TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3785, 6 July 1899, Page 5

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

CAPTAIN ALLMAN’S CERTIFICATE. During his speech on Friday night on the no-confidence —or rather, “marine scandal”—debate, Mr John Hutcheson, in the course of his remarks ccnc'cmin*, Captain Allman’s qualifications, stated that that officer went through an utterh farcical examination for an extra master’s certificate before the Marine Board of New South Wales. The “door had been opened for him and things made easy,” said Mr Hutcheson, the implication being of course that the examina ticn was a “fraudulent” one. He further stated that the person who was examiner on that occasion had since been dismissed the Now South Wales Govern inent service for reasons somewhat similar to those which led to Captain Allman’s retirement. Some time ago, how ever, the New Zealand Government entered into communication with the marine authorities of New south Wales on this very subject, and the official information concerning the examination of Captain Allman, which was in the possession of Mr Soddon at the time Mi Hutcheson made his statements, throw;, a somewhat different, light on ..he matter. It is to the effect that: ‘ George Allman was examined for an extra-master’s certificate in December, 1895. His examination, which lasted twenty-eight hours, began on the 4th of Mint mi nth, and ended on the 7th. He was very quick and correct with his work.” In the face of this information the Government was surprised to hear Mr Hutcheson’s allegation thpt the examining officer had been disrated for improper practices. A cable message was therein e sent to the Right Hon G. H. Reid, Premier of New South Wales, stating what had been made public, and asking whether or not it was correct. A reply was received yesterday by Ministers, of which the following is a copy : —■“ Am informed by Marine Board that allegations are not correct. There are no grounds whatever for such outrageous statements. —Hugh Pollock, Secretary to the Attorney-General, in the absence of the Premier.”

WOMEN AS GARDENERS. In a report to the South Australian Minister of Agriculture on a recent visit to Victoria\Mr George Quinn, Inspector of Fruit, remarks:—“l had an opportunity, of attending a lecture given by the Curator of the Horticultural Gardens and School at Burnley. About fifty lady students, besides about a dozen young men, attended. This is, I believe, the only horticultural institution in Australasia where gardening is taught to females. The Secretary for Agriculture (Mr D. Martin) informed me that the lady students consisted of three sections, viz., ladies of independent. means possessing gardens of their own, who were anxious to gain a practical and theoretical insight into the. management of the same. Others were ladies whose health had failed in sedentary occupations, and who were desirous of learning some useful outdoor work. The third section is composed of wives and daughters of working men, who wished to learn how to turn their suburban plots to the best advantage both from an ornamental and economic point of view.”

JURY PANELS. - At the Supreme Court last night, at the conclusion of the Cathro case, his Honor Mr Justice Denniston said ho desired .to emphasise \y,hat he had remarked before as to the condition of the jury panel in this district. Out of thirty-six jurors drawn for service, no fewer than nine were not served. This extraordinarily large proportion indicated that there was something wrong. The jury panel was, he need hardly, remind those interested, the foundation - of the administration of criminal law. The duty of enrolling “ all persons of good tame and character between the ages of twenty-one and sixty years” was thrown upon the jury officer and constables. There was a large proportion of people enrolled who, under a proper and careful system, would not be on the lis*’, because it was impossible to serve them. Persons who were exempted from -civice should not be on the list, for every such person who was summoned nccessan’y excluded somebody else, the result being that at this sitting only a very small number of jurors could bo procured. The disadvantages in a small community of having a restricted jury panel was, of course, obvious. ' His Honor pointed out that his remarks had no reference to the jury in the case then just concluded, He was referring to general principles: STREET CROSSINGS. The Dunedin • municipal authorities have been engaged for some time past, says the “ Otago Daily Times,” in replacing the asphalt street crossings about the city with wood. For this purpose kauri blocks ate employed', measuring Sin by 6in by Sin. One of the largest of these new crossings—that from the Royal Exchange Insurance offices in High street to the corner of the Triangle, a distance of about eighty yards—will be complete in a few days. This piece of work will use up over 5000 blocks. The immense improvement on the old style of crossing is! apparent to everyone whose business takes them about the city, and the opinion is frequently expressed that it is a pity the whole of Princes street could not be similarly laid, down.,

I THE CLOTH TRADE. The manager of a very large clothing factory in Dunedin, On being interviewed, said : —“Wellington, vmnstchurch and ourselves have been bound by the Ibg which expired here about the end of May, and under which payments Continue to be made. That log is considerably in advance of the log that lias recently been fixed by the Conciliation Board at Auckland, and the Auckland log is deemed satisfactory to employers and employed there. The Tailorcsses’ Union, however, hot only wishes us to pay much in advance of the Auckland log, as wo have been doihg, but in advance of the present log. There is also the question of the hours of labour. The employees work in the Auckland factories forty-eight hours per week. That has been settled by the Conciliation Board and accepted. Here the employees work forty-five hours per week, and are asking that the hours should be forty-four. That difference in time alone would be equivalent to a preferential Customs tariff in favour of Auckland of 7.V per cent., and what business could be profitably carried on tinder such unequal conditions? Then there is an improved method of manufacture in Auckland, while wo are going on making-up on oldfashioned lines, and the union objects to our doing otherwise, and has strongly opposed any introduction or trial. of the new system.