LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17553, 24 April 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At its meeting on Tuesday last, the Cabinet decided that Anzac Day (tomorrow) this year is to be declared a Government holiday.

The attention of ladies is drawn to a notice about the Anzac Day lunch to the Returned Soldiers at the Druids' Hall. Any ladies who are able are invited to assist. .

About £20,000 has been paid by the Wellington City Council to soldier members of the staff in making up their military pay to what they were receiving in the service of the Corporation.

' The Pacific CaWe Board notify that traffic congestion has been overcome in both directions, and the Pacific route is now working without material delay.

The following ten nominations have been received for the nine seats on the Schools Committee : Lewis H. Bassett, William Bruce, William Deerness, W. A. Grace, Mrs. A. Goodey, P. H. M. Haase, H. G. Hawtree, W. F. Hanton, Mrs. W. W. R. McKenzie, G .R. Simpson.

In another column of this isiue the attention of returned soldiers' is drawn to the Anzac Day celebrations, and it is confidently expected that a good muster will be present at the various church parades, luncheon at the Druids' Hall, stone laying ceremony, etc.

A Maori boy mimed George Waerea was charged at Nt-pier with having wilfully set fire to the Te Aute College. Detective Butler said the accused had confessed tt> him that he set fire to .the school j as hip cousin hal left the school and his teacher had thrashed him unmercifully, ■ There was absolutely no truth in thr> boy's statement concerning the thrashing. The accused, who reserved liis defence, pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the next sittings of the Supreme Court in Napier for trial. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £100 each, and the accused himself for £100.

At a meeting of the Patriotic Association yesterday the allegation of overcrowding and unsatisfactory conditions on returning troopships was further discussed as the outcome of a letter from the Minister of Defence denying the statements made. Some of the members were of "the opinion that the charges were substantially true, although the only supporting evidence was newspaper clippings and hearsay statements. The Mayor said if the Association was prepared to justify the stand taken the only course was to endeavour to get direct evidence by means cf an enquiry. It was decided, however, not to pursue the subject further.

"I wish to express the gratitude of the Defence Department to the V.M.C.A.," said Sir James Allen at Rotorua on Thursday. "Every so> dicr appreciates the work of this institute, not only in New Zealand, but in France and in England. The soldier who went to the V.M.C.A. went not only because it was somev/her'e to go, but because he Inew that in the officer of the V.M.C.A. he would find a sympathetic friend. In my capacity as MiniFter of Defence I am happy to think that down at the bottom this and all kindred institutions are based on the sound principles learned from the life of Christ. I might say that I have never once approached the V.M.C.A. for help but that help was immediately forthcoming, and I know that in the future anything that can be done by them will be done." (Applause.)

Watersiders engaged at unloading the damaged steamer Bessa at Wellington are receiving a fiat rate ol 5s 4d an hour and Gs 4d an hour for Sunday work.

At an election held yesterday, Mr G. M. Gardiner was elected president of the Cosmopolitan Club, and Messrs Geo. Spriggens, Burrell, Allomes, Lloyd and Enieny were elected members of the executive committee.