GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 20 July 1925, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington is said to have experienced on Friday last the first really line day that it has had for the past two months.

If specific instances of loss of employment through tlie occurrence of illness arising from the handling of basic slag are given, stated tho Minister ot Labour- in the House of Representatives, replying to Mr AY. E. Parry (Auckland Central), the question ot making such illness declared an industrial disease will be considered.

The matter of collection and delivery of luggage is mw engaging the attention of the commercial branch of tho Railway Department, and, as soon a& all tlie necessary data have been collected, a decision will be come to as "to the desirability of instituting the system, stated the Minister of Railways in reply to Mr A. Harris (Waitenmta) in the House of Representatives.

Millers say that flour is at present not selling so freely as usual, inquiring for thei cause of such a happening, one hears the theory that families not too flush of money are using less bread and economising on the potatoes that are now so cheap; and there may be something in the suggestion, for a ton of potatoes at £4 10s will makes a lot of food for hungry children.

A considerable contract for silver pine telegraph poles for the North Island is now being executed in the Okarito district, in South Westland. Some 5000 poles are on order, with a contingent request for furthor substantial supplies. 'The mode of transport is not determined yet, freights by ordinary boat service being considered excessive. Other negotiations are in hand, and the first shipment is being arranged.

A Wellington message says that a number of New Zealand ladies obtained prizes in the International Needlework Competition in London recently. The names are: —Mesdames J. B. Robertson (Wellington), Lind (Hawera), C. I. Barber (Te Horo), S. M. Reader (Havelock, Marlborough), R. E. Hewat (Palmerston North), L. J. Watkin (Bulls), A. Carpenter (Wellington), L. Beck (Morrinsville). The championship wont to Mrs Tyndall, an invalid English lady.

A comparison of the methods of computing the accounts of plumbers and solicitors was the subject of comment by Mr Justice Frazer during the hearing of the plumbers’ dispute in the Arbitration Court recently. “I have been unfortunate enough to incur several plumbers’ bills in connection with my house in Wellington,” said His Honour, “and I know tho average plumber can run rings round the average solicitor. I say that without prejudice. Anyhow, they are always bigger titan I imagine they will be.”-

A few days ago Mr W. S. Glenn (Rangitikeij asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention had been drawn to tho circumstances of the death of a dairyman at Hammersmith, supposed to have been caused by eating diseased frozen mutton, and whether lie will a.slc both tho High Commissioner and the representative of tho Meat Board in London to have the fullest inquiries mado. Mr Nosworthy replied: “The statement was published in Great Britain that the man’s death- was caused by eating Now Zealand mutton. Tho High Commissioner made full inquiry into the matter, and, the statement having been found to bo incorrect, had a withdrawal statement published.'’

A a several letters have appeared in the “Herald” urging the candidature of Mr J. F. Arnold at tho next general election, that gentleman in-, formed a reporter on Saturday that being a public servant there was little that he could say at present. Tie had noted tho correspondence and was naturally gratified at the references mado to himself. It was eoiTcet that he would retire from tho Public Service Bhort-ly, but he was not aware of the date. He might say, however, that ho felt that at tho present juncture, _it was tho duty of public men to give their best ill tho interests of the Dominion, and that if tho desire expressed was at all general by the electors of Timaru, lie would bo inclined to favourably consider the matter. At present, however, he could make no statement with regard to general politics or the position of political parties in tho House. __