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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145758, 17 February 1917, Page 2

Bandsmen will meet at the bandi'oom to-morrow morning at 10 sharp. According to a report presented at a meeting oi the Auckland, Education Board on Wednesday, a total of 3708 boys and 3543 girls are in attendance at the woodwork and cookery classes respectively' in the manual training schools in the Auckland Education district, which have now commenced their work for 1917. 1 At Auckland on Friday a waterside worker named AValtcr Innes Rcadford was fined £lO for stealing three tins of tobacco from the hold of an ocean liner. Evidence showed that 25 tins had been taken, but accused said he had only three. He refused to say where the remainder were.

The Palmerston North Business Science Circle Committee held a very successful meeting on "Friday night, when business and professional men interested in forming circles in Palmerston North met Mr. Andrew Deer. Mr. ])oer keenly interested his audience oven many new and fascinating paths in the field of business science. The essential membership was secured for a circle, and the committee expects next Tuesday night’s meeting to swell the list to thirty. Mr. Deer is proceeding to the South Island.

In an address at the prize-giving at the Christchurch Technical College, Bishop Brodie earnestly exhorted the young people to seize the opportunity and avail themselves of the facilities offered them. Too often the young boy or girl at the close of his or her primary school days shut their books, and-said, “I have learned enough.” That was a most serious fallacy, for they could never really learn enough. There, were 180,000 children attending the primary schools in New Zealand, and only 18,000 attending the technical schools. This pointed to the fact that only one in ten was taking advantage of the opportunity to obtain knowledge which would not only ho of advantage to the possessor hut a real asset to the country as a whole and to the British Empire. A case of more than ordinary interest came before Mr. Hewitt, S.M., at Taihape last week (says the Times). It is probably tho first instance in which action has been taken under the Food and Drugs Act, 1908, and the judgment will in consequence form a precedent. Messrs. H. D. Bennott and Co. were charged by the Health Department with a breach of the regulations under the Act, inasmuch as they did not have printed on the papers on which they sold bulk butter, words stating that the butter did not contain more than the prescribed amount of preservative. The contention of the defendant company was that they had no occasion to supply a container of any kind; when customers came for bulk butter without something in which to take it away, paper was supplied as a mere act of courtesy. *lh6 Magistrate reserved judgment.

lu the House of Commons recently Mr. Leo. Chiozza Money asked the President of tile Board of Trade, in view of his expressed desire to ascertain whether price exploitation existed, if he would have inquiry made, and state what was the price at which sewing cotton was now sold, and if J. and P. Coats, Limited, had just declared a not profit of £3.387,395 for the year ended June 30, 1916, after allowing for depreciation and the Excess Profits Duty; and in the event of his being satisfied that an undue profit had been made by this firm in time of war out of the sale of a commodity largely used by poor people, if he would exercise the powers he possessed to reduce the price of sewing cotton? The President of the Board of Trade; I have seen Press statements to the effect that- the profits of the company during 1915-1916 are as_ stated by my hon. friend, and I am causing inquiries to he made.

Sir Hugh Graham, the Canadian newspaper proprietor upon whom a peerage has just been conferred, is one of the numerous public men of the great Dominion who began life in a very humble way. Ho went to Montreal, a typical “country boy” with an ordinary country education, and at 15 was the office boy of the Montreal Telegraph. A raonth'later he became assistant-book-keeper, and a little later was business manager. From the Telegraph ho Went to the Gazette, and then, joining forces with a militant journalist named Lanigan, he established the Montreal Daily Star, of which he was part owner at the age of 19 and sole proprietor at 21. Courage and confidence had to take the place of capital, for the total funds in the partners’ joint treasury when they launched the Star were less than a hundred dollars. There is a moral in this, but anyone who reads it as indicating that starting a newspaper on a capital of £2O is a sure road to fortune and the House of Lords will find out his mistake. —Christchurch Evening Nows. Buyers of hosiery are reminded that the prices at The Melbourne, Ltd.’s, great stocktaking sale will only obtain during the currency of the sale. For instance; cashmere hose now offering at 1 will be Is lid: ribbed hose, now Is lid. will be _2s 3d; silk ankle hose, now Is lid, will be 2s fid after the sale is ended. Similarly all cotton goods will show substantial increases.-*-

The Wairarapa Presbytery has appointed a lady to carry on the work of home missionary at Eketahuna. This is said to be the first appointment of the kind made in New Zealand.

