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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17483, 27 November 1918, Page 4

The mails which left New Zealand on October 2 tor the United Kingdom arrived sately at their destination.

Our Wellington correspondent states that beioro the House rose last night Mr iVlassey said that he had no intention of forcui" business The Finance Bill, the Liquor Bilf the hydro-electric power and repatriation schemes, and legislation on the cost of living had to be dealt with. If members could ee°t through in time for the leaders of the House to proceed to the Peace Conference well and good. If not, they would stay in iveiv Zealand.

Speaking of the Public Service Superannuation i< und, in his Budget address yesterday, fair Joseph Ward informed the House that during the year ended December 31, 1917 retiring allowances aggregating £14,371 per annum were granted to 81 contributors retired by reason of age or length of service; 17 contributors who retired as medically unfit were granted allowances amounting to £1252 per annum; 52 widows and 63 children were granted the statutory allowances totalling £1755 per annum; 73 allowances! amounting to £5380, were discontinued. The total number of existing allowances at the end of the yea? was 1373, representing an aggregate annual payment of £100,389. The total amount invested to December 31 1917 was £976,405, yielding interest at an average of 5i per cent. The total number of contributors to the fund on that date was 13,784-.

A Press Association telegram from Welungton states that the overseas shipowners have announced a reduction of approximately 25 per cent, in freight on certain Homeward cargo.

The amount received by the Treasury during tho past financial year from the amusement tax was £16,273. As the tax came into operation on November 1 last, the amount received was for only five mouths of the year.

The Minister of Financo observed, in the course of his Budget statement last night, that there was a small fal!ing-off in the proceeds of tho totalisator tax for the past financial year. This, ho said, was caused, no doubt, by the reduction of the days of racing by something like one-third. Nevertheless, the amount put through tho machine had, in proportion, more than held its own with that of former years, taking into account the reduced number of racing days, the revenue received being £213,952, as against £257,455 for 1916-17.

In the Arbitration Court yesterday morning the Engineers' Union asked for an interpretation of the clause in which machinists are affected by the metal workers'' assistants award. After argument, the court reserved its decision.

In the Financial Statement Sir J. G. Ward mentioned that there were 27 industrial disputes during the year. . Several of these \yere of a trivial nature, involving the cessation of work by a number of men for a few hours or minutes, or refusal to work certain overtime. In 12 instances it was found necessary to institute proceedings for broaches of the War Regulations, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, etc. Tho principal cases concerned coal miners, Wellington gasworks employees, Auckland freez-ing-chamber hands, and Wellington coastal steamers.

Tho civil action—Starkey v. tho Dunedin and Kaikorai Tramway Company—which was to have been heard this month, has been adjourned till the February sittings of the Supreme Court. The plaintiff claims £1500, damages for injuries sustained by collision with one of the company's cars at Highgate, Roslyn. Tho case was heard last August, when the jury failed to agree, and at Mr MacGregor's request an order was made for a new trial.

Tho claims against the special sinkintr fund established to meet losses on public buildings destroyed 'by fire amounted during the year to £8080. Tho annual Government contribution of £10,000 was paid over to the Publio Trustee, who now holds a credit' balance of £53,329.

Sir Joseph Ward, in his Budget statement yesterday, informed the House- that the Teachers' Superannuation Fund amounted on December 31, 1917, to £420,225, as compared with £381,158 on December 31, 1916. Daring the year 1917 allowances totalling £5049 per annum were granted, the total annual rato at the end of the year being £47,479. The number of contributors on the same date was 4792. Hitherto the moneys of the fund have been invested in the Common Fund of the Publio Trust Office, the rate of interest received, including the annual bonus granted by that office, averaging about 4.63 per cent In view of the higher rates of interest now current it was considered that a bettor return could be obtained by providing for separate control of the investments. Arrangements to this effect, which wero approved by the Government, were made by the Teachers' Superannuation Board and the Puiblio Trustee, and have been in operation since July 1 last. On that date the fund amounted to £444,237, and of that sum £319,765 is invested in securities returning interest at 5£ per cent. Of the balance, £59.824 is invested at 4£ per cent., £26,161 at 5 per cent, and £38,460 at 5i per cent.

