LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In the now rules for amateur cycling events, as approved by. the council of tho_ New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, it is indicated that the controlling body intends to conduct a. fiftymile road race each year. The idea is that each centre should have a turn with the race, if it desired. The Wellington Centre of the- N.Z.A.A.A. decided .last evening to support the proposal to include in the New Zealand cycling championships a fifty-mile road race.

As a tribute to the memory of the late Mr. G. P. Keddell, well known as. a hne athlete, it ■is proposed that a Memorial Shield be obtained for the New Zealand 120 yards < Hurdles Championship. The Otago Centre has suggested to the N.Z. A. A. A. that ail centres be approached with a view to obtaining subscriptions to cover the cost of the shield. The council further suggests that a minimum amount of £10 each be raised by the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago centres and of £5 by the West Coast (North Island) Centre. The Wellington Centre has given its approval to the suggestion. The conference d£ representatives of' different branches of the tailoring trade convened by the Labour Department to consider proposed legislation dealing with the tailoring trade—more especially the vexed question of tailor-made and lactory-made clothing—concluded yesterday afternoon. An agreement was reached on some points, but difficulties arose in regard to the most satisfactory method of dealing with the main question at iasue % The chairman, Mr. ~S. W. Rowley, Secretary of the Department of Labour, stated at the conclusion of the conference that the Minister was strotfglv in favour of tlio system of- calling all parties together to consider such difficulties as those connected with the sug-1 gested regulations. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Rowley for the'tactful manner in which he had conducted the conference.

"Can anyone fell' me how'it is possible to stop the cruel practice of birdliming?" asks a. correspondent ("Bird Lovev"). The writer adds: "Many a time I have reasoned with small boys how cruel it is to catch .:a bird and make it a captive in a cage. The goldfinches^ are-a'delight, in'our garden, and they ai-e also very' useful in the fruit trees, eating blight, etc. I was horrified last Saturday, when walking over the Town Belt, to find that small boys are not the only offenders, 'but gr6wn-up; men' were there, with bird-lime sticks, and residents tell me that this happens every day. Fine healthy young men hide under the trees arid share these finches when they could be doing more useful work. Now, Sir, lam a gardener, and cannot get a man to cut my hedges, and other, gardeners will tell you the same. Cannot the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animate help in this humane work?"

The low birth rate of the Dominion is deplored by Dr. T. H. A. Valiutine (Director-General o£ Health) in his annual.report. "Dr. M. H. Watt, Director of the Division of Public Hygiene," ho says, '-'draws attention to" certain features affecting public health, which may be regarded as disquieting, chief of'which is the very low birth rate. It is to be regretted that little more'can be said about this than has been said on previous occasions. It is. indeed, very hard to impress on mothers'the fact that child-birth is not a disease, but a, normal, physiological procees. -The high late of. still-births and the mortality rate of infants under one month is also a matter for concern. On the other handj the ■crude death rate of 9.03 places New Zealand in a more favourable light, as does indeed its infant mortality of 43.8" per thousand births. In this connection all thanks are due- to 'the Plunket Society for its untiring efforts' to make this infantile mortality rate the lowest in the world." The birth rate for 1923 was 21.94 per 1000, which was exceedingly low, and with the exception of 1919, when it was only 21.54, was the lowest ever experienced. ■

One of the neatest points scored by. any speaker at the reception tendered ta the Prime Minister a_t 'Manger© East on Saturday was credited to Mrs Tait, in replying to the toast of "The Ladies" (states the. "New Zealand Herald"). Some allusion had been made to the harmonious working of the ladies' com-, mittee responsible" for the -organisation of the "Paddy's market," held in--con-nection with the opening of the new hall. "Well, we may not always have seen exactly eye to eye," said Mrs. Tait, "and we may have had our little differences, but, as Mr. ' Massey himself knows, - they have those in 'Parliament too, and lie comes up smiling every time, just as we do!" . "That is the handsomest compliment that - has been paid me for a very long time," said Mr. Massey, with a, smile that fully met the occasion, "and I cannot remember when I received any compliment that pleased me more.- 'Play the game, and come up smiling every time!'—that is what I believe in, and it's a fine motto for everyone to try to live up to."