When Sir Ernest Shackleton joined prior to her departure for tile Ross Sea in December last, he signed on the articles as supernumary officer with pay at the rate of one shilling per month. The Aurora’s officers and crow are now being paid off, and on Thursday Sir Er'nest Shackleton visited the Government Shipping Office and received the money due to him, amounting to Is lOd. He counted the coins gravely and placed them in his pocket with the air of a man who has earned his money.

According to rumours current in political circles in Christchurch, it is not considered likely (says the Press) that the portfolios rendered vacant by tho death of the Hon. Dr. R. M‘Nab, will be filled J>y the appointment of a new' Minister; It is said that the question of the inclusion of a new member in the Cabinet will possibly stand over till the return of tho Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward, and that, in the meantime, the vacant portfolios will be allotted some of the members of the Cabinet as at present constituted. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Wellington Gas Company on Thursday, Mr. William Ferguson said: “Apart from its factory chimneys, Wellington is now a nearly smokeless city, and your directors feel that the time is fast approaching when public opinion will demand that the factories and others causing the pollution of tho air by black smoko and soots must cease doing so by the adoption of gaseous in place of solid fuel.” Air. Ferguson should approach the Railway Department on the subject of the clouds of black smoke produced by its engines.

A cheering report of the progress of Lieut. W. Downie Stewart, M.P., was given by Mr. G. Fenwick on Monday at a meeting in ’ Dunedin. Mr,, Fenwick had visited him and was able to report that he found him cheerful, sitting up in a chair and actively employed. Some good Samaritan had taught him basket-making. Mr. Fenwick said that he was now making a basket that would no doubt one day be bought and greatly treasured by some Dunedin citizen. Although Lieut. Stewart was undoubtedly in a very bad state of health, he was cheerful and in good spirits, and- the speaker thought ho was improving.

A meeting of those interested in the Y.M.C.A. organisation, including some country delegates, was held on Friday evening in the Soldiers’ Club to meet Mr. H. A. Wheeler, of Melbourne, and Air. E. C. Brownell, New Zealand National Secretary, who are at present touring the country with the object of raising funds to guarantee the work of the Association for the next five years. A fail sum was subscribed in the room, and the visitors have been calling on local residents to-day to secure their support for the movement. _ Mr. Wheeler will give an address in the Good Templar Hall on Sunday evening at 8.30, which all interested in the work of the Y.M.C.A. in the Dominion and at the front should attend. To H. E. Wild is ascribed the honour of inventing and naming the composition -which did duty to members of the Boss (Sea party in lieu of tobacco during many weary months (says the AVellington Post). When the very limited supply of weed in the hub was exhausted, various substitutes were tried' with varying degrees of satisfaction to the consumer. Tea was attempted, and so was coffee, and thou the inventive genius of Wild asserted itself. With exquisite care he blended some fresh tea, coffee, sawdust, and a few species of herbs, and called his creation “Hut Point Mixture.” This survived the gamut of criticism, and became the standard “tobacco.’’ It is said x that Joyce tried onions, but was speedily made to stop; while another member of the party met very little success in bis attempt to inhale the “smoko” from dried shredded potatoes! A proclamation in the Gazette'suspends the operation of that, part of the Tramways Amendment Act, 1910, defining the qualifications required of applicants for motormen’s certificates. It is directed in the Act, “That every application for examination as a motorman shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by the manager of some electric tramway, that Die applicant has served as a conductor on an electric tramway in New Zealand for a period of not less than one year, and has undergone a course of training for a period of not less than 21 days for the position of motorman.” The Proclamation Gazetted suspends in respect of all tramway systems in New Zealand the operation of the words in the subsection quoted which direct that an applicant for a motonnan’s license must have had previous service as a conductor. A man may now get a certificate if he has had three weeks’ training or instruction as a motorman. The proclamation, which is to stand until six months after the end .of the war, is evidently intended to allow tramway services to be carried on. At' present it is being found increasingly-difficult to comply with the requirements of the Act, owing to so many men leaving to go into camp. The Hawera Star says:—The December number of the Taranakian, a copy of which is to hand from the New Plymouth High School, is as usual most interesting, not only to the school’s own old hoys, but also to everyone who has been connected with the life of any High School. The editorial deals with the prospects of the new school, and sots forth some of the ideal conditions for such a school. These naturally are difficult to attain, and not many schools can expect to have areas of fifty acres, desirable as that may be, for in most cases schools have for various reasons been built in or close to a town. The influence of beautiful surroundings is hard to over-estimate. It has a great bearing for good on the growing mind. Everyone will echo the hope that some day a future Government will he in a position to insist on approving sites before a school is allowed to bo established. The resume of activities, mental and physical, is of great interest. New Plymouth has always dene well in shooting, and last year they won senior and junior shields in the Imperial Challenge competitions for Cadets. There are also interesting accounts of the farming operations in connection with the school, in which good useful practical work is being done. Full of pathetic interest is the ever-growing list of old boys who go to fight for the Empire, some of whom have paid the great price and will not return. The December number is oneof the best yet issued. ‘

