NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10087, 28 September 1918, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

The right Mg of the 4Jrd Reinforcement has reached another port ol call The officer commanding reports; "The general health of the troops is excellent. There are a few mild cases of inlluenza."

Customers of the Publio Trust Office are notified that all moneys payable to the office in connection with Wellington estates and other local matters, and all moneys payable by the office in the same connection, from October Ist, will bo received and paid at the local Deputy-Public Trustee's Office, Ballance street, Wellington.

In committee on Thursday the Wellington District Laud Board dealt with four applications for the purchase ot private land under section 3 of t>no Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Act, 1917. There were also M> applicants for financial assistance under section 2 of the same Act. Twentynine of those were for tho purchase ot dwellings or other than rural land.

Some of the negroes, when first employed on the construction work of the Panama Canal, had never seen a shovel or wneelbarrow previously. It was noticed that Martinique negroes, who were afterwards some of the best workmen engaged on the work, had a unique method of using a wheelbarrow. Two men would fill the barrow and would then place it on the head of a third man, who would carry instead of wheeling the load away.

The matter of establishing a teachers' hostel was reported upon by Miss C. E. Aitcheson at laet night s meeting of the Wellington branoh of the New Zealand Educational Institute. She stated that the sub-commitee set up in this respect had gone thoroughly into the question, and considered it a sound business investment. The proposal was to start with a hostel of from twenty to forty rooms. The chairman of the meeing (Mr A. McKenzie) said that at the present moment the institute had no power to proceed further with the scheme. The management committee of the institute, however, could obtain an option over some suitable building. Finally Miss Aitchespn's report was received, and the management committee instructed to go further into the matter.

The Dominion Federation of _ Shop Assistants is moving ahead. Yesterday the president, for the time being, of the federation (Mr A. W. Oroskery) stated that the proposal for a Dominion federation had been taken up enthusisatically in other centres. When the Prime Minister returns, efforts will be made to induce him to put into effect the'promise he has made to. grve effect to an amendment to the Shops and Offices Act. Recently many changes have taken place in some centres of the Dominion so that some town shops have closed at 5 p.m. on ordinary days and 12 noon on. Saturdays, and others at 5.30 o'clock and 12.3 U o'clock respectively. It was quite possible that the federation ■wo.uld urge the appointment of a Commission to bring down a comprehensive, report on closing hours, as had been done in New South Wales.. At any rate, every effort would be made to bring about a reduction in hours for a large body of shop assistants, who are now working, without any redress, the extreme number of 52 hours per week.

"The fact of America joining the Allies in the prosecution of the war has had a marked effect on the drug market," remarked an importer of chemicals to a "Times" reporter yesterday. "For some time New Zealand haß been practically depending upon the importation of drugs from America, and there appears to bo every possibility of the supply being cut off. The shortage of shipping from Great Britain is also a factor which will create an even greater shortage-than : 'hag; been in evidence. Already there is a depletion off stocks of potash salts, more esepcialIy bi-carbonates, which were in common use by the public. These are now unprocurable. \Pomangate of potash is held in limited quantities, and the price has advanced enormously compared with pre-war days. Pomangate of potash in peace-time could be purchased at 10s per-lb; the quotation today is Is 6dper ounce. The heavy freights only represent the advance in drug 8 to a minor degree compared with the f.o.b. quotations, and the dribbling supplies that arise at long intervals do not nearly meet the demand." •

Upwards"'"of thirty years ago the Government of the day offered a bonus to the first person who produced a certain number of gallons of oil from locally-grown linseed. The offer appealed to- a German named Bele Singer, who set to work to secure the bonuß. It is alleged that he knew nothing about growing linseed, but he had sufficient power to persuade others to do so. Several farmers grew linseed, but there was no market for it, and it is said Singer eventually bought it 'at his own price, producing oil, and obtaining the Government bonus. ." No more linseed was grown in New. Zealand, and its want is being felt to-day. A' gentleman interested in the growing of linseed said that' the land between Palmerston and Wellington was v peculiarly adapted for the growing of linseed, and all the requirements of the Dominion could be supplied if the' matter were taken in hand. Farmers, he said, if given expert instruction how to grow Unseed successfully, would find it a profitable investment, and one that would become an exceedingly .useful industry.

The annual meeting of the Island Bay Life-saving and Surf Club was held at St. Hilda's schoolroom on Tuesday, the 24th inst., fifty-two members being present. Mr H. Ballinger was chairman, and in moving the adoption oy the annual report congratulated the club on its prosperous position. The secretary gave a detailed account of the work of the past year, and made reference to the number of bronze and silver medallions gained by the members, eleven in all, four bronze and seven silver. Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the whole year was the opening day of the pier, when the members, ran a gala in aid of the Y.M.C.A. red triangular fund, no less a sum than £1205 8s 8d being handed to the Baid fund. All concerned worked with an energy quickened by an enlarged need, realising that an obligation rested upon us to do so. The office™ for the ensuing year are as follow: —Captain, Mr O. Bullivant; vicecaptain, Sir J. Bruce; lady superintendent, Miss M. Bryant; hon. secretary, Mr S. 0. Mayall; lion, treasurer, Mr H. Hind; hon. auditor, Mr E. Herron; committee, Mrs JNoal, Mrs Bruce, Mr F. Harloa, Mr Beeves, Mr Andrews.

