LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14464, 1 December 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“Three needed, reforms—-free medical advice for those who cannot afford to pay for it, free advice, for the same class of people, and a national system of superannuation.”—Air 'Veitcli at Aramoho last night.

We have been informed that quite a number enrolment forms were posted to the Begistrar oh the closing day of the rolls and have not' been accepted for publication. Inquiries are beiim made to ascertain whether these electv-s will be able to vote, and at a later date it is expected information will be forthcoming as how to obtain permission to vote. As a result of tho garden party and swimming sports held on Saturday afternoon, the Belgian and British Belief Funds and the Plunket Society have benefited to 'the extent of over £IOO. This is a very fine contribution, and the College teachers arid pupils deserve every credit for their excellent effort. The committee of the latter society wish to thank Aiiss Cruickshank, the .staff and pupils of the College for their’ generous action in assisting to raise funds in this manner. They, also wish to thank all those who so kindly sent donations of all kinds, the Crystal Bar for ice creamas, and all tho ladies who assisted in making the function such-a distinct success.

The Wanganui sessions of the Supreme Court commenced this morning, presided over by Mr Justice Stringer.. The first case taken was Frances Mullinor v. Joseph Ivess, a claim for ,£IOOO for alleged indecent assault. . This case was heard at the last sittings of the Court here and upon which the jury disagreed. Mr Jackson, of Wellington, appeared for plaintiff, and Sir John Findlay, with Mr Collins, for-'defendant. The following jury wore empannelied :—A. Whiteford (foreman), J. Crowley, E. Tucker’, T. Aitken, J, B. Lockheax’t, S. Davis, S. Garner, S._ T. Ashton, F. Banks, G. Brown, S. Nichol, and H. J, Porter. Plaintiff, who was staying at the King’s Court Hotel at Ohakune, of which defendant was proprietress, and which plaintiff was considering the,taking over of the establishment, alleged, that defendant 1 administered a drug to her and then indecently assaulted her. The plaintiff’s case is proceeding.

■The arrivals in Nev< Zealand during the month of October uumtcied 3205, and the departures 1240—a gain of 1965. It was,stated by a witness at the Manawa:u River Board Commission that he had lial 60 or 70 acres added to his pre party 0/ the rlv.r. accretion. This might be worth about £lO an acre.

During his stay in Wanganui yesterday, a deputation waited upon the Prime Minister (Mr Massey) with reference to the cutting un of the Marallau esUite for closer settlement. Mr Massey replied, that he was having a report prepared, and if the report was favourable, the Government would acquire the estate.. Recently two boys from the local Orphanage have been placed on farms in ‘.his district, where they are to be taught farming. After giving the boys a good sound training in the home and a Board school education, the committee find them places to go to, and then follow their careers until they arc able to .look after themselves.

The cake and artistically dressed doll, which were the objects of guessing competitions in connection with the sweets stall at the Agricultural Show, will bo finally disposed of at the flower show tomorrow. The ladies who had charge of tiro sweets stall will he present to sell tickets. The proceeds arc in aid of the Belgian relief funds. It lias already been reported that Mr W. A. Veitch’s committee room has outgrown the needs of his committee. To overcome this, the directors of His Majesty's Buildings 'nave kindly granted the committee the use of the Social Hall on the top floor, which is capable of holding over 600 people.

For the month of November the Customs duties collected in Wanganui amounted to £690 1 5s 2d, and beer duty to £133 9s 6d; other receipts £25 4s Bd. During November,' 1913, the Customs duties amounted to £4817 0s lid, and beer duty, to £166 4s sd. The shrinkage last years was probably due to the wutersidors’ strike.

“I believe the great majority of employers play the game fairly,” said Mr Vciteh at Arampho last evening, “but there is always a section of them prepared to screw down their men to fne uttermost limit, and it is for this, the unscrupulous and selfish type of employer, that wo have to legislate. There should be a legal minimum rate of pay.” On the evening of December Bth, the annual prize-giving ceremony in connection with the day classes of the Technical College will be held. The principal speaker will bo Professor Hunter, of A'ietoria College, AA'cllington. Professor Hunter has also kindly consented to deliver a lecture on Experimental Rsyscology on behalf of the Philosophical .Society on Monday, 7i.li December.

