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Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 3

The Arbitration Court has filed awards in* tho storemen's and fire brigades employees'disputes embodying tho recommendations of tho Conciliation Council. The application of the performing musicians to amend their , award has been refused. A notice of motion hag been lodged in connection with the case Weir v. the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company, in which 1 judgment was given for plaintiff for £ISOO a few days ago. • The motion is to etay judgment, or in tho alternative for a nonsuit, on the ground that deceased (James Archibald Weir) was at the time of tho accident riding on the haulage rope of the box, and that he had no written authority! .to do so from the mine manager, and that Ilia so riding was the cause of his injury, or directly contributed to his injury. It is understood (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) that the proposals of the Defence Minister for introduce ing the Territorial training scheme, which will embody lessons and produce greater '• efficienoy, do not requiro new legislation, Sir James Allen states there will be ample opportunity for discussion by Parliament o£ any such question. It is not likely that any great changes will bo made, in the training system before Parliament has been made fully aware of them. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that a deputation representing the Publio Service Association, which includes ..the police force among its members, waited on the Minister of Justioe recently to assure him that there was no truth in a suggestion that the associ:—-■-> contemplated affiliating with the Labo... Party or the Federation of Labour. Mr Allport (president) and Sergeant Lopdell (of the police) •both declared that the association had never even considered affiliation with any outside body, and had no intention of doing so. The purchasers of land on tho Cabranmtta Park Estate have had a remarkable stroke of fortune (says tho Sydney Morning Herald). The estate is owned by the wellknown property salesman, Mr Hugh Prit- \ chard, of Auburn, who, it is stated, received

* divino inspiration to make a peace offering by releasing from their liabilities all the clients on his books to July 14 on Cabramatta Park Estate and other estates. This ho has done by giving them clean receipts \nd freo transfers. The aggregate amount

of the gift will, it is estimated, run into J £20,000. He has not only given a complete .' clearance to thoso who ha.ve purchased from him land on the instalment system on his various estates, but he has wiped out debts owing to him to over £2OOO. One purchaser

of land on the Cabramatta Estate has been handed a receipt for £431, two others for £2OO each, and several for over £IOO. It would seem that those who were behind in their payments reaped the greatest advantage. Several, it Is stated, had taken advantage of the Moratorium Act. and got sadly behind in their payments. They, too, got a clear discharge,- while those who struggled on and succeeded in paying off the whole of their indebtedness get nothing. Mr H. G. Kettle, of Middlemarch, has designed and constructed a pump for emptying or fiLing sheep dips, drawing water or sewage from sumps, drains, etc. Features of the. pump include simplicity and ease of operation, with great lifting capacity and nothing of a perishable nature. Frost cannot affect it. The pump is capable of delivering a minimum of 2400 gallons an hour. Three strokes of the handle serve to more than fill an ordinary kerosene tin in less than five seconds. Mr Kettle gave a demonstration of the working of the pump to a number of farmers and others, who expressed entire satisfaction with its capabilities, and several orders were booked on the spot. Designs and particulars have been forwarded to Wellington, and patents have been applied for. Mr J. E. MacManus produced exhibits of considerable interest at the Returned Soldiers' Association Committee meeting last night in the form of a number of soldiers' confidential record cards. He explained that he had picked these up about the wharf, where there were plenty more lying round. It appeared that some 14 bales of these cards and other records were being sent down to the Mataura Paper Mills, via Invercargill, and they were evidently insecurely packed and carelessly handled. The committee decided, on the strength of Mr MacManus's representations, to make a strong protest to the Minister of Defence and send him a few samples of the cards picked up, and also to mako a similar protest to the officer commanding the district. Practical farmers express the opinion that there will be a very considerable shortage in the area devoted to wheat this season (writes the Geraldine correspondent of the Ohristchurch Press), and they anticipate that next harvest will not nearly supply the requirements of the dominion. It appears that several causes have contributed to deter farmers from growing more wheat. One reason is that sheep need less labour and are more profitable. Another is that the cost of labour for cultivation and harvesting has increased materially, as also has the cost of thrashing, and farmers are dubious whether labour will be available for harvesting. Still another reason has been stated, and this is that farmers' wives and families, being unable at times to secure domestic help, find that the work of providing for harvesters is too great a sti-ain upon them. Farmers recognise that a short supply of wheat may be a very serious, tiling for the country, especially considering the possible difficulties in connection with transit, but they ask: "What can we do? We must consider ourselves."

At a largely-attended meeting of the Wellington branch of the Social Democratic Party a motion was carried unanimously expressing horror at the reintroduction of flogging in New Zealand -by Mr Justice Stringer, and emphatically protesting against the judge's attempt to cure brutality with brutality, or to end outrage with further outrage. The meeting further expressed its sympathy with the child victim of the Petone outrage, with the little girl's parents, with the relatives of the condemned man, and with the unfortunate prison official who may have to carry out " one of tho most revolting of tortures." A very graceful tribute to the New Zealand soldier is contained ill a letter received by tho Governor-General from Mr Walter Long, First Lord of tho Admiralty. The letter was in acknowledgment of a copy of tho report prepared by Colonel Gibbon, detailing tho work done in raising and training t.ho New Zealand Force. Mr Long refoift to tho statement as mast interesting, and ho goo* on to nay: "It in a fine force and a magnificent effort, which rendered ttplumlid Borvico to the Empire, the Allies, iiud tho world, and to their immortal honour a very warm place will always remain in tho Jiohi-1,4 of all in the old Mother Land for thiflo gallant and undefeated New Zealand soldi era."

At a recent mooting of tho Taparmi branch of tlio Farmers' Union a resolution was passed asking tho Provincial Executive of tho union to place before the Government a demand for the immediate removal of all commandeer restrictions placed on the tale of wool and hides. In support of the resolution the opinion was expressed that it was a positive scandal for tho Government to supply the woollen manufacturers with raw material at fixed rates which were 75 per cent, or more below their market value and then allow the manufacturers to charge

full and grossly inflated prices for their manufactured article. It was stated that if the present commandeer on wool continued until June 30, 1920, as gazetted, another grave injustice would be done to the wool-grower struggling under financial difficulties, who had to realise on his clip immediately it was off the sheep's back, while his more fortunate neighbour who was not encumbered with debt might store his wool for six months till the market was open to world-wide competition. .

The chairman, deputy chairman, and harbourmaster of the Otago Harbour Board interviewed Captain Leggett on the 21st instant with reference to the possibility ot H.M.S. New Zealand visiting Otago. Captain Leggett said that owing to the shortage ■of coal, it was not possible to bring the vessel to Port Chalmers. Speaking of a suggestion that agricultural competitions for young people should be promoted in New Zealand (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) the Hon. Mr Hanan (Minister of Education) stated that he believed it was a most up-to-date and progressive movement for encouraging industry among boys and girls and of imparting a knowledge of scientific methods of production from the soil. Ho had watched the development of the scheme in the United States with great, interest. He realised fully the importance of the proposal to introduce the agricultural club system into this country, and he had caused to be placed on the draft supplementary Estimates for the consideration of the Cabinet an initial vote for the encouragement of agricultural instruction and home economics. If this money became available it would assist in the initiation of a scheme which, he believed, would prove of very great value to the dominion.

A Christchurch Pres 3 Association message stales that Mr J. M*Combs, M.P., has informed the National Council of Women that it is his intention to reintroduce his Legisla-tive Amendment Bill next session to give women the right to be elected to either of the Houses of Parliament. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that employers in the iron trade in that city will proceed at the coming sitting of the Arbitration Court for a 44-hour week in place of the present 47-hour week. Action will be taken under the War Regulations Act, which provides for amendments in regard to hours as well as wages, but up to the present its provision regarding hours has not been taken advantage of in Canterbury. The workers will oppose any reduction in pay to correspond with the reduction in hours. The Finance Committee of the Otago Patriotic Association reports that satisfactory arrangements have been/made by the chairman with the manager of the Bank of New Zealand for an overdraft on the association's account.

Referring to the new Allied Victory ribbon (states a Press Association message from Christchurch), General Richardson says the Americans bought up practically the whole of tho available supplies, and the New Zealanders found" it a difficult matter to get any. The Mail states that the directors of the Oamaru Woollen Factory Company have decided to recommend the shareholders to accept the offer of Messrs Macky, Logan, and Caldwell, of Auckland, for the purchase of the company's business as a going concern. 'lt is understood that the offer is 15s per share cash with two preferential shares in the firm of Macky, Logan, and Caldwell, bearing 6 per cent, cumulative interest, and that a meeting of shareholders will be held at an early date to consider the proposition. While a mob of cattle was being- driven along the Main South road at the Taieri on the ?f>th (writes our Mosgiel correspondent) a car belonging to an lnvercargill firm ran into them, breaking a leg of one animal and injuring two others, but not so seriously. The bullock with the broken leg had to be destroyed. Drovers of stock complain very bitterly of the carelessness of motorists in passing cattle on the roads. The Rev. P. Knight, at a meeting of the Council of Churches in Christchurch on Monday night, condemned the playing of a jockeys' football match on Sunday, August 10, and the action of the tramway authorities in taking people to it in special cars. He said (remarks the Lyttelton Times) that the people of Christchurch were accustomed to quiet Sundays, and treasured them. It was not a great sin to spend Sunday at the sea beach, on the hills, or in the country, away from tho stuffy air of the city. He would not condemn that sort of thing very strongly. But the people were not accustomed to public football matches on Sunday; certainly not to the Tramway Board sending special cars to take large numbers of people to them. The ordinary

football clubs played their matches on Saturdays. It was not in accord with the city's customs, habits, and traditions to hold them on Sunday. If the incident was allowed to pass without a gentle rebuke, why should not the Rugby Union and other organisations take to the parks and other sports grounds on Sundays and "go the whole hog?" They had more commonsense than to do that, and members of the council respected them for their respect for church people's feelings. If attention were not called to the incident, silence might be taken for consent. He moved that the council should respectfully protest against public football matches being played on Sunday and public conveyances being used to take crowds of people to them. Mr J. W. Bowles seconded the motion, which was carried.

Tho Arbitration Court has filed an award in the Ihinedin felt hatters' dispute, and has filed orders amending the butchers', trawler employees', grocers', Otago and Southland plumbers and gasfitters, and Otago and Southland bakers and pastrycooks' awards. The court has also filed an order amending an industrial agreement between the Dunedin box workers and _the employers, and has added parties to the New Zealand federated tailoresses and other clothing trades' awards. The court ratified the agreements arrived at in the cases of the Dunedin City Corporation tramway officials and the Southland drivers. - The local Defence Department has been advised that applicants for positions on the New Zealand Staff Corps will be paid at the rate of £265 per annum with ration allowance of 5s per day while undergoing their three months' period in the instruction camp, while Permanent Staff aspirants will receive pay at the rate of £2OO per annum for single men and £226 for married men with an allowance of 3s 6d per day. It is expected that the ranks of successful candidates will date from October 1. Tho qualifying course will commence at Trentham on October 1.

A Press Association telegram from Stratford states that at a conference last week of soldiers permanently disabled it was decided that the Taranaki "War Relief Association be asked to prepare a report of what money is available to help per-manently-disabled soldiers, the report _To be presented to the September meeting. A list is now being prepared of men likely to,need help from the association, whose funds total £46,000. George Anderson was charged in" the City Police Court on the 22nd, under " The Land and Income Tax Act, 1916," with) failing to supply a return of his income. Mr W. C. MacGregor, K.Oi who prosecuted on behalf of the deparM ment, said that no return, had been ceived from the defendant on June 2, the final day for sending in returns. It was the practice of many people to let the department make a default assessment of their taxable property, and if the assessment was sufficiently low they paid it, but if they considered it < too high they appealed. This case had been brought as a warning to people that they must complete the returns as required by the Act, and he considered that the minimum fine would meet the case. Mr Irwin, who appeared for the defendant, said that owing to the absence of his client's accountant at the war he had been very busy and had forgotten to make the return. The magistrate (Mr Bartholomew) said that under the circumstances and considering that the case had been brought as a warning to others, he would inflict tho minimum fine of £2, with solicitor's fee (£2 2s) and court costs (7s).

