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Otago Witness, Issue 3713, 12 May 1925, Page 44

The Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association’s Blind Soldiers’ And Sailors' Fund has received a cheque for £156 16s lid from the Canterbury Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, being proceeds of a ooncert given in aid of the fund.

In connection with the controversy which has arisen concerning the right of the New Zealand Rugby Union to register the lilver fern leaf as its own emblem. A legal oninion on the subject states that no protection can be afforded by legislation to crests, badges, or colours in use by clubs, schools, etc. The opinion is also expressed (says a Press Association message from Wellington) that, whereas the new badge might be registered at a patent office as a design and nothing more, in this case it has been in use too long, and the statute does not give it shelter.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that the Government had intended to open up some 130.000 acres in the Urewera Country, but, finding the land unsuitable for settlement, it will probably be made a forest reserve instead.

His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, was asked by the University authorities if he would consent to lay one of ..he foundation stones of the new Medical School about the end of this month. A reply has been received that owing to Mr Massey’s illness his Excellency is unable to ’eave Wellington at the present time.

Dr C. C. Farr, of Christchurch, who is arranging details of the visit of Sir Ernest Rutherford to the dominion, has received a reply from Si:* Ernest agreeing to the (suggestion that during his visit to the different centres he will give a public address one evening and spend another evening meeting socially representatives drawn from various university circles. Sir Ernest has intimated that he would be quite willing to give an informal talk to students during his visit, which will take place about September next.

Under a new arrangement it is now possible to secure railway tickets from the local Tourist Office under the same conditions as apply in an ordinary booking office. Formerly tickets could be issued only in conjunction with a steamer or a motor car ticket.

A party of visitor; from Central Otago, who were shown over the Exhibition build ings by Mr 11. F. Nees on Friday, expressed surprise at :he magnitude of the undertaking and the forwardness of the preparations for the opening. The party comprised Messrs J. L. Rooney (Mayor of Roxburgh), C. Sloper (Roxburgh), J. Shoehy (Miller’s Flat), and R. Oliver (Heriot). The visitors were greatly impressed by what they saw, and no doubt they will return home with the intention of doing their best, to see that the products of what may justly be termed as “The Garden of Otago” are adequately brought before patrons of the Exhibition.

The still small voice of conscience proved tc bo a source of revenue to the Governmmt last month to the value of nearly £ll An amount of 30s was received by tha Secretary to the Public Treasury with a direction that it be forwarded to the Ri.ilway Department at Wellington, while an anonymous amount of £ls was paid in foi the benefit of the Land and Income Tac Department at the Bame place, while j| third man with an uneasy conscience sei t along 28s, which he desired to go to the credit of the Collector of Customs at Christchurch.

There is at present on exhibition in Balelutha a unique piece of shell work in the shupo of a pyramid of flowers, worked in shells. Some of the flowei9 contain hundreds of small shells, worked in as petals. The exhibit secured first prize in the Dunedin Exhibition of 1880, and was purchased by Mr W. Guest when on a recent visit to Christchurch. It is more than likely that it will bo seen at the forthcoming Dunedin Exhibition.

The campaign against the Arbitration Court i& being waged actively through the columns of the New Zealand Worker. Commenting on the recent open conference of the Alliance of labour held to formulate proposals for achieving industrial unity, the Worker says that “every union in New Zealand should take a live interest in this matter. If unity can be established it means higher wages and a higher standard of living for the workers in the very near future. Surely this is worth the serious consideration of the wage-workers of New Zealand. A national organisation means something which can fight for the workers as a whole. Without that national organisation the workers must depend on the Arbitration Court. Dependence on the Arbitration Court means the present low basic wage and the present hare existence level. Something must replace this obsolete institution, and the only thing that could effectively supplant it is a national organisation of Labour which can bargain for the wage-workers effectively.” Mr William Robertson, of “Willowhank,” Middlemarch, has accepted nomination as the Otago Producers’ representative on the Dairy Produce Control - Board. The elootiow will take place on June 15. At present there are three South Island pro ducera* representatives on the board, two being in Southland and one in Canterbury. The producers decided that Otago should also be represented and henoe the nomination of Mr Robertson.

The annual maintenance of the Auckland Municipal Rand costs £2OOO, according to a statement made by Sir James Gunson on Wednesday. Sir James said the expenditure was more than justified, as the band had proved a decided draw at the Zoo, •nd was responsible for much of the revenue. In addition, the citizens had the benefit of free band performances at Albert Park and elsewhere. The estimates which were presented during the evening provided £2OOO for the maintenance of the band during the current year, and a further amount of £2OOO for the purchase of band instruments. The revenue from the Zoo last year, despite the epidemic of infantile paralysis, had been over £II,OOO.

One of the most important aspects of the forthcoming Exhibition is the housing of the visitors, and with a view to coping with this problem the Exhibition authorities have established a Housing Committee which is making arrangements for accommodation during tho Exhibition period. The official register shows that housing is available for over 3000 visitors, anil the Exhibition Company has also been offered several furnished houses for lease to visitors.

The Mayor left for Wellington yesterday to attend a meeting of the conference of the Municipal Association to-day, to be a member of a deputation of members of the Municipal Association and the Motor Association to the Minister of Internal Affairs to-morrow, and also of a deputation from the executive of the Municipal Association to the Minister of Internal Affairs on Thursday to urge the Government to bring in legislation at the earliest possible moment giving effect to the remits passed at the last Municipal Conference. While In Wellington the Mayor will represent the citizens of Dunedin at the funeral of the Prime Minister. He will return to Dunedin at the end of the week.