NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9999, 17 June 1918, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Speaking yesterday at the Salvation Army’s morning meeting, Stafi-Captain Burton, of Wellington, saidT “I was yesterday down in Wellington slums, and I thought the . host thing that could happen to these places would be fop a fire-stick to bo put in them. 1 have come to the conclusion .that Wellington wants a civic change, for sorno of the houses are not fit to put fowls

Recently the Wellington Grocers’ Assistants’ Union decided to take up steps to organise country workers outside the radius of thirty miles covered by the existing award. The secretary now i eports that the union has been successful in securing as members the majority of those employed in the trade. Altogether the campaign had been a very successful one. The work of preparing demands to cover the district referred to has been given due attention, and the proposals will be announced shortly.

An unusual claim was embodied in a personal appeal by Harry M, Blackie third engineer of the-Imlay Freezing U orks, who came before the First Wellington Military Service Board at Waganui. He appealed on the ground that he was a marine and refrigerating engineer, and a national asset. “You mean a Dominion asset,” suggested the boards and the appellant modified his claim to, that extent. The appellant said he did not object to going on active service, but feelings of patriotism. prompted him to remain at the works if they were to be kept going. An employers’ ap.peal was also entered on the ground of shortage of engineers. The chairman said it was time the freezing companies went into the question of the supply of refrigerating engineers, and adjourned the appeal to August. The “Wanganui Meat Freezing Company also appealed for one of then- engineers., and were given time to find a substitute.

The following advice has been received by the National Dairy Association from the Department of Imperial Government Supplies: —“Permits to export butter.—ln view of the present accumulation of butter being more than it is estimated will bo required for local consumption, this department is prepared to favourably consider applications for permission to export to Canada., Australia,' 'etc.'; on private account, and I should feel obliged if you would he good enough to notify the members of your association accordingly as promptly as possible. Butter at present held on behalf of the Imperial Government may be included in such applications to export, but in such cases it will be necessary for the factories concerned, if . the appliations are given effect to, to refund to the department any advance received on account of such butter, .plus interest at the rate of 6 per cent, from the date such advance was made to the date of repayment of same.’’ Hitherto butter for export had to go to the United Kingdom through thc°lmperial Supplies Department, at ffljFs '■ per cwt. f.o.b.

Another peculiar appeal as to whether a man was a reservist or not was before the First Auckland Service Board on Friday. Appellant'was born o£ parents he believed to ho English in Boston, America, and after four months, was taken to England, and had lived in the British Empire ever since. Having been horn in America, appellant felt that, according to the Aliens Act, he would have to register. He did so, and, being an alien, according to New Zealand law, he was not a reservist. Appellant said he was forced to register as an alien because ho was born outside the limits of the British Empire. The chairman said this seemed to be a case where a man could elect his nationality. Appellant said he know his parents were British, but he was unable to prove whether they were naturalised in America, Or not. Appellant also said ho had voted in New Zealand until he registered. He might have forfeited his rights to American citizenship by his long absence, but understood he was liable to bo called up if he returned to America. The board did not require- to consider the appeal, fully, as the reservist was under order to bo medically examined.

In Auckland, as in Wellington, there is at the present time an interesting controversy on the question -of municipal organ recitals. It has been suggested in the City Council* that the recitals of the city organist, Mr Maughan Barnett, should be of a more popular character (states the Auckland “Star”). 'The organist reported last night (Thursday) that tho recitals were gaining in ■ popular favour, and stated that during tho last three months the attendance had increased by over 1000, as compared with a similar period last year, that this year’s average attendance was very little beiow the Birmm o ,>am average, end is nearly j£oo more than that of the Ma*Chester (1014-15), both of which are recognised musical centres, with populations of at least three-quarters of a million. Ho considered that the adoption of a lower standard of programme was not only unnecessary but would ho a regrettable departure from the generally acknowledged purpose of municipal music—tho raising of public taste. Mr Barnett submitted an extract from “London Musical Times,’' stating that the recitals nt the Auckland Town Hall show catholic taste and that there are plenty of light items, vocal and instrumental.

