NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10086, 27 September 1918, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Public Service Commissioner notifies that the Government offices throughout the Dominion are to be closed on Labour Day, Monday, October 28th.

The Second Wellington Military Sexvice Board—chairman. Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M. —will sit in Wellington on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday next to hear appeals.

The Wellington District Land Board sat all dav yesterday in committee dealing with applications for land. Tho board will proceed with its ordinary business to-day-

The milk supply committee met last evening and a meeting with the milk vendors is to follow when it is hoped that something definite in regard to tho supply will be arrived at.

Amended regulations under the Prisons Act with regard to the selection of warder instructors, and laying down general rules for the appointment and promotion of officers, were gazetted yesterday.

Yesterday Detective M. Carney arrested a waterside worker named Harry Pearce on a charge of stealing a bottle of wine, the property of the Wellington Harbour Board. He will appear before the Magistrate’s Court this morning.

Intimation has been given by _ the Acting-Inspeotor-Qeneral of Hospitals (Dr Frnngloy) to the Wellington Hospital Board to tho effect that tho Victoria Military Hospital would bo vaoated as soon os possible after peace was declared.

The 16th annual meeting of the Employers’ Federation is to he held ac Wellington on Wednesday, November 13th.

Buies for the examinations of ships’ captains and mates, to come into force on October Ist next, were gazetted yesterday.

Advice has been received by the Hospital Board that the Defence Department had decided not to proceed with the projected ward for the accommodation of returned soldiers which it "ss proposed to erect in the hospital grounds.

During the period ending August 31st, the dental branch of the Hospital treated 261 outpatients ana 22 inpatients, while the total attendances numbered 297. 'The cost of free work done amounted to £ll 17s, and the total £6O 12s 6d, while the cash takings were £43 7s 6d.

Some 98 acres of Crown lands and 290 acres of settlement land in the Wellington District were gazetted yesterday for soldier-settlement purposes; also 28 acres of Crown lands and 190 of settlement land in the Auckland Band District; and 3670 acres of Crown land in the Hawke’s Bay Land District.

On July 31st there were 436 patients in the wards and institutions connected with the Wellington Hospital. During August, 394 patients were admitted, 28 died, 378 were discharged, and at the end of the month there were 424 under treatment. The daily average number of patients for the month was 422, exclusive of those at the Belmont Convalescent Home.

Mr Justice Chapman vesterday heard argument on the Question of what alt, mony shall be allowed in the judicial separation case of Hugena Jessie Donnelly v. Marshall John Donnelly. Mr M. Myers and Mr G. G. Watson ap. geared for tho petitioner and Mr J. J, xvloGrath for the respondent. The sum of £4 10s weekly for tho maintenance of the petitioner and a daughter was applied for. After hearing evidence as to the respondent’s circumstances His Honour reserved judgment.

A deputation from the Wairoa Harbour Board, headed by Mr Alexander Sinclair {chairman), with Mr M. Myers as spokesman, had a conference yesterday afternoon with the Hons. Sir William Fraser (Minister for Public Works), W. D. S. MacDonald (Minister for Agriculture), T. M. Wilford (Minister for Marine), and, D. 11. Guthrie (Minister for Hands) as to the proposed railway from Wairoa to WaiItokupn and the question of the Wairoa harbour works. No decision was arrived at, but the Minister for Public Works informed the deputation that a note had been taken of their representations, and they would he laid before Cabinet in due course.

The Chief Justine (Sir Robert Soutj yesterday delivered judgment in the case of Bannatvne and Hunter, Ltd. v. John William Ball and Matthew Guthrie (trading as the Anglo-American Music Company). The plaintiffs claimed £322 10s 3d for the sale of “Little Wonder’* gramophone records. The de. fenoe_ had been raised that there had been 'a breach of warranty on account of royalties not being arranged for. His Honour held that there had been no breach of warranty and the plaintiffs were entitled to succeed for the amount claimed with costs according to scale. At the hearing Mr T. Young appeared for tho plaintiffs and Mr A. W. Blair for tho defendants.