Women folk are not particularly welcome at Samoa just at present. According to instructions issued by the Union SS. Company to its branch managers, wives, or other female relatives of residents of Samoa must, if they wish to visit Samoa, first apply direct to Colonel Logan, and his reply giving consent must be produced 1 cforc tickets are issued. Lady missionaries or wives of missionaries have also to apply to Colonel Logan through their respective organisations, ami present tho reply when taking out a passage. In the case of other female applicants for passages from New Zealand, they must obtain permits from the officer commanding the military district in which the application is made. Sitting in his civil jurisdiction at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, Hr W. Kerr, S.M., gave judgment for the, plaintiff in each of the following undefended cases:—lnman and Son v. S. Wuitcno, £4 15s; J. Paul and Co. v. H. Footer, £5 10a (id; The Golden Terrace Mining Co., Ltd. v. S. T. Trigsrs, £lO Os (id; A. Hatrick and Co., Ltd. v. C. R. Currie, £55 2s 2d; same v. To Wcra Huroretuterangi, £4 5s 7d; Crichton and Newman v. E. Lind, .£3 Sa (id; Chronicle Co., Ltd. v. B. E. Williams, £8 2s 9d; A. Hatrick and Co., Ltd. v. J. Paterson, £l4 12s 6d; 11. Collier and Co. v. W. H. McLean, £4 3s 4d; G. Beckett v. J. Bridcr, £lO Os 3d; M. Spurdlo v. L. McElwain, £1 Os (id;! Hughes, Allomes, and Tarrant, Ltd. v.' Dow Bros., £3 11s Gd; Commissioner of Taxes v, T. IV. Downes, 19s 3d.

‘'The graduated land tax can stand another squeeze without injuring anyone seriously,’’ said Mr Yciteli at Aramoho last night. Wo were, he said, borrowing too much for public works, and should pay more for works out of taxation. Not out of Customs taxes, for they needed reduction, but out of further taxes on death duties, on largo estates, and on large landed estates and large incomes. The Liberal and Labour parties proposed a graduated tax on estates from .£20,1100 upwards, and if that did not stop aggregation, the screw should he given another turn, and still another till the aggregation of big landed estates was stopped. Similarly with large incomes. The present income tax graduation stopped too low down, and wanted to go higher till ic took all that anyone had over a certain amount. This would produce a largo amount of money for development and public works which were now paid for out of borrowed money. tTnder the present system, the spending of borrowed money increased the land values of private individuals, while the community at large had to pay the interest on tho loans as well as repay them. As the result of tho death of a labourer named William Brand, at Marton last year, compensation was claimed by the Public Trustee (as administrator of deceased’s estate) from Bussell and Bigncll, Ltd., and the claim was heard at Wanga. nui on 20th November. Brand died as the result of an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment by the defendants as a builder’s labourer, and the only question between the parties was as to the basis upon which compensation 3,1011 d be as cased. In the judgment of the Court (which was received bv the Clerk of Awards, Mr G. S, Clark, at Wellington on Saturday) his Honor Mr, Ju-tmo Stringer said it was admitted that if Subsection 1, Section li, of the Workers’ Compensation Act, 1908, was applicable to tho case, the “average weekly earnings” of the deceased amounted to =£2 11s 9d, and tho plaintiff was entitled to tho amount claimed on that basis. It was contended, however, that employment cf the deceased was of a discoid Hughs nature and therefore he came within the category of “casual workers,” and that consequently the sub-section referred to was inapplicable. Tho Court, said his Honor, did not. agree with this contention, being of opinion that the employment cf deceased in this particular instance was of such a .character as to bo continuous and not casual, and that Sub-section 1 of Section 6 applied to workers generally. Judgment would therefore bo given for tho plaintiff for the amount of .£403 13s, together with £ll (Is for funeral and medical expenses, and £7 7s costs, with witnesses’ expenses to bo settled by the Begistvar. When the claim was heard, Air C. B. Collins apreared for the plaintiff, and Air C. C. Hutton for the defendants.

The Wawerley branch of the Fanners’ Union has received over .£IOOO for their British, and Belgian relief funds.

A juryman, a builder by occupation, was excused from attendance at the Supreme Court this morning on account of important work in progress at Fordcll. The Curator of tlm Wanganui Museum, in bis In-monilily report, mentions that iiie . arrliquftkb of November 22 did very, Title damage to the Museum. A ease of seven painted ('lily figures was upset ami the contents damaged bavond repair. They were, however, neither rare or valuable. liefarring to the proposal to establish an Agricultural Biink, Mr VeiU'h remarked at Aramoho last, evening that it wan ■supported by all parlies, it was really an extension of the Advances to Settlers Department. Ho did not know why it should be called an “Agricultural” Bank, because it was plain that, once established, its operation could not bo limited to fanners. Its establishment, would undoubtedly lead to a .State Bank, and for that reason he welcomed it as one of the most necessary reforms of to-day. The Wanganui Motor Cycle Club have decided to put on a Gymkhana on Thuisday, December 3rd, at Cook's Gardens, in aid of the Belgian Fund. Besides some interesting motor events, there will be an exhibition of boomerang throwing by Mr George Broadhead, which should in itself be worth seeing. Afternoon tea will be procurable on the grounds. Given tine weather, a large crowd should bo present to witness this unique programme, awd thus augment the Belgian Fund.