Here is- a thrilling story (extracted from a private, letter received in Ha-y-ora of an incident in the fight put up by a British artillery company during the German attack on the' West front. After describing the suddenness of the attack and onslaught, the writer says: “The major was wounded, and was carried away by one of the men just before tho Huns swept down. But two of the guns were detached from the main position, and these Ellis (a personal friend and follow-officer of tho narartor) commanded. Ho went on firing into the midist of the oncoming Huns until bis range was 250 yards, and men had ..to crouch to avoid the splinters of their own shells. However, he held them up, and then a few infantry were rallied to the sound of the guns, and a great stand was made— E'lis walking up and down behind the. two guns, with the Huns sniping from about 400 yards, shoutinw to his gunners the ranges, telling them this was tho day of their lives, that np till today they had been useless blots on the earth, and now they were really doing a ioh of work. For hours this went till the last shell was fired and the Hun was so thoroughly frightened that he allowed Ellis to take away his sights and destroy his guns.”

The burglar is abroad at Peton© at the present time. Several houses have been visited when the occupants have been absent, and a considerable amount of property has been removed.

The Italian Administration notifies that from June 10th code addresses will not bo permitted in cable- messages. The address aud signature must ho indicated by the Christian and surname of the addressee and the sender respectively.

Arthur Bosnian, a Belgian, for whom the sendees of a doctor had to be procured, was fined £l, in default seven days’ imprisonment, for insobriety by Sir S. E. McCarthy, S.M., on Saturday morning. James Ward, who had previous convictions for drunkenness, was fined £3, and given the alternative of serving twenty-one days in gaol. The Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) has in* formed the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell) that a Bite in the Karori cemetery ha s been set apart for soldiers’ graves, and instructions have been issued for a portion of the ground to be immediately marked off and prepared for the. reception of bodies! It is expected that the ground will be ready for interments within a week from date.

About 2.15 o’clock on Saturday afternoon a man named George W. Spear was crossing Lambton quay, near the Central Hotel, in company with » friend, when ho stepped in front ol a passing tramcar. The motorman promptly pulled up the car and prevented what probably would have | been a serious accident. After being attended by Dr Gilmer, Spear was able to proceed to his home.

The Minister for Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell), after consultation with the chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board, has fixed Tuesday, June 25th, as the date for the conference between the Minister, the Hospital Board, and representatives of the various contributing local authorities which have objected to the ecer-inoreasing hospital levies. In the meantime the Minister is obtaining a mass of interesting information for coiu sideration by the conference.

The footfallers who played at Pctone on Saturday have cause to remember their visit. After leaving th* held they were surprised to find that thieves had gone through their clothes. Every shilling was removed from the clothing, as well as watches and jewellery, even the links in the shirtcuffs being stolen. The players wont out to Petone by motor-’bus, and were unable to nay their fares hack to the city again, but the municipal ’bus driver trusted to their honesty, and brought them in. ,

An interesting personage in the world of music is Fritz Kreissler, the famous Austrian violin virtuoso, as to whom conflicting reports were current a year or two ago, that he had met with serious injury to , his bow-hrnV while serving. in one of the campaigns on the Austro-Russian frontier. Madame _ Melba (says the Auckland “Herald”) brings the news that Kreissler is now in Amerirca, and that his bow-arm remains as efficient as ever, his war injury being a serious disablement of one of his logs. He is at present one of the most enthusiastic workers in the country in the interests of the Rod Cross mdvemhniyGraving given up all professional engagements to perform in the cause of moroy and charity.

At tho monthly meeting of the Auckland Bailway League, held on Thursday, Mr B. F. Hornblow spoke jit sotne length regarding the attitude of tho Public Works Department. in the matter of the Tvaihu railway extension. The speaker pointed out that the Prime Minister had stated emphatically that this Work was most urgent. As tho matter was of such great importance to the settlers of the north, it seemed extraordinary that so little consideration should be shown towards tho people of an electorate whose member was away on service. Tho speaker referred to Captain J. C. Coates. It, seemed impossible, ’in spite of prorilises made, to obtain the co-operation of the Government. He moved that a resolution be forwarded to the Minister for Public Works, urging that the work should he proceeded with, more especially as its stoppage at the present terminus means a great national loss of revenue through the closing down of several sawmills, which would be unable to avail themselves of many millions of feet of timber now. awaiting transit facilities.