Another reminder is given that some of the classes organised for the training of New Zealand soldiers in England in new occupations are in urgent need of typewriting machines, which are now extremely difficult to obtain at Home. It was at first believed that supplies could be obtained from well-wishers of soldiers by a system of loan, but this is not regarded as feasible, since once the machines are sent to England .the Defence Department would not be in a’position to give a guarantee of their return to the owners. Appeal is therefore made for straight-out gifts. Anybody who is able to spare a typewriter for this good purpose—as a help in practical repatriation—is invited by the Defence Department to act promptly.

The weakness of cigarette smokers is a subject on which volumes might be written. When the price of cigarettes first rose a hue and cry was raised at what was considered an atrocity. To be deprived of such a. luxury was beyond the patience of a Job. Determined was the decision of many to cast away for ever the expensive habit of smoking ; deep was the smile of satisfaction of the street scavenger, who reasoned that he would have less work to do since the pavements would be rid of matches, match-boxes, cigarette-boxes and butts. On the surface such an endeavour looks well, but experience in the casting aside of other habits teaches one that it is only little bv little that these habits can he rooted out. Had every smoker said within himself that ho would not give up smoking, but merely enjoy his cigarette to the very end all would have been well. But they did not. Half-measures such as this would not suit them. Consequently tho habit of smoking has not diminished one iota: and judging by. the number of half-smoked cigarettes In the street the same extravagance prevails.

A strong indictment of conditions existing among the boys and girls of the community, and of a great defect in the Dominion’s criminal law was voiced by several speakers at the St. Mary’s Home annual meeting (says the Auckland “Herald”). Tho subject was introduced in the annual report, in which Archdeacon Mac Murray stated that the number of applications from girls for admission, and the youth of those applying, were very alarming symptoms of the times. There had been cases where children of 13 had come to the home as expectant mothers. Speaking upon this point Miss Hancock, superintendent, said: “Again I wish to draw attention to that iniquitous clause in our criminal law, under which a man guilty of an offence against a girl under 16 escapes scot free unless prosecuted within six months after his offence. Often the crime is hidden until after that, the unfortunate child being deterred by shame from telling, even her parents what'has happened. Within the last 10 years no fewer than 30 girls under 16 years of ago have become mothers at the home, and in only one ease have wo been able to secure a- conviction against tho man 1” At present, the speaker continued, there were 86 girls in the home, nearly all between 15 and SO years of ago. and quite half of them below the average of ordinary intelligence and capability;**

The Manuka left the King’s wharf at 10 minutes to 1 o’clock this morning for the stream, and was to sail at daybreak for Sydney and Hobart.

The ThorndOH Bowling ' Club has' donated two additional Fowler beds, with mattresses and pillows, to the Wellington Hospital, making six beds in all. At yesterday’s meeting the board passed a hearty vote of thanks to the club for its generous gift.

The Wellington sittings of the First Wellington Military Service Board— Mr D. G. A. Oooper. S.Mv (chairman) — closed yesterday.- The board- leaves to-morrow for Wanganui, and expects to be absent for a month or so. The sittings at Wanganui and at the various country centres will be longer than usual, owing to the rehearing of the appeals of large numbers of C2 nun now classed as-Cl as-a -result of. the recent tour of the 03- Medical Be-exami-nation Board. • -

On Saturday the Denby motor wagon which conveys the milk supply from Lower Hutt on Sunday, on account of the restricted train service, broke down, and arrangements had to be made by the chairman of the board (Mr H. Baldwin) for. the service to be completed. During the week, while the wagon has been under repair, Messrs H. D. Bennett,--Ltd.,'have-provided a motor vehicle to carry out the work free of charge. Yesterday the board passed a motion of thanks to the firm for the consideration shown towards the patients in the hospital.