While some" rooms at 91a; Cuba street, yesterday,'.William John Martin, who resides at 26, Murphy street, fell down the stairs, and severely injured his back. He was removed to the hospital for treatment. ■

When America took over the construction of the Panama Canal in 1904 ihe death rate from yellow "fever was 48, and from malaria 108 per month; 150.000 gallons of oil was used in the destruction of mosquitos. So said Lieutenant Gillmore when addressing officers of the Garrison Officers Club last evening.

"There is a certain amount of business being carried on in the colo.ur trade at the present time," said a leading merchant, when seen by a "Times 1 ' reporter yesterday, "but the shortage of glass, ainc,, and lead is being acutely felt. The work that is being done is mainly repair work, and there is very few new buildings in oourso of erection."

Mr M. J. Mack stated, in reply to questions last night," that he was in favour of an increased graduated land tax and heavier death duties. . His favourite tax, however, was a tax on the unimproved land values created by the people. He had stated the other night, and people had laughed—he did not know why—that if all the people in Brooklyn were to move,over, to Wadestown the land values of Brooklyn would go down and the land values of "Wadestown '"' would, go up. (Applause.) That showed that the land value was created by the community as a whole, and that being so, it should be taxed'for community purposes. (Applause.);."'

When the construction of the Panama Canal was first undertaken by the French, a large amount of capital was expended. One-third of the money was expended on the work, one-third was wasted, and one-third was stolen. As an instance" of the'waste. Lieutenant H. J- Gillmore informed'the .Garrison Officers' Club last night that, during the course of a lecture, thousands of snow shovels were shipped to Panama, where snow had never fallen. When America took the work over, a ton of rusted pen-points, which had never been used, was found.

Mr M. J. Reardon (said Mr Mack last night) had stated in the press that he had heen on a deputation of the Proportional Representation Society to the Mayor and others, and if he was not a member of the society what was he doing there? He was sorry that Mr Reardon had asked that question. He would rather not it,but Mr Reardon had put it to him categorically. Mr Reardon attended the first meeting of the Proportional Representation Society, and failed-to pay his subscription, half a crown, and that was why the speaker said he was hot a member. (Applause and laugu- *<*•> . „ ,

From January until June last the tailoring trade in Wellington has been short'some 50 hands. WhaVis the reason? The secretary; of^the, Wellington Tailors' Union (Mr worth) stated to a "Now Zealand Times" reporter yesterday that the reason for this shortage is that the pay for journeymen tailors is the poorest in any trade in New Zealand. The increase in the pay-for tailors since the beginning of the war was not included in the table burnished by the Government- @ few days ago. As a matter =of,fact,, the increase since.the beginning of the. war in tailors' pay. is, only 7* per cent. The pay of the journeyman tailor has. been only £2 15s during the past twenty years. The trade, naturally, has had j a difficulty in getting boy apprentices,: to take up the work because of the Door inducements the. trade offers. Many tailors have been called up, and many have left, the business to take up j more remunerative occupations.' :

Referring to vtho (l tramway dispute last night, Mr M. J:'Mack eaid that a man who was getting a wage of £3 a week before the war would need an increase of 19s 6d a week now to givo him the same purchasing power. They had not go*i a married man in the railway service who got less than £3 6s a week. If the State considered that £3 6s was a reasonable thing, and the A.S.R.S. did not -think it a reasonablo thing for a married man, then why, in the name of fortune, did not the State say that £3 6s a week was a reasonable thing for the traniwaymcn. (Applause.) But if the tramwaymen got tho la 4d an hour which they wore asking for, it would only bring them up to £3 4s a week, which was 2s a'week less than any married man got in the railway service. (Applause.)

Speaking at the Willis street School last night, Mr M. J. Mack (Independent Labour candidate) replied to the question, asked through the press, whether he was in favour of the circulation in New Zealand of litoraturo charging priests 'and nuns generally with immorality.' "I 'may say 'distinctly," said the candidate, '"that I am not in favour of the circulation of any kind of literature which reflects on the morality of anybody. (Applause.) There is a great deal of literature circulated, which, in my opinion, is not for the good of the community ; and, in my opinion, the time has arrived when the Government should' either bring' down an Order-in-Couhcir ! or introduce legislation which would prevent the newspapers of this country publishing particulars of all the divorce cases and all the assaults on children and that sort of thing. ' (Applause.) It is not for the good of the community." (Applause.) Referring to the question as to why the P.P;A. condemned the Hon. Arthur Myers for preventing the circulation of t literature charging priests and nuns generally with immorality, he said: "I do not know: I am not a prophet; lam not a member of the P.P.A., nor is anyone in my family. I am not an Orangeman, and I don't know 'why they are condemning Mr Myers." . •,.

