TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16585, 18 November 1921, Page 8

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

A telegram from Dunedin states that tho Presbyterian General Assembly further considered Church Union, anil approved generally of the suggestions already submitted as tlie basis of union. Df- stated that although their Congregational brethren approved o.f tlie name of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand for the united body, there was no a feeling among Cbngregationalists in Dunedin that the name should be tho United Presbyterian and Congregational Church. A conference of representatives of Canterbury industrial unions has been convened for early next month to discuss matters connected with the election to the Court of Arbitration of the workers’ representative. This may prove to be the forerunner of a Dominion conference. In the past the election of a workers’ representative on the Court has been decided practically by the vote of the A.S.R.S., a body not registered under the act. and one that has never taken advantage of the Court. There are other organisations which do not use the Court but have tho right of Voting on the election of the workers’ representative. It is anticipated that the Act will be amended this session in the direction of confining the right to vote for the workers’ representative to the unions that use the Court. There is also a. likelihood of the basis of voting being altered, to provide either for one union one - vote, or for one vote up to 200 members and one vote for each additional 200 m ~mbers. Already the names of Messrs W. J. Reardon (Wellington), T. Bloodworth (Auckland), and C. Renn (Christchurch) are being mentioned as probable candidates for the position. Professor Shelley in a lecture at College House yesterday revived a story told in many forms throughout the army during the war. He used it to illustrate the tendency of wit to be at the expense of the ‘‘other fellow” bnd especially of those in authority. It was always told by a private of a sergeant, or of a general by a colonel, and so on The subaltern, for instance, would be conducting a major to the front line a the major being unfamiliar with the locality. The subaltern was silent till the area was reached. Then he began to explain the environment in whispers The major replied in corresponding whispers. After some time, as things were very quiet in the vicinity, the major asked—still in a whisper—- “ How far are they ahead? ” And the subaltern replied “About three or four miles.” Whereon the major exploded mid asked volcanically “ Then why’ all this whispering? ” “ Oh,” whispered the subaltern, “I’ve got laryngitis!”