A hemiplegic patient, Harry Hullinan by name, who has been in the Napier Hospital for the last two years with the lower half of his hotly completely paralysed, hj at present rejoicing’ at the results of the recent earthquake. The shock so affected his nervous system (says the Daily Telegraph) that he has recovered the partial use of the leg which was the more seriously afflicted of the two. After having been helpless for two years, the patient's condition -is such as to give him unbounded pleasure. The case is an interesting one, and Dr. Gilray and his staff are, watching it clcsely. The improvement may be only temporary, hut there are faint chances that it may continue.

There 1 appeared in last week's Gazette a list of enemy vessels winch have either been captured at sea or hold in port as far as was known on August 110, which somewhat remote date discounts the value of the li-.t to some extent. There is also a notice intimating the number of German vessels which had been detained at Antwerp on the outbreak of hostilities between Germany and Belgium, and notifying interested British parties to makegood their claims before the Tribunal of the First Instance to whom the Commission (constituted to prepare inventories of cargo) was to report. This contained the names of 3*l vessels. As Germany has since taken Antwerp, the vessels will have reverted to their original owners, if not otherwise disposed of by the Belgian authorities before Antwerp yielded to the enemy.

“It is all nonsense to say wc can’t afford to employ men,” remarked Mr Yeitch in the course, of his Aramoho address last night. “In a country like New Zealand-, where development work is waiting to he done on all sides, wc can’t afford to have men idle. Every man should have the right to work, and the right to go where work is waiting for him. Tam not prenared to legislate for the waster and the loafer to get a day's wages unless he fairly earns them. But where genuine unemployment exists, the State should put men on some necessary public work, and nay them a fair rate of wages. There should be a special unemployment lax on all large incomes over a certain amount, ft is not right that any man should enjoy the possession of thousands a year, while other men are starving, because they have no money and no work.”

A letter lu.< heon received by flic servetary of the Education Hoard, Mr \V. If. Swangcr, from the secretary of the Cosmopolitan Club, coverin'; a donation of -CM) 1 awards school prizes. The let I or, "kick speaks for itself, was as follows: “The executive of the chib last evenin'; voted the sum of JMO towards providin'; prizes for the junior ela-ses of the various schools in Wanganui and llio suburbs’. It has been staled (o (be members of the executive that file children had decided this year to forego their prizes and devote the usual grants for this purpose to the relief of distress caused by the nr. While admiring 1 Jim spirit of the children, my executive, would ask you to accept this amount in order that the younger children may not he altogether deprived of I hoi r usual pleasure in receiving prizes.- It, is the desire of the executive to allocate (lie amount to tao various schools in proportion to the attendance- and I would be obliged if you would let mei have a list of the number of children allending fho junior classes (say up to the second standard) of each school." A leffor of thanks has been forwarded to flic Cosmopolitan Chib, and the matter will be brought under the notice of the schools concerned. Before tno work of the session at the Supreme Court commenced this morning, Mr W. 11. Treadwell, president of the Wanganui Law Society, welcomed Mr Justice Stringer to Wanganui on behalf of the Law Society mid the members of fhe profession practising in Wanganui. He extended a cordial welcome on this, Mr Justice Stringer’s first occasion upon which ho was called upon to preside over the, '••ittings of the Wanganui session. Mr Treadwell remarked upon the growth of Suproiie Court business in Wanganui. lie referred to the harmonious .relations that had always existed between bench and bar in Wanganui and hoped that ibis would still continue. He congratulated bis Honor upon his appointment to the Supreme Court bench and trusted that lie would for many years continue to occupy the honourable position, and hoped that it would not be the last lime the members of the profession would have the privilege of his Honor presiding over the sessions hero. His Honor,"in reply, thanked the members of the Law Society for their cordial welcome, and hoped that the cordial relations between bench-’ and bar would continue. This bad been the case throughout the Dominion and had undoubtedly conduced for the bettor administration cf justice. This was the first time lie had visited Wanganui and his Honor congratulated the town on its increase in legitimate litigious work, and hoped it corresponded with the prosperity of the clients.