned, had generously donated (apart ■H,?™ sldy,for education) the sum of £14,000 to be expended on medical treatment of the natives, the latter in addition, contributing by direct taxa- %^ oth£i . £™°> ""king a total of £21,000. This left only £7000 to bo charged against the revenue of the territory for- medical services. Provision for new water supplies for native villages had been made by the allocation of the balance of £6000 from the loan account entirely to this urgent need The Council would assist the Government in its policy of uplifting the native race. The Government had decided to lease the Crown Estates—a step that would have a beneficial and far-reaching eftect on the economic progress of Samoa They would retain these areas as the birthright of the Samoan race, in the hope that the natives might more rapidly increase in numbers in the years to come, and that ultimately these estates if required, might be made available for them. A large number of applications had been made' from various countries to lease the various plantationl;."