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Star (Christchurch), Issue 12617, 30 April 1919, Page 5

A sitting of the Native Land Court is being held in the Courthouse afc Kaiapoi to-day, Judge Jones presiding. 1 ho business is chiefly concerned with the sale of Native land and succession administration. There are a large number of visiting Natives in Kaiapoi, and the Court will sit for about a week. Indignation was shown at tho annual meeting of tho Waikato Returned Soldiers’ Association regarding the recent remark of tho Chief Justice to the effect that tho rum ration had started men on the downward path. Air JCooper said that every returned man regarded the remarks as a slur, and he moved that Sir Robert ho severely censured for his remarks. A seconder was promptly on his feet, amid cheers. An officer rose and said he thought the public did not realise what the ram ration meant to tho soldier. He had made a careful calculation, and was sure 97 per cent of the men drank nun because it was essential. Air Clung, the secretary, that tho Huntly hranch of the association had passed a resolution resenting the remarks < f tho Chief Justice- He suggested passfng a similar resolution instead of a vote of censure. Tho suggestion was adopted, and the resolution was carried with loud cheers. A subject touched on at the mooting of the Wellington Industrial Association was the shortage of female labour in factories (says the “Post”). The president, Air Alaiuland, stated that, he was given to understand by factoryowners that most of the trouble arose from tho fact that,, acting on medical advice, some girls had to giro up factory work, or failing that, had to take long spoils off duty. Perhaps the conditions, only just complying with the requirements of the law as they did in some cases, were not of tho best, hut to make things satisfactory it might ho necessary to rebuild some places. This would entail an expense which could not he afforded by some. To render assistance to some manufacturers, it might he necessary to start something similar to an industrial hank, to enable modern factories to be builtUndoubtedly labour difficulties could ho overcome to a great extent wore the condition, l - improved.