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Otago Daily Times, Issue 16766, 7 August 1916, Page 4

A Press Association message from Wellington states that the British Trade Commissioner received a cablegram on Saturday announcing the absolute prohibition of export of cast-iron pipes, galvanised iron sheets, and iron plates (except tin plates), motor ploughs, and agricultural tractors from Great Britain. At the close of the sitting of the House of Representatives on Satuiday afternoon (says a Press Association message), the Primo Minister said that the only business still to be considered comprised the Sup-' plementary Estimates, which were not so important as in other years, and the Appropriation Bill. He thought that, by meeting on Monday morning, they could conclude business! in time to let the southern members get away that night The Colonial Sugar Company has advised local merchants that it ia now in a position to execute orders direct to grocers. Latterly merchants only were receiving parcels of sugar, and they had to make allotments, pro rata, to their particular customers. Tho latest advice from the iSugar Company would appear to indicate that its stocks are again sufficient to meet tho ordinary demand. Despite the calls being made on Italyconsequent on her war with Austria, she is still able, presumably, to maintain an export trade, and, in tact, to open up new markets. A shipment of Italian plaid vestas hab appeared on tho local market, and thoso are being sold wholesale at 6s 6d per gross. So far as can be gathered, this is the first timo a parcel of Italian-manufac-tured matches has arrived in Dunedm. Local merchants report that business in merchandise lines was slightly easier during last month. Merchants, however, look for trado easing off a littlo during this period ol tho year. Grocers, too, appear to bo finding business not so brisk as usual, as it seems that keen "cutting" tactics are being adopted by some of them. Perhaps it is not really so much a falling off of business with tho grocers that ha 3 induced this "cutting" campaign as mutual allegations in soiijo quarters regarding surreptitious under-quoting. Bo that as it may, it is stated that, for the next few months, tho public in Duncdin will bo able to purchase their groceries more cheaply than the housewives in any other city in the dominion. As a matter of fact, a number of lines which aro daily required for household purposes .lie now being sold by some grocers at under actual cost. In tho House of llepresentativcs on Saturday alturnoon (says a Press Association from Wellington) Mr Glover brought under the notice of the Minister of Defence three cases in wluch allowances had been stopped by the Defence Department as soon as men liad been lulled at tho front. In reply, Mr Allen said the practice was that, in the case of widows, the allowance was continued for six months after tho man was killed, or until the pension could bo hxed up. Then tho pension dated back to tho date of death. With regard to dependents tho case was ditleient, as the pay did btop on the death of tho soldier; but, if the dependents were in need, all they liad to do was to sign a declaration to that (Ifect and the allowance was continued until the pension could be arranged. Ho wished these facts to be as widely known as possible The Harbour Board has for some time been taking stops to minimise tho risk of fire in its sheds, but there are still somo peoplo who entirely disregard all notices and 'warnings, and, whenever possible, illicitly treat the board's by-laws with contempt. It has been decided that, after next Monday, any person detected smoking in any of tha sheds will be prosecuted. Another frequent infringement of the uoard'si by-law 9 is to bo stopped—bicycle riding on tho wharves. After Monday next offenders in thie respect will bo proceeded against.

On Saturday morning' the Japanese Trado Commissioners, accompanied by Messrs John Louden and W. J. Bardsley, wore motored down to Port Chalmers, as guesto of the Otago Harbour Board. Tho visitors displayed a. keen interest in tho docks and ship-repairing works. The Mayor of Port Chalmers, in conveying to tho commissioners tho good wishes, of tho community, said that Otago offered specially favourable conditions for trado with Japan, and that Japanese shipowners, in sending their ships to New Zealand, had tho satisfaction of knowing that tho most modern docking and ship-repairing facilities in Australasia wero availablo at tho port of Otago. The commissioners, who expressed themselves as pleased with their trip and their reception, left for tho north by tho second express.

With regard to the poll to bo taken on the Lee fatream water supply pioposal, tho Finance Committee of the City Council Bubmits that, in viow of tho unsettled conditions prevailing in business and financial circles, consequent upon tho great stiuggle in which the Empire is now engaged, it ifi of the opinion that it is inadvisable to pioceed with the taking of this poll at the present time.

The General Committee of the City Council reports having roceived a communication from the Minister of Internal Alldirs regarding the matter of fish supply, and a reply has been forwarded furnishing tho information asked for in the Minister's letter. Tho Minister has now written urging that the council take into consideration the question of tho distribution of lish withm the city. Tho committee is, howe\er, of the opinion that, untd such time as wider legislative power is conferred on tho council, it would be unwise to take any important steps in tho direction indicated.

