LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16823, 13 April 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The business methods of the Railway Department were severely criticised by Mr. Robert Burns at the Chamber of Commerce meeting yesterday. He said that a month ago he complained to the Minister about the shortage of trucks delaying operations at one of the Waikato coal mines, ami ho received tho reply that the matter was being investigated. A fortnight later a further complaint was made, and he had now received a reply in tho same strain. If those wore the methods of the Department, he said, it was no wonder that trucks were delayed. Tho Department did not appear to realise the importance of keeping the mires worring at their foil capacity. Ho understood that there was no shortage in haulage power, and that there was no reason why there should be a scarcity of trucks. It had been ascertained that trucks were often delayed at stations south of the Auckland Province. It was known that coal trucks from the Wi.ikato sometimes took 10 days to reach Taranaki. and evidence was now being secured on tins point. An express goods train from Frank ton to Marton might possibly improve matters.

Defence headquarters has been advised that with the exception of 19-year-old volunteers, no voluntary enlistments aro to he accepted under any circumstances between noon today and 9 a.m. on April 23. Not even Class H reservists will be accepted during this period. The reason of this decision is to obviate the confusion which has frequently taken place through volunteers being drawn by ballot.

The Claims Board of the Auckland Patriotic Association met yesterday, the Mayor presiding. Correspondence was received from various societies in regard to matters being dealt with on behalf of the Auckland Hoard, and also in respect to cases receiving attention locally. In two instances it was decided to communicate with the Pensions* Hoard regarding apparently inadequate pensions, In other cases pensions were supplemented, and assistance was voted where necessary.

In a report published in yesterday's issue of the Herald, regarding the civil action in the Supremo Court, in which the plaintiffs wero Arthur L. Raven, auctioneer, and others, and the defendant Norman M. Kenrie, settler, of Rotorua, it was stated that as a ground of defence defendant alleged In the course of Ins address to the Court, counsel for the defendant, Mr. Ziman, said he wished "to make it clear that he did not allege that the plaintiffs had been guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation. He contended, however, that certain representations regarding tho boundaries of the sections in question had been incorrect owing to a mistake in tho survey upon which the plaintiffs relied.

The First Auckland Military Service Board yesterday reviewed the case of Alexander Forsyth, farmer, Onehunga, who was, at the hearing of his appeal in December last, ordered into camp with the April draft. The evidence at the original hearing disclosed a fine record of service by the reservist's family. The reservist's aged parents were living in Scotland, and their six sons, as well, as three sons-in-law, wero at the front. One of the latter had been killed, and a son h?d been discharged crippled for life. Appellant stated that he had been remitting a substantial sura to his parents yearly to support them and an invalid sister. The appeal was dismissed becauso the appellant said he was anxious to serve, and merely asked for time, because there was no information before the board in regard to his parents' circumstances. I In the meantime he received a letter from his parents stating that his father was unable to work, no money was coming in, food and rent had doubled in price, and that if appellant had not sent assistance they would have been faced with starvation or the workhouse. At tho rehearing yesterday the appellant said he felt impelled to ask for exemption The board intimated that with tho information contained in the letter before them, they had now decided to adjourn the appeal sino die, and complimented Forsyth on his family record. " j

The Auckland Labour Representation Committer has written to the Chamber of Commerce suggesting that a public debate bo held between representatives of the two bodies on the (subject, " That Imperial federation would be in tho best interests of self-governing Dominions." It states that tho subject of Imperial federation and all it implies mils', inevitably come into prominence in the near future, and that it would be in the public interest for the matter to bo debated in public. The Labour Committee, while explaining that its members would approach tho subject with open minds, offers to take tho negative side in the debate. When tho letter camo before tho council of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday one or two members were inclined to doubt whether the Labour Committee had " open minds" on the subject, but several supported the Hon. Ueorgo Fowlds in his contention that bs_ tho Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward were soon to go to England on Imperial business, public discussion upon Imperial federation was desirable. No ore present, however, was prepared to give sufficient study to tho subject, so that he might debate it. One member laughingly interjected that perhaps the debating powers of their members might not bo' equal to those of the Labour b< dy. Tho matter was finally left in the hands of tho Hon. George Fowlds and Mr. Macky tor consideration.