Although Tarariaki is described as a place of milk and honey, it is not immune from serious pests. Wild pigs have been a cause of anxiety in Central Taranaki for !some time/ particularly during the lambing season, and., sportsmen and farmers are now publicly notified that the State Forest .Service will pay a royalty of Is for "each wild pig killed. As a proof of killing hunters aro required to produce the snout lo certain men in various parts of tile territory affected, who will arrange for payment of the1 royalty mentioned. The menace of wild goats is also a serious oria, so serious, in fact, that the New Zealand .Forestry League obtained the services of Mr. E. Maxwell, of Opunake, to report fully upon the matter (states a correspondent). This report has been circulated among the bodies interested. H? points out that for years goats have been increasing on the ranges to such an extent that a great portion of the area has been practically. eaten out so far as fern seedlings: and small shrubs are cencerned. 'If the goats are not destroyed in the early future air absolute limit to the. life of the Egmont National "Par!; will be put, namely, that of the life of the present generation of trees. Parts v.r.ero a wealth-of ferns, 'plants, creepers and the like existed a few Years ugo are j.y\v aWhMcly Uare of uny'umlevgvowlh 0£ any sort. ' ■ •

I Several provisional churches are to be greeted shortly for the Koman Catholic Church in the Canterbury district, states Hie "Sun." His Lordship Bishop Brodie announced at the Cathedral on Sunday that he- had secured properties at Marshland, North Linwood, Beckenham, and Itiecarton, and hoped to have four new churches erected thereon before the end of the year. He was jpegotiating for another site on which to erect a fifth suburban church. The buildings would, for the present, be in the nature of provisional churches' or chapels, and his Loivlship felt that they would he much appreciated by the residents of the different- suburbs.

Influenza is referred to in the annual report of the Director-Generalof Ilealth. "This is a disease," he says ; "that recognises no national frontiers j and reduces quarantine systems to expensive absurdities. Our only line of defence at present appears to be* to raise the standard of life by strict observance to the fundamental laws of health. Not only must it be raised in our own country, but through the international work of such organisations" as''the Health Committee of the League of Nations there must be created a higher standard of sanitation and social conditions in other countries, for the conditions that exist elsewhere have a direct bearing on the.health of the people of this Dominion. No country can live" to itself."

A point of importance to small fire boards in the Dominion came before the Dannevirke Board, when an intimation was received from the Under-Secretary ot Internal Affairs that it was illegal for a board to create a reserve fund by setting aside money each year with a view to the eventual installation of a street fire alarm system. Ori the other hand, it -was pointed out by a member that the board could > borrow io carry out the work* Intimation was received from the Minister that vhe hoped to bring down amending legislation this session to the Fire Brigades' Act to permit of the creation of a capital expenditure account which -would permit of the establishment of a reserve, fund.— Press Association.: * .

The danger of attempting to board ferry' steamers after the gangway has been raised was illustrated at Auckland on Saturday 'evening, when .a girl of about 16 years had a close call from serious injury when trying to board the steamer Naoiro for Stanley Bay (states the "Star"). A companion got aboard safely, but the girl in guest-ion missed a, hand held out to help her and fell. She first struck the edge of the decking with her head, then the wharf, and,, rebounding-, struck the steamer's belting, and before she reached the water she hit one of the wharf stringers. Although dazed and slightly scratched, she was apparently not seriously hurt, and when the steamer reached Stanley Bay she was able to walk home after her re markable escape. - •

An incident which took place during the visit of German cyclists to France some months • ago was referred to by Mr. J. W. Heenan during his addressto the Wellington Centre of the N.Z. A.A.A. last evening, on the subject of the Olympic Games. For successes which the German cyclists had achieved they were crowned. with wreaths, and the German visitors "subsequently visited the graves' of fallen soldiers, and on those graves they placed the wreaths bearing the inscription, "From Gerinau sportsmen to French sportsmen who fell in the war." "It is claimed," said Mr. Heenan, "that that action did more to make possible future friendly relationship and to make peace between the German and French: people than almost anything that has been done in any other sphere."

