LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1787, 5 November 1919, Page 11

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Eastern Extension Telegraph Co. notify tliat the Mauritius-Rodriques cable has been restored. The company will resume acceptance of full rate traffic for United Kingdom, via "Pacific." "That, when requiring taxi-drivers, the board should employ returned soldiers," was the request contained in a letter received by the Lyttelton Harbour Board at its meeting to-day from the Christehureh Branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association. It was decided to accede to the request. "Howshall we know that they are returned soldiers?" asked a member of the board. "Ask them," replied the chairman of the board (Mr IT. B. Sorensen). "They will all be returned soldiers," replied the interlocutor. At. its meeting last week, Hie Canterbury Repatriation Board had before it two applications from young returned soldiers, who were being subsidised by the board whilst learning a new trade, for the furniture loan of £SO, as they intended to get married. The board discussed the matter at length, several members expressing the opinion that the men should not undertake the responsibilities of married life, whilst they were still learning a trade. Finally the board decided to refer the matter back to the Sustenance and Furniture Committee for further consideration. The executive of the Christehureh Returned Soldiers' Association, at. its meeting last night, discussed the matter and finally carried the following resolution unanimously: "This executive of the Christehureh Returned Soldiers' Association regrets the attitude of the local Repatriation Board regarding early marriages, and urges that in future the age of the applicant should be no bar to the granting of a furniture loan."