From the annual report of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, it appeaxs that there was a decrease of 32 in the membership for tho year 'Two members were struck oil the register, and ono was suspended for a period of six months tor conduct considered by the council as discreditable to an accountant. Several members wero censured and warned in connection with the issue of unprofessional or touting circulars. The council expresses its determination to deal stringently with all cases biought under ite notice affecting professional misconduct. A classification of the members shows that there are 37 public accountants in the Otago district who are fellows, and 13 who are associates, and that, of registered accountants, there aro 82 fellows and 116 associates in tho district. Thero are 459 publio and registered accountants in the Auckland district, 356 in the Wellington district, 229 in the Canterbury district, and 248 in tho Otago district. The ward in the Dunedin Hospital which is occupied by wounded soldiers was brightened on Saturday alternoon by the entrance of a number ot Mrs Bligh's pupils, clad in fancy costume. The children had contributed the opening items of the afternoon concert at the Tulip Garden Feto, whence they were brought to the hospital in motor cars kindly lent by Mrs Jas. Gray, Mrs Ewmg, Mrs P. R. Sargood, Mr Prico, and Mr John Roberts. The piogramme was » most attiactivo one, consisting of action longs and dances, which were cleverly given. Books and lollies were distributed to the oocupants of tho beds by the little performers, and Mrs Bligh spoke a few words to tho men, wishing them all a speedy recovery. At the conclusion of the proceedings Mr John Roberts called for three cheers for Mrs Bligh and her pupils, which wero heartily given. In the City Police Court on Saturday morning a first offender for drunkenness was lined ss, m default 24 hours' imprisonment. George Thos. Hairis, who was charged with drunkenness, and also with using obscene language, pleaded "Guilty" to both. Subinspector Broberg said the njan was refused liquor at tho bar of an hotel and used tfio language complained of. On the first charge a fane of 5s was imposed, with the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment. A fine of £2 was imposed in respect of the second charge, with witnesses' expenses (3s), tho alternative being li.ved at 14 days' imprisonment. Thos. Barrett was also charged with drunkenness and, the use of obscene langauge. It was explained that he had entered a shop in Maclaggan street and asked for Is. This was relused, whereupon he preferred other requests, and became angry. The shopkeeper attempted to put him out, and ho then used tho language complained of. The accused had 48 previous convictions against him, including one of j 10 years' imprisonment for attempted murder, but had not been before tho court during the past six yeais. Penalties were imposed similar to those in the ca«e of Harris. Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., was on the bench.

A witness m the betting appeal case heard in tho Supreme Court at Umstchurch oa llmrsday refused to give evidence in regard to a letter sent to a bookmaker making a bet on a horse race, on the ground that he might incriminate himself (sajs tho Lyttelton Times). His Honor Mr Justice Dennistou said it was always lccognised that diiect evidence m obtaining information against bookmakers was difficult to obtain, but was, of course, tho best. Witnesses had the privilege that had been claimed. 'Ihe only way to compel people to talk in cases ot this kind was by tho introduction of an Act which would deprive witnesses of such privilege. A witness had to state liis giounds of objection. In tho case beforo him the witness would not incriminate himself, because the letter had no reference to the bet being at totalisator odds. It was not illegal for a man to mite a bet, but it was so to make one at starting-piico odds. In this case tho maker of the bet was equally liable to prosecution with tho bookmaker.

At the Balclutha District High School Committee meeting, held on Wednesday night, a letter was received from the chairman of the High Street School Committee (Dunedin) relative to the stand.irdisatiou of school books throughout New Zealand (ropoits the Clutha Leader). 'J ho writer stated that, in view of the action already tJkcn by tho Canterbury School Committees' Association in connection with the matter, he had been requested to circularise all committees in tho Otago education district with a view to conceited action being taken to obtain the Otago Boaid's support in tiiis much-needed rofoim. While offering no criticism on the quality of the instruction books at present in use, the contention was that the system of solcction tended to dissatisfaction and rieedlea, expense, and, further, that all books in use in the primary schools in New Zealand should be uniform for a fixed number of years. That public feeling on the question was acute was evinced by tho numerous complaints that appeared in the press at tho beginning of each school yea'-. Tho general opinion of members of the Balclutha Committee was that such a reform was much needed, but the letter was held over till the next meeting to allow of jts fuller discussion before taking action in the matter.

v At the hearing of an appeal rasp at the Cliristchuich Supreme Co.irt on Thursday (sajs the News), the question was raised as to whether the police, wh"n marching premises (supposed to lie used for the purposes of betting) under a warrant, the right to open letters found in those premises, addressed to persons other than the accused persons. His Honor ruled that they could open such letters, which were stiil actually the property of the sender until they were out of his control, which they would bo when posted. When ported, thev would automatically become the property of the person to whom they were addressed. "If the police, when searching premises, can break open cupboards and boxes, they are surely entitled to break open a letter."

