LOCAL & GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17060, 13 August 1917, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

A spewai meeting of the Wanganui JNo-hcense League will be held in Trinity Church Parlour at 7.30 this evening. Business is important.

The Gazette announces that the Government offices throughout New Zealand will be closed on Monday, 24th September, in celebration of th c tenth anniversary of the day on which New Zealand was created a Dominion.

The Minister for Internal Affairs informed a "Times" reporter that an alteration has been made in the regulations under the Public Service Act to enable an honourably discharged returned soldior to be employed in the service irrespective of the age limit.

"The war has been on three years, and it seems that those who go last will get the best treatment," observed Colonel J. Gr. Hughes at the Wellington War Relief Association on Thursday. "When a man goes to fight for his country he cannot make conditions. It makes me cross to see them putting up expensive buildings for the men, and so does all this leave and special trains. Every minute should be spent in training, not in feeding and dancing, especially with men. who should have gone long ago. Other men went away without these things."

In a return laid on the table of the House of Representatives by the Minister for Defence, the detailed results of the medical examination of reservists drawn in the last ballot are given. Of the 25,197 recruits rejected, 97 were rejected for syphilis and 52 for other venereal diseases, 1936 rejected for defective vision, 4188 for heart trouble, and 1615 for flat feet. In the Auckland district 10 were rejected for syphilis and seven for other venereal diseases, the respective figures in regard to the same diseases in the other districts being: Wellington 23, 9; Canterbury 45, 31; and Otago 19, 5.

•rhe many rumours which have been current during the week concerning the reason for dismantling two vessels now At Port Chalmers, and what effect tlie dismantling of these boats might have on the sending away of troops, appear now to have become focused into what may probably be accepted as the truth (says Saturday's "' Otago Daily Times.") Briefly, it is now agreed that the two boats referred to are being taken out of commission for the simple reason that they have proved unsuitable for the work they have been called upon to do, and that their withdrawal has no significance as regards the further sending away of men.

According to Bro. I. Salek, Grand Master of the Oddfellows' Lodge, tfr.e Manchester Unity baa done well in every respect. In addressing the Wanganui District Management Committee at Palmerston North he said that the Manchester Unity (N.Z. Branch) had 14,362 members." TLa total sick afd funeral ~ funds of the whole of the lodges were £520,000, and the revenue from contributions on interest was £47,269, The sick pay last year amounted to £19,583. v The amount of soldiers' sick pay last year was only £2000. The Wanganui Lodge sent 25 members to the front, four were killed and two returned, and Manawatu sent 22, three were killed and four returned. For the district the figures were 132 on active service, 22 killed, and 11 returned.

The announcement ot the issue through the Post Office of booklets of soldiers' coupons, entitling the holder to purchase eatables or anything else procurable at the V.M.C.A. canteens, is attracting considerable public attention. The single coupons are valued at 3d., sjxd they are issued in half-crown and os. booklets. One of 'the chief objects of the scheme is to avoid the expense, inconvenience and risk of loss attendant on. the promiscuous 'sending of individual-parcels. The associa, tion canteens are to be found practically wherever the men are oh active service, and the coupons will enable the soldiers to draw on these stores to suit their own immediate convenience. A number of inquiries have been madefor them at the local offices of the association, but intending purchasers are asked to note that they are procurable only at money-order post offices.

A very fine tribute to the memory of the late Mr John Kneen, well known in Aucsland Labour circles, was paid at the graveside by Mr C. H. Poole, M.P., of Auckland. The speaker said: ''We are laying to rest one who was a most picturesque character. He was of the typa of man who may be classed aa nation builders. He dedicated his days, liours and minutes to the betterment of the conditions of a class of people who up to the present time nave not been properly appreciated. I refer to those who go down to the sea in ships.\ How he did his work may be seen by this gathering around his grave. Employers as well as employees have recognised the greatness of the man —that he was a just fighter, that he was a Labour leader with convictions, and was prepared to stand by them. Only in after years will we realise the value- of what John Kneen has done m the way of securing legislation to ameliorate the conditions under which the sailors and firemen have to labour. He was a great man in his life, and a brave man in his death. I rushed up from Wellington to see him, and found him as brave as ever. As he passed to his rest there was a spirit of resignation that affected those who witnessed it to the verge of tears."

"N.Z. Shipping and Commerce," in last week's issue, contains an article appreciative of port development works here, from which we take the following extract: "Some months ago the Wanganui Harbour Board decided to close down all works once they were established upon a basis that would maintain the efficiency of the works carried out to date, a period which was estimated at three months. Many have looked upon tnis step on the Board's part as a retrograde one, notwithstanding the case made out in support of/ the Board's decision. Although his efforts have been strongly opposed by a majority of the Board, Mr T. B. Williams— a member of the Board, and President of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce —is doing his utmost to place the position before the Board in such a light that they would reconsider their decision. He has made out an excellent case, but the Board will not move from its position. There is a great lack of interest locally in the development of the port, and the 'taihoa' policy> of the Board is most distressing to the small body of local people who are anxious for the future of the port. A comparatively small amount of work remains to bft done before the greatest benefits will ba available to all concerned. The non-delivery of the new dredge (and the dog in the manger attitude adopted by the Board towards hiring a dredge locally), together with a slo wand costly delivery of stone, are the main bars to progress. The opening up of the Port of Wanganui to ocean liners is a matter of consequence to the large area which it is the outlet for. and all efforts to push forward development works are worthy of encouragement. . . Altogether, prospects are very pleasing, and there is every reason for doing everything which will enable the Home liners to enter the port and load wfrh despatch."

The Protestant I'olitiral Association's/ emergency leceiving effice (in Mess? if Pairburn and Silk's buildings in the Avenue), closes to-morrow All who have not yet returned their cards are requested tj do so as soon as possible

A communication has been received from the Home authorities in regard to the proposed acquisition of the Wa/i----ganm Harbour Board's dredge Kaioffe ior war purposes. A special meeting o f the Board will be held to-morrow afternoon, ao discuss the matter.

Ihe committee and secretaries of the Uinstmas parcels for men at the Frons i.'und. will be in attendance at Mcferuer's buildings (upstairs) all tlvi week. As 1000 parcels are being sent, and each-costs 7s, there is an imrenu appeal for donations.