St .Mary's bazaar was continued again last evening, -when a largo crowd attended and Rood business was done at the stalls. The sideshows wore well patronised, and surprise packets found ready sale. Tho Wellington Patriotic Band supplied an oxcellent programme of music, and a special feature of the evening's entertainment was the dancing by Miss Gladys Campbell's talented pupils, which was highly appreciated by all present. Mr Malirii delight od the audience with an exhibition at his legerdemain. . The result of the queen competition shows ihe Altar Society queen. Miss Eileen O'Brien, in tho lead, with the Hibernian queen, Miss Maureen Griffen. and tho Hoste queen, Miss Bridao Hac'kett, second and third. Tho bazar will..ha. .continued .on, Monday evening..... Admission -will •be 6d only. ..........

A motion of sympathy with Ml George McMorrari jn the loss r of : Mi "»'on at the front was passed at last night's meeting of the Wellington branch or the Kew Zealand Institute. ' ■''■■ ' ; '- ,;; ''''■- ; ■'"'

"One of the most interesting sights during the building ~of the,.Panama Canal," said Lieutenant Gillmore, during a lecture last night, was pay day. "Each month 24 tons of silver and 15 tons of gold was paid out."

A man named Jftobertson was picked up yesterday in Manners street in. an unconscious condition. When admitted to the hospital it was discovered that he .had received a cut on the head. The man regained consciousness ■ during the evening and is .progressing farily satisfactorily.

Lieutenant Gillmore, Army Pay Department, gave ah interesting address last evening to the members of the Garrison Officers' Club, on 'Through the Panama Canal on a Troopship." Colonel G. F, C. Campbell presided, and at the conclusion of his decture Lieutenant Gillmore was heartily thanked for his address.

'Dealing with the high rents prob. lera 'ast night, Mr M. J. Mack said that the root of the housing problem was the holding-up of the land oj people who neld it for the purposes of exploitation. He would put on an unimproved land value tax, which would make the land-holder let go 60 that houses could be built. If-the land was held up, they' could not have houses. If there were .few houses, rents,would be high. If there were plenty of houses rents would be low. He would force the monopolists to let go the land, and thus encourage the building of houses.

During his lecture at the Garrison Officers' Club last night,' Lieutenant Gillmore said it was generally known that the difficulty in constructing the Panama Canal was, lie high rate of sickness from malaria and yellow fever. A' conference' was held at Havana, when three doctors undertook to allow themselves to be bitten, by mosquitos in the interests of medical science. Two of fEe Boctors died and the. other was at death's door as a result, .of the experiment, but the know, ledge gained made.it possible for Europeans to live in fever-stricken district? and the tropics generally.

Strikes, "go-slow" policies, and like are in the air. H What would [';&?? strike of teachers be like? ':' Half-jbk- ; ingly and half-seriously, teachers'; dis- ;'. cussed such a possibility at the ordinary meeting of the Wellington branch of the New . Zealand i Educational Institute last_ night. Teachers complain bitterly of the poor pay they are receiving, and stated that if there is not an improvement the ranks of the profession must'' be gradually thinned. "-''As' the■' discus-*--sion proceededf''spe¥KerfeHbec)iine»mdf«t fervent in thetf'avd<vals^:tha« 3 fesßions should" be" better paid. Tha-."go-slow" policy was mentioned as a persuasive influence on the Government for better consideration. One lady; teacher actually said she.'would favour a strike. . Another teacher's opinions progressed so during the discussion that he spoke of a teachers' trade union. Finally, it was decided, to -secure the opinions of associate branches of the . institute, and , possibly some action will be taken to impress on the Government "that Siflitt tqWtoW'lfPfeW- business. ».

Lieutenant H. J.' Gilmore, of tha Amry Bay Department, stated in a lecture he gave at the'Garrison-Hall last night, on the Panama Canal, that there were'.fifty known-breeds of mosquitos.. The -majority of tEem were malaria germ carriers, and only two were known to be yellow fever .carriers.

Messrs Baldwin and Itavward, of 215, Lambton quay, Wellington, New Zealand, patent and - trade mark attorneys, report that"' recently Ahey acted v&i agents in filinK the .following. applfcatS tions for registration of ■■trade mark in\ New- Zealand: —Barnett and . Co., Christchurch, "Laxolium" ;' Marui and Co., Japan, device "Winged Bell"; American Piano Co.. New York, "Am. pico"; H. B. Tucker, Palmerston, "Tho Spot"; Wilson'B Cement Co., Auckland, "Star"; Stetson Shoe Co., Massachusetts, "rod diamond"; Vac uum Oil Co.. Melbourne, "Plume" and "Kalif" and "Almo": Armour and Co., Chicago, "Rennase"'!' British 'Col-' umbia Packers' Association, " labels;" Amalgamated Wireless. 'I/td., Sydney, "Expan'se": Miller Rubber Co., Ohio, tyre; Gnllaher, Limited. Ireland, tobacco lahels: T. A. Edison, Inc., New Jersey, signature.