NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9095, 14 July 1915, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

“Looking back on the past summer, shortage of ships, and drought in some ports, have caused a good deal of loss to farmers, and we must all join heartily together and get merchants to help us in procuring, at any reasonable cost, extra ships to take away our wool and grain, as there is sure to be a surplus of grain this coming season, and every insulated ship will be wanted besides-” So said the president (Mr J. C- N. Grigg) at the annual conference of the Council of Agriculture yesterday. In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, the J. C. Williamteon Company, Ltd., theatrical proprietors, proceeded against Louisa Birch, fancy goods dealer, for £5 10s, being balance alleged - to be owing for rent of a certain shop in the Grand Opera House building. The case was not finished when the court adjourned, and further hearing was postponed until Saturday. Mr D- Jackson appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr DR- Hoggard for defendant. Mr L. GReid, S.M. (Masterton) was on the bench.

In making a presentation yesterday on behalf of the literary staff of the “Press’ (Christchurch) to a member who has enlisted, the editor (Mr W. H. Triggs) stated that ten employees of the company had enlisted, and bo was pleased to state that regarding members of the permanent staff the directors had given them six months’ leave of absence, and were making tip the difference between the amount received by them whilst on active service and the amount received when in the company’s employ, says a Press Association message.

For the purpose of establishing a federation of all the operative butchers’ unions in New Zealand and drawing up claims for a Dominion award, a conference is now being held in Wellington. It began yesterday morning, delegates being present from Auckland, Wanganui, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill districts. They represent all the unions in New Zealand. Marlborough and Taranaki being the_ only provinces without local organisation. The conference decided upon the formation of the federation, and is now engaged upon the constitution and rules. Mr A. H. Cooper (Wellington) is the president, and Mr R. Breen (Dunedin) the secretary of the conference.

, Tho exports of New Zealand increased in value by four millions sterling during the past year owing to the high price of produce in time of war.

This week’s boat for Sydney, the Ulimaroa, is due back at Wellington tomorrow morning from Lyttelton, and will sail in the afternoon for Sydney and Hobart.

Tho Wellington booksellers and shopkeepers have consented to sell the Carnival souvenir books without any profit or commission. There is a big demand for the publication, which has now reached an issue of 10,000.

“The men. who are laying down their lives at the front will come back to starve,” said Mr P. C, Webb in the House of Representatives last night when speaking on the Pensions Bill.

“No sacrifice has been made yet by tho producers of New Zealand in connection with the war,” said Mr Hine, member for Stratford, in tho House last night. “It is for _ tho Taxation Bill to show what sacrifices the producers will be required to make.” At a meeting of tho United Storemen’s .Union last night the following motion was passed:—“That the secretary (Mr R. A. Simpson) bo instructed to appear before the Arbitration Court to object to the carrying firms of this city being made pax-ties to the cabinetmakers’ award.”

At last night’s meeting of the Karori Borough. Council it was resolved to write to the city tramway authorities requesting them to run the 7.22 p.mcar from Courtenay place through to the council chambers every evening, instead of on Saturdays only.

The Lower Hutt Borough Council has decided, on the motion of the Mayor (Mr H. Baldwin), seconded by Councillor J. Brassol, to erase the name of Professor von Eedlitz from the electors’ roll of the borough, under the power given in the Municipal Corporations Act, 1008.

Mrs Matilda Whyte, of Roxburgh street and her six-weeks-old child hove been admitted to the hospital. , The infant received burns through its cot catching fire and the mother is suffering from shock. Lat© last night they were reported to be progressing satisfactorily.

At the quarterly meeting of the Railway Superannuation Fund Board retiring allowances aggregating £I4OB were granted to twenty officers. Allowances amounting to £375 were granted to ten widows and fifteen children, and refunds amounting to £2951 were granted to officers who have resigned.

Before the business of the Trotting Conference commenced yesterday morning, the following resolution was carried, on the motion of the president (Mr John Rowe), the delegates standing; “ That this conference places on record its respectful sympathy with the relatives of those who have fallen, witn honour and glory, at the front.” It was reported to the police last evening that a roan named Daniel Barry, 38 years of ago, employed at the Wellington Meat Export Company’s works, Ngahauranga, was found dead yesterday afternoon.. The sup,posed cause of death was gas poisoning, blit Dr Pattie, who examined the body, declined io issue a certificate, and an inquest will be necessary. Deceased was a single man and resided in Dixon street.

At Sofaja Bay, in Egyptian territory, and on the shores of the Rod Soa, there exists what is claimed to be the richest phosphate field in the world. The phosphates arc already naturally pulverised, and yesterday at the annual conference of the New Zealand Council of Agriculture it was stated that one of the returning troopships is bringing back 500 tons of the fertiliser as an experimental shipment to New Zealand.

Twenty-one years ago Lord Rosebery, the ‘‘Public Orator to the Empire,” said to Dr Parkin: “I sometimes think that nothing hut a great war will ever federate this Empire. “This war,” said Mr J. C. N, Grigg, president of the Council of Agriculture, at yesterday’s conference, ‘has proved boyond doubt tbat bsrd and fasv laws are not absolutely necessary to bind this splendid Eimpire togethar.”

At the New Century Hall last evening, a welcome, in the form of a social and dance, was tendered by the Wellington branch of the Social Democratic Party to the delegates attending the annual conference of the parly now being held in Wellington. There was a large attendance, and during the evening an addrees of welcome was given by Mr J. Read and Mrs Donaldson on beha’f of the local branch, to which Mr Hiram Hunter (.national president) suitably responded on behalf of the delegates present.

The Council of Agriculture, consisting of delegates from A- and P. societies all over the Dominion, passed the following resolution yesterday, the members standing as a mark of' respect:—‘‘That the Council of Agriculture place- on record its deep sense of admiration for the high courage anu gallantry shown by our men at the Dardanelles on landing under fra end' attacking and taking a strong position that would have severely tested the morale of regular troops, and expresses its deepest sympathy for the relations of those who have fallen.” The proceedings of the Educational Institute hurt evening were opened with the singing of the National Anthem, after which the following resolution was passed: “ That this conference of teachers, . representing the primary schools of the Dominion, place on record its deep gratification at the splendid response made by New Zealanders to the Empire’s call in the present great crisis, and its intense pnde in their glorious achievements at the Dardanelles. It further desires to tender its sincerest sympathy to the relatives of those who have so nobly laid down their lives on behalf of King and country.”'

At a meeting of the 'Wellington Presbytery last evening, the following resolution was passed: “That the Presbytery is deeply thankful to God for the patriotism manifested by the people of this Dominion, and for the desire to provide for our . wounded soldiers and those dependent on them. It is deeply grieved that gambling has been adopted as a means of raising funds for so worthy an object, in view of the very serious position in- which our Empire is now placed, the Presbytery calls upon all; and" especially upon the people of our Church, to humble themselves before Almighty God, and to rfajise that from Him cometh our help and our salvation.”