LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160735, 23 August 1920, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

More than 100,000 American parcelpost packages have been found by Y.M.C.A. investigators, which have been lying in French post offices undelivered for many months. Approximately 400 vessels, with a fetal of 650,000 tonnage, were launched on tho Clyde river during the last year, the output almost reaching the record of ship construction on the Clyde. Owing to the number of collections of various kinds at present in progress throughout the United States, the Ifil-lion-doliar campaign for a.n interchurch world movement has been abandoned. A census of horses has been taken in Great Britain, in order that Die Government might be placed in possession of information more recent than that afforded by the census taken in 1918.

The telegram published in Saturday’s issue, in reference to the Railway Department and the cost of constructing the deviation, was from the member for Wanganui (not from the Prime Minister as stated) to the chairman of the Harbour Board.

“The guns were there, but they were so tied up with ‘red tape’ that I had not the time to untie it, nor a knife sharp enough to cut it,” said a member at a meeting of tho executive of the Marlborough Patriotic Association, recently, while speaking of his experiences at the Government offices in search of tie war trophies for Marlborough. An extraordinary sight was witnessed in Hast Han, England, when two big timber yards were destroyed Ly fire. The fire spread with amazing rapidity. Tongues of flame, eighty yards long, fanned by a steady breeze, crossed the road, and both stacks of timber blazed fiercely, ihe flames mounting to a great height. Houses were hurriedly vacated, the occupants taking their furniture and goods out of the danger zone. Rabbit-trapping in Otago is not now the equivalent of diamond-finding, and a few who entered the industry in expectation of sky-high profits have dropped out (says the Dunedin Star); but the work is still payable—well payable—at present rates, and we learn that it is steadily going on right through the interior this season by men the most of whom have made the industry a specialty, and would nob exchange it for a town life. The returns are so far well up to the average.

“When we arc informed that woollen mills are making profits of up to 50 per cent., it is time that we as farm* ers, in the interests of the Dominion, should do something,” said Mr G. P. Johnston (Gore) at Dio Farmers’ Union Conference at Wellington. He moved; “That this conference enters its emphatic protest against the extreme prices now being charged for colonial-made woollen goods, and asks the Government when considering the tariff to carefully examine the position, and, if necessary, in order to protect the consumer, to reduce Die import duty on English woollen goods.” Ihe motion, was carried unani-' mousfy..

Travelling along the north-west- coast of Australia in a cattle steamer is an untoward experience for tourists, who, as a rule, prefer the more ( regular ocean routes to reach their destination, let such was the experience of Mr and Mrs W. B. Lees, of Wellington, who had to take that means of reaching Australia from Java when none other was offering. Mr Lees states that the trip was not altogether without incident. At Derby the Leparon took on board 300 head of cattle, and as these had been gathered wild from stations hundrdes of square miles in extent, the task of manoeuvring them up and down gangways to the bottom of the ship was no easy one. Occasionally a bullock would stick fast and sulkily refuse to go on, when he was induced to move by the aid of what was known as an electric “tickler,” a pole with two electric terminals, supplied with juice by the steamer’s motors. When the “tickler” failed, it was a case of 'getting a noose round the animal s neck and taking a turn round the winch. This device was always effective when an animal became sullen, and sank to the deck. At Derby the vessel shipped three “aboriginee” murderers, who were chained to the taffrail throughout the trip. The blackfellows seemed quite indifferent to their impending fate, and ate their food quite happily in view of everyone. At Cossack they saw a dozen combats going on at the same time between whales, thrashers, and swordfish. It seemed that there was a kind of unholy alliance between the swordfish and the thrashers, for whilst the former stabbed at the whales underneath, and so kept them from “sounding,” the thrashers leapt clean out of the water and fell on top of the whale, time after time, until they pulverised it. With their glasses the trippers were able to watch a, number of those sea fights, and in each case the whales were getting the •worst of it. I

The Commonwealth Statistician. r P"J ports that it now requires 35s 4d capital cities to buy . what could iava been bought for 20s in 1911. The next census will bo taken on the last Sunday in February, 1921. An Imperial census of the whole Empire will bo taken as nearly as possible at the sumo time. Information has been received that Lord Jellicoo left Southampton on Thursday for Wellington on board the Corinthic, which is duo in Wellington on September 30th. Dr Grayson, personal physician to President Wilson, in a statement, say.i the President is improving slowly ln.it steadily. Do lias regained his former weight of 1791bs and is doing a great amount of work. The Governor-General of Australia has received a farewell message from the Prince stating that he left Sