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Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 36

A deputation from the Society of Civil Engineers met the Acting Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works last week (says a Press Association message from Wellington) to ask that legislation should be introduced to ensure that local bodies who have the expenditure of public money should be advised by competent engineers. It was not proposed (they said) to interfere with the men at present employed by local bodies, but to provide that in future a system of registration shall be adopted—a board, in which Government is represented, to satisfy itself as to the qualifications of applicants. The Ministers expressed themselves favourable to the proposal, which would, however, have to come before their colleagues before any decision could be given. The Otago Expansion League has been asked by the Oanterbury Progress League to support it in urging the claims of Canterbury on the Government as a seat for the new School of Forestry. This is in accordance with the recommendation of the Director of Forestry (Captain Ellis), but Cabinet is not unanimous in giving effect to the recommendation, owing, so the Canterbury League says, to- the strong political influence from Auckland, which want's the school to bo located there. The advantages of Christchurch are its proximity to the great forests of the West Coast, its own extensive plantations of exotic trees, and the existence of the School of Engineering, which would be of assistance to the forestry branch. The Expansion League supported Canterbury’s claim when it was first put forward, and will take steps to have its views on the question presented to Sir Krancis Bell, who has consented to receive a deputation on the subject at Christchurch on J uly 16. A V\ ellington Press Association message says there lias been a fair response to the Mayor s appeal to ratepayers to pay a proportion of their rates in advance, and so help to reduce the overdraft. One firm paid in £430 on account, others paid sums varying from £lO to £IBO. Other ratepayers a.re expected to follow the example set by those who appear to appreciate the council’s difficulty. The Mayor (Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.) has expressed gratification at the result of his appeal. lire return by the Official Assignee (Mr W. W. Samson) of business in bankruptcy iu the district of Otago and Southland as furnished during the quarter ending June 30, 1921, is as follows, the figures in brackets being for the corresponding period of last year: —Number of bankruptcies unclosed at end of preceding quarter: At Dunedin, 9 (11); at Invercargill and Oamaru, 10 (14). Number of fresh bankruptcies during the quarter: At Dunedin, 3 (1); at Invercargill and Oamaru 8 (3). Total number of bankruptcies on hand: At Dunedin, 12 (12); at Invercargill and Oamaru, 18 (17). Total amount of assets realised: At Dunedin, £1833 15s 8d (£B6l Us ICId); at Invercargill arid Oamaru, £121,3 15s 2d (£254 5s 9d). Total amount paid in dividends, including preferential claims: At Dunedin, £962 14s 8d (£624 15s 2d); at Invercargill and Oamaru, £945 4s Id (£973 3s 9cl). There is some slackness in the carpentering trade in Southland, 12 men being -out of employment (.-'.vs the Southland News). It is stated that a number of carpenters recently down (o (lore from Dunedin and absorbed employment that would otherwise have been available for .Southland tradesmen. A number of residences are in

course of erection in the town and suburbs, but most of the work now being done is in the nature of repairs. The secretary of the Carpenters’ U n son (Mr A. Provan) says from inquiry he has made he does not consider that present conditions, so far as i3 concerned, will continue more than a month or two. On Thursday night the first of the classes of instruction in first aid, under the auspices of the St. John Ambulance Association, took place in St. Peter’s Parish Hall, Queenstown (wires our own correspondent). There was an attendance of 31 at the class for women, and 20 at the class for men. This was considered very encouraging, and tile number is. likely to be increased at the next meeting. Dr W. A. Anderson is conducting the course of instruction. The proposed irrigation scheme for Ardgour is now in hand, and a number of men are at work (wires our Cromwell correspondent). The number is being steadily increased, about 80 being now engaged, and it is expected that over 100 will be employed when accommodation is provided. The scheme, when completed, will develop a splendid settlement. According to information supplied to Mr A. Nichol, M.P., by the. Hon. J. G. Coates, Postmaster-general, his department is contemplating important changes in the system of rural postal deliveries (says a Press Association message from Dannevirke). The present method was unsatisfactory, because it involved settlers in outlying districts in heavy cost. It was found that some settlers took benefit of the delivery, but. allowed their neighbours to pay. The department found this both expensive and unsatisfactory. and was considering a, scheme that would institute a uniform rate throughout Now Zealand. This would relieve the burden on backblock settlers and place the rural mail delivery somewhat oil the same level as the post office boxes in the towns. Mr Coates stated that the study of rural mail deliveries in other countries showed that they all had unsatisfactory features and involved heavy expenditure. What was proposed in New Zealand was quite new. Tie hoped shortly to make an official statement that would fully explain the scheme. The girls of Birkenhead to the number of 2C have formed a Soccer Football Club, and have decided to play • in the gymnasium dress (telegraphs our Auckland correspondent). -Overtures have been made to the Auckland Football Association for the assistance of a male coach to teach the latest recruits how to shoot in approved Soccer style. Field and shed practices will be hekl during the rest of the cold season to initiate members into the mysteries of the game. In the Lancet of 14th May, C. Cowdroy writes on “The Danger of Athletics for Girls and Women.” He says: —“Unwillingly, I have been convinced by the logic of experience. Strenuous games, I believe, are bad for the women and worse for the girls, and the sooner it is realised that the differences between the sexes are profound and vital, and that these differences are accentuated and not lessened by evolution, the better for humanity. Let it be recognised that the present cult is a retrogression, and the young girl have placed before her the ideal of true womanhood of all the qualities that inake for motherhood; so that whether she has her own family or finds happiness in some other sphere, she may realise it is her gift of ‘ mothering-’ that makes her of value in the world.” At the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court John . Michael Millar was charged with, at Hedgehops, between the first and last days of May, bo did permit to be unlawfully in his possession two tarpaulins, valued at £2O, the property of the New Zealand Government Railways. Charles Coster " was similarly charged with unlawfully possessing two tarpaulins, valued at £2O. Mr S. Alacalister appeared for the defendant Millar. Senior-sergeant Eoclee said that Coster had admitted taking the tarpaulins, but Millar, when interviewed by a constable, said he had got them from a friend. Air McCalister said that in regard to Miliar’s offence, it was a case of having to cover his stack at all costs. Millar was a man of good character. Millar was convicted and fined £6 10s, to be reduced to Is if he paid £6 8s 3d to the Railway Department, and Coster was convicted and fined £6, to be reduced to Is if ho paid £5 18s 5d to the Railway Department. The costs amounted to 7s in each case. The cost-of-living figures for March issued in Australia show a remarkable fall. Compared with the highest point reached last year, Melbourne shows a decline equivalent to over 25 per cent., and Sydney a decline equivalent to over 19 per cent. A meeting of the Red Cross Society was held on Friday, when Mr E. A. Rosevear, on behalf of the Dunedin Bowling Club, presented to the committee a “war quilt” for the Montecillo Home. Mr Rosevear pointed out that tho club had originally intended to retain the quilt a:, one of its valued historic records, but on further consideration it was unanimously decided to present it to the society. The quilt contains the names of many well-known citizens who rendered patriotic service, inducting those of Messrs J. J. Clark (ex-mayor), J. S. Douglas (Mayor), E. A. Rosevear, J. 11. Wilkinson, T. J. Bishop, T. A. Maitland, and Dr Harrison. Soldiers and war workers connected with the Waiton-on-Thanies Hospital will remember this souvenir of New Zealand patriotism. fir Rosevear offered to collate the history surrounding the quilt, for a permanent record. A special meeting of tho New Zealand Workers Union was held on Saturday night to consider what action, if any, should be taken by tho local branch to bring under the notice of the Government the distress which it was stated was fast becoming acute owing to unemployment. All- >S. Boreham reported that several large employers in Dunedin had already put off most of their men, in one or two cases where from 15 to 20 men were employed, all but one or two men had been put off, and manyother large employers of labour were hanging on to their men as long as possible. But these employers assured him that il things did not improve within tho next

