CURRENT TOPICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6490, 9 April 1908, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

FOOTBALL AND SCHOOL DUTIES. Many people in Wellington will remember Mr Percy Bush,the Welsh halfback, who visited New Zealand with the last British football team. His football playing has come into conflict with his school duties. At a meeting of the Card-ill Schools Management Committee on February Xlth, it was reported that Mr Bush, who is.a teacher, was "constantly unable to attend school owing to illness and injuries received in football.” During the last eighteen months Mr Bush had been absent 58J. days, or eleven ■weeks and three days. Dr Robinson: "There is no need for it. There are other footballers in the school, and they don’t do it." Mr Stanfield suggested that Mr Bush should bo asked whether ho intended to continue to be a schoolmaster or to take up football professionally. It was decided to direct Mir Bush's attention to the complaint, and to inform him that his absences could not be allowed to continue.

A REASONABLE SUGGESTION. The suggested solution of the deadlock which has existed between the City Council and the Harbour Board with regard to the land which is to be reclaimed at the head of Evans Bay seems to bo quite a reasonable and fair way out of a difficulty. The Board Is making the land at its own expense, and the Scheme is recognised os likely to be beneficial to the city as well as to the Board. The city, acting probably within its rights, wishes to levy rates upon the new reclamation \ from the moment of the completion of the work, regardless Of whether the land is producing any rent to tho Board or not. This the Board naturally opposes, but it now offers to pay rates on each section of land as it is let. At the same time it is willing to make and maintain the streets in the reclamation, and not to ask tho city to take them over until , the sections are let. This seems altogether a reasonable suggestion, and one that the Connoil would do well to approve.

THE LIQUOR. QUESTION. In trying to steer an impartial course on the liquor question tlie "Lyttelton Times” finds itself bitterly assailed by both parties. This , fact provokes .our contemporary to make these remarks: We object to the assumption on one,side that every publican is a heartless scoundrel, and, on the other, that every prohibitionist is a base hypocrite. There are publicans and, publicans, just ns there are prohibitionists and prohibitionists, and'the mere personal element should not enter into the discussion of the question nt all. Unfortunately the opposition to State Control from the extrimista on both sides leaves us With little hope of getting rid of the proprietary interest during the next decade, and it should not be counted as a reproach tea publican tbat he is ready to defend what he believes to be a legitimate trade. In the same way the prohibitionist should bo loft to the enjoyment of his particular views on the liqnor question without being assailed with a string of disagreeable epithets. The licensing campaign this year is sure to be an, especially keen one, because the poll next December will determine which way the pendulum of public opinion is swinging, but we ’ should like to feel that it will be conducted without the personal bitterness which has marked Borne previous campaigns. In the past there have been faults all round, but there is no reason why they should be repeated, and we hope that at the conclusion of the struggle that is just beginning there will bo fewer of them to regret. A SILENT FAMILY. An excited correspondent bursting with a news item recently wired to-us the information that there existed a large family of children at Westland whose parents quarrelled soon after marriage, and although the very large family arrived in due course, the, father and mother maintained on absolute silence. As the family lived in tho back-blocks, so rah the story, the-children beard no language of any kind—although bow parents kept up a persistent quarrel without language for years and years cannot bo ascertained. The correspondent referred us to a gentleman in Wellington who he asserted knew all about tho large family that never spoke. This gentleman, when appealed to* mentioned that he had eighteen years ago undertaken a fishing trip to the Kedjacket river, and while there a Notown school-, master had told him of this extraordinary family. It appears that although the parents for a long time maintained a strong silence, remorse overbook them after a few years, and they desired their children to learn to speak, and so used to send them in batches (four or five at a time) to Notown, where they "bached” in a whare. These children spoke a gibberish of their own, which other children could not nnderstand. History sayeth not whetner the Notown schoolmaster over succeeded in teaching any of tho batches of tour or five tho New Zealand language. It is within the bounds: of probability that the "chil-

dron” of our correspondent’s wires are not as young as they were eighteen yearn ago at Notown, but ho has dug up the corpse of a sensation anyhow.

