LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1735, 10 February 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There are many hundreds of Palmerston North people who are not on the Municipal Roll. They therefore will not be able to exercise the privilege of citizenship at the election for Mayor and Borough Councillors in April—unless they take the trouble to stop round to the Town Clerk’s Office and remedy the defect. The supplementary roll will be definitely closed on March 30thv Present weather indications are for strong north-east winds and dull, misty and colder weather generally, with rain in many parts. The barometer has a rising tendency. Extreme!v heavy rain fell in the Marion district on Tuesday night as the result of which the town watersupply which was becoming very low, was satisfactorily replenished. Pastures in the district were also greatly benefited.

Wilfred Kenneth Teague, a child two months old, the soil of Mr William J. Teague, of Kauwhata, was found dead in his cot early yesterday morning. The child appeared to be in good health when placed in the cot the previous evening. An inquest will be held at Kauwhata this morning. The inquest touching the circumstances of the death of Maurice Hickey, who died as the result of injuries received in an accident on Saturday afternoon, was opened before the Coroner (Mr J. L. Stout, S.M.) yesterday. Formal evidence of the identification of the body was given, and the hearing was then adjourned until a date to be fixed.

At Tuesday’s Raumai Sale the top price for two-tooth store wethers was 17/G, and for fair store lambs 5/6; one line realised 3/6 and one 1/per head, which constitutes a record. These prices are not justified by the foreign or indeed, the local meat market. Induced by dry weather many enquiries are coming from Hawke’s Bay for the disposal of their surplus stock.

The sum of £7 was raised by a dance at Longburn last night In aid of the picnic fund of the Freezing Works’ employees. The management complained that the support given the Longburnites was rather “chilly,” but this was explained by the fact that the social was not advertised in Longburn’s favourite paper. Palmerston North people rolled up in numbers and a jolly -evening was spent. A correspondent, "Unprejudiced,” discussing our comments on “The End of the Road” film says “such pictures have as much effect on the young as one gambler ruined at the races has on another. He says that the duty of teaching the children right from wrong devolves on the parents not only when warning pictures and plays come round, but all the time. He Is pessimistic in regard to the influence of the churches in this matter.

In some respects the people of New Plymouth are very enterprising, says the "Herald.” In the past everything in Taranaki which was a little behind the times was excused as one of the after-effects of the Maori war, but this explanation is now becoming rather worn out, and we must And another, possibly the relaxing effects of the sea air, though our constant winds should do much to counteract the somnolent effect of salt-charged air.

The announcement of Mr Massey’s early departure for England was described by another Minister as a political bombshell. It certainly has made a complete upheaval in many Ministerial plans. Sir Francis Bell, for instance, will be obliged to make a hurried trip to England to return in time for his responsibility as ActingPrime Minister, while Sir Wm. Herries, who was expected to have a share in New Zealand’s representation on the,lmperial Conference, may now have no place, or, at all events, bo overshadowed by his senior partner. The Premier was planning a trip to Samoa, which is now doubtful. It may also be expected that the economy campaign in Government circles which the Premier was anxious to get under weigh in ample time to enable Parliament to readjust taxation will receive a considerable impetus, as finance is to be the main subject, of the early session.

At the Chamber of Commerce meeting at Wanganui on Monday evening Mr Harris referred to the matter of the development of trade between New Zealand and U.S.A. Ho pointed out that there was a possibility of the United States putting on embargo on the export of oil, and, If so this would be a serious matter toi New Zealand. There had also been a threat to put a restrictive tariff on our wool, and the effect of the latter intimation had already been noticed in our recent wool sale. The speaker considered that trade with America should be developed on the lines of reciprocity. He considered that a Resident Commissioner for New Zealand should be appointed in the United States in order to develop trade relationship and to point out to the Americans that New Zealand was not yet bankrupt as intimated in a recent cable. He pointed out the benefit that would accrue to New Zealand by developing new markets for our products as there would not be the same danger of a glut as if the whole of our trade was centred in London. Mr A. Burnett explained the operations of the McKinley tariff, but was of opinion that the Americans would not be so short sighted as to raise barriers that would interfere with their overseas trade. He thought that an intimation should be conveyed to U.S.A. that action inimical to New Zealand interests would be met with reprisals. It was decided to refer the matter to the executive of the Central Chamber with a recommendation that a Trade Commissioner be appointed.