In reply to complaints regarding tho price of fish in Auckland the Prime Minister announces (says a Press Association telegram) that the Board of Trade will make inquiries.

Mr J. E. MacManus has returned to Dunedin from a visit to the NorjJi Island, where he has been engaged in organising work for the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union for the past six weeks. He had an extended trip through tho Wairarapa, where he met with good success in the matter of securing members and arranging with the shearers' representatives to continue the work. He found that 75 per cent, of the men had not belonged to a union previously. The union embraces station hands and all those whoso occupations are in anv way allied with farm or station work. Mr MacManus will leavo this morning for Oamaru, where ho will commence a similar mission throughout Ot&go.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that when tho news of tho ainustice arrived Sir Alfred Robin cabled to General Godlcy congratulating the New /.calami Force on ira success. General Godoy replied that all ranks of the Now Zcalawl Expeditionary Force thanked Sir Alfred ami the N PW Zealand Military Forces for tnoir generous congratulations,' and for all UiP help given throughout tho war. Our Wellington correspondent states that th* Government has been informed that all restrictions on the issue of passports and the embarkation of women for the United Kingdom may be removed, but the restrictions on outward journeys from Great Britain aro still in force. Mr Russell states thai he has received 344 applications for pcrmis,on to pr6cecd to England. Priority will bo given to the wives of soldiers, and then to women who are engaged to soldiers. The president of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr J. B. Waters) telegraphed on Monday to the Minister of Finance (Sir J Or. Ward) asking in consideration of the general dislocation consequent on the influenza epidemic if he could extend tho time for payment of the land tax till the middlo of December, as it was advisable in the interest of public health to avoid overcrowding in the Post Office. The Minister has replied that it is impossible to comply with tho request, as there is no provision under the Land and Tnoomo Tax Act for any extension of time for payment. The clue date jlWenrber 8) was decided upon before the influenza epidemio became serious, and he (the Minister) ha<l no power to break the law. This means thn.t payment of the tax must be made by November 29. 21 days' grace being allowed from the due date. .Tho Defence Department's war expendioA?" °^- , March 3l a "">"ntod to £18.754.945, including imprest Advances outstanding, pay o f troops, cost of transports, suppl:cs, equipment, and nil maintenance and other charges connected with the war, as well as the administrative expenditure of tho National Efficiency Board. Munitions and Supplies Department. Returned Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board, and Discharged Soldie—' Information Bureau. At yesterday's meeting of the Otago Land Board 11 applications from returned soldiers for advances for tho purchase of dwellings were received. Four applications, aggregating £2340, were- recommended, four were declined, and three were held over to enable a report to be furnfehed by the ranger. Two soldiers' applications (one for £1600 and one for £1150) for the purchase of farms were received, and both were recommended.

Sir Joseph Ward informed, the House of Representatives yesterday, in his Budget statement, that the results of the past year's operations of the State Fire Insurance Offioo were very satisfactory. The increase of business was the greatest attained in any year sinoe the establishment of the office, and the underwriting surplus the largest yet recorded. The increase in the sum underwritten amounted to £2.700.000, bringing the total for the year of renewals and new business to nearly £22,000,000. The gross surplus for the year 1917 amounted to £40,610, which had been allocated as follows:—Unearned premium reserve, £3085; investment fluctuation reserve, £1000; leaving a surplus of £36.525. The income tax, however, which for the first time had been applied to this office, amounted to £13 924 and this amount had to be deducted from the above-mentioned surplus, leaving a net balance on the year's operations of £22,601. The total income for 1917 amounted to £91,381, as against £82,695 for 1916. The total accumulated funds of the office at the close of the year 1917 amounted to £182 645 as against £155,959 for the previous year. The total assets of the office rose from £166,880 in 1916 to £208,220 in 1917. The remains of Private Maurice Cumming Hayden, aged 20 years, whose parents reside at Opoho, were accorded military burial at the Northern Cemetery yesterday afternoon. Major Fleming represented the local military authorities. Another military funeral during the afternoon was that of Private John Henry Mitchell Burnard, a married man, aged 30 years, whose body was interred in the Anderson's Bay Cemetery. Our Wellington correspondent states that the Prime Minister has introduced some important amendments to the War Legislation Bill. In the definition of a person of enemy origin ho omits the words " or whoso father is or was at any time a subject of an cnoniy State." Hα adda u. new clause providing that if tho eon of an enemy alien has refused military service, or has been convicted of an offence against any war regulation, he shall be deemed a person of enemy origin. Authority is given for tho cancellation of warrants for the arrest of any persons who, since their offences, have served in the forces overseas, provided that tho Attorney-general and the Minister of Justice are of the opinion that a prosecution is not necessary in the public interest. Additional provision is made for the protection of soldiers and discharged soldiers from judicial process, and for relief from burdensome contracts. Discharged soldiers must have served overseas.