It is learned that, on account of the steady increase in the number of children being cared for by the Presbyterian Social Service Association, the available institutions, including the Clyde street building, which now contains about 28 children, are now full, and it has been found necessary to secure another home for boys who are learning trades. The new hostel (No. 618 King street) will accommodate nine lads, and a start was made there yesterday morning, Miss Bruce (lately assistant at the Glendining Home) being placed '■ in charge. In addition to this, the association is boarding 12 other boys in one place and about 20 others who are being cared for are scattered throughout the town. At the instance of Cr Blackie, the Taieri County engineer has been instructed to report as to the cost of a motor bridge over Lee Stream. There is a stock bridge on the site at present, but the engineer has stated that it is not nearly strong enough to be converted into one suitable for motor traffic.

Our London correspondent reports that in the bankruptcy proceedings in the estate of Edward A. C. Lowe, of London, whose gross liabilities were £22,000, the bankrupt said that in 1910 he lost £14,000, representing the proceeds of a sale of horses and house property through the absconding of his solicitor, who, he said, went to New Zealand. On the 19th Messrs Sadd (Commissioner of Crown Lands) Malcolm, M.P., and O'Neill (Crown Lands ranger) visited the Otanomomo district to inspect "refuge" properties offered to the Government for the use of Crown settlers during flood epidemics. The properties of Messrs R. Houliston (Kakapuaka), Tweed, Dalgleiah (Puerua), and Tilson (Port Molyneux) were noted, and an inspection was made of the commonage at" Port Molyneux. The commissioner met the Otanomomo settlers in connection with the canal, and the question of the best method of securing protection was discussed. Mr Sadd expressed a desire to assist the settlers in the unfortunate position in -which they were placed as a result of the cutting of the canal bank, and promised to get into touch with the railway authorities over the matter. Speaking of the high cost of distribution as against that of labour, in the course of an address before -the Wellington Industrial Association (says the Dominion), Mr C. J. Ward (a boot manufacturer) mado the surprising statement that the cost of labour in bootmaking was less per pair today than it was 18 years ago. "' All the

advance in prices," he said, "is duo to tiie cost of material, distribution, and transport. So the .economies effected in the factories have been thrown away, for you all know what you have to pay for boots. The award then (18 years ago) was, I think, £2 Gs 6d; now it is £3 8s 9d, yet the oost of labour is less per pair. ' The cost of distribution is less per pair. The cost of distribution is mainly du« to the middleman—the hands the goods go through—the shipping, the railways,' the salesmen. Those are the charges that increase the cost of living more than the cost of labour in manufature."

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the Government has decided to release Jugo-Slavs from the obligation to render further national service These men have been compelled to work on roade and railways, under the Public Works Department, and have been paid the current rates of wages. A case of considerable interest to orchard - ists was heard in the Magistrate's Court, Motueka, recently, when Wilfred Thomas Goodwin, orchard instructor, representing the Department of Agriculture, proceeded against an orchardist for removing from his premises seven cases of apples which i to his knowledge were infected with disease, without the authority of an inspector or \ other authorised officer, and for offering '".for sale infected apples. Defendant sent a letter, which was held to be a plea of g.uilty. The inspector said the depart- * nlient had decided to take action, as defendant had persisted in shipping fruit after five previous consignments had been condemned. Defendant was fined £7 and costs.

