NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume 50, Issue 50, 27 August 1926, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Sympathetic Consideration. Tho A to L Committee recommended to the House of Representatives yesterday, and it was agreed, that the petition of Mrs. Jane Sarah Clark, of Petoue, for a compassionate allowance on account of the los 3of her husband by drowning in the Hutt Biver, should be referred to the Government for sympathetic consideration. Slackness in Iron Trade. A Dunedin ironmaster of lengthy experience said yesterday that in all his ■ career lie bad never known the "black trade" to be so slack as it is this year. Asked as to the causes, he mentioned several important factors, laying emphasis on the statement that the public bodies as well as the Government were too easily persuaded to import what they wanted, instead of having it made here. Assisting South African Veterans. A proposal that veterans of the South African war should have preference in land ballots and in respect to State Advances was submitted to Ministers of the Crown last night by a deputation from tho South African veterans' Association. The Minister of Lands (the Hon. A. D. M'Leod) stated that it would be impossible, to carry the. soldier, settlement scheme further without extending borrowing. He would, however, look up any promises made by his predecessor with regard to assistance being given to South African soldiors under the land settlement scheme. The Minister of Finance (the Hon. W, Downio Stewart) said he did not think that the priority asked for in. respect of State Advances could bo granted. Each case must be judged on its merits. He would discuss the matter with tho State Advances Superintendent. Decentralisation of Local Government. Tho multiplication of local bodies in New Zealand was alluded to by tho Hon. J. A. Hanan in the Legislative Council yesterday. Centralisation, he said, had been carried to excess, and to-day there were far too many,local bodies in the Dominion. To some extent tho sense of responsibility of local government had been lost. There was too great a tendency to look to tho Government to do things that should be done by local authorities themselves. It was because of theso excessive demands upon the public purse that expenditure in recent years had been going up by leaps and bounds. There' was no reason why an enlarged form of local government should not be established—something in the nature of | district councils, which would make for greater economy in administration and result in decentralisation. A tightening up process was needed, to put an end to rash borrowing. Mr. Hanan said his criticism was directed against not only the amount of public expenditure but also tho standard of efficiency. Tho Local Government Loans Board Bill should indicate to the people, the need for curtailing expenditure. Tho spirit of tho times might bo summed up in the words, "On with the dance," and it was time this wild era of borrowing camo to an end. Trespassing Deer. For' some years past deer have been ] known, especially in winter time, to como down to tho low-lying cultivated areas in Tarras and Hawca districts (states the "Cromwell Argus"). Quite recently they have ventured further j south, and found their way to the jNTine-teon-milo Crock, south of Queensberry. Mr. E. Duncan, tho society's ranger, who is in tho district collecting quail, was informed that four stags had been seen in tho early morning grazing in a turnip field. With a rifle lie went out to investigate, and after a Httlo tracking camo across tho deer nnd shot them. They wero respectively four, six, eight, and eleven pointers. Mr. Duncan's opinion is that the deer swam the Clutha from the Tarras side, and tracks seen lator gave reason to believe' that more were in tho vicinity. Cost of Ketrioving Husbands. The question of what to do about husbands who go to Australia and "forget" their wives in Now Zealand is sorely agitating the minds of tho Social Welfare Committee of the Hospital Board. The cost of bringing back to Now Zealand' such an absentee was stated to havo gone up, like other things, and was now quoted at £45,. and tho question arose, apart from that of justice, whether it was worth it. Tho cost of maintaining a certain deserted family mentions^ was stated to be £3 n week, and itwas doubtful whether tho husband, if brought to book, could pay anything, so was tho expenditure of £45 justified? Reciprocity with Australia on this question, it was said, was being aimed at, and Government co-operation vas wanted, as boards by thcmsolves were not likoiy to make much progress. "Of .course, wo never got tho rovorso—wives deserting their husbands," addod one mombei- with an olivo branch look at the lady members of tho board. "No," added another, "women know :i good thing when they havo got it, and stick to it."