A soldier defendant who Is separated from his wife informed the magistrate at tri Police Court yesterday that the Defence Department would not pay tho separation allowance to a wife where a ration order was in force. He said he had made every effort to secure the allowance for his wife, but" without success. Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., said it seemed a curious position, and added that he vrould cause inquiries to bo made from the Defence Department. Subsequently the magistrate was informed that the separation allowance was paid in all cases where a separation order existed, except where tho order was made because of the wife's misconduct. As there was no suggestion of anything of the sort in th's particular instanco, tho magistrate sa'd ho would inquiro further into the mutter.

The Defence Department is at present nuking arrangements for the posting of those senior cadets who will be eligiblo for appointment to tho territorials on Juno 1 next. These boys comprise all those horn during 1900.

When the matter of cargo carrying by the steamers of the American-Australasian service was discussal by the Chamber of ('.immerco recently, tho suggestion was made that the freight space of these vessels could be taken greater advantage of if the waterside workers at Auckland would consent to work throughout tho night. The chamber thereupon wrote to the Waterside Workers' Union, mentioning this fact, suggesting that the union's regulations might be waived in regard to theso vessels, and offering to meet tip union's officials to discuss the subject. At yesterday's meeting .if the chamber a reply was received from the union stating that there was ii" rule forbidding any of its members to work after 10 p.m. The members were free agents, who could choose for themselves what hours they would work, therefore the union took no responsibility for the action of its individual members." The only comment made" by the president of the chamber was that if there was no . (Via! union rule forbidding work after 10 [i m. there certainly was an unwritten one to that effect.

It was stated by Mr. C. A. C. Wilkinson, in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, that it was recently reported that a number of deserters from military service were encamped in the Egrnont Park Reserve. He said that it was alleged that on February 28 the De foneo Office at Hawcra wag "notified that theso men were camped in tho reserve, but that no action was taken until after the headquarters authorities in Welling ton had been communicated with. People were ready, it was said, to guide the Defence officers to tho spot where tho men wore camped, but whon they got there the men nad fled. It was stated, however, that they were still m the dis trict. ,

The supplement issued with, to-day's Herald contains many interesting articles. Matanga writes on "The Woman Behind the Uun," and Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. Grace. N.Z.F.A., Res., deals with "Allied Strategy." Other articles are: " These Prophets," by Frank Morton; 'The Complete Speaker," by Norman K. Burton; "The Cry of the" North." bv Elsie K. .Morton, and " Nature Note's," &v J. Drummond, F.L.S., F.Z.S. Aucklanders on the march in France, and a school of whales ashore near Dargaville arc pictorially presented, and the usual ctirtoons appear.

To-morrow will be the sixth anniversary of the sinking of the White Star liner Titanic. The vessel was on her maiden vovage from England to America when she collided with an iceberg off the Newfoundland coast at 11.40 o'ciock on the night of April 14. 1912. Tin number of lives lost was 1635, the saved totalling 705. Among the drowned were several famous personages. The Titanic, a vessel of 45,000 tons, shared with the Olvmpic the distinction of being the largest ship afloat at that time.

A serious accident occurred in Wellington last Saturday afternoon, the victim being a returned soldier named Louis Lucas. As a Newtown-bound car reached the Midland Hotel corner, in Lambion I Quay, the motorman noticed Lucas, about j 30 yards ahead of the, car, picking up his: hat, which had been blown into the' gutter. Subsequently Lucas apparently; ran to catch the car' hut slipped as he attempted to get on board. The motor j man, who had not observed the man com-' ing, heard a scream, and immediately an- i phed the emergency brake, pulling the tram up with a jerk. It was then found that the pony wheel of the rear bogev hid passed over Lucas's right leg. He could not he released until the car had been jacked up. The necessary gear had to be sent, for, and armed in a few minutes, but it was about a-quarter of an ' hour before the unfortunate man was J extricated from beneath (lie car. At the' hospital it was found necessary to ampu-' tate the injured limb. " I

A united celebration of Anzac Day,' April 25, under the Auckland Ministers'! Association, will be held in Pitt Street. Methodist Church. The president of the: association, the Rev. Frederick Warner, will conduct the service. Addresses will, bo by Chaplain H. Steele Craik and the Rev. H. E. Rellhouse. Other minis-j sters will take part. A united choir will assist in the service of praise. (Special' hymns will be used. Meetings for inter I cession will bo held from 10 a.m. till! noon, in the School Hall. The otfertorvj will be on behalf of the Red Cress Society.