\An unusual case came before the court in Auckland last week, when Frank Vincent Caktell was charged with failing to maintain a child in an industrial school. It appears (says the Auckland Star) that the child ivas born in January, after Cantell had been separated from his wife for four years. Since that time divorce proceedings had been commenced, and in September the oouple would be no longer held in matrimony. But according to the strict letter of the law the child was born in wedlock, because the two parties were still married. Further than this, evidence that would tend to illegitimise the baby, could be accepted from neither the husband nor the wife, and although Cantell called his sister-in-law to declare that Mrs Cantell had told her the name of th e fatber*of the child—and it . was not Cantell—Sub-inspector Wohlman argued that this evidence couTa* Bcraoely be accepted, as it was just what the wife had said, and her evidence could not be accepted. The difficulty was not eased any, when- somebody declared that the wife had already laid suit against another man for paternity, but this case had not been finished because the woman had disappeared during its hearing. The magistrate found a way out of the impasse by adjourning the application till the Cantell divorce becomes an accomplished fact, which will be some time in September. At a special meeting of the Otago Labour Representation Committee it was decided to invite Mr John A. Brown (local manager for Methven and Co.) to contest Dunedin West on behalf of the New Zealand Labour Party. Mr Brown has now replied to the oommittee accepting the invitation to stand.

A Press Association message from Auckland states that owing to the refusal of the to work the Mamari till Wednesday, the vessel has gone to an anchorage in the stream. The influenza patient from the steamer has improved, and all "contacts" are reported to be in good health. A brief but amusing comment on th« present political situation was offered by Mr O. E. Statham, M.P., at a railway smoke ooncert held at South Dunedin on Saturday night. Some years ago, he said, Sir Joseph Ward was credited with singing a comio song entitlod " There's Going to be a Row" and to all appearances it seemed to the speaker said there was going to be a row when Parliament assembled in Wellington. "Politics just now," added Mr Statham, "are something like a volcano. Some of us are going up and perhaps we will not come down at all. I should not be surprised to aee 50 per cent, of new members in the House after the election at the end of this year."

A strange and almost ludicrous episode, which occurred at the end of the Palestine campaign was related at Auckland by a New Zealand sergeant, who returned by the Ulimaroa (says an exchange). At a spot on the Mecca railway, about 20 miles south of Amman, the Second Brigade of Australian Light Horse had received the surrender of about 1000 Turks, who formed » part of the enemy's army in that area.

On the railway there were wagons of Turkish arms and ammunition, and the Arabs were determined to secure this and other loot before it fell into the hands of the British. They assembled in great numbers, and harassed the force so much that the Turks joined with the Australians in keeping off these tribesmen. The situation became so difficult that the New Zealand Mounted Brigade was sent to the scene to make it possible for the Australians to take their prisoners out "in safety. When the New Zalanders arrived early one morning they met outpost parties consisting of Australians and Turks, all fully armed, coming off night duty. "They seemed quite happy and fraternal," said<s>the sergeant, "and it was difficult to realise that the Turks had been the enemy so recently. The Turks were in a serious position. They wanted to surrender, and wanted to be protected from the Arabs. Th e Arabs wanted loot and anything they could get, and we, I suppose, wanted everything. The New Zealanders finally held the Arabs while the Australians and their prisoner comrades retired."

A correspondent of the Clutha Leader writes: "Anyone driving to Balclutha from the south last sale day would have seen an interesting sight—an elderly lady driving her own sheep to the saleyards. Sometimes she was at the back of them, aided by her trusted dog, and then again, ' like the shepherds of old,' in front of them, plodding steadily on. One could not help admiring the shepherdess, and thinking how independent she was of man's aid." , Mr A. Macpherson, Fields Supervisor to the Agricultural Department, has just returned to Ohristchurch from a fortnight's visit to the West Coast. He went on special business, concerning which he will make a report to the head of the department. He travelled from in the south, to Brunner, in the north. "A great number of sales of land have taken place on the West Coast during the last six weeks or two months," said Mr Macpherson. " For instance, it is reported that in the Rotomanu district five properties have changed hands during the last six weeks, three of which were sold within the last week. In other districts much the same thing is happening. Land values are going up. Those holding land there recognise that they cannot continue to leave it unproductive. The lime deposits along the Coast are being developed, for nearly all the land is of a sour nature and requires lime. Drainage is very necessary on West Coast land, and a good deal of work is being done in this direction. The West Coast has a grand future before it. It possesses some of the finest land in the country. The people are keenly looking forward to the time when the Otira tunnel will be in working order. They are beginning to find that if they break up the land and put the proper grasses down it will carry an enormous amount of stock. In my opinion the increase in land values is due to the recognition of the necessity for increased production, and the prospect of soon having better facilities for getting the produce away." The Hora Hora electrical power works, just acquired by the Government, are situated on the Waikato River a few miles above Cambridge. They were erected by the Waihi Gold Mining Company a few years ago, and the total sum expended on the works according to the Company's last published statement is about £200,000. The present plant is capable of developing about 9000'horse-power. The addition of two more units, it is estimated, would give an additional 3000 horse-power. The Waihi Company's maximum demand is about 4000 horsepower, thus leaving a balance of some 8000 horse-power, which will be available for distribution throughout the Waikato and adjacent districts and as far as Auckland. Under the arrangejnent between the Government and the Waihi Company, which was entered into in 1909 in regard to the utilisation of power from Hora Hora the company agreed to pav £IOOO a year for the concession. The scheme was the first of its kind in the North Island and the second of any importance in New Zealand. The first largo scheme in operation in New Zealand was the Waipori installation.

