LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 18120, 9 November 1922, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

,It was stilted at Wellington yesterday by Mr H. D. Thomson, Under-secretary for Immigration, that, taking advantage of the liberal concessions of the Imperial Government, provided for under tbo Empire .Settlement Act, 1922, the New Zealand Government had entered into a satisfactory arrangement with the Imperial authorities whereby the following reduced passage rates from England to New Zealand for immigrants will come into operation immediately;—Ordinary nominations, other than farm laborers, miners, and domestics, each adult, six-berth cabin £lB, four-berth cabin £2O, two-berth cabin [ £24. Farm laborera and miners, each | adult, six-berth cabin' £lO, four-berth cabin £l2, two-berth cabin £l6. Domestics, free. Children under the ago of twelve years, travelling ' with their parents, six-berth cabin free, four-berth cabin £1 each, two-berth cabin £3 each. The paemge money must bo paid in full before the passage is booked. The money can bo paid in New Zealand by the nominator or in London by the nominee, or partly by both. Nominations may be cabled at an extra cost of £l. _ Remittances can be forwarded to nominees.

At Waitara the stipendiary magistrate dismissed charges against two local dairy companies, who were charged under section 12, clause 2, of the Sale of Food and Drags Act with selling packapes of butter bearing a false statement. The Health Department inspector gave evidence that purchases in the fihops and net weighings showed short weight. The defence was that there was no evidence before the court of the weight at the time of the sale by the companies to the storekeeper, and no evidence of the sale by companies, The magistrate heldi that as it was a quasi-criminal charge he must bo certain that “ every person ” in the section included the companies. He urged that the slWd ■repeal, ' and . thus settle the point. The magistrate a 1 re warned ‘ho com panics to alter their methods qf dependin'- 110011 the mn’iitenaTTP of •.’•eight by the retention of air bubbles, and the full value of the sale. This was only evening the door to possible future trouble.

Considerable interest was taken in the Darpaville loan polls on tho question of providing the sums, of £1,400 for improving tho water works, £3,100 for- alterations in the gas and water mains, and £I,BOO for improving the gasworks. Tho Business Men’s Association held a meeting of ratepayers the previous night asking that tho loans bo turned down, as they had no confidence in the administration. There was a record poll, and all the proposals were turned down- by big majorities.

At a meeting of the dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union Mr W. J. Poison (chairman) expressed grave disappointment that the Government had not gone further in the matter of agricultural banks, He would sooner the Government had not done anything at all than have brought down the Bill which had now become law, and which would be absolutely useless to the farmers and prejudice their position. The fact was that the Government wanted to extend the Advances Department until it became an agricultural bank. This was desirable, but it was not what the fanners wanted, and it could not provide insurance against financial trouble in 1924 when the mortorium ceased- He complained of want of support and that the producers generally were not backing up the movement as they should. Parliament was quite ignorant of the principles of agricultural bankings and a great deal of prejudice and suspicion had been disnlayod. All the members endorsed the formation of tbo banks. One member said that if 2,000 were in favor of the project they should put down £2O a year for ten years, mid .So produce a capital of £400,000. A resolution was passed expressing disappointment, and urging tho unions to keep the matter prominently before their members with a view to amending the legislation next session. Tho opinion Is expressed by loading Hotel proprietors of Christchurch that tho crowd at present, iii :tbc city for the carnival period_ ia _thh largest since 1913. Accommodation is practically all taken up. Tho police report that the behaviour of tho visitors so far has been exbmplary, “Wo had no complaints ,at all to-dav,” said a loading officer on Tuesday. He added, however, that , during the carnival periods very special 'pare' was taken to atop any trouble arising, as such attractions ahvavS* brought in many rather undesirable characters. A discussion was being carried 1 on in tho Arbitration Court at Auckland regarding the meaning of trade terms in the fibrous plaster industry (states the ‘Star’). His Honor explained that in Dunedin “making’’ did not mean '“manufacturing.” The Auckland Union representative thought it should mean “manufacturing.” “Dunedin is a Scotch place, sir,” he said, “and perhaps they have different for words there.” Mr Justice Frazer (drily): “I am Scotch. I did not understand it. It had to be impressed on me very emphatically." (Laughter.) The Girls’ Physical Culture Club, with Miss Lily Stevens as instructor, held their final demonstration for tho season in the Held Hall on Monday evening. There was a large and interested gathering of adult friends. The Rev. R. Fairmaid presided. The various items were interspersed with a series of physical exorcises, which were gone through with a precision and enthusiasm that reflected great credit /iliWi mi fhit nprfnrmor.Q R.TifJ fhnir instrilC-

tor. At an interval in the proceedings the prizes wore awarded in accordance with the decision of Mr P. G. Stewartj who had previously discharged the duties of judging the work of the classes. Tho_ following were the winners : —Senior section : First, Miss Gwen Bills; gold medal (presented by Mrs P. G. Stewart); second, Miss Jessie More, silver medal; third, Mies Gladys Douglas, silver medal. Junior section : First, Miss Noney Davidson, gold medal; second, Alms Hilda Eckhold, silver medal; third, Miss Phyllis Douglas, silver medal. Excellent items, consisting of songs, recitations, musical selections, and dances, were rendered by tho following performers :— Misses L. Bain C. Duff, A. Allan, A. Holly, Phyllis Douglas, M. Andrews, S. Snney, J. Dove, N. Turner, P. Carolin, D. Dagg, and Masters Jack Stevens and David Robertson. Airs APCallum and Alisa Dolly Gardner played tho accompani- ; ments. A most successful function was , concluded with singing a verse or tw-o of | ‘ Auld Lang .Syne.’ | The annual gift night in connection | with the nursing divisions of the St. John : Ambulance Brigade took place at tho Ambulance Station, Octagon, on Monday ’ cveninv The members of tho Dunedin. Caversham, and Dunedin Central nursing divisions wore in atts .ida.aoo in large nmu-

. here, and a very largo and varied assortment of gifts was handed in, besides which a considerable amount in cash was also donated by members. The gifts are for the use of the district nurses in carrying out their ministrations amongst the sick poor of the city. Miss J. Stewart, acting lady corps super intend cut, occupied the chair, and explained the object of the meeting. Colonel Barclay, commissioner of the brigade for the do- , minion of Now Zealand, addressed those present, detailing tho activities of the order throughout the Empire and referring especially. to the. work of the New Zealand branch. He dwelt upon _ the ' necessity,of increasing the strength of the : various men’s ambulance divisions, so that personnel would be available for attendance at sports and other meetings. _At the request of the Dunedin Nursing Diyison Colonel Barclay presented Miss Stewart, lady superintendent, with /in enlarged photograph of- the members of that body, and in doing so referred in appreciat -ry o-rms ty l,;o long service and good work which that lady had .to her credit. Dr Moore and Dr Fergus, divisional surgeons of the Dunedin and C!av‘ersham Nursing Divisions respectively, were each made ’ the recipient of a pair of motoring gloves in recognition of their services. A similar compliment was to , have been extended to Dr Church by the ■ members of the Dunedin Central ’Nursing j Division, but had to be postponed in j consequence of that ' officer's unavoidable I absence. ‘ ' ’