In liis Budget speech to the House yesterday Sir Joseph Ward said that there waa again—due principally to war conditions—a large increase of the bank-note tax for this year, which amounted to £167,914. The revenue received from this source was £42,000 greater than that received for 1916-17.

In the House yesterday afternoon (says our Wellington correspondent) Air Young suggested that tho Government should take immediate steps to secure from Germany information as to the number and locality of minefields laid off the coast of New Zealand. The Minister of Defence replied that the Government had already done this. Ho added that it was believed that tho mines had been laid in only two localities, but some had broken away and drifted Sir Joseph Ward informed the country, through the House of Representatives in his Budget speech yesterday, that during tho year ended March 31 last the activities of tho Prisons Department had grown considerably. Buildings had been erected, several miles of road constructed, afforestation pushed on, reclamation works proceeded with, farming lands developed, dairying engaged in, and manufactures carried on. Every class of work had been carried out by prison labour under tho supervision and direction of prison officers. The cash credits received from other departments and from outside sources for stock, wool, farm products, etc., amounted to £15.083. The estimated value of prison labour employed on various works over and above the cash returns was £18,239, and the value of the labour employed in carrying on prison industries, farming, etc., amounted to a further £9939. The actual value to the State of prison labour in 1917-18 was therefore £43,261, a very fair percentage of the total expenditure (£81,352) on prisons and prisoners during the period covered by the Budget.

The remains of Fireman Walter Harold Brook, who loft the City Firo Brigade soon after the war broke out, who saw much active service, and on returning to Dunedin rejoined the brigade, were accorded a military and fireman's funeral yesterday. Fireman Brook died on Monday as the result of an attack of the prevailing malady. The procession was formed at the Hospital, and proceeded to the Anderson's Bay Cemetery, tho place of interment. The Defence Department was represented by Major Fleming, Captain Myers, Captain Salmon, and Sergeant-Major Little, and the fire brigade by a fire motor and seven men, the firemen acting as pall-bearers. The funeral service at the grave- was conducted by tho Rev. Mr Wingfiold.

Manufacturers of motor cycles imitate tho tank colour, etc., with a view of making the yublic believe they are peerless Harley-Davidsons.—Wilson. Dunedin.—Advt. The' Ideal Wash Fabric, "Tabralco/ , over 100 new designs; width 28in. Price, Is 10id, at Mollisons. Samplo range posted free. —Advt. Brisk demand for " No Rubbing " Laundrv Help. Remember, "clothes washed white nnd out by .9" when "No Rub--bing" is used; Is 3d large packet.—Wardr'i Rros <ind Co.—Advt. Electric Incandescent Lamps, Drawn Wire, Metall : c Filament, Philips Manufacture, 16* 25, 32. and 50 candlo-powpr. Price, 3s each. Special terms for quantity ohlors.— Turnbull and Jones (Ltd.), Electrid Ti:nginoprs.—Advt. Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth tho monev Advt. A. E. J Blakelpy, dentkt. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and R-attray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telpphone 1859"— Advt. Christmas Presents: Just landed, highclass English Crosrent Ware. Exclusive latest decorations.—Petor Dick, Moray place direct importer of jowellerj, ota. — Advt. '