LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 June 1926, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The drawing of the “Big Three’ ’ Art Union has been postponed until June 10 (states an Auckland message). Four sacks of letters were received oil Saturday and it is impossible to deal with this last minute rush before the date named.

The premises, in High'Street, between Messrs Purser Bros, land R. Tait, owned bv Mr P. T. Donnelly, stationer, changed hands yesterday. The purchasers were Messrs George Syme. and Co., Ltd.. who acquired the site for the construction of show-moms: Building operations will, commence upon the expiration of the, present lease, —some twelve months hence. Albert Foster Smith, aged 21, described by. Detective Cummings as a 'professional thief, was charged at the Auckland Police Court yesterday with the theft of chemists' samples, also money taken from the coat of a fellowboarder on leaving a hotel, a-ndi a camera from the railway station. He was sentenced to six months, on each of two charges cumulativee, and one year’s reformative treatment.—Press Assn. Arthur Ju'ius Theodore Winter Branstead pleaded guilty of bigamy in the Police Court at Auckland yesterday, and was committed for sentence. He married Ivy Lowe in June, 1919, under the name cf Arthur Winter, and: they lived together until 1921. He_ was previously married in May, 1915, to Lucy Hays, who he alleged deserted him* •after the ceremony. He had been in prison, doing sentence for 12 months and had beenT* declared an habitual criminal. When he came out of prison lie was told that his first wife died during the epideuic of 1918, but did not trouble to inquire into the accuracy of the statement. —Press Assn.

Adivica was received in< Wellington yesterday abiat- it he agreement between the mine owners and the miners on the Weist Coast has been ratified by all iparta-eis concerned. The miners affected are those at the ' 'WestportSlt'oekitom mine, :at the Westport CbaJ Company’s mines at Demniston and Miillarton and the mines at Papai-oa., H'liaidlibeill and the Grey Valley. The agreement comes into operation immediately. ißepreisentiaitdre® of the mine owners and the .miners in the Waikato will meet in conference next week for the purpose, of discussing the dispute in. the .northern' mines. If; is pncibiaible that the- West Coast ,■agreement will form the basis of any ■settlement which may (be effected in the north.

In acknowledging the congratulations of a deputation at Wellington upon his accession to -Cabinet rank, Mr Wright, said: ‘‘‘l am not going to make any promises. I have been long’ enough in public life to know that, when, a man lias not supreme power, it is dangerous for him to make promises. Were I a benevolent autocrat. I would be able to say something de finite as to what I will do. It is- unwise for a Minister to make promises, because frequently it is impossible for him to carry them out. I have seen that, not only in polities, but also in local body affairs. Unless I know beforehand that I can definitely make a promise, I will not do so. I will reply straightforwardly to representations which may be made to me, and after that matters must be considered by the Cabinet. ”

The Hon. R. A. Wright, Minister of Education, was asked at Wellington yesterday by a deputation of musicians to take charge of the “Music Teachers’ Registration Bill,” and endeavour to have it passed, during the coming session. Mr Robert Parker, who was spokesman, said that the Professional Teachers’ .Society, which represented; over 1000 - music teachers throughout the Dominion, desired, to see the profession, given the status it deserved. As a preliminary to any scheme of improvement it was essential that, the qualified teacher should be recognised as trained and efficient, and that he should be distinguished in the public mind from the ehalatan. Mr Wright said lie, would not make any promise that, such a Bill would be passed. It was a matter upon whfi.cn the whole Cabinet, should act. and not merely a private member. lie would lay the; measure before his colleagues.