LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15789, 10 April 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Marten branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants passed a resolution refusing to accept the schedule offred by tbe Department, and urging that a special conference of delegates be' called to deal with the matter. Forty Maori soldiers comprising a majority of the South Island Maoris who were in the Pioneer Battalion in France, arrived by the ferry steamer yesterday morning at Lyttelton, and wont to Tuahiwi, where a reception was accorded them.

To-day the members of the Industries Committee were the guests of the Mayor Mr C. E. Mackay, and the chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr A. G. Bignnll, on a tour of inspection of the various industries carried on here. The visitors expressed themselves as greatly imareas-’ ed with the evidences of energy and enterprise which they met with in their inspection.

At the Wellington Magistrate’s Court, ■Harry Blanford and Kate Winstanlcy pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy. The female accused admitted that she married Norman Charles Winstanley, a member of the 32nd Reinforcements, on the day before he sailed. Both accused were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

A Sydney cable states that a verdict of suicide was returned at the inquest on William Sim, of Wellington, a New Zealand medical student, who was found dead in his bedroom. He had been worried over-his failure to pass a medical exam. He attached rubber tubing to the gas, and put the other end under the blankets. He was found dead in Bed.

The Westland County Council held a meeting at Hokitika on Tuesday, when a motion was carried congratulating the Minister of Mines on the proposed steps to review the flagging interest of the Mines Department in the goldmining industry. It was resolved to hold a conference of local body representatives and the mining people here on May 14th to formulate proposals to assist in fostering mining in Westland and, the Dominion generally. Eepresentatives of large mining enterprises are now in the district, and it is hoped to have their co-operation and advice. The meeting adopted the county chairman’s'(Mr Duff) proposal to place before the ratepayers loan proposals for .£6OOO to assist the prosecution of major works in South Westland for the more rapid development of that promising district. It was further resolved that Westland join the County Progress ■League as a branch, and a deputation from the league is to be invited to visit the district and- explain the objects of thele ague.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Patriotic Association, it was decided, on lire motion of the Mayor, that the Finance Committee should consider the (|uestion of providing bursaries for returned mc-n wi&iiing to pursue their studies.

Complaints having been made to tl>e Wanganui Acclimatisation Society of the indiscriminate shooting of hinds amongst the fallow deer in this district, the Society lias appointed a ranger with a view of putting a stop to this unsportsmanlike action.

Cabinet has decided that no more m'oney is to be spent in the attempt to reconstruct harbour works at Wairoa. The Government has not considered the question of making a grant for making works at Waikakapu, some miles from Wairoa.

After a long spell of hot days which made the outlook for winter feed very black, welcome rain began to fall in the Oamaru district yesterday morning, and a steady fall continues. The rain will have a very bencficient effect on parched pasture land and help to restore the fast falling stock market. It is notified that the day of tho monthly meeting of • the Wellington Land Board has been changed. In future the Board, instead of meeting on the last Thursday, will meet on the last Wednesday of the month, except in December, when tho day of meeting will bo specially notified. With a view to furthering the welfare of the soldiers in hospital, an 'officer from Group 20 Headquarters will visit the military ward of the Wanganui Hospital every Tuesday, with a view to .ascertaining whether any of the soldiers under the command of the Group! Commander have any complaints respecting pay or any ■other matters concerning their welfare. Saturday was the closing date for the receipt of nominations in connection with the election by the general public service of two members of the Pubwic Service Board of Appeal. The only nominations received were those of Charles De Eant Andrews (of the Valuation Department, Dunedin) and Arthur Marryatt (of the Government Life Insurance Department, Wellington), and those officers were declared elected.

The final shots in, the prohibition campaign were fired last night, whew an open-air meeting was held in Maria, Place. Addresses were given by Messrs W. Cuttle, J. Charteris, and the Bov. H. L. Blamires in support of the prohibition movement. , At tho conclusion of their addresses, Mr G. Gardener spoke in support of continuance. All the speakers got a good reception, although there was a fair amount of interruption at times from some members of tho audience. The possibilities of a recurrence of the influenza epidemic is a fruitful topic of conversation in. the city (says Friday's Wellington Post). A new aspect of tho matter was mentioned to a Post, representative by a leading chemist. Should such an unfortunate happening take place ho said, Wellington will he faced with a great shortage of drugs used in the treatment of tho complaint. "Why/’ he exclaimed, ‘if you, asked mo for at pound of formalin to-day, I haven’t got it, and I can’t get it.” Not only jo the shortage in influenza speefics; it is tho same with a great many other drugs, and tho need of them is being generaßv felt, throughout the country. “The '.Railway Department will want to ho paid twice for the one job,” remarked Fir James Allen mi Saturday when a complaint over railways los-os was made by the deputation of 'returned soldiers at Auckland. It had been, staved that the former privilege of soldiers who became ill on leave, and were unable to travel on their railway passes, in being al le to have tho dates extended, had been withdrawn. A case was cited of a soldier who, through being ill, had lost his right, to travel. The Minister admitted that such soldiers suffered a hardship and said he wm/kl endeavour to make the necessary arrangements with the Railway Department.