A test case to decide the time of closing for tobacconists’ and hairdressers’ shops on Wednesdays under the Shops and Offices Act came before the Chief Justice on appeal in tjie Supreme Court yesterday. The appellant was Robert Houldswbfth' (for whom' Mr P. Levi appeared) and the defendant was G. H. Lighifoqtj inspector of factories. The former w r as convicted, ‘ and fined, by Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., for having his shop open after 5 p.m. on a Wednesday, although he observed the statutory half-holiday on. .Saturdays., The question at-issue was how. section 18, suh-clauso b, of the Shops ■ andOffices Act is to he defined. After hearing argument. His Honour reserved judgment.

la dealing in a nre-sessional address at Carterton : with the future control of the Pacific/; J Mf Bqfhshy said he did not see how we could apply anything like the Monroe doctrine; but we might well see to it that under the League of Nations, or by direct agreement between r the British and ..the Americans, the U.S.A.-should become the policemen of the Pacific. The dreams and aspirations of Cecil Rhodes were being realised. The Germans were out of Africa., the Cape to Cairo railway would be a fact; and-there was a prospect not, only of the federation of the peoples 'of ' the British Empire, 1 ' but of all English-speaking peoples in the world. A; combination would be übilt up of aH trim* stood for civilisation and humhh \prqgress, 1 and we should be able tp,"ps/s oh to posterity a very noble heritage indeed.

The policy adopted of late by the tramway running staff, in respect to the minimum speed of cars in the main streets of the city is causing a lot of inconvenience. . . On, Wednesday evening a tramcar which, in ordinary circumstances would complete the journey from tho Bank' ‘of New ‘Zealand corner to the Lamhtdn, railway ..station in five minutes, took oVef'ten 'minutes'on the run. At two of the stopping places a conversation took place between motormen of cars, which' were going In opposite directions, regarding an alteration of shifts, with the result that the last train froth Lamb ton to Upper Jlutt was missedll Several intending passengers asked the motorman ' to" favour them by. catching the train,' hut the request fell on deaf ears. One of the victims was a soldier, .whose wife and child were fd'rped*‘’tb. I seburo . accommodation in the. city for tho night.

In a political speech -at Carterton, 1 Mr J. T. M. Hornsby. M.P., said-there were some people who declared that a general election should be held in any case, and there was much to be said in favour of that -declaration; but what would be the - resrrlt - ? ”It‘ would be “as you were,” for'tllii' 6overnrihnt“wbuld go to the country " as" a! National patty, and would be unquestionably returned to power. He would remind them of the solemn agreement entered into by the two great parties; that no general election should be held till at least six months- after- tthe declaration of peace. All--but three - -6jv four members stood pledged. Were they to treat the agreement as a “scrap of paper” ? Would it be iust to the thousands of men absent from New Zealand? .How could these vote so as-to..get an,.expression of their views - - through the men returned to 'the House? He believed there was-ah alternative, and that was that the members of the House should set about the task of in-, fluencing public. opinion on the great questions which must come up for. set. tlement, and , once public opinion was formed, not even the National Government could refuse to carry out the wishes of the people. The Go. vernment must either do so, or mutually agree to dissolve the partnership and go' to the country.

The twenty-sixth, annual general meeting of members of the Wellington Federal Club (Incorporated) was held at the club-rooms,' Willis street, on Thursday evening; A good number of members attended. The president (Mr W. A. Fordham), in' moving the adoption of the annual report and balancesheet, congratulated the club on its prosperous position. Sympathy was expressed with the relatives of SergeantMajor H. Levy, Private K. L. King, and Edffleman M. Kupli, who died on active service; also to the relatives of an old and respected member, Mr -®. 1 J. Ramsay, who had passed away during the current year, a motion of condolence was carried in silence in the usual manner. Mention was made that the membership roll totalled 200, of which number 35 were on active service. The report was adopted as read. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow:—President, Mr W. A. Fordham (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs T. R. Archibald, J. Doyle, W. P. S. Hayward; T. H. Morrison (all reelected) ; committee, Messrs 0. Bush, A. Guise, A. Hamilton, J. H. Heron, F. D. Kean, ■ James Meston, A. N. Robertson, H.‘ R. Seaflei and E. E, Woon; treasurer, Mr F. G. Wallhurton; secretary, Mr F. N. Dunlop; auditor, Mr W. H. Jones. Eulogistic references were made to the good work of the retiring treasurer (Mr H. C. Brown) and secretary (Mr A. Lawson), and regret was expressed that their valuable services could . not be commanded during the ensuing year. Votes of thanks to the retiring officers and the chairman closed the proceedings.

An informal meeting between representations of the New Zealand Shipowners’ Federation and the Federated Seamen’s Union was- held in Wellington yesterday to discuss the claims of the seamen" for' increases Tn wages.