UNIONISTS AS MASTER BAKERS. Early this week the Hon. Geo, Fowlds, Minister of Public Health, was approached. by tbo master bakers at Dunedin with regard to matters affecting bread. It was pointed out that although a certain rate of wages had been fixed by the Arbitration Court for bakers’ employees, the very men who had conducted the oaso for the unionists wero now operating as master bakers to th« detriment of the other employers. They 'wore doing their own baking and delivering without the aid of any assistance, but were working from 12 to 14 hours per day, and wero thus able bo undersell those master bakers who wero complying with the award. Mr H. F. Allen, secretary of the local Master Bakers’ Association, says the position in Dunedin is different to that in Wellington or any other place so far as ha knows. “The position only goes to show the hollowness of the demands of tho unionists. It is only wnen a journeyman becomes a master that he seems able to look at things from the master’s standpoint. It seems to me that tho unionists have only got one idea. Tho utterance of one of the delegates of the Blackball miners the other day is illustrative of this. Ho said all unionists should stand shoulder to shoulder and supply funds in order that the light might be carried on; that this was the only moans of squeezing capital, and that by this moans it would bo possible to squeeze it right out. If these men are going to squeeze capital out, how* are they going to livof"

NEWS NOTES.

The Borough Council at Gisborne has decided to set up a Fire Foard. The Forbury Park Land Company offers to sell Forbury Park to the Dunedin City Corporation for .£11,001), taking li per cent, debentures.

There is nothing new to report in regard to the patent slip negotiations. Tho committees of the Board and the company are still negotiating. As tho result of their conduct at the first day’s meeting, me Mnnawatu Eacmg Club decided to refuse licenses to certain bookmakers for tho second day.

A deputation of residents I-om Kilbirnie and vicinity interested in the extension of the Kilbirnie-Constable street tramway will wait on tho City Council at 7.30 this evening.

The non. Dr Findlay will leave Wellington early next week on h short ivoit to the Auckland province. He will pro. bably be absent from tho city about a week.

The Hon. J. McGowan was yesterday waited upon by a deputation of one from the Ghathum Islands urging that alterations euould be effected in connection with the public buildings in the group. The Justice Department is to be approached by the Johnsonvillo Town Board with the object of Laving a local Court to deal with by-law and small oases, thus saving litigants unnecessary expense in having always to attend nt Wellington. ; Mr A. Hamilton, Director of tho Dominion Museum, expects to leave shortly to prosecute the work of securing native, birds for the sanctuary oh Little Barrier. This time he will go to tlio country bo. hind the Euahine mountains in search of huias.

There will bo a canteen establishment attached to each of the forces engaged in the military manoeuvre* in the Wellington. district, ' Colonel) Banchop, Officer Commanding the district, stipulates that they must be conducted strictly according to the defence regulations.

William Johnston, who has pleaded guilty to a charge of theft at Welling, ton, and John Smith, alia# Wilson, who entered a similar plea to a charge of indecent assault at Wanganni, will be brought before his Honor Mr Justice Cooper for sentence on Saturday morning at 10 o’clock.

About seven hundred and fifty factoryowners have so far renewed their registration for tho ensuing year, but nearly five hundred have failed to comply with the statutory conditions. The fine for non-compliance from April Ist’s X 5 per day during the continuation of tho offence.

The session of the Victoria College Do. bating Society will open on Saturday evening. As this will be the only opportunity for the debaters of the college to get into form for the University tournament a subject has been , chosen for tho debate with which all the members are thoroughly- conversant, viz., the Tihns. vaal War.

The Otago Centro of the New Zealand Athletic Union unanimously resolved: “That this centre, the strongest branch, comprising forty-three affiliated bodies, endorses the action of tho recent conference in imposing a disqualification upon the Southland Caledonian Society for allowing a disqualified competitor to taka part in tho New Year sports.

Mr J. H. Chapman, headmaster of the Arthur street school, Dunedin, recently met with a painful and serious accident. It appears that Mr Chapman was striking a wax match, when tho head flew dfl and landed in one of hie eyes. The in. jured eye had to he removed on Baturday. It is understood that the operation was successful.

