LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16408, 9 December 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

BY MEHCTTIO. The wheel.-- of the State machine revolve too slowly for some people. There are still, it- appears, citizen* who doubt the determination ot the Government in the matter of enforcing tompul.sory service. All this re? lit from a misunderstanding, a gross undo estimate of the «-oik involved in prepai nig mliv tor the l.iallnt and the hearing ..f appeals. Perhaps the government «!,• it.-, i; i big a task _ •, he impel t"e." tii-i! .•[ tin- i-.'iis wouM mi. "rest, that this is the , as,', ft jt in any case the work ha.- been imdcitaken. and it must go i 'irons!). Over a thousand appeals have been lodged !i..ni the first 4:Jott diawn. and a* the -e.ond ballot i. . 10-e at hand it would appear that the members of ■the Military Service Boards are in for a busy Mine during the Christmas and 'New Year holiday sea .-mi.

Anot.'"n- ami more dangerous misunderstanding i- in the air. Some people appear to think they have the same tit 1 to set. themselves in opposition to the law a « t,, campaign against a 15,11 before Parliament. \\ hen tn,-- Military Service Bill was uncle;- <iis, u=sioi> ire speech was in. order. Coon citizens may not have thoughtmuch of men who fought against, it. and mar have thought less of their methods, hut they were within their rights. Nowthe anti-consi riptionist who sets himself to advise or organise resistance t>> the law -. putting himself in a position which would be serious in peace time, and which is much more serious in war time. For a State to tolerate such conduct would be an end to aJI government and the beginning of anarchy. It is a thing: that must be dealt with firmly.

The ramifications of war influences on economic matters are vprv widespread The latest articles to bo affected are dogcollars. At a meeting of the One Tree Hill Road Board the other night it was stated that, the price of dog-collars bad advanced by twopence each. The cause was explained in the familiar phrase "owing to the war."' The board cheerfully agreed to pay the increased price. Fortunately it did not decide to make any increase in tlja tar.. Were there to be a general increase in the dog ta.v. a new 'actor in the cost of living problem would be evolved. Farmers, drovers, and shepherds would have a new impost, and who knows but that in a slight decree it would not be reflected in a further advance in the already high price of the tender steak and succulent chop.

In spite of these additions to the cost of living, New Zealand is still living well, he Labour Department's latest report states that- in connection -with the Christmas trade the most luxurious and fastidious tastes" are being provided for, and -me does not need to be a prophet to conclude that those who are thus stocking for the Christmas season will not be disappointed by having bad stock-left on their hands. The New Zealand war bill -.if ■twelve and a.-half millions sounds big for- « little people when you roll it- properly ■round your tongue. Two ears', ago .the man who ventured to say .it could be done would Lave been voted .too foolish for w . let it is. done., and .we Jseem -to be none the poorer tor if. *

It is stated that the owners of a roof garden, about one hundred fee from the ground and situated in the centre of Queen Street, have applied for registration under the recent Orchard Regulation.- After this the registration of orchards ' should be considered complete■ a " d the Agricultural Department should be satisfied that the work ha* been thoroughly done. The owners of the roof garden here give the department an undertaking that every precaution will be taken against the numerous small enemies of- fruit trees, so that neighbouring orchards shall not suffer

The limitation of travelling facilities due iew 4 war has its advantages. We see -few Australians in New Zealand nowadays and few New Zeaiacders are seeing anything of Australia, But Australians and New Zealanders are still taking holidays and enjoying them. They stav nearer home than they did before the war, and as a result each is seeing and knowing more of his own country. New Zealand tourist resorts are mostly doing better than they did before the war. though overseas visitors are rare. For New Zealand and New Zealanders this is not- by any means a cause for regret, though some people rcay miss the ready cash which the visitor from overseas generally has to spend. There is more to see in New Zealand than ViOft of us realise, and if the war compels -is to add to our store of knowledge of our own country it will be doing us a good turn. 1- or a New Zealander holidaying in New Zealand instead of in Australia i-: like going to bed early and getting up early in the morning ; it makes iim healthier, wealthier, and wiser.

/ With the summer weather comes the 3ust. A week or so ago Aucklanders had difficulty in keeping dry. Now it seems as if there is to be no more rain, and the < hief concern of the pedestrian is to Ireep himself clean and keep the dust fcut of his eyes. In war time it is dangerfeus to suggest municipal expenditure, but --ew of the effect of dust on clothing 4onio inexpensive method of laying the du't might be urged as a method of warlinn- economy. The matter is worthy of -•emiiime consideration. It would at least sii.it the cost on to "the tax-payers, which might cause a masculine gr-jivl. but 011 the average diapers' b'ils, would be less farming.

Oi; • Tic subje< t of the "discreet woman to whom it, whs, at. one. time, proposed to commit the oversight of behaviour of young gills. Mr. 0. Lewis, aforetime a Canterbury member of Parliament, and now a Hawkc's Bay settler,' fits upon hiinseli the cap of identification 3' s the member who i- .--aid to have given Offence through hi.- comments upon the term in its relation to barmaids. But .■Be points out that the discussion in ques- .; tion took place in 1903. and that he did not go out of politics till 1908. and then j retired -voluntarily. "It is hardly v credible, .Mr. Lewis lemarks. ' that the . matrons of ( anterbtiry. or anywhere else, fe <:ou - ' nurse resentment right over the many incidents—voucher, and so on— ife intervened between then and the - t , sections 01 1905. The late Mr. T. E. "ylor was the only member who was & then returned. Mr. Lewis admit.-, j§j|f that some people did not understand his _.~J"J°ke, but says the consequences were no H| more serious than that. He adds that m iWas -t' late Mr. Seddon, in 1897, not l?S%! tile ' olonial Secretary" thirty years Hi *S<>- i. who introduced "the discreet wore- ® an " . to our notice in connection with !|p Young Persons Protection Bill. m mk