The police have arrested a woman in Nelson in connection with the abandonment of an infant on the 11th inst. at Wellington. It will be remembered that the child was found in a go-cart in the grounds of the Catholic Convent at Kilbirnie.

There was gazetted yesterday an amendment to the regulations a 8 to the export of honey from the Dominion, appointing the New Zealand Express Company’s Store, Wellington, a grad-ing-store for honey, in place of ths store previously appointed. ,

Mrs Ingram, a widow, aged 44 years, engaged in washing clothes for‘Mrs Napier, 32, College street, yesterday afternoon, was severely burnt about the legs and body through her clothes catching fire. The victim was removed to the hospital.

It was after the appointed hour ,ot meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday afternoon when a quorum put ip an appearance. The chairman laughingly remarked that some members wore unusually late, and received the re-, ply: “Ohl don’t blame us, but tUe speed of the trams.”

An elderly man named Pope, who baft been engaged as steward on the coal steamer Ngahere for the past _ fortnight, dropped dead yesterday in an outhouili off Manners street. The body was removed to the morgue. The deceased was formerly employed for some time on the steamer Neatoro as stew.ard-

, A-. meeting of thp, organising conv mittee of the Competitions Society was held last evening, when it was reported that entries had already been received from Whangarei, Turakina, Wanganui, Culverden. Christchurch, , and as-far south as Invercargill, besides a large number from the Wellington district. The secretary reported that as entries close on Monday nest arrangements have been mado for entries to be received at Begg and Co.’s music warhouse and the Bristol Piano Co.

Commenting on recent demands for increases, in wages, a . correspondent signing himself /‘AnttiEed .Pod’, f declares that “some hew system is needed, as the raising of wages, to ono section of the community curses another. Anoahes could. be pointed out by the score.. ,It is evident that the wages adjustment is played, out, and we want some scheme whereby the purchasing power of tho services rendered could he made more equitable.”"

' In cases of sudden serious illness and -- accident,' the difficulty in securing a--doctor is becoming very acute. It has -• been stated repeatedly at inquests that,,-: numbers of doctors have been, applied,, to in an emergency case, but without success. ~Recently the, police oommani- t cated with.no fewer than ten medical men, not one of whom was able to ati . tend a case of life and death. Fortunately a doctor was obtained, and the man’s life was saved. The dearth of medical men at the present time is no doubt due to military requirements.

A double funeral took place in Wei- . "lington yesterday afternoon, when the remains of two old settlers, w.ere laid, tf),„ rest, .; ' eighty-two years,' 1 Hied' 1 a,' few -1 'days “ago at Waipawa, and her husband, aged eighty-six, passed away a couple of days later. The interment took place at Karori cemetery yesterday after- ■ noon. The Revs. J. R.' Glasson : and '■ A. B. Hunt officiated at the » grave-> ' sides. Mrs Harper, who was born in ■ the' Shetland Islands came out to the goldfields at Charleston, West Coast, considerably over half a century ago, and in later year s settled in Wellington. ’ ' 1 •"

In the great plan of reconstruction after the war there.must come' up for., instant judgment the solving of- : . the. labour problem and the substitution,of some other method for that of the ex-, isting wage system, said Mr Hornsby, M.P., at Carterton, recently. -That system had broken down hopelessly; yet Labour itself seemed to have no other thought than wage-raising as a cure for the ills of the men who eat their bread in the sweat of their face. There was a section of Labour, the members of which talked about ‘ seizing all the sources of production, distribution, and exchange, and they were about as likely to accomplish this-.as to build a railway to the moon. The men who talked so were the men who also talked and acted disloyally, who prated pacificism, and “gulfed” about the Brotherhood of the Internationale. What a spectacle had been presented to the world of that same Internationale! The German, Austrian, Russian and Bulgarian Internationalists had thrown the whole of their weight into the scale of the most abominable tyranny that had ever been sought to -be forced.upon the world. If proof were needed of this, let them read the pronouncement of Hie Belgian Brotherhood of the Internationale, and then for ever after hold their peace. It was refreshing to know, however, that the. great bulk of the Labour meu of this and other countries were sane and reasonable and honest. They were seeking a way out, and that way must be found. To play with the question was to play with fire. ... ...