LOCAL: AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 17921, 17 March 1922, Page 2

LOCAL: AND GENERAL

At the monthly meeting of tho Dunedin branch of the National Council of Women, hold on Wednesday evening, tho matter for discussion was ‘ Tho Children’s Charter,’ embodying all the ideals for tho welfare of the mother and child. Ju this document are stated all tho safeguards for a healthy womanhood and virile manhood of a: country: every stag© of life is considered, starting with ‘ Preliminary Education for Parenthood,’ through tho prenatal weeks, the school ago, choice of vocation until 'the child attains tho ago of eighteen years. This charter is to bo tho standard aimed at by all nations ithroughont tho civilised world. It will he considered by all tho National Councils of Women existing in Europe, Asia, South America, South Africa, United States of America, and when accepted by them, and perhaps improved, it will ho passed on to the League of Nations Council and incorporation in its department of health will be requested. The business closed with tho passing of a resolution reaffirm - ing the non-sectarian and non-political nature of the Women’s Council. The Finance Committee of the Dunedin Soldiers’ Memorial Fund met in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, and decided that the time was ripe for a public appeal. Mr John Loudon was in the chair, the others present being the mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas), tho Rev. C. J. Bush-King, Ors J. Wilson, Dr Gordon Macdonald, Messrs J. Inglia Wright, D. Harris Hastings, and G. A. Lewin (town clerk). The public appeal had been postponed on account of' the prevailing business depression, but it was felt that tho corner had now been turned, and that there was no need for any further delay. _ Civic movements had been in operation in other centres in aid of soldiers’ memorials, and the members of the committee felt .sure that Dunedin citizens had no desire to lag ■behind. Although the form which tho memorial is to take did not meet with tho approval of everyone, it was agreed that it was impossible to devise a form to meet with unanimous approval. Tho Campaign Committee will meet next week, and it is anticipated that tho campaign will commence in a fortnight’s time. An object-lesson on .military etiquette, although not set down on _ the official programme, was given by Lieutenant-colonel Whyte, D. 5.0., D.C.M., ,N.Z.S.C.,_ when addressing Senior Cndots_ and Territorials at tho prize-giving function in connection with tho central 'military command ritlo shooting at Wellington. After tho colonel had addressed them ho was received with sustained applause. He expressed surprise at their action, which, ho said, was not considered military etiquette. A senior officer had the power to tell a man in the ranks to go to Jericho or some other Well-known place, but the other was not permitted to return the compliment, no matter how much he ‘‘ thought.” It was not customary for applause to follow any “ pleasing ” remarks of a senior officer.

Padres of the New Zealand Military Forces are now definitely charged with the duty of helping to maintain a good tone among the ranks of the Dominion's young defenders. An instruction has been issued by the Defence Department stating that in peace time, in addition to attending camps when required, chaplains will be expected to interest themselves in the general welfare of any Territorial Force and Cadet unit in thoir neighborhood, also to render any service in their power to soldiers of the Permanent Force and to ex-soldiers of the Expeditionary Force. The economy practised by the Health Department was shown yesterday in the city in regard to the hiring of motor cars (says Saturday’s Auckland ‘ Star ’). It was noticed that when the Minister of Public Health visited the public hospital with the chairman of the board the chairman did not travel at the expense of the Minister, but that the hospital car was requisitioned for the trip, and the Minis,ter travelled by that car. This, of course, is as broad as it is long—the people have to pay every time—but formerly the Minister would have got two or three cars and taken all the members of the board with him. However, times have changed, and much economy is practised nowadays. Many practical carpenters are out of work ’just now. One carpenter from Horae, who was told before ho came hero that there was a dearth of carpenters in the Dominion, says that for six weeks ho Las tramped around the city interviewing those likely to bo able to give him work, with no result (says tho Auckland ‘ Star ’). A painter from Homo who tried in vain for a week to got work at his trade took on gardening work at 15s per day. Ho says he can get more work than he can do, .and is so satisfied with his new kind of work that he says he will not return to his mope unhealthy trade of painting. Ho thinks there is good scope in this country for men who will turn their hand to anything, and ho is going to write and toll some of his mates to come out here. That New Zealand-grown apples are increasing in favor in England is proved by the large quantities that reach Wellington almost daily for oversea transhipment. ■Tho s.s. Kaitoi on Tuesday brought 6,000 cases from Motueka for the New Zealand Shipping Company’s Peshawur, which has been fixed to sail on Saturday morning for London. The ferry steamer Nikau, from Nelson, next day brought a fruit cargo for transhipment to the Federal steamer Leitrim,

There was room in Now Zeal .and for

another type of technical and high school, « and that matter was going to be the subject of inquiry, said the Minister of Education (the Hon. 0. J. Parr) to an Auckland deputation recently. It was intended shortly to hold in Wellington an informal conference with suitable persons to see if something practical could be done in the way of readjustment between, primary and secondary education, so as to meet the needs ol the population of Now Zealand. The community could not absorb all the pupils who were passing through high schools. It was hoped that something experimental in the direction ho had indicated qjpuld be started next year. No changes in the education of the Dominion Would ho lightly made, but at present there wore shortcomings in tho system, and it was tho Minister’s duty to rectify tho matter if possible.

As an outcome of recent increases in Government valuations, a meeting of city property-owners was hold in Auckland, and it was decided to form a property-owners’ association. _ A committee was appointed to confer with the Chamber of Commerce on the action to bo taken. It was decided to prepare a memorial to the Valuer-Gen-eral protesting against the'valuations and methods of assessment, The introduction of’Atlantic salmon into Lake Taupo was discussed at the last meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society at Hamilton, when a letter was read from the Department of Internal Affairs promising consideration of the society’s request for a subsidy to enable it to import 1,000,000 ova. Mr C. A. Whitney said the Waikato and Wanganui Rivera were more like tho English rivers, and he thought the Atlantic salmon would do better in those rivers than in tho South. If the fish worn established, ho was satisfied that in a very short time there would be excellent fishing) between Hamilton and Atiamuri. Mr H. H. Ostler said that tho fumnat salmon on show at the Auckland Inhibition were placed in tho Waikato River. Subsequently a fish was caught ia the W«akato which was pronounced by Mr H. F. Ayson, tho chief inspector of , fisheries, to be a quinnat salmon. If this was one of those placed in tho river, it would seem that quinnat salmon would thrive in tho Waikato, and therefore Atlantic salmon could bo acclimatised. It is announced from New York that the Commercial Cable postal and telegraph system has completed a contract with the German Asiatic Cable Company providing for a new cable between New York and Emden, in Germany, and touching at tho Azores, to bo in operation by October, 1923. During the war there Was Eft direct cable communication between tho United States and Germany, all cable messages between the two countries haying ■'■ $0 pass through England or France.