Owing to her remarkable resemblance to a young woman who is "wanted" by the police, a 15-year-old girl had a most unfortunate experience in Christohurch last week (says tho Lyttelton Times). She -was walking from Cathedral square along Worcester street with the intention of going to the Public Library, when two men in a motor car called out to her to stop. As she did not know who thoy wero she took no notice of them, whereupon the men stopped the oar and caught hold of her and bundled her into the car- They demanded

to know why. she had not stopped when tney called out to her, and said that they were police constables and had a warrant for her arrest. The girl protested her innocence, but it was of no avail and she was taken to the police station. Here she was able to prove that she was not the girl who was wanted, and she was released. When she reached her home she was in a state of collapse owing to the shock and treatment she had received. Her brother called at the police station and demanded an explanation of the occurrence. The police apologised for the mistake and explained that it had been wholly due to the girl's remarkable likeness to the person for whom they held a warrant for arrest.

The Deputy-Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) has received a telegram notifying him that Admiral Jellicoe and two of his staff officers are arranging to arrive in Dunedin by motorcar from Timaru on Monday evening, September 8. They will remain in Dunedin until the following Thursday morning.

At a meeting of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College on the 25th (says a Press Association message from Christ - church) it was decided that immediate steps be taken to appoint a professor of education, and that the salary be fixed after a report by the sub-committee, which has the question of professors' salaries under consideration, is before the board. ■ A proposal that the salaries of all the professors in the service of the board be £I3OO per annum was referred to a special committee. When the Hon. G. W. Russell'visited H.M.S. New Zealand last week (says a Press Association message from Wellington), Lord Jellicoe informed him that the portrait of Sir Joseph Ward, which had previously hung in the ship, had been removed. The Admiral had no idea by whom it had been taken, but suggested that it might have been injured in action. As Lord Jellicoe expressed a strong wish that a portrait of Sir Joseph Ward should remain in the ship, another suitable picture has been placed on board.

The local Defence Department has received advice that the troopship Adolph Woermann left th e United Kingdom on August 14, and is due at Wellington about September 28. Her draft comprises 100 officers, 11 nurses, and 550 other ranks of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 14 Imperial officers, 39 women and nine children. The troopship Tainui, which is due at Wellington on September 21, has on board 65 men for Otago, and the Corinthic, which is due at Wellington on September 22, has 61 men for Otago. The question of the relation of the Returned Soldiers' Association to politics was raised at the association meeting on the 25th by Mr J. E. MacManus, who moved that the association ask every member of Parliament to state definitely where he stood in relation to the association's demands, and that the executive committee be instructed to draw up a statement of demands to submit to candidates. Mr R. P. Jones: Is not that the thin end of the wedge of political action? Mr M'Crae said he would oppose the motion on the ground that it was contrary to the association's regulations regarding political action. What was the association going to do after it got the' replies from candidates? They could not recommend their members to vote for any particular candidate. Mr M'Nish also opposed the motion. The candidates would promise all that was wanted readily enough, and it was just a waste of time asking these questions. Mr Gilmour proposed as an amendment that this matter be referred to the executive committee, for it opened up a very big field. It was not a fair thing to spring on a meeting unconsidered. He had felt all along that the proper place for the Returned Soldiers' Association was outside the political arena—("Hear, hear.") they could demand fair treatment from any party that happened to be in power. The amendment was carried by a large majority.