Wrong thinking caused the war and only right thinking can bring it to an early finish, consequently Taranaki grocers are to be commended, for giving the “Thinker” Notebook free with every Is package of “No Rubbing” Laundry Help. Members of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth (Second Group) are notified that subscriptions will be due and payable on Monday, February 19, at the Secretary’s Office, Currie Street, from 9 a.m. to 12.30, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m, ;to 8 p.m.-—Adyt,

A Gazette notice prohibits the importation into the D.ominion of Ross’* Monthly, a Melbourne publication.

The Canterbury Aviation Company has received advice of the shipment of the first of the three aeroplanes ordered, and it is hoped that the other two will shortly follow. The company has also purchased a Bleriot machine exhibited in Cathedral Square recently. This will be used for rolling only, as it is considered hardly suitable for a tuition machine. The erection of the sheds to accommodate the machines, also workshops and quarters for the pupils, will be commenced immediately. It is hoped that the Plying School will be able to begin its operations within two months.

At the last meeting of the Wellington Military Service Board the chairman, said that in view of the fact that the Union Steamship Co., Ltd., are insisting on men applying for the position of engineers complying with their previous regulations with regard to age, suitability, etc., and also that they have taken no steps by advertisement to secure eligible men who are now ashore, the board ' desired it to be distinctly understood that, in future, men eligible for military service will not be exempted unless it is shown conclusively that all available resources have been exhausted. According to rumours current in, political circles in Christchurch it is not considered likely (says the Press) that the portfolios rendered vacant by the death of tho Hon. Dr. ft. M‘Nab will be filled by,the appointment of a new Minister. It is said that the question of the inclusion, of a new member in tho Cabinet will possibly stand over till the return of the Prime Minister (Mr. Massey) and Sir Joseph Ward, and that, in tho meantime, the vacant portfolios will be allotted amongst some of the members of the Cabinet as at present constituted. It is probable, according to the same authorities, that the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald will taka over - , for the time being, the portfolio of Postmaster-general, and that the Hon. G. IV. Russell will take over the portfolios of Marino and Stamps. '

Echoes of the trouble which took place early last year, when the employees of the Wellington. Woollen Company at Petone ceased work, are still being heard (says the Wellington Post). I: will he remembered that the Labour Department proceeded against the union for striking, and the court decided that there had been a strike, and fined the union £53 10s. The union being without funds, the amount is still unpaid, and the department is now taking steps to recover" the amount from the individual members, the amount asked from each employee being graded according to the rate of pay received. It it understood that if the amounts are not paid the department will Older the company to deduct the amount from the pay of such members as are still in the company’s employ, and that distress warrants will bo issued against other individual members of the union.

Mr, Geo. Lee, of Templeton, Canterbury, is experimenting with Sudan grass, which he sowed at the end of October, and it is now about three feet high. It is not a true grass, but,more in the nature of millet or Hungarian grass. Farmers who have seen the plot consider it would be good feed for dairy cows or for fattening lambs. Mr.- A. Macpherson, fields instructor of the Department of Agriculture, says that it should be possible to get three crops in one season from Sudan grass, which is an annual. The first crop is cut for seed,, and the second and third would make hay. It is a very rapid grower, but should not be sown until the ground is warm. In Queensland it has been known to grow- seven feet in eight weeks from sowing. Air. Macpherson has. obtained a . quantity of seed for experimental purposes. The Government has decided to appoint a fifth member to the Industrial Efficiency Board, in order that the chairman (Air. 31. Ferguson) may be released from the obligation of seeing to matters of detail in connection with his own district (Wellington). Sir James Allen says; “We are now preparing to define precisely the conditions of the appointment of members of the board, their duties and so on, and also the term of their appointment. We hope to have them for the period of the war and afterwards, if possible. I am very glad to say that the members appear to be willing to give us their services until a year qfter the war is over. In this last year their work will probably be as valuable as now, for they will deal then with hew* industries, the application of science and research .to new industries, and problems of this kind.”