Returned Soldier's Petition. In connection with the petition of Sydney Tovey, of Wellington, praying for £3000 compensation for neglect of medical treatment of injuries received while on active service, tho M to Z Committee of the House of Eeprcsontativos has reported favourably, and recommends that tho petitioner should recoivc a lump sum to bo fixed by tho Government. Potone Council Bill. Tho Petono Borough Council Empowering Bill has boon amended by tho Local Bills Committeo of tho House of Representatives. It had been proposed in tho Bill that that portion of Nevis Btroet lying to tho south of Locky street, and a portion of tho latter tlioyoughfaro to tho westward of Noyis street, should bo closed. Tho Committoo has altered tho Bill to provide that if this area of land is sold by public auction to adjoining owners, the council shall not he ablo to use tho proceeds for any of the purposes of the borough. Tho Committeo has also inRortcd amendments protecting the rights of tho Harbour Board and tho Hutt Biver Board to carry out what works they may wish in the vicinity of tho proposed recreation roserve near tho Esplanade, Fish Washed Ashore. A number of ling were washed ashore on Breakor Bay yesterday, and when I diticovored woro found to be quite fresh, and pcoplo in tho vicinity had no misgivings about taking them homo for dinner. It is suggested that the fish were killed through some submarine disturbance Repairing a Bad Road. Tho City and Suburban Highways Board may be said to havo started its 1926-27 season's work, a commencemont having been made yesterday in tho preparation work on the Hut' road, within tho Petono borough, from the railway overhead bridge southward. This portion of road is in a very bad condition, tho tar-sealed surface being badly potholod. Tho present work is confined to tho haunches, and in tho moantime the worst potholes in tho centro arc being filled up with metal from tho sides. It is not intended to interfere with the present foundation, the tarred surface will be merely removed and bitumen mix substituted.

An Example to be Followed.

"We have often enough to ask leave to sue for amounts owing for hospital treatment, but this time we have > a pleasant duty in presenting a very different side of the case," stated the Accounts Committee at yesterday's meeting of the Hospital Board. It was related that a man ran up ten different hospital accounts on various occasions, totalling £114 9s 6d. He was, like some others, not in a position to pay. But quite recently he received a sudden and unexpected windfall of £100. Promptly he telephoned to the Hospital asking if they would accept £80; he would like to keep £20 to carry on with until he got a job. Such honesct recognition, of his liabilities was favourably commented on by the board, as an example which others, might follow with advantage to the Hospital accounts and to their own consciences. Navy League School Members. Tho agencies of the Navy League arc employed in educating the nation, but •especially the children, in the knowledge of tho uses of sea-power as a means by which the food, industries, and floating commerce of the country are safeguarded, and as tho necessary bond and protection of the Empire. The records of tho Wellington branch of the league show that there were 4304 school members last year. The Wellington Boys' College headed the list with a membership of 569, and the next three schools in. order were Island Bay (2i>l), Terrace (267), and Wellington Girls' College (229). The aggregate j includes children registered with the Masterton, Marton, and Picton subbranches of the league. . Cause for Gratitude. j A contention that because his car was fitted with four-wheel brakes it did not present a danger to pedestrians, was advanced by a young man in tho Police Court at Auckland on Wednesday, when charged with dangerous driving (reports the "New Zealand Herald"). "Oh," remarked Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., "people will step off the footpath, see a car almost on top of them, and with great relief say, 'It is all right. ' Thank God it is a .'" (Laughter.) A fine of £1 with costs was imposed. Still Girls. "Shall we call it the Old Thames Girls' Reunion?" asked Mrs. AToolley, chairman of a preliminary meeting held at Auckland on Wednesday to consider the holding of an annual reunion of the ladies of the old Thames clan. A little ripple of laughter passed round the room as tho chairman put the question with a" slight emphasis on the '.'girls.". "Well, wouldn't tho Thames Old Girls be better?" asked one elderly matron doubtfully, but an emphatic chorus of "Noes!" left rio doubt as to the feeling of the majority of thosn present (reports tho "New Zealand Herald"). It was decided the reunion should be held next Thursday in Scots Hall, a small committee being appointed to. arrange details.

A Minister Thanked,

Members of the South African War Veterans' Association waited on the Minister of Internal Affairs .(the Hon. R. F. Bollard) last night to thank him for what he had done in regard to the maintenance of soldiers' graves. In reply, Mi\ Bollard said that anything he could do in tho way of looking after the graves of the fallen would be done. That applied also to tho soldiers who had died for their country in South .i.rrica.