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Evening Star, Issue 17925, 22 March 1922, Page 4

The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1921, a, copy of which is just to hand, contains a clause providing for tho exemption from the provisions of any .ward or agreement of any local authority or public body in respect to any relief works curried cut by special resolution of such local authority or public body. One of tho latest economies on tlm part of the Government is the slipping of free distribution of copies of awards or amendments, except that each: cited party is entitled to one copy. Previously “ was possible for individuals or firms intisSrVjd to obtain copies on application to -he. Labor Department; but now these must bo applied for to the Government Printer in Wellington and! paid for at the rate of sixpence per copy. Cited parties must go through tho same procedure if they require extra copies. 11 y many people this latest “reform ” is looked upon as another “Penny wise’’ measure; but we arc assured by the Labor Department that thousands of the copies of awards and amendments that are applied for are wasted.

Tomorrow will bo the seventy-fourth anniversary of the province of Otago, and a general holiday will bo observed by the business community. No work will be carried 1 'out on the waterfront, and the Customs Department will also bo closed. There will he only one delivery by postmen, and it will bo in the morning. Tho North Canterbury Hospital Board last night resolved—“ That (the board invito the hospitals boards in/Now Zealand to urge tho Government to appoint a Commission to inquire into the prevalence of venereal disease in New Zealand, and to suggest the best means of combating the disease.’’—Christchurch telegram. The attention of sportsmen is directed to the fact that clause 14 of the Animals’ Protection and) Game Act, 1921, provides that “no person shall take or kill any imported game or native game during an opening season in any district unless he is the holder of a license under this Act to lake or kill native game or imported game in such district during that season.’’ The fee for tho shooting of native and imported! game for the coming season within the boundaries of the Otago Acclimatisation Society’s district has been fixed at £l. The latest innovation at the Returned Soldiers’ Club is tho provision of a hot lunch daily between 12 o’clock and 1.30 p.m. During the last week about thirty men have taken advantage of the meal, which is provided for a very moderate charge. On tho Monday prior to Anzac Day a large number of poppies made in tho devastated areas of Northern France arc to be offered for sale all over New Zealand to provide a fund for the relief of unemployment among returned! eoldicrs. The poppies, of which there are 396,C00 large and 4,000 small ones, are in possession of tho Now Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, and will be allocated to various centres according to population. The number coming to Dunedin will be 17,450. The poppies will bo worn in remembrance of the dead.

While at Alexandra yesterday the Minister of Works received a number of deputations, mostly with local grievances. Mr H. Munro, president of the Central Otago Fruitgrowers’ Association, drew the attention of the Minister to the unsuitability of the present , type of railway waggons for the carriage of stone fruit. The waggons were badly ventilated, and during the past season many complaints had been received from tho public in the . North Island as well as the South. Island:' New waggons were not needed at once, but they would like to have them for next season. Mr Coates promised to consult with tho Acting Minister of Railways on the matter. He understood that Mr Guthrie intended to visit Central Otago shortly, and ho would advise the deputation to place their complaint before him. The Otago Cricket Association art union was drawn at the secretary’s (Mr F. S. Wilson) office last night. His -Worship tho Mayor drew the numbers in the presence of representatives of tho association, the police, and tho general public. Tho first prize of £25 went to a resident of Rangiora (Canterbury), the second (£10) came to Dunedin, and the third (£5) went to Wellington. There were, ten other prizes each of £l. As a. result of the art union tho association funds will benefit to tho extent of about £IOO. Mr H. D. Skinner, assistant curator of tho Otago Museum, reported to the University Council yesterday that tho Chinese community had subscribed £35 towards the purchase of cases for use in tho Museum. On the motion of Dr Benham the donors w I e very heartily thanked, the mover re narking that tho Chinese were really a iliost generous people. 'The cases are intended specially for the exhibition of a collection of Chinese curios and objete d’art.

Them is plenty of talking power on the Otago University Council, but members generally seemed not to bo anxious to make speeches yesterday when the letter from the Professorial Board, recommending that the graduation ceremony be made to synchronise with the capping carnival, was read by the registrar. Dr Denham remarked that the students were anxious that the more serious ceremony should bo held on one of the three days of the capping carnival. He held the opinion that as the two ceremonies in question were, so entirely distinct they should not be held simultaneously. Then ensued a silence, broken hv Mr W. J. Morrell rising to move that the letter be received. _ After another pause Mr J. E. Walker said that for the reputation of the University it would bo a great mistake if the ceremony were held in the same week as the carnival. Still members hesitated, until at last Mr W. Eudey ventured the proposal to refer the letter back to the board'. This was cheerfully agreed to, and the council proceeded to the next business. Tire new post office at Alexandra, which replaces the structure which has done duty since 1875, was opened yesterday by the Postmaster-General, the Hon. J. G. Coates. The building was authorised in 1913, but its construction was delayed by the war. The contract price was £3,928. and the contractors Messrs M'Leod and White. The Postmaster-General, in the course of his remarks, referred to the recent retrenchment proposals. During the war 2,280 young men from the Postal Department had pone overseas, and their places had been filled, but their positions had been promised to them on their return. While the war was in progress the business of the post office had increased enormously, and additional men had to be engaged. Since the war ended postal business had fallen off very much, but the Government had kept its word to the returned men, all of whom had been reinstated. The department was, therefore, making a. loss, and under the scheme of retrenchment that became necessary 1,000 people had left the service, and shortly the number would bo increased to 1,300. No one liked retrenchment, continued the Minister, but ha had a stern duty to perform' in safeguarding the general interests of the country as a whole. One satisfaction of the present situation was that a largo proportion—more than half, in fact—of the Public Debt of New Zealand was owing in this country, and less than half to outside people. Under the present retrenchment proposals it was estimated that, exclusive of £14,891,000 for war expenses, a saving of £1,800,000 would be effected in Governmental expenditure, bringing the amount back to the 1913-14 basis.

Mr Paulin advised at noon; R.W. to S.E. winds and cold' r ain showers. A service in commemoration of tho dead will bo held on Anzac Day this j-car in tho same form as last year. At tho meeting of the executive of tho Dunedin R.S.A. last evening a committee comprising Messrs T. W. MlDonald, J. M'Crao, J. H. Moir, R. P. Jones, D. Golquhoun, and Rev. 11. Maclean was appointed to make preliminary arrangements.