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Evening Star, Issue 18999, 22 July 1925, Page 6

The Wellington City Council adopted the estimates for the current year, providing for an expenditure of £248,217, plus a special contingency fund of £20,620, which will be available for use on any unexpected works. There is no increase except in the case of that for hospital and charitable aid purposes, over which the council has no control. Labor members protested that the outlying districts wore not receiving the attention thcy_ deserved, and that the public were being misled through works being scheduled and then dropped on the ground of there being no money. Miramar, they claimed, was growing most rapidly of any urban area in the dominion, and the provision of drainage there was the more urgent necessity. The estimated receipts for the year are £2OS,Su7w —Press Association,

Times have clianged. At one time addresses of welcome to visiting notables bad to be delivered when tbe notables stepped asbore. Sometimes higher authorities, in the form of tbe storm king, for instance, stepped in first, and delayed delivery. Nowadays you may welcome your notables long before they reach your shores. An instance of this was given last night, when the Lord Mayor of Sydney, together with several other leading citizens and members of Parliament, sent out by wireless speeches of welcome to th American fleet when it was yet hundreds of miles from the Harbor Beautiful. The messages were sent per medium of the 2BL Station (Sydney Broadcasters, Ltd.), and was picked up in Dunedin by Mr Norman Arundel.

The Maharaj of Jhalawar is to return to Dunedin from Queenstown this evening and go north by the second express to-morrow. On his tour of the Taieri last Saturday, escorted by the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr Tapley), His Highness called at Mr L. C. Hazlett’s estate, and, being much interested in thoroughbred horses, ho took a great fancy to the English-bred stallion Tractor, son of the mighty Tetrach, and made several snapshots of the horse. On Sunday the Prince visited Mr J. A. Johnston’s farm at Bushey, and there spent some time in inspecting the Shorthorns, the Corriedales, and the Clydesdale horses, being shown round by the manager in the absence of the proprietor.

The National Mortgage and Agency Company, agents of the s.s. Waimana, informs us that Mr H. C. Campbell’s remarks as reported in a local yesterday with regard to that vessel are incorrect. She loft London on Juno 5, arrived at Auckland on July 16, left for Napier at 8 p.m. yesterday, and is duo at Dunedin, weather permitting, on Monday, not August 7.

Matters in connection with tlio construction of tho tramline from George street to the Exhibition are proceeding all right. The special work for the turn out of George street into Albany street and for crossing at Castle street is on the steamer Matatua, now at Port Chalmers, having come to hand a little earlier than expected.. The construction workers will have to leave the Forth street portion to tho last, on account of tho new bridge operations, hut that will be merely inconvenient, and will not mean delay.

Regarding the establishment of private wards in public hospitals, tho National Executive of the New Zealand Labor Party claims that the present stop is apparently the. first in an effort 1.0 bring tho hospital_ systemmedical, surgical, and administrative—under the complete control of the H.M.A. This control is primarily for the purpose of ensuring tiie private profit or members of the association; also, in addition, to obtain for them facilities provided by public moneys. It is obvious, says the official report, that the scientific and efficient organisation of tho public hospital system of New Zealand will seriously affect the private practices of tho medical profession. Tho equipment and research; facilities that are the first essential in an efficient public hospital system are not available in private hospitals. The only case for tho private ward is privacy. The party recognises this, ana asserts that it should be available, irrespective of the financial position of the patient. The executive recognises the service rendered to the community by the medical profession. It recognises the good-will of the profession, and the sacrifices often made _ to ensure the best attention to the sick and suffering, and would suggest to members of the B.M.A. that they consider the health proposals of the party. Professor Park stated before the University Commission this morning that the value of the products of mining in the Empire exceeded fourfold tho value of tho products of the land. The speaker, who is professor of mining in the University, also predicted that an oil boom was coming. “ You must be an optimist,” he said in answer to the rather sceptical comments of the Commission.

In giving evidence before the University Commission tins morning, Professor Park estimated that outside students attending the University circulated about £IOO,OOO per year. “ They are great spenders,” he added; “they spend everything they get.” “ Oh, I thought they got everything for nothing,” commented Air F. Tate (one of tho Commissioners), with a smile. "Why, at the hotel that I’m staying at they are being regaled with free drinks to-day.” “Yes, but only to-day,” explained Professor Park.

The mayor stated this morning in his address of welcome to tho delegates attending the Real Estate Institute conference that the municipality of Dunedin has since 1922 borrowed locally £1,552,635 without prejudicing local building operations.

Bw variety dolls’ prams (new models), 20s, 255, °3os, 10s. —Todd’s 'White House, George .street.—[Aavt.]

Port Chalmers.—J. Watson’s winter clearing sale general drapery, clothing, furnishings, boots and shoes now proceeding.— [Advt.]

A euohro party will be held io-mght in tho South Dunedin Town Hall. Tho old-established clothing and mercery firm of R. H. Scott and Co. have decided io retire from business in Dunedin, ami will commence a “Giving-up Sate” on Friday. Further particulars in Friday’s ‘Star.’ —(Advt.l The Uniled Slarr-Bowkctt Building Society advertises £B,OOO for disposal, and invites membership in tho new No. 9 group, which is disposing of £I,OOO by ballot and sale on August 27.