A special group order has been issued by Captain F. Hudson, local Group Commander, regarding distinguishing

stars for Hospital and Convalescent Home out-patients. All members of the Expeditionary Force attending; the Hospital as out-patients will bo issued two blue stars to bo worn on the collar peak of their service jacket; these must be worn whenever an officer or soldier is attending as an out-patient of a hospital. These stars will be issued to out-patients at the local Hospital by tire S. and W. sergeant-major, after medical examination, on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday next, and must bo worn so long as they are out-patients. Two marvellous escapes from drowning are recorded as having taken place during the war. One was that of a sailor who was washed overboard from a patrol vessel during a storm at night, and was thought to be lost till he hailed the watch from under the stern. He had caught the log line, which trailed for a couple of hundred feet behind, and hauled himself along to safety. In another case a lad was washed overboard at night from one destroyer, .and then heaved by a wave upon the deck of another vessel half a mile astern! When he was restored to his own ship at the end of the voyage his amazed captain thus addressed him: “Young man, you have used up all the luck you will have in your life. The navy is no safe place for you. Take my advice and get out of it as soon as you can.” The opportunity of the furniture industry of New Zealand to extend its operations to Palestine was placed before the Chamber of Commerce last night by the Department of Industries and Commerce. Prior to the war, Austria, Eoumania and Russia were the chief suppliers to the Palestine trade, but the timber resources of those countries had been severely taxed by the war demand. The timber resources of Australia and New Zealand had not been taxed more than usual, and this left an opportunity' for colonial manufacturers to obtain control of the trade. The chief articles for export would he bentwood chairs, rockers and settees. Mr L. E. Bassett remarked that the difficulty in the New Zealand trade was that the saw milling industry could not keep pace with the local demand.

“I opposed it, but now I am heartily in accord with the Saturday half-holi-day,” remarked a business man at tho meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce last night. The matter cropped up through a request from the Palmerston North Saturday Hali-holi-day Committee, asking for the Chamber’s opinion on the subject. “Many of the bitterest opponents to the proposal are now very favourable to tho Saturday half-holiday, and would now oppose any change back to tho mid-week holiday,” said Mr E. W. Green. “There were none of the dire calamities which it was stated would eventuate upon the inauguration of the week-end half-holi-day,” “Marton has not become any busier on account of it,” remarked another member. On the motion of Mr R. W. Green, seconded by Mr J. T. Werry, It was decided to reply that the members present were satisfied with toe Saturday half-holiday.

It is proposed to retain. 200 of the 800/ women clerks now employed in. tnc Bank of England. They will ho paid Jfil per week, with a pension of 50 per cent, on their salaries after 25 years’ service.

Three first offenders for insobriety appeared before Mr Wyvern S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court this morning. One was convicted and discharged, and two were convicted and lined ss.

The big cargo steamer Toro men, which has arrived at Wellington to discharge case oil from New York, is the German steamer Tiberius, winch was seized at Sydney by the Australian Government on (ho outbreak of war.

At Bonn, the famous German University town, somo Canadians slot the spike oil' the helmet on Frederick If’s. statue, the nose off his face, ami the sword from his hand. Tn fact the Germans had to put a guard over what is left of Ids statue.

It lias now, been made clear, by thfl decision of Mr Justice Chapman in the Birss appeal case, that it is imperative, to give a written order for any quantity of liquor to bo taken into a ij-o-liceuse district-even, if the quantity ij only a single bottle. A very dry district! The total rainfall registered in Ma-stcrton for the month of March was only 0.35iu., as compared with 4.21 in. for the same month last year. For the last three months, only 4.12 in. hav been registered, against B.4Ciu. for the first quarter of last year. A good rainfall .was experienced last week.

A very successful conference of Group Commanders in the Wellington Military District was held at Palmerston on Taoi day. The officer commanding the district, Col. T. W. McDonald, presided. Among the matters discussed was that of the forthcoming Pence celebrations. It was agreed that every efibrt should bo made to assist and co-operate with the civil authorities in every possible way. Other matters discussed were routine administration and inter-group policy. The unveiling of a roll of honour at Otorohanga took place on Saturday,; The Hon. Mr McDonald and Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., took part in the, proceedings. There were over 60 names on. the Scroll, and they all went tlirough the public school at Otorohanga. There was a largo attendance of settlers and school children. After the unveiling, the Minister visited a coal scam at Taiaiha and the Waitotara Caves. 'Hiere have been 4-800 visitors to the CaVes this season, and increased accommodation has to be provided. At a mooting of farmers at Christchurch yesterday, convened to consider the, refrigerated shipping space shortage, tho following motion, was carried; “This meeting of Canterbury farmers desires to brine before’tho Government the urgent need of prompt action to relieve the present, space problem. Canterbury is suffering from a serious drought, and unless fat lambs are killed in the next, three weeks, the loss to Canterbury would be serious. Wo are advised that butter and cheese are given preference, but we consider the Government should put moat first, in spite of the Homo Controller. We suggest that the CorinthJc, coming to Lyttelton <n April 22nd, should load meat entirely from Lyttelton. This would materially relieve the position.”

A correspondent writes as follows to the Auckland Star:—A young lady saw an advertisement for persons to malm shirts at home in spare time. She answered, as she was a good hand at the business: and was on the look-out for some work. A. reply came to call at a certain suburban factory. She went, and was told the terms, i.e., 2# dozxui shirts, and 2s 9d per dozcMfcr neglige shirts. The making includes all but. the running up of the side seams ami the fitting of tho sleeves, which are done by the machines at, the factory. These prices arc just about ouo-ba.lf of wbat was paid in the Old Country in tho factories, before the war. As tho pre-war price here of shirts averaged about double those of Home, it would bo safe to say that, alxmt twice tho Home rate for making should rule, which_ would be 9s to 10s pew dozen, and we will say nothing of increase of wages, war bonus, etc., due to the inerased cost ol living during the war period. Vntk 2id each for practically finishing the making of the shirt, obo can reckon that 4d would quite cover the whole. Compare this with the retail selling price of the goods, and work out who gets the profit—not the ouo who sits and sweats her heart out at the machine.