A Press Association telegram states that the supplies of butter in Invercargill are practically exhausted. Many retailers declare that they cannot guarantee supplies for at least a fortnight. One factory has definitely announced that it cannot supply butter for at least a week, and another has a few boxes to dispose of, which will not last a week.

Members of the locomotive branch of the railway service are stated to be so dissatisfied with their working conditions that many resignations have taken place, and others are likely to follow (says an exchange). Seven engine drivers on the AucklandJTrankton run are said to have resigned last month, the reasons given being insufficient pay, irregular hours, domestic inconvenience, and deprivation of social life. It is stated

mat all the men who have resigned are married men, some of whom have been in the service from 13 to 20 years, and that while one or two have other positions to take up, the remainder intend taking their chance on the open labour market. Comparing the wages paid here with those in Australia they point out the rates of pay prevailing locally are from 4s to 8s per day lower than on the other side. The Clutha electoral roll has been printed and contains 6380 names —an increase of 1343 on the main roll printed in January in connection with the licensing- poll. A strong plea for an improved system in the education of children in rural subjects was advanced by MivE. J. Loten, the agricultural instructor of the Hawke's Bay Education Board, at the farmers' annual dinner of the Woodville A. and P. Association at Woodville. What was wanted, he said, was a system where it would not be necessary to definitely pass a written examination at all. After this we have not in New v Zealand yet achieved the third "stage —the agricultural college. It was questionable whether this college should be tmder the Education Department or the Agricultural Department, but sooner or later we must have an institution of the same type as the Hawkesbury College in New South Wales. Quite recently the Smedley Estate, of about 8000 acres, near Tikokino, had been left to the' Government for the purpose of establishing an agricultural college. This was in Hawke's Bay, and he thought it was up to the people of Hawke's Bay to see that the Government used this money for the purpose for which it was left.

Members of the Returned Soldiers' Association were cautioned on the 25th by the secretary (Mr A/ C. Laing) against lending their badges or allowing them to be in the possession of unauthorised persons. He explained that this was a penal offence, for the badge was registered and on the same footing as any other war badge. The dominion conference of the Farmers' Union will be opened in Wellington on Tuesday, September 16. Owing to a clerical errbr it has been announced that it would begin on September 17. Mr R., T. Sadd (Commissioner of Crown Lands) has been authorised by the Minister to make an immediate start with the classifying and surveying of the Mount . Pisa run with a view to having it opened for selection by disflharged soldiers. On a run of this size, comprising an area of 147,000 aores, there is a great deal of preliminary work to be done, and three parties of surveyors will be kept engaged on the run throughout the whole of the summer. It will, therefore, be some time next year before the land is actually open for seleotion by ballot.

Another North Otago property has been acquired by the Government for occupation by discharged soldiers, at a price which is believed to be extremely reasonable. This is an area of 1700 acres held by Mrs Burnett, of Papakaio, and it is described as land of really good quality both in respect to soil and situation.' It is expected that it will be capable of sub-division into five separate farms. The officials of the Otago Land Board are engaged just now inspecting a number of properties of about 50 acres each with a view to providing "'refuge" blocks for the use of Crown settlers during times of flood. Mr R. T. Sadd (Commissioner of Lands fcV Otago) told one of our reporters on Tuesday that he was about to propose to the department a schem6, which had been approved by the District Railway Engineer, and which, it was believed, would protect the road, the railway line, and also the Otanomomo settlers from flood damage except in the *event of a phenomenal rise in the river.

The Hospital returns for the week ended the 25th inst. show that there have been nine diphtheria patients admitted and four discharged; five scarlet fever patients discharged; ono cerebro spinal meningitis patient discharged, one chicken pox patient admitted, and one erysipelas patient admitted. The cases remaining are:—Diphtheria 39, scarlet fever 16, cerebro spinal meningitis 1, chicken pox 1, and erysipelas 1; total 58.