Special Showroom Sale begins today. Drastic price reductions made by new buyer in reorganising stocks. Fashionable attire reduced to cost, In many cases half cost. Open all day to-day as usual. —The C. .M. Ross Co., Ltd.*

A Sydney cable says that the strike loaders express the opinion that it will lie another month before work is resumed on the ships.

The ages of three Masterton settlers who met together on Tuesday aggregated 230 years. They were all Scotchmen, and possessed remarkable vigour. They attributed their good health to “hard work and burgoo.”

In his speech at the opening of the Dominion Conference of New Zealand Industries, the Mayor of Auckland, (Mr J. H. Gunson.L said that he had every confidence in the future. While the Dominion depended chiefly on, primary products, it had other industries which were equally important. He realised there was industrial unrest, but he scouted the idea of anything like vevolution. He expressed the opinion that despite the falling tendency in the cost of living it would be a mistake 10 rod nee wages at the present time.

A Press Association telegram from Hawera states that the Returned Sold’ers’ Association passed a resolution protesting against the proposed disestablishment of the Sec.«"d Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles, and the Eleventh Taranaki Rifles Regiment on the grounds that the Second Regiment was the first volunteer regiment and the Eleventh is the only rifle regiment in the Dominion, and the first in New Zealand to volunteer for action in the late war. It was further suggested that no regiment that had been on active service should be disestablished.

“Not a Silly Ass" writes: “Jn ycur issue of the ‘Jth inat, “Swimmer” complains of the lack of a springboard at the town Baths. You state that the last two “spring-hoards" have been “deliberately broken" by “silly asses” If these boards tad been properly constructed they could not have been ‘•'deliberately broker” even by “silly asses.” The person who was responsible tor the clamping down of the boards by heavy iron straps at the point where the board bends, the place where it should be as free as possible to give, seems to me to be the “silly ass.” A peculiar thing happened to a horse thae had been left attached to a dray in Hawera the other day. Th < street had recently received a coat of tar which had not had time to dry properly. When the driver got into the dray ; and started the horse the animal appeared to make a tremendous effort to move, and when it did so it was found that It had left two shoes, which had been torn off nails and all, behind. Though only an eight of an inch deep, so firmly embedded in the tarred street were the shoes, that it was only by the use' of an axe that they could be removed.

Mr Shrimpton, Chief Telegraph Engineer, and Mr Gumming, District Engineer, Wellington, are paying us a visit in connection with the installation of the automatic telephone system. Mr Shrimpton has just returned from Europe where he has made exhaustive enquiries concerning the improvements in wireless work, telephones, and telegraph. We may hope to see the automatic • telephones in operation here within a few months, gome 1500 ordinary type Instruments will then be released for the use of country subscribers and those in other places, of whom about 6,000 have been waiting for long periods.

Forms have/recently been Issued to all departments of the Public Service on which Civil Servants are required to make a declaration that they will not, except in the course of their official duty, divulge any Information which comes to them. There has been some comment upon the circulation of this form. It is suggested that it has been brought to light because of the leakage of official secrets. It is officially stated that there is no special reason. A declaration of secrecy had been required from entrants to the service for very many years, but the practice in different Departments had varied, and . - this form was designed to produce uniformity. There were regulations respecting secrecy on official matters, and it was desirable that all officers should be acquainted with them. .