week or two, they also would be reluctantly eonipelled to shorten hands. The same applied to Port Chalmers. Alesars Stevenson and Cook, and Alessrs Alorgan and Co., large employers of labour at Port, had informed him that things were so bad in their industries that it is only a matter of time when they would have to put off some of then- men. Air lloreham, continuing, said he had visited Port on Friday and Saturday last when ho learnt that from 30 to 40 men were already idle. After Air J. E. MacManus, who presided, had addressed the meeting, it was resolved that Air Boreham arrange for public meetings to bo held in Port Chalmers and Dunedin at the earliest possible date, and that the Mayors cf the respective municipalities, also the local members of Parliament, be invited to attend, and that ATcssrs AlacAlanus and Boreham bo authorised to address such meetings from tne men’s point of view, and to submit cei-ruin suggestions for relief. ins representations made by- the Southland h armors’ Lmon to the Government nun regard to tile recent land valuations (says tne Southland 'i hues), was referred to oa x'riday by tho president of the provincial executive, Air G. P. Johnston, who said that although they lnid been unsuccesstin iu stopping the valuations they had been rcsponsiole for the valuers visiting tne Eastern District and conferring with the objectors with tiie result that the valuations were amended. He strongly advised all farmers to come to un agreement with iiie valuers, and thus save the expense of fighting their cases in tile Assessment Court. Ihe valuers were meeting the farmers fairlv, and lie was pleased at tiie spirit in which tho valuers were approaching- the amended valuations. So far the arrangements were successful from the objectors’ viewpoint. Mr J. D. Trotter said that what the president had told them was good news, and showed what could be done by continued effort. The large meetings held in the various districts had had the desired effect, Air A. Howe, Wyndham, said that the valuers had been round his district and in every case they bad met the objections, me president said that tho arrangement lad resulted in a more equitable valuation, and saved many farmers considerable expense. In a town not a hundred miles away from Invercargill a day or two ago a young man, employed by a firm of taxi-drivers, had occasion to drive a client, who shall be unnamed, to a nearby village (says the Southland Times). At tho conclusion , liis mission and when the unnamed had departed, the youth found in the oar a pocket book, containing a sum amoumrng to about £l4O. Close on £129 of this was in cash. The boy took the pocket book to his employer, who succeeded in finding the unnamed one. The latter proved to be the owner of the pocket book and naturally lie was not unhappy at receiving it back. The boy’s employer then suggested that the lad should bo suitably rewarded for his honesty. The unnamed one suggested £5. The car proprietor said nothing, but later asked the boy if ho had received his reward. The boy said he had. Struck by something his employer asked him lionmuch he had received. For being honest enough to seek the owner of £l4O the boyhad been rewarded with one solitary pound note. From time to time in the lay press we read of alleged startling descriptions of cures of some hitherto incurable disease (states the New Zealand Journal of Health). Cures for tuberculosis, epilepsy, cancer, and many other diseases have from time to time been announced, with the result that false hopes are raised in the hearts of unfortunate sufferers; and in many cases persons undertake long and expensive journeys, often with fruitless results, apart from the great disappointment occasioned by the failure to effect a cure. It is only recently that we read of the failure of the rejuvenating process that was supposed to result from thyroid treatment; and, as Leonard Aicrlick says, in that most amusing novel, “Conrad m Search of His Youth,” “There is no road back to seventeen.” Again, we have tho Spahiinger method of treatment of tuberculosis, concerning which many extravagant statements have been made, but which there is apparently not sufficient evidence at present to justify its being ranked as a specific. Tiie lay press and the public should recognise that whilst in some cases a new form of treatment has effected a cure, yet most of the drugs ana treatments which are alleged to effect such cures have eventually to take their place as “aids” rather than specifics, and those responsible for announcing any new cures should be certain of their facts before they make any definite pronouncement. One swallow does not make a summer, and an occasional cure does not make a method of treatment a panacea. Sir F. D. Bell, Acting Prime Alinister, has received a further communication from the American Uousul-Generul which again sets out the view of the American Government and presses the protest against withholding the meat export license from the Armour Company, which has tho backing of American capital. Sir Francis Bell states (says a Wellington telegram) that the constitutional question raised by this and former communications is receiving the consideraerttise of the New Zealand Government. In the meantime no further reply lias been sent. Spurious half-sovereigns, recently coined in Canton, have made their appearance in Australia, and the Acting-Secretary to the Commonwealth Treasury, Air C. J. Cerutty, recently issued a, warning to the public to examine carefully any offered. Tire spurious coins are an excellent imitation of the genuine article.