In respect to the relief afforded by Auckland to sufferers by the Waimarino fire, a letter has been received by the Mayor from the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister for Lands, asking him to convey to all the subscribers the appreciation of tho Government, 0 n behalf of those concerned, for their fine response to the appeal for assistance. The Mayor also received a telegram yesterday from the chairman of the Relief Committee at Raetahi, stating that by way of supplementing the Efficiency Board's report as to the damage, the Government would, in a few days, issue a full statement as to the position.

The scarcity of railt was referred to by the Minister for Public Works in replying to the deputation that waited upon him yesterday, in regard to the North Auckland Railway He said that prior to the war he had placed an order for 10,000 or 50,000 tons of rails, but he had been unable to obtain delivery of more than about 500 tons. In respect of this order he latterly, however, had succeeded in arranging for a consignment of 3000 tons of rails from Australia.

The City Assessment Court, of which Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., is chairman, has dealt with a large number of appeals against valuations during its sittings this week. The majority of reductions granted were due to the decrease in rental .values. j The following are the principal reductions :—J. M. Stokes, offices, Queen Street. £2000 to £1950; A. B. Donald, Ltd., brick mart, Customs Street West, £1016 to £85C; N. A. Nathan and L. Nathan, building, Karangahapo Road, £1000 to £950; Dilmorth Trust, section, Dilworth Avenue, £920 to £900; fl. M. Rmeeton, shop, Smeeton's Buildings, £706 to £556.

A significant note was sounded bysCaptain Walker, military representative, at a sitting of the First Wellington MilitaryService Board in Wellington yesterday, when the appeals of three theological students were under consideration. He said that in view of the- present condition the question of the exemption of clergymen might be reconsidered. There was no doubt a chance was pending, and it was not unlikely that clergymen would be conscripted for non-combatant work.

A large number of returned soldiers, who were apprentices when they enlisted, are j now completing their terms, though they | are over 21 years of ago. Mr. 0 J. Anderson (Mataura) has asked the Government if, seeing that these men have reached I the ago when the apprenticeship fee was | quite inadequate, it will subsidise them to I the extent of £1 weekly. Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) mentioned that the Australian I Government paid this class of man the ! difference between the wages -for appren--1 tice and an improver. The Prime Minisj ter replied that Cabinet had considered j the matter for wi>eks, but had deferred I decision, as Ministers wished to ascertain I what it would cost. Personally he gymI pathised with the proposal, which, he I added, would come before Cabinet soon after the end of the session.

The subject of roads was briefly discussed by the council of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, when Mr. M. McGalium reported what had been done in the direction of forming a good roads association. The Mayor's recent defence of the condition of the city and suburban streets was criticised by several members, who endorsed the opinion of the Automobile Association, that in many places, particularly along the Manukau Road, the face of the road alongside the tramlines was very far from satisfactory. One member remarked that it could iiot-be denied that the general state of the Remuera roads was now worse than before the suburb joined the city. Another member maintained that, notwithstanding opinion to the contrary, the general condition of roads throughout the city had been much improved in the last 10 years.

Fifteen men are required from the Auckland district for garrison duty in Samoa. The conditions are Uiat they must he single men between the aces of 20 and 46, and must have been previously attested] medically examined, and classed C2. Kligibilitv will, of course, he confined to those of this classification who arc if a. sufficient standard of fitness to stand the duty and the climate. The term of their engagement will Ik« for the period of the war and six months after, if required Applicants will be dealt with at the group area office.

A petition was presented in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. (.'. J. Parr, in which the signatories, over 200 in number, protest at "the needlessly wretched condition* of the Auckland north suburban railway." The complaints refer to the time occupied on journeys, the delays at stations, uolablv at, Mount Men and Mount Albert, the. inadequate accommodation, and the dirty and j||. lighted condition of many of the cars.

A sum of £150 has been remitted to the Blue Cross Fund by the Auckland Society ihr the Prevention of Cruelty to minis'. This makes the total amount sent by the society to date £750. The Blue Cross Society not only treats horses engaged in war work, but dogs also. Th<\ latter are in use as sentinels, despatch-carriers, as guards over the wounded, iramunition, and prisoners, as searchers for the wounded, as convoys drawing small ▼ehisles, sleighs, and mitrailleuses, and as rat-hunters. Canine infirmaries have been established by the Blue Cross Society, where- dogs mounded or suffering from an'v ailment are tended. There are kennels at the bases, and at the front, o»ch having attached a veterinary surgeon, attendants, and grooms. Thanks to the society's efforts, many of the dogs arc totally cured in a very short time.