At Port Chalmers on Tuesday Defective Hammerly arrested a young man named Raymond Lionel Perry Young, apparently about 20 years of age, on a charge of vagrancy. According to a statement made by accused to the police, "Young was connected with a family of almost independent means, who were residing in Sydney. On February 2, 1916, he joined the 19fch Battalion of Australian Infantry, and sailed

with it for the United Kingdom on July 7 of the same year. He underwent a period of training on Salisbury Plain, and then went with his battalion to France. He was wounded in October, 1916, and sent ba/?k to hospital in England. Shortly before the signing oE the armistice accused was granted 1* days' sick leave. Ho did not return■ to his regiment, and eventually secured a position in an Australian munition works in England. Ho stayed in this position until the arniistipe had been signed, when he proceeded to Cherbourg "and took a ship to Lisbon, afterwards returning to Cherbourg. At Cherbourg his health "failed him, and he secured a free pass to London, where, on recovery, he signed on .as a messroom steward on the Marama. I He arrived in the dominion about the end of July, was paid off, and has been wandering about ever since, getting his meals and sleeping on the boats when ever he had the chance. It is expected that Young will bo handed over to the military authorities, who will be likely to send him to Australia.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that on Tuesday the waterside workers refused to load potatoes that were to be shipped to Australia by the Manuka. , It is understood that the men decline to aid in the export of potatoes owing to the high price being charged for them at the present time. A forward movement is on foot in connection with the Y.M.C.A. movement ht, the Milton district and Bruce County. \ A resident organising secretaiy ha 3 been appointed by the National Committee, and will commence his duties next month. In the meantime Mr Wm. Moore, who recently returned from the front, has ' resumed his work as honorary secretary. . A creditors' petition came before the Registrar of the Supremo Court on Tuesday to make Albert Edward Shank, of Dunedin, builder, a bankrupt. The petitioning creditor was Keith Ramsay and Co., and Shank was adjudicated a bankrupt. Mr W. L. Moore appeared for the petitioners, and Mr Baron for- the debtor. Our Alexandra correspondent states that considerable discontent exists at the apathy displayed by the Dunedin postal authorities in not arranging to get the mails delivered by motor. The railway breakdown is causing much inconvenience, and provisions are running short. There has been no butter in the town for 10 days, and there are prospects of no bread owing to a lack of yeast. Our Cromwell correspondent informs us that residents inland are very indignant at the inactivity of authorities in not providing a mail service during the suspension of traffio on the Otago Central line. Following a short spell of broken weather (says our Alexandra correspondent) the days are now fine, the sun increasing in strength. Snow still covers the high country. The fruit prospects are good. Peaches and apricots show promise of j

heavy crops, cherries very heavy, plunid fair, apples very good, and nectarines heavy. The soil is well soaked, and in-* dications point to a favourable spring. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company on Tuesday (says l a Press Association telegram from Christchurch) Mr J. A Frostick (chairman of directors), in referring to the talk about profiteering, said the New Zealand Board of Trade was now making inquiries into f,ho woollen inchistry of this dominion. Ha felt justified in publicly saying that the woollen mill owners in this country would assist the board in every possible way to' arrive at the truth. There was no resentment iu regard to the inquiry—quite the contrary. Our Christchurch correspondent states that Mr Frostick remarked that tho directors of the company realised that great economic changes were taking place, and it was their duty to fall into line. Preliminary steps had been taken by the establishment of employees' committees appointed by tho workers, and some day he hoped to see the Whitley plan adopted to New Zealand conditions. The* company had established a Welfare Fund with a gift of £IOOO, and it was hoped that the scheme would be .largely self-sup-porting. In discussing Government ownership, Mr Frostick said it was economically unsound, and would prove a disastrous* experiment, but he favoured industrial regulations under a properly constituted Department of Industries and Commerce. As for profiteering, its existence was not denied, but a lack of knowledge on the Eubjeot' was leading many people into error, and statements made without regard to facts must injure -the industries of the oountry.