At a recent meeting of the Otago Alilitary Service Board in a southern town, the chairman (Mr. Widdowson) took occasion to explain the full meaning of “conditional exemption” from military service as applied to appeals from coal-miners. “It has been found,” the chairman remarked, “that it is a common practice among the miners to work considerably short of full time, this custom being facilitated by the high rates of pay now current in the industry. The board desires to announce that -in future any exemption from military service - will be : strictly conditional upon full time being regularly worked, and that any slackness or intermission in regular hours will he instantly followed by the cancellation of the exemption, the miner at fault being at once called into camp. The object of the exemption is to keep up the utmost plenitude of supply, and unless this is loyally carried out the performance of military service will be forthwith substituted for. service in the mines.”

At to-morrow evening’s service in the Whiteley Memorial Church Air. H. A. Wheeler. 1 of the International Y.AI.C.A,, will preach, dealing especially with the work of the organisation he represents.^ A memorial service—in memory of the late Colonel Nelson Okey—will he held to-morrow at Whiteley Church. There will be a church parade of Veterans, Territorials, Defence Rifle Club, High School Cadets, and also of Boy Scouts. The Citizens’ Band will ho in attendance on parade and at the service.

■\Vliy pay for something you think you get when you don’t get it. Let’s get down to facts. Put a£s suit alongside one of our 65s ready-to-wear suits and show us the difference. There is a difference, but it’s only in the price. Drop in and we will prove it to you.—J. K. Hawkins and Co., Gents’ Outfitters. Economise! Purchase your footwear at the Segal. Stunning values are being offered just now in children’s hoots and shoes. Note these; Black and tan strap and lace shoes, 7 to 10, 6s 6d, 7s 6d; girls’ school boots, 7 to 9 8s lid. 10 to 13 10s. boys’ kip bals., Ito 5,13 s lid ; girls’ chrome button hoots, 11 to 1,12 s 6d; white shoes, any size, from 5s 6d, 6s, 6s 6(1, 6s lid.*

Country people visiting .New Ply. mouth should not fail to take advantage of the great H.B. sale. All classes of clothing and boots are rapidly advancing in price, and many lines are becoming very scarce. The New Zealand Clothing Factory bought largo stocks many months ago, and is now able bo offer goods in all departments at verj much below present market value* *

At a meeting of the Council of tho Chamber of Commerce on Friday afternoon it was resolved that there be placed on the minutes an appreciation of tho services rendered the Chamber by its late secretary, Mr. H. Stocker, “"also that a letter of condolence be sent to his widow. During the sitting of the Military Service Appeal Board in Napier last week, tho chairman, -Mr. J; \V. Poynton, S.M., remarked that very few appeals were the result of shirking. Most of the appellants had good grounds, for appealing, though in most cases there was not sufficient ground to allow total exemption. Tho Rev. T. Tyson, of Mcthvcn, lost a horse very simply tho other day in Bakaia. Tho animal was being turned out of a garden which it bad invaded, and to assist the operation a stone was thrown. This was not large, or thrown with great force, but it happened to hit the horse’s leg in a*peculiar manner, and broke the bone. The annual had to be destroyed. An Australian writer says that Australians should try as an experiment what the Germans «are enjoying of necessity. Berries from asparagus plants are being used as a substitute for coffee. The berries are not gathered until tliov are ripe and red. They are then well washed and dried, and left until quite hard. The report goes that the beverage brewed frdm the roasted and ground berry is really remarkably like coffee. In view of an almost certain shortage of coal in the Dominion during the coming winter, Mr. C. H. Poole, ALP., is making representations to the Minister for Alines (Hon. AY. D. S. MacDonald) with tho object of getting the Government to undertake the development of certain unworked coal areas owned bv the State. Mr. Poole considers that the matter is an important one, as tho price of coal has much to do with the cost of living, and that it is essential that consumers should have sufficient supplies ivithin roach at a reasonable price, which latter is not likely to be maintained through the winter unless the Government takes some action. It is probable that the matter will he placed before the Board of Trade at an early date.