LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 50, 28 February 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Mayor (Mr W. N. Snodgrass) has received the following letter from the Commonwealth and Dominion Line, Ltd., in reference to calling one of their new steamers- "Port Nelson." The London office applied'to the "Board of Trade some time ago to he allowed to name one of the new steamers "Port Nelson," but their application was refused, owing to there being another steamer in existence of that name. They will, however, keep the name Port Nelson before them and endeavour to persuade the Board of Trade to allow it to be used later on."

In reference to the Minister of Agxi- I culture's intention to establish a pa- I tional school of horticulture, the mem- I ber for Nelson {Mr T. A. H. Field)-! has written to the Minister stating tha* I the .people of this district /wish to g if Nelson has been considered ;»s * p ;fp | for the pronosed school, '-ind •de?.irp fl bn>rr its claims under the Minister's a notice. - ... _. ■ J._— IS

In order to save putting Dunedin city to the heavy expense of holding the licensing election next month, the suggestion has been made that the temperance and moderate parties should compromise—two members to be selected by each, and that the fifth be selected by the Government.

'ine Secretary of the American Navy has revealed in his annual report some of the immense activities of his Department, which, it is common knowledge, has already yielded great assistance to the Allied fleets. The American Navy is now being expanded on a programme which -will cost £400,000,000. It employs 300.000 men, and has already put Americans ar e so eager to enlist that the navy has been able to pick arid r choose, limiting- its enlistments to 1000 men a week. In co-operation with the Aircraft Board, composed in equal parts of soldiers, sailors, and civilians, th e navy is developing its- air service on a very large scale. The American naval commanders, Admiral Mayo and Vice-Admiral Sims, have been given the full benefit of all the information acquired 'by th e British Admiralty, and th e allied' and American navies are now co-operating very closely. The Americans were always good sailors, and their help at sea will be invaluable to the common cause.

"The New Zealand Club in Russell Square," writes a Hamilton soldier who has just been on leave in London, "reflects credit on those who run it, and those who brought it into existence. Y.M.C.A.'s exist in all the big towns to cater for the eoldier man, and assist him on his way. Other institutions are plentiful enough to lead him to the devil if he feels inclined and has the funds." It is in order that our boys in London and elsewhere might be eaved from the dangers hinted at by the vriter of the above letter that the y.M.C.A. appeals for funds to maintain its service among the men in khaki. £IOO,OOO is asked for during the Red Triangle Day campaign, a sum sufficient to carry on the work in Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia, England, and France, for another year. Who can refuse to give his or her "bit" for the sake of the 'boys' 'who -are giving up everything for us'?

In its last issue the Katipo, t'he official organ of th 6 New Zealand' Post and 1 Telegraph Officers' Association, dealing with the subject of Tesigna- i tions, says : "Th e increasing number of | officers who are grasping the better op- j portunities ruling in ,privat e . employ I •was brought up by the deputation! which waited' upon- the secretary on the reat question. It had a most encouraging reception, the secretary taking up th e tale on behalf of the men who are tempted' to leav e in a most thorough and practical manner. "He took the deputation very fully into his confidence, and, while we are not permitted to giv e details or even a general indication of what the department has in mind in order to provide a counter-attraction to the tempting offer a now held out 'by the private employer, we can say that the deparment is facing the problem in a thoroughly .practical way. It is fully alive to the necessity of improving the rates of pay, and those who have loyally stood by it in its hour of need may yet reap the reward their loyalty deserves. While on this subject we again note that the number of officers receiving refunds of their superannuation contributions as the result of leaving the service, is again on th e increase. For the first time in, (h e history of the Superannuation Board over one hundred'' postal contributors were granted refunds, the actual total being 116. "Excluding men away with -the Expeditionary Forces and' telegraph boys, who do not contribute), there were 4900 postal contributors to the fund in March last. By the time March comes round again nearly 9 per cent of these men and women will have turned' their hands elsewhere for a living. Such a loss is very serious, and it is good to know matters are* in train to, effectually check it."

A regulation under the War Precautions Act, which has th e effect of prohibiting any agreement among traders to increase the price of commodities purchased by the Commonwealth for th e use of the troop&, was gazetted last Friday. Although officers were reticent about the matter, it is understood that th 6 regulation has been rendered necessary by suspicion that an arrangement was being made to exact higher- contract prices' from the Defence Department for certain supplies. The first commodity to which the regulation will apply is 'bread, but it s application may be extended to other commodities by notice in the Gazette: Although at first glance the regulation might- be construed to prevent any combination to fix a minimum price, or boycott a retailer, its scope is - limited by the definition of "supplies," which is as follows: —"Supplies include clothing, equipment, foodstuffs, or other commodity used by or required for the use of the forces and notified by th e Minister 'by notice in 'the Gazette as being supplies within the meaning of this regulation."

At the last meeting of th e Nelson branch, of the Second ■ Division League the matter of contributions from employers as affecting grants made by the Financial Assistance Board' was brought up. Mr W. W. Snodgrass, wbo kindly attended the meeting to explain matters in reference to the Financial Assistance Board', stated tftiat he would make representations to the Board on this matter. Mr Snodgrass to-day received ~ th e following reply from the secretary of the Board:—"I duly received your letter of the 15th inst., and, in accordance with your request, on behalf of the local branch of th e Second Division League, 2 submitted to the Board the. question of 'contribution from employers.' In reply, I am directed to inform you that the Board cannot giv e any definite assurance that it will not take into consideration contributions from employers. _Tli3 adl- - of ignoring contributions from employers, if for a limited period, will, however, be considered according to the individual merits of th e case, but where contributions such as half-pay are made for the whole period of the soldiers military service, the Board considers it must take such contributions into consideration."

Messrs Bisley Bros, and Co., will hold a sale of freehold properties ia the estate of <th e iate T. W. Cole, 88 Valley, on Saturday, March 2nd.

Messrs BiSTey Bros, and Co., will hold a clearing sale at Hope, on account of Messrs Berkett and Stagg., on Monday next.

A concert will be held in th e Tapawera Hall on Monday, March 4th, in aid of ith e Y.M.'C.A. War Work Fund, when a varied 1 programme will be given by the Nelson Concert Party, including items bv Miss Flo Gow, Miss Hariby, Messrs E. H. Short, George Bush, F. McCabe, arid N. R. Williams.

Nelson ladies are greatly pleased with the quality, of GOLDEN iRULE Soap and NO RUBBING Laundry Help—an excellent combination for washing all clothes clean. — Levin and Co., Ltd. Wholesale Agents for No Rubbing and Golden Rule Bififij.v