LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16620, 17 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Only one new appeal was considered by the First Auckland Military Service Board yesterday, that of John H. Selley, seaman, in the employ of the Northern Steamship Company. The appeal, based on the grounds of hardship and occupation, was not supported by the company, and was dismissed, exemption until September 20 being granted. The remainder of tb» day was spent by the board in formal consideration of sine die cases to be reviewed during the next visit of the board to the North, Auckland district.

Speaking on the subject. of meat export at the meeting of the Farmers Union Executive yesterday, Mr. A. A. Ross said matters were far from satisfactory, and he was of opinion that the proper solution of the problem was that the Government should take over the business. It was a common practice to talk of the American meat trust, but he believed that there were as many British as Americans interested in the meat trust. The nomination system, whereby persons at Home were appointed to receive meat from the Dominion, was said to be good for the farmers, inasmuch as the farmers got some slight advantage, while the men at the other end were amassing fortunes. It would pay the farmers to forego the advantage they might have, as the system was putting into the hands of the men at the other end such treineridmis power that it would enable them to crush all opposition.

Nine returned soldiers who have taken up laud at Awakino, ip the Kaihu Survey District, under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, some time ago drafted a petition to Parliament pointing out certain disabilities under which they laboured and asking for relief. The petition was forwarded by the Auckland Returned Soldiers Association, and the secretary, Mr. E. F. Andrews, ha* received a reply from the Right Hun. W. F. Massey, in his capacity as Minister for Lands. The Minister states that the Auckland Land Board has recommended that the request for two years' remission of rent be granted to each soldier, and that he has approved the recommendation. The petition asked further that permission should be given to sell the standing rirnu and Uahikulea timber on the sections at a minimum price of 6d per 100 superficial feet. The proscribed minimum was 9d per 100 superficial feet, a price which the settlers maintained they could not obtain. Mr. Mapwy stnten that on this matter the Land Board has decided to adjust the royalty aftei taking the circumstances of each case into consideration. If it be shown that, owing to distance from a mill, or the -rough of the country, the timber on any section is not worth 9d per 100 feet the question oi its disposal at a lower rate will be favourably considered.

The Auckland University College Council has decided to erect, in brick, a twostorey wing on the Alfred Street frontage of the Choral Hall, and a shorter wing ot« the Symonds Street frontage. The additions, which will be divided into several class rooms, will be on land already in the possession of the oollege council. The Metropolitan Ground will not lie encroached upon in any way. Tenders have been called for the work, and close atnoon on Monday.

The manner in which the shipping question had been handled by the Home authorities and the Dominion Government drew criticism from various speakers at the meeting of the executive of the Farmers Union yesterday. Mi. A. A. Ross said the people handling the shipping at boll, ends were people solely indented in shipping, but the interest), of the meat business at Home were sufficiently strong to exert a powerful influence in favour ox the meat trade. The influence thus used undoubtedly diverted ships from New Zealand which should have been carrying away our produce. This may not have accounted altogether foi the serious shortage of ships for the Dominion, as he was -aware there had been a serious grain shortage in Britain, when all the available boats had been requisitioned to carry wheat from Canada, but it had operated to a greater extent than many people were aware.

The conciliation council set up to hear the stonemasons' dispute resumed discussion in committee yesterday morning. A partial settlement of the matter of rates of wages was arrived at, one or two minor points being reserved for the Arbitration Court. A full settlement was arrived at regarding the matters of hours of work, overtime, holidays, under-rate workers, payment of wages, sanitary conditions, and country and suburban' work'. The application of the Auckland City Council for the exemption of its employees was rejected.

The savings boxes which for some time have been- issued by the Post Office Savings Bank, are no longer available, the supply being exhausted. The authorities are unable to state when further supplies will corn* to hand.

A circular intended for distribution among the various branches of the Farmers Union in the Auckland district, relating to Empire trading, dealt with at the executive meeting yesterday, contained a table showing the value of some British imports from within the Empire and from foreign countries, respectively, during 1915. Wheat and flour from British Dominions was valued at £2,742,210, the supply from foreign countries filing of a value of £5.568.643 : butter, £5,416.906 an aeainst £21.605,839 from foreign countries; cheese, £11.107.100. as against £3.702 366; cotton, £.17.481 642. as aerainst £47 189.981 ; wool, £38,162,615, as apainst £3.900.000. Seventyfour per cent, of the rubber imported came from within the Empire, as did 28 per cent, of the meat and 20 per cent, of the sugar.

Twenty-four volunteers for home service In Trentham camp have been asked for from Auckland. The positions to be filled are various, including cooks, kitchenmen, sanitary police, one typist, and one clerk. Applicants require to have been classed as unfit for active service. Volunteering generally has shown signs of slackening of late. In this connection the recruiting authorities point out that the recent announcement for decrease in the size of reinforcements does not involve a less insistent demand for men for active service, and the Department is still anxious to receive the enlistment of men from the restricted classes still free to volunteer.

