LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 24 November 1928, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In a photograph of members of tho United Parly published in last night’s “Rost” Mr Harry Atmin-c, M.R. for Nelson figures in the group. “The Rost” remarks: “Mr Atm ore has previously been included among the Independents.”

Amended regulations under the Mining Act, R)2ti, affecting examinations for certificates, are published in this week’s "Gazette.”

The co-operation of employers and trades unions in regard to placing men in employment is proving of much value in the engineering trade in Auckland (states the “New Zealand Herald”). A system of co-operation between the Amalgamated Society of Engineers and.the Ironmasters’ Federation lias resulted in a number of men on the hooks of the society being placed in positions recently. Mr R. F. Barter, secretary to the society, was able to send six members to various jobs yesterday morning, due to his efforts over the week-end.

It is not expected that the electric service on the Christchurch-Lyttelton line will he in operation until the middle uf January. It was previously hoped to have tile service worked by Christmas.

The matter of hospital fees concessions to friendly society members was discussed by tho Wanganui Hospital Board this week (states tho “Herald”). The chairman (Dr. Sherman) said that he was in favour of bringing the Wanganui Hospital in line with Wellington, Auckland and other New Zealand hospitals by charging friendly society members 50 per cent, of tho usual rates paid by the public. Dr. Skerman said that Dunedin Hospital made no concession To friendly society members, and that the Palmerston Hospital made a concession of only 33 1-3 per cent, of the public rate. It was resolved that the now charges, as suggested by the chairman, namely, 4s 6d and 2s 6d per day, be brought into force on Ist April, 1929. These rates apply to members of friendly societies only’’Labour’s position in the new Parliament will require a wise diplomacy,” states the “New Zealand Worker,” the official organ of the Labour Party. It adds editorially: “There can be no doubt as to what the Labour Party’s course will be. On a motion by Sir Joseph Ward of no-confidence in the Government Labour will vote the Government out. Up to (his point its problem will be easy. An intricate and perplexing situation will arise, however, when Sir Joseph takes possession of the Treasury benches. As it seems to us, Labour has everything to gain by allowing Sir Joseph an opportunity to implement his policy. Thousands of people entertain the sincere conviction that the United Party under his leadership can set New Zealand oil the path to prosperity. Very well, for their sakes Sir Joseph should be tested. If lie fails, it will not be the, Labour Party that will be disappointed.” After discussing the possibilities of a Reform-United fusion, the editorial concludes: “Labour need not be impetuous. It can afford in the Asquithian terminology to ‘wait and see.’ ”