"In the Blackball strike we have an instance of grave loss being inflicted on many entirely innocent persons simply because a few firebrands secured tin ascendancy over a large body of their fel-low-workers, end the trend of events indicates that tho Socialist agitator may at any time have much more to answer for than the Blackball strike,"—Christchurch "Truth." Tho annual meeting of the A.M.P. Society will bo held in Sydney on the Ist May. The retiring directors are the Hon. B. J. BlUcfc, M.L.C., the Eon. -F. E Winchoombe, M.L.C., and Mr James O. Fairfax. They are all standiim for re-cleotlon, and Mr Gerald Rose Campbell is also U candidate. The society has just distributed the voting papers for ' the election.

A report has been drawn up by the committee appointed by the Wellington master bakers to go into the best moans of instituting a system of cash payment in the city. Tho report will be presented at a meeting of members of the union this evening, and is practically certain to be adopted. The eneot of the system will be that no loaf will be left at any house by members of the union unless a coupon, or cash equivalent is'given in exchange.

An inquest was hold at the morgue yesterday afternoon by Dr McArthur, Coroner, into tho circumstances connected, with the death of Andrew Alexander Ferris, a painter, aged sixty, of 11, Horner street, who died on Monday morningwhile proceeding to hie work. The evidence showed that deceased had comElained of pains in the region of tho eart. Dr McGavin deposed that in. his opinion death'was due to heart di> cease. A verdict was returned in accordance with this evidence.

At the half-yearly meeting of tlio Build, Ing Trades Labourers’ Union the following—officers were elected for the ensuing year President. Mr P. Brown; vicepresident, Mr D. Conchio; secretary, Mr F. J. Lyons; treasurer, Mr A. P. Jones; trustees, Messrs M. Corbett and F. Baynor; auditors, Messrs D. Conchio raid F. Ashenden. The balance-sheet showed a substantial credit balance. The membership was reported to be on the increase. The sum of £5 -was voted to assist the Blackball miners, making a total contribution of £ls by the union.

The Mission Band will girt? a performgicr* nt the Basin Reserve to-night at \ o'clock.

Sunday next will be tho last Sunday his season upon which trains will 1.0 am to and from Otukt.

Tho twentieth meeting of shareholders n tho Wellington Opera House ComVmy, Ltd., will be held on Wednesday ifternoon next.

Telephone Exchange eubficribcrs will lo wo 11 to note that tho last day of grace (or tho payment of subscriptions for the Current period is the 11th inst.

At Levin yesterday a poll of rote" payors was taken on tho proposed. 100 loan for a water supply scheme. Iho kniix was authorised, being carried by 101 votes to 17.

Tho Valuor-Gonornl notifies that tho revised valuation roll for the Miravnar borough will bo open for public inspection at the offices of tho Council from tho Bth to tho 16th inst. An. election to fill thojdiroo extraordinary vacancies on tho ICarori Borough Council will bo hold on Wcsdnesday, the fcOlh inst. Nominations will close at toon on Thursday. tho 23rd inst. Dr McArthur delivered a very interesting lecture to tho members of the Wellington Accountant Students Society last evening on "Civil Procedure." Tho lecturer waa given a hearty vote of thanks. Ho agreed to alionv tho lecture to be printed in tho Transactions of Iho Bocioty.

Prefacing his lecture to tho members of tho Wellington Accountants Students" Society last evening, Dr McArthur, $.M. f advised his hearers to think twice hoforo having recourse to a Court action. lie instanced a case which, after fchreo days' hearing, ww referred to an arbitrator, who awarded the plaintiff six shillings. Three days' Court expenses, a guinea to the arbitrator, and tho resmJt—six shillings to the plaintiff!

"My whole impression is that Wellington municipally has very little to learn/' declares Mr J. R. Palmer, Town Clerk of Wellington, who returned to Wellington yesterday from Australia, "Our best streets compare well with Sydney's best so far as wood-paving is concerned. They have tried asphalt, but it is not a success. So far as cleanliness is concerned I think our city holds its own well. Out new destructor is second to none in Australasia. Wellington was the first place this side of the lino to instal a rubbish destructor, and other Australasian cities have gained from our experience. Sydney has a very good one, but is still awaiting the results from our now one, which is ahead of anything else of tho kind in Australasia/'