The balance-sheet of the Public, Trust Office for the year ended 31st* March, 1924, was submitted to the House of Representatives yesterday. Attention was directed by the Controller and Auditor-General (Colonel G. F. C. Campbell) to an item in the assets, "£2783, advances for protection of securities in possession." "In order to protect his interest as mortgagee of' certain farming •■ property which had practically been abandoned by the mortgagor, it became necessary during the year for the Public Trustee.to incur.expenditure by placing stock thereon, aiul the item in question represents the value of such stock," said Colonel Campbell. 'The Public Trustee is unable to quote any specific authority in the Public Trust Act for expenditure of this nature, and as,-no doubt, it will be necessary in the interests of his office for him to incur similar, expenditure from time to time, I bring the matter under your, notice in order that the' Government may consider the' advisability of introducing such amendment of the law as is.necessary: to permit of this expenditure being legally incurred."

On the occasion of the Wilson benefit sports meeting, held in Wellington towards the close of the last amateur athetic season, Mr..H. S. Alpe, the wellknown long-distance walker, put up re cord time in a walk from Petone to Wei\fn°r a"d, subs ?quently appeared at .Athletic Park, where he "was given a rousing reception as he completed a round of the track. In recognition of his Performance the Wellington Centre of th<r N.Z. A. A. A. has presented to Mr. Alpe a certificate. The presentation was made at last -night's, meeting of the centre, when the chairman (Mr A. C. Kitto) mentioned that the certificate was probably the only one of its kind which had been given by the centre. The help which."Mr. Alpe had given the sport and to other causes was also referred to by the" chairman. Mr. Alpe, m expressing thanks for the certificate, said that he would be walk, ing from New Plymouth to' Wellington in January and he intended to make that his . last road-walking performance; Members, however, expressed the opinion that he was good enough for many more additions to his already Ibiijrlist of performances.

T Z v oe T? rk f { d9rnolißhing the Lytteltou Lraol has been in. progress during the past.two years, large quantities ot old boons and gaol records have had to be removed. Among these the gaoler Mr. Cook, has discovered a document which should prove of, great historical interest. . It is the first- gaol register, commenced when the gaol was a tworoomed wooden shack. In it, dated early in 1851, is an entry showing that Jie Superintendent of Canterbury, John ttcbert Godley, visited Hie prison to hold an inquiry into a complaint by the prisoners as to.the quality of their rations. An entry in the handwriting of and signed by, the Superintendent himself, indicates that the complaint was substantiated, and the gaoler was instructed to interview the contractor with the demand that a. better quality of ral:ons be supplied (states the "Lyttelton -nines ). Entries in the book "show further that contrary to the general belief unit the prison was founded in 1851. Ui e hitle g:\ol was actually in existence in 1848. The prisoners -averaged from six to eight m numbers. The warders in those, days were known as "constables," and mention is made, of a constable leaving Lyttelton by the cutter Fly, with three prisoners to stand. their trial-at the Wellington Assizes, as the qcarterlv sessions were then termed.

" Do your feet trouble you ? Dr. Scholl's foot comfort appliances" give instant relief to aching feet, flat- foot, crooked locs., bunions, corns, etc. Sec Mr. Paterson in the Footwear Department, Kirkuuldio aud Stains, Ltd.;-cuy ,day during iiext week AUvt

A return has been prepared by. order ol the House of Representatives, -on" the motion of Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West), showing the number of deaths from septicaemia during the three years ending in June, 1924. Only one case occurred at the St. Helens Hospitals, that being recorded in the year 1921-22. Those which' took place in'private hospitals during each of the three years n-^noered 9, 4, and 7 respectively, while 1921-25?, 7 in 1922-23,"and 7ln ei923.2«.-" 1

,\Ve had such a burden of debt'Uurinir the last season," stated the hon. seers" *fy.°£ A the Canterbury Centre, N.Z.A.A A., in a letter to the Wellington Centre, expressing regret that Canterbury could not compete in the recent New Zealand cross-country championship, that it would be unwise to incur furtner expense." The Canterbury secretary pointed out that some of the harriers in that centre could not make the trip, while others wanted all their expenses paid, which the centre could not do. ' ' * ■■■"■ ■-....-■