The subject of the training of uncertificated teachers, pupil teachers and probationers was discussed yesterday at the school inspectors’ conference. The Minister of Education (Hon. C. J, Parr) said he was considerably concerned about the uncertiflcated teacher, for nearly one-third of their teachers ivere uncertificated. He said he believed there was good .material amongst them, but the question was their adequate training. Many of them had received their training by correspondence or at summer schools. The subject of model schools Was interwoven with this question. He would rather that some of the out-of-the-way schools were closed down for -even three months to enable the teachers to receive instruction, even though parents might grumble at the temporary cessation of school. The itinerant teacher was another suggestion for dealing with isolated families, giving a promising young man a good salary to go round among the out-of-the-way places and giving intensive courses of instruction.

In commenting on the heavy list of cases at the Wellington criminal sessions, Mr Justice Chapman said the increase was unaccountable and must be put down to the war unrest. Dishonesty is increasing to an extraordinary extent, and petty thefts seem to be committed by the last people one would suspect. In a case in the Magistrate’s Court recently it was stated in evidence that workmen engaged in making alterations in a warehouse - had each helped themselves to articles from the stock as a matter of course. The foreman heard of it, and a man was sent round to collect the articles from the men’s kits. One man’s bag was overlooked, the theft later discovered, and theprosecution followed, A proprietress of a private hotel with a four-guinea tariff a while back had an eminently respectable citizen and his wife among her guests. They departed, the lady died shortly after, and the husband returned with apologies a parcel of sheets. Incidents like these in such diverse quarters do not point to a high state of morality in the community. The proprietors of one of the most popular tearooms in Wellington have had their names stamped prominently on the handles of nil their cutlery and silver, and have also reduced the quality, in the hope that these articles will prove less Irresistibly attractive to patrons. It is not suggested that this epidemic of dishonesty is by any means peculiar to Wellington.

Special Men's hard-wearing Tweed Trousers, all sizes, usually 37/6, special sale price 29/6. —The C. M. Ross <Co„ Ltd.*

Horse training Is now regarded as Woodville's moat stable industry. There are thirty more or less magnificent thoroughbreds on the local tracks. \

The Government has decided to dut down the size of the Repatriation Boards, but will accept the services of the members who have expressed their willingness to continue to serve in an honorary capacity. New threepenny bits, half pure silver, half alloy, have arrived In New Zealand. They are the forerunners of other “silver” coins up to half-a-crown. There will be no inducement to traffic in the new fifty-fifty coins, for thoi shillings are worth but 4d in silver, and a minute fraction would pay for the alloy in them. The threepenny bit as to its stiver would bo worth Id. “Punch” describes the new shilling as a “boblet,” representing Britannia as a lady shopping and “our Mr Chamberlain” as shopwalker. “What’s this?” asks the lady, counting her change and holding up a ‘boblet.” Mr Chamberlain: “That, madam, is the new shilling. It has more alloy than the old, but the same purchasing power.” Britannia: “Purchasing weakness, you mean!”

Mr J. L. Stout. S.M., was occupied at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning with hearing several applications for the fixing of the capital value of houses. J. R- McCall, of Rongotea (Mr Abraham), made application in connection with a house (21 Scandia Street) occupied by Ernest Hoare. This case -was adjourned to give His Worship lime to consider whether under the Housing Act, 1920, he should take into consideration the present-day or the 1914 valuation. A similar application from W. W. Wllsher to have fixed the capital value of houses No. 11, 13, 17, 21, 21a, 23, 23a and 24 Campbell Street. His Worship fixed the values according to the Government valuation of 1920, but Mr W. A. Baldwin, the Labour Department’s representative, who appeared for the tenants, opened up an argument on a legal point, and His Worship subsequently granted a rehearing to take place at a later date. H. A. Wunsch (Mr Tremaine) applied to have the rent fixed of a house in Scandia Street, occupied by Mr Jones (Mr Oram). In this cose His Worship raised the rent from 15/ to 21/6 per week.