NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12076, 2 March 1925, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

“One merely needs to whisper into the ear of a councillor and it’s done,” said a witness in giving evidence before a commission, when urging that a portion of the .Waimairi County should be merged- into the borough of Riccarton.; “You’re an optifhist,” wae the rejoinder of the chairman (Mr Wyvern Wilson. S.M.I. , 0 John Parkinson, aged eight, sop, of a settler at To-rau-a-moa, Kawhia district, while visiting Te Awamutu at midday disappeared, and was soon afterwards traced:-, (down the railway line. Search pjjTties*were ont at night, and the boy "Was foupd asleep in the scrub near the railway at Kio Kio, twelve miles from Te Awamutu. at an early hour next day, unharmed. He was returned to his home. A man who is noted for his cour-: tesy saw another man in front of him drop a train . ticket whilst they were crossing Customs street, in Queen street, the other morning, St a very busy hour (says the Auckland “Star”). He immediately stooped to pick it up, just in front of a slowly moving motorcar; The car caught him in the act — also in the rear—and spreadeagled him in the dust of the road. However, the doer of good deeds was not hurt, and he arose triumphantly with the ticket, which he handed to the owner, amid a small but solicitous and'admiring circle. The owner took the ticket with a grave smile, but pointed out, that he - had not dropped it, but had purposely thrown it down, as'it had been punched to the very last ride!

j Two Christian Science practitioners i are facing trial in Winnipeg, Maniitoba,, jointly charged with manslaugb!ter in connection; with the death of a 'twelve-year-old girl - last: November. Action iis also being taken: against the i girl’s father for not having a properly qualified physician to attend- her. At the preliminary hearing a medical doctor testified that the parents of the girl had refused to submit her to his prescribed' treatment, and she had .lieep attended by Christian Science ■ practitioners until her disease reached a crisis when he was hurriedly summoned. It was then too late, as, the child was beyond any medical assistance. The case has aroused widespread interest, and is being watched by representatives of both the medical fraternity and the Christian Science Church.

An application to amend -the Do-minion.-bakers and pastrycooks’i award was set down for hearing by the Arbitration Court in , Christcuuroh last . Week. The case concerned the selection of a: day for the annual picnic. The award'provides that the date is to be agreed upon by a majority of employers and the union, but in Auckland, and* -Wellington there has been some difficulty in/arriving at a deoision. The amendment proposed-is to provide for the setting up of arbiters in cases where no agreement could -be arrived, at., After ' the matter was discussed in chambers it was decided to refer it to Auckland, where the secretary of the Master Bakers’ Association- is located.. The application to amend was made by the Bakers’ and Pastrycooks’ federated unions..... 1 Mir Frank Harris, commenting in the “Times” on the failure of the late British .Labour Government to put forward any real solution of- the unemployed problem, says:—“There is no answer, (to’ thie unemployed question), save,, curiously enough, that-given by Mr Lloyd Gedrge. I am not an admirer of his, but he (possesses a curiohs political instinot that almost atones for his manifold ignoranoes.. In one- of his recent election speeches he said that unemployment couldi only be solved by giving back the land of England to the people of, England. If the land’of England were nationalised on a system of rents and thus made available to the whole of the people in perpetuity there would., be immediate, employment not only for- the million unemployed, but for four or five millions. Eight million families live on the land :in France. The great revolution -did that and founded the prosperity of the country securely though in a foolish fashion. The land ,in Great Britain should be nationalised on a system of rents, excluding absolute property„ much as it was in feudal times. Of course, the present land owners would have to be compensated and treated more than fairly, ibut that could be done at a small part of the. cost of the Great,War- Nay, the quit .rents alone would be more than sufficient to meet the cost.”

The R.M.M.S. Aoramgi attracted largo admiring, crowds ■while in port. The comfort or the epacions staterooms, bathrooms, and dining salons are comparable with the delightful bungalow homes which are bnilt on £IOO deposit and-eost less than . paying rent. R. Leslie Jones, 101 . dWillis street, is the sole agent.- Mr Jones states that the difference lies in the price.—Advt.

Subscriptions for the J. W. Butler benefit fund are still coming to hand, and considering the splendid work accomplished by the late director of the Boys’ Institute, the recognition is well deserved. Latest contributors are: — “Every Little Helps,’’ £1; Mrs W. J. Raymond, 10s.

A correspondent to the Pahiatua “Herald” says: “One amazing indication of the value of the criticisms which are being hurled at the devoted heads of the Control Board is that the same body of individuals which are responsible for the present putrid press propaganda is identical with that which tried by every means in its power to stop the formation of a control board, and made all sorfs of extravagant statements in their efforts to put the wind up the dairy farmers.”

The following members of the Newcastle Steel Works Band arrived'by the Manuka from Melbourne yesterday: Mr V. Beacroft. Mr A. Baile, Mr C. Osborn* Mr V. Dawson, Mr A. Coughlan, Mr J. Hardy, Mr C. Morgan, Mr W. Morgan, Mr T. Gatley, Mr P. Baile. Mr C. Hodges. Mr V. Baile, Mr J. Carey, Mr E. Walker, Mr O. Dean, Mr C. Thompson, Mr E. Cohen, Mr D. Taylor, Mr A. Leeman, Mr H. Baile, Mr A. Mardon, Mr A. Gallagher, Mr W. Sheldon, Mr A. Stender, Mr W. Le Neuf, Mr C. Roberts, Mr J. Thomson, Mr W. Coughlan.

The Canterbury Master Bakers’ Association has decided to increase the prices of bread to the following rates from to-day: —Two-pound loaf: Cash over the ; counter, 61d; delivered, 7d. Four-pound loaf: Cash over the counter,, Is Id; delivered. Is 2d. A Christchurch baker stated that supplies of both mature wheat and mature flour were very ,short, and that the position, from the bakers’ point of- view consequently, was distinctly unsatisfactory. “In my long experience,” he said, ■•we never, have been in such an awkward position in respect to having good supplies. It is owing to the short harvest last year. We cannot get satisfactory results unless the .flour hah been allowed to stand until it has matured, and, as I have said, we are having the greatest difficulty in getting matured flour. At one place_ tp-day, flour was being delivered at six o’clock in the morning.”,

The faculty a telegraph operator has for picking up his own call out of a veritable babel of clicking is well known. An old* telegraphist may be sound asleep beside his . instrument, with the sounder working all the time, 'but the instant his own call comes he will waken in a trice. This idea was lately made use of in an ingenious effort to save the life of a telegraphist in British Columbia. He had lain in a trance for a week; and all efforts to rouse him had: failed. . At last a ;teTegraph ticker, was brought to the sickroom, and PN. the patient’s private call; was sounded. Suddenly the telegraphist opened his eyes and smiled a little. The-instrument then suggested that the patient should drink some milk, and again he responded, taking the first nourishment bo had had for six da vs. The . mail report , was that the doctors were cheered with high, hopes ofthe man’? recovery.