In his address to the Auckland Methodist Synod the Rev. IV. J. Elliott referred to the development o*f the church within the Auckland district, as well as in other parts of the Dominion. No church could be called decadent that could erect a college at a cost of £40,000 in a period of six years, and during the same time raise at least £125,000 for home and foreign missions, says the report. The Methodist Church had also built many churches, parsonages, and Sunday schools during die same period, and paid to- its ministers and missionaries no less than £250,000 in stipends. It had given £500,000 in all to Christian service. Mr Elliott appealed for a simplification of the religious system that would make Lie law of service the main issue, and urn adherents, by the high character of the ministers and followers of Christ. lieligion should not be less holy than it is, but more humanised, and transmuted into a deeper sympathy with the social and spiritual needs of the time. At the Buller County Council meeting this week (reports the' “News”), Councillor Hawes moved that the Council convey its thanks to Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., for the good work done for the Council in the past and congratulating him on his re-election. The chairman said he would rule the motion out of order. He could appreciate the first' part, but the Council represented different shades of opinion. He felt sure if Mr Holland were asked whether he wanted this motion put, Mr Holland would say no. There was a secret ballot. .Mr Hawes said the motion was similar to that passed by Inangahua County Council. The chairman said no; that was thanking the member for work done before the elections. The Council had done this. The Clerk said Mr Holland had been thanked by letter on several occasions. Councillor Powell to Councillor Hawes: “I thought you were a believer in democracy. You want us to expose our hands.” Councillor Archer suggested that the first part of the motion might be put. Councillor Hawes smilingly: “I don’t want that; that was only to carry me along.” Councillor Archer: “If it was only bluff you have got all you deserve.” The matter then lapsed. The changeable season in Canterbury is likely to affect the weight of the small seeds crop this season (says the “Press”). Stockowners ,who generally are in a position to close' up a paddock or two l'or seed were forced during tho dry September and early October to turn their sheep on. Growth has jumped ahead this last month, but it is doubtful if it lias been far enough ahead to permit Lie reservation of paddocks to the usual extent. There is every prospect of the ryegrass crop being lighter on this account. Clovers are in very much the same position. A wet spring is necessary for a good white clover crop. This we did not get, and the later rains will not be helpful to much extent. Stocks of perennial ryegrass and white clover in merchants’ hands are smaller than usual, and good weight machine-dressed perennial is worth close on 6s a bushel, whilst white clover is worth up to 12d per lb for farmers’ dressed. A good deal of last season’s eowgrass crop was of indifferent quality, and met with a poor market. The rights and wrongs of a glass of beer were argued, per correspondence, |,v Mr A. J. Stallworthy, M.P., and a constituent whom he had never seen. Both enjoyed the controversy immensely, but little finality was reached. Mr Stallworthy was delighted to receive the following telegram the other day, signed bv the stout supporter of ale: “Sincere congratulations on your success. Have toasted you in an ’onest glass of beer.’

Keen interest is being shown in the special addresses given by Mr E. J. Sivver. 8.A., at the Church of Christ, Waitnea street, on the Second Coining of Christ. Last Sunday evening i.'e church was almost, filled. A large conerelation is expected this Sunday night, when the subject will he. “When is Christ Coining?” The Regimental Land will gave a concert in the Bontanical Gardens on Sunday evening.

Tlio big prize in a Tasmanian consultation on the Melbourne Cup will be divided between two men working at Mildura. Mr George Christie, a bus-driver, and a man named Alexander, who works on the irrigation pump at Billabong, shared a ticket in a special consultation on the cup. They drew the winning horse, Statesman, and will divide a £20,000 prize. Bible reading in State schools was briefly referred to at this week’s meet ing of the Auckland Education Board when tho School Committees at I’irongia and llowick applied for permission to introduce tlie “Nelson” system of Bible reading into their respective schools. A referendum had been taken ill each instance, the parents agreeing to the scheme in both eases. The chairman (Mr A. Burns), in reply to a question, said that the applications in all cases were granted after a referendum, Che permission being subject to the condition that there should be no compulsion. The Bible reading could be done either before or after school hours. He admitted that in some cases Bible reading was done during the first half-hour of the school day, but that was not a violation of school hours in reality because the Act provided for four hours’ teaching per day, while the schools were giving five liours. Parents who were against Bible reading could keep their children away during the half-hour occupied in reading the Bible.

Next week will see the opening of the freezing season in Marlborough, when the Picton works will he ready to accept the first of the 11)28 fat lambs for export (says the “Express.”) Killing operations will commence on Tuesday. The works are being opened thus early to suit the convenience of growers of early fat stock, who have been consulted in the nnltter, but it is not expected that the demand on space in the works will he very great until possibly the first week in December. From general reports it is apparent that stock is looking well and the prospects are for a successful freezing season. No opening prices for fat stock are available at the present time, but it is anticipated that all fat stock for freezing will make good returns to growers.

