LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19815, 5 December 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to the shortage of benzine in Christchurch tho Canterbury Automobile Association has secured a supply of Kalif motor spirit from Wellington, which will arrive approximately on Monday next, A tentative settlement has been arrived at in tlie dispute between the Wellington Gas Company and the employees. Tho men are now working overtime, and a Press Association telegram states that a complete settlement is likely. Payments made by the Imperial Supplies Department for produce bought for the British Government reached i 113,122,000 on November 30, On account of wool £-14.Tfif),057 has been paid, for meat. £4l ,312,800. for butter £6,235.900, for choose £15.586,300, and sheepskins £2.2c3,700. A point of law regarding the turning out of tenants was stated by .Air Massey in conversation with a reporter yesterday. .Me said that magistrates wore empowered to refuse to make an order for the ejectment of a tenant in any case where undue hardship would be caused to him. Tin Cathedral was well filled last qight, when tho beautiful requiem composed by Brahms was given by Dr Bradshaw and the Cathedral choir, in aid of the Nurse Maude Association. Tho wonderful music of this great work was beautifully rendered and was genuinely appreciated by those present. ' they week ended November 29 tlie War Expenses branch paid out GLl9_ wai gratuity claims, aggregating £36) ,448 3s 7d. The daily average of payments was thus £1020.' This brings the total of tlie gratuities paid up to November 29 to 31.291. the total amount distributed being £1,949,842 13s fid. It is understood (says a Press Association message from Auckland) that the gasworks employees will notify tlie company of their intention to cease work in seven days in the event of tho Labour Disputes Committee failing to arrive at a. settlement of the dispute to-morrow. The company’s offer to tlie men was refused by a largo majority. A Press Association message from Napier states that tlie Mardi Gras Queen contest is creating great interest. Tho nine candidates were all working hard, and a continual round of entertainments is being held. Last night the theatre was packed, when the audience judged the amateur companies. hirst place was gained by*tho combined Bands’ Troupe. Special meetings of the Christchurch Tramway Employees’ Union were held yesterday morning and last night, for the purpose of discussing tlie position which lias arisen in connection with tlm dispute with the Tramway Board as regards wages and conditions. The meetings were not open to the Press but a ‘'Lyttelton Times” reporter was informed by an official of the union that although the matters in dispute had been thoroughly discussed, there appeared no prospect of an immediate settlement. It was practically a deadlock at present, and the union was not desirous of going to tho Arbitration Court because tho Court would only grant an increase of a penny an hour. Ho added that tho tramway employees' wages were lower than what general labourers received in some parts of tlie Dominion, and they wanted a bigger increase than the Arbitration Court was likely to give thorn. “Is there any prospect of a strike or the union going slow?” asked tlie reporter. “I don’t think so, and I sincerely hope not,” replied the official. The legal barriers that prevent many public-spirited business men from serving tho communities in which they live were criticised by Air J. Louis Salmond at tho architects’ smoke social at Dunedin on AVtriuesday night, states the ‘Otago Daily '1411103.” Me referred to remarks tho Alayor had made earlier in tho evening about the contribution that architects could make to such schemes of public utility as town-planning, and pointed out that the presence of any architect in tlie council would debar him from taking part in these schemes or planning workers’ dwellings or other buildings for the corporation. Air Salmoml specially mentioned Air Peter Barr as a leading professional man who had set out to servo tlie citizens in the City Council, but bad been compelled to retire on account of his association with a company that did some ijusiness with the corporation. Some safeguard . was necessary certainly, but it seemed to him that tho law as it at present existed was absurd. It went far too far, and he hoped it would be altered so as to give reasonable opportunity for capable business men who wished to take part in public affairs to do so. Last week a party of fourteen returned soldiers who have been attcudwool classes at the Christchurch leclinical College, visited Rydal Towns at the invitation of Air J.‘ 11. Ensor, and spent an interesting day. After luncheon, the soldiers adjourned jo the shearing sheds, and were shown the whole system, from tho penning of the sheep to the classing of the wool, ine clip had a special significance to the soldiers because the classor at Rydal Downs has been their instructor at the College. They were given a practical demonstration of the working of an up-to-date shed, and displayed the keenest interest in the operations. At the afternoon tea tables, one of the visitors expressed their appreciation of Air and Airs Ensor’s kindness. Afr W that he hoped tho New Zealand banners’ Co-operative Association would invito the men to (sit the association’s wool stores and give them a chance of seeing tho Rvdal Downs clip ready for valuation. Air J sn'ls l! G) °" behalf of the association, said he would bo glad to see tho men at the stores, where they would find the woo! ns it appeared when awaitin* shipment to Lorn,on. After hearty cheers n ' t 7 h ;*t hostess, tlie party .et out for Christchurch. The cars for tn P . we ™ supplied by the Canterouiy Automobile Association. Speaking at a meeting of members of tho fet John Ambulance Brigade at Manganui, Colonel - Barclay, commissioner of tim St John Ambulance Brigade for the Dominion of Now Zealand said that he considered that the fntnrA prospects of the work of tho Order of St John were brighter than at any previous period in its history. The ini’ monso amount of war work' carries! out bl all ranks during the past five years had done a groat deal to establish tho association and brigade a.s most useful and yamalhe institutions, wJ.iio the invaluable services rendered by the members of the St John Ambulance Brigade during the epidemic of twelve months ago had given the organisation a groat standing and repute. The commission which had subsequently inquired into the matters connected with the epidemic had paid a high tribute to tbo work of the members of St John. There ivas much work to do in orpnnHntr classes m towns and districts hitherto untouched, and a better understandinr with the defence authorities as to utilising the personnel of the brigade in tho event of national necessity would require to he arrived at. Colonel Bar clay strongly urged the formation‘of divisions of the brigade at all places where association classes have been held. The effect of the engine noise on air - men always tends to produce deafness and even seasoned pilots frequently have difficulty in hearing for as loimas an hour and a half after a lengthy flight. Hundreds of Christchurch citizens have been cured by Dr Fellow’s Pile Cones when every other known remedy has failed. Price 3s 6d box, from chemists, or direct. Lonsby and Co. chemists (opp. Ballantyne’s). X ' There is one intimate, personal gift that carries with it tho real spirit of Christmas—your own portrait. Let Stcfiano AVebb make it Petersen's Buildings, High Street. ’Phone 1989.