Tho City Firo Brigade received a call at 4.41 a.m yesterday to attend a lire oil the schooner Omega at the Kitchener street wharf. It appears tluit the fno broke out on tho iipper deck, close to the boiler of tho donkey engine, but had clone litt lo 01 110 damage v. hen the brigade arri\cd au<l put it out.

E\ery pago of statistics in the Municipal Handbook, which we lu\o ju*:t loceived, telis its own stoij lot those who take the trouble to put tlio tlosli ot imagination on the so-called "dij bones" of liguies. 'lake, tor example, tlio table showing for tho boroughs llnougli-uit New Zealand the atea, estimated population, dwellings, iatopajeit>, and rateable propeiUos. lleio aio the populations (witli lutepajers jn lor vanous cities and towns: —Auckland (city proper), 65,0C5 (15.500 ratepayers); Wellington (citj piopei), 67,446 (ikSOU); Chribtchurch (city proper), 58.1t>y (11,160); Dunedin (city propel), 49,44t> (8110). The proportions of ratei>ayers to population are, appioximatoly : Auckland, 24 per cent.; Welluigton, 12a pear cent., Chnstchurch, lb per cent., Dunedin, 16i per cent. The tiist impression of au average leader is that the lino "Every man lus own landloid" applies more to Auckland than to any of tho sister cities, and that opinion may be strengthened by tho following figures: Auckland —Dwellings 14,703, ratepayers 15,500; Wellington— dwellings 13,650, ratepayois 8303, Chnstchurch.—dwellings 13, ratepaycis ll,lo0; Dunedin—'dwellings 11,058, ratepaycis 8140 A stock explanation is that Wellington has the largest proportion of temporal y or migratory population. A clo«e examination of tho whole set of figures for all the towns and boroughs shows that it is not sale to doduco relative degrees of prosperity from the proportion of ratepayers to population For example, thero is lvumara, with tho following figuies: Population 685, dwellings 815, ratepayers 709. These figures make sad reading for thoso who remember tho Kumara. of tho olden, golden days. Generally speaking, the home-owning habit is seen to bo much more firmly established in tho rural boroughs than in tho larger centres of population. Recently the cost of local government was discussed along tho familiar lino of the alleged excessive number of local bodies. Tho Municipal Handbook for 1915 is not conoerned with that factor, but it does indicate tho cost of management of boroughs, town dietiic-ts, and haibour boards. In the caso of borougiis, the total cost for New Zealand in 1915 was £172,453, which averages 5s lljd per head of population in these communities. On tho liguies above, without due regard to varying conditions and circumstances, it would not bo fair to base opinions as to the quality of administration. However, to indicate the scope of tho Handbook's statistics, hero arc some details of total expenditure for tjie year 1914-15, with cost of management in parentheses:—Auckland City (population 65,005), £494,041 (£16,586 equal to 3.36 per cent, of the total expenditure) ; Wellington City (population 67,446), £525.567 (£16,495, equal to 3.14 per cent.); Christchurch City (population 58,169), £216,962 (£14,284, equal to 6.58 per cent.); Dunedin City (population 49,446), £322,716 (£22,124, equal to 686 per cent.). The total expenditure for Wellington is the highest by reason of the greatest range of municipal services.

Wo have received Mr H. C. Campbell's New Zealand and Australian Shipping Guide for August. Wo aro in receipt of the Municipal Handbook for 1915, prepared by Mr Malcolm Fraser, Government statistician. Ist, 2nd, 4th, sth, 6th. 7th (all broke pre vious world's _ records)—Harley-Davidson motor cycle positions in 300-mile International Championship, Kansas. —Wilson, Dune'din.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist. Bank of Aus> tralasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets Inext Telegraph Office). Telephone 1869.— Advt. Mollisons Ltd. are offering men's merino finish ■undershirts and pant.?, medium weie'ht, all sizes, at 2s 6d : mai vellous value.—Advt. Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money.— Advt. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, foi couglis and colda, never fails.—Advt. Who is Peter Dick. —The moat reliable Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Certificated Consulting Optician, 490 Moray place (off Princes street), Dunedin. Charges moderate.—Advt