A farmer in a country district not far from Napier learned something the other day about theft (says the “Telegraph”). A certain well-known settler had picked some Delicious apples last season for storing away for' winter use, and, being called away, left the apples in the orchard and forgot all about them for several days, but when he hurried to get them lie found them gone. Thinking that some member of the family lmcl taken them, he questioned them at night and found no one knew anything about them and so decided that someone passing by had taken them. Recently when digging the garden over, a huge rat warren was discovered, and to the amazement of everyone, the thieves had been discovered. Every apple had been carried to the warren and the rats had a lively -winter food supply. The family had one compensation, for they killed every rat

During the past year the British and Foreign Bible Society lias published 15 new translations ot the Bible, stated the report submitted to the Auckland Auxiliary this week. Nine of the translations were for Africans, two for South Sea Islanders, and tho remainder for Europe. Parts of the Bible have now been translated into 608 languages by the society. Complete translations number 145, and there are in addition about the same number of New Testaments. Nearly 10,000,000 volumes have been distributed. Commenting on these figures, Archbishop Avevill said he was glad to see that a large number of translations had been prepared for Europe. “If we cannot keep the white man Christian it is no use our trying 'to make other races Christian,” he declared.

•‘The spelling of pupils in our schools is in a deplorable condition,” said the senior inspector (Mr N. R. McKenzie) at a meeting of the Taranaki Education Board this week. “For some reason or other it is very far short of what _it should be.” The inspector was speaking in regard to an application from the teachers’ Institute for permission to conduct a re-survev of the achievements of {he pupils in Taranaki. Mr McKgik zie said that if this were carried out it would show where the fault was. It was decided to ask the department to make a grant towards the cost of resurvey.

The liability of the Maui Pomare, the Government motor ship, for port and dock charges was again discussed by the Auckland Harbour Board this week. It was stated all liability for port charges was repudiated, while the Government was willing to pay dock charges on a cost basis only. The board had prepared a bill, which included £126 for port charges and £l3B for charges involved on two occasions when the vessel was in Calliope Dock. The Government intimated it was agreeable to pay £9B of the latter amount, being the cost basis computation. The hoard decided “to accept the amount, the Government was willing to admit, without prejudice.”

The substitution of three terms for four quarters for the purpose of keepingregisters at schools was a proposal from the department supported by the Taranaki Education Board this week. If the suggestion were carried out the work of preparing returns, re-grading schools, adjusting staffs and calculating average attendances would lie considerably reduced, it was pointed out. The changes in staffs would he less. Moreover, under the present system of terms and holidays the school year fell more naturally into three terms than four quarters. One of tho features associated with Ihe management of the Auckland A. and P. Association’s Summer Show, which opened yesterday, is the appointment for the first time of schoolboy stewards. U is expected lhat these buys will derive considerable benefit from their experiences, besides proving their usefulness to the association. “This year we are affording secondary schoolboys the opportunity of being trained as stewards,” said the secretary, Mr W. F. O'Donnell. “Boys from the Mount Albert Grammar School, the Technical College, and I’aerata Agricultural College, are taking advantage of this, and will be allotted 1-. i various sections. It is proposed that, as the boys qualify, they will be made associate judges and regular stewards.”

The steamship Tawera, which lias been carrying the tourist and general traffic on Lake Te Anau, has been converted into an oil-burner (states the "Otago Daily Times”). She has been transferred to the Tour.isl Department bv Messrs Stevenson and Cook, and is now in commission again. The work was carried out on the lake, and was completed in contract time.

The All ,Saints' Missionary Service League will hold a sale of summer goods in (lie All Saints’ .schoolroom next Wednesday. commencing at 2.30 p.in. There will also be cake and produce stalls and afternoon tea.

The 77tli anniversary tea of the Riclimo’nd Baptist Church, which was postponed on account- of the Evangelistic Mission recently conducted by the church, will be held in the Sunday school ball on Tuesday next eoiutnencing at 5.45 p.m. It will be followed bv a public meeting in the church at 7.30 p.m. A bright programme of sacred, vocal and instrumental items is being provided, and brief addresses will lie given by Mr F. .T. Sivyer, 8.A., and Pastor J. C. Mackv. of Nelson. All interested are cordially invited to attend.