• A statement was made in the House of Representatives recently that Mr. MaJ colm Ross had been acting as censor of soldiers' letters at the front. Sir James Allen has now received a cablegram from General Godley to the effect that Mr. Ross had acted as censor on one occasion, in order to avoid delay, when there was nobody els® available. He had never acted, nor wan there any idea of his acting, as censor otherwise.

The executive of the Farmers Union yesterday carried a resolution recognising with pleasure that suggestions contained in the resolutions of the executive, and of the Dominion conference, had been adopted by the Minister for Finance, and thoroughly approving of the principles adopted in the new taxation measures.

A collision between two electric trams occurred near Sumner, the marine suburb of Christchurch, on Monday morning. This portion of the line, which is a single track, skirts the base of high cliffs, and the two cars ran head on at a sharp bend. One of the trams was carrying passengers, the other being a special with empty "trailers." The front of the passenger car was smashed in, but the motorman jumped clear, and none of the passengers received serious injuries.

The following telegram from "a prominent Auckland business man" was received by the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. J. P. Luke, oil Tuesday : —"Business men's committee, quite outside Prohibition Party, who are deeply concerned in the control the Trade seems to wield over the Government of the Dominion, consider that action is necessary if Government fail to bring in Bill for six o'clock closing. Is there any corresponding organisation' in your centre; if so, have they any proposals ?" Mr. Luke replied: "Members of Parliament can neutralise Trade's pressure if they act according to their convictions. If the Government doee not provide for six o'clock closing an amendment oan be moved inserting it. Government counting votes by expressions of members' speeches. Any deputation farcical at present."

The depredations of Maori dogs among sheep flocks were referred to at the Farmers Union Executive meeting yesterday. " The depredations are serious," said Mr E. McGregor, " and all attempts to cope with the evil are frustrated by the natives disclaiming ownership. The dogs are supposed to be registered with the Maori Council, but this is more honoured in the breach than in the observance." Captain Colbeck said an effective way of dealing with the evil was for the dog-tax collector to shoot any does for which owners could not be found. This had been done by the ranger of one county council he had been connected with, and the nuisance was quickly abated. Mr. Ross said they were endeavouring to obtain evidence regarding the nuisance to place before the Minister for Native Affairs, who had promised to take action thereon.

In referring to the fact that. Ministers of the Crown could not, find time to receive the representations of the Dominion executive of the Farmers Union, Captain F. Colbeck, at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland executive, said when farmers devoted weeks of their time to considering matters in the interests of the Dominion it was a saddening tiling that Ministers could not spare an hour to listen to the fanners' representative. Colonel Wynyaid and others agreed with the sentiments expressed, and a resolution was named urging the Dominion executive to take definite (.tops to huve the deliberations of the conference brought before the proper authorities.

The deaths in Hutt and Petone are so few that the Taita Cemetery Board is unable to pay its way. The only expense incurred was the wages of a caretaker, and the board's income has not. been. sufficient to pay the sexton's wages, consequently the local bodies have been called upon for a subsidy.

According to Mr. C. H. Ensor, of Canterbury who has returned to New Zealand after a visit to Queensland, there is a great demand for pigs in that Skite. Mice have done such an amount of damage to stored wheat tliat a great proportion of it has become almost valueless in the ordinary way. Holders in many instances are purchasing all the pigs they can procure and feeding the wheat to them.

Referring to 'be difficulties created by seamen deserting their vessels at Dominion ports Mi. C. H Poole (Auckland West.) stated In the House of R«presentatives that a ste&wei was hold up recently at Auckland with 5000 tons of beef on board through the desertion of some seamen. The trouble had been overcome by setting at liberty four seamon at Roto RO3. Island. These men promised to reform and to work coriKcientioiuily on board the vessel. They kept their promise to the letter. "As often as we can," said Mr. Poole, " we are going to draw on Roto Roa, and give these men an opportunity to make good."

"One of the many difficulties that loomed somewhat large in our industry at the beginning of the war" said Mr. W. H. P. Barber, in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Wellington Woollen Company, " was the scarrity of dye*. It is satisfying to feel that the British manufacturer is taking hold of the situation in a better way than was expected, and the shortage, whilst still acute, is not now 60 alarming. There is a reasonable propped that we shall never again have to depend on outsiders for a commodity which unfortunately, was allowed to pass out oi British control."

Though building prices have advanced enormously since the war began, residences continue to be erected in Wellington, but they are mostly houses of the "thousand pound" tvpe— expensive for the ordinary working man, a Wellington newspaper states. The high prices have, to a great extent, restricted the operations of the Workers' Dwellings Department, since contracts cannot be let within the financial limit set by the regulations. Even if workers were willing to saddle themselves with war prices in order to obtain the dwellings, it ia considered that it would b? bad policy on the part of the Denartment to build, since the result would not be to cheapen housing costs, but to perpetuate the present scale of expense. When years of peace bring about a re duction of building charges, it might even happen that the Government tenants would find it an advantage to surrender their small interest in expensive war-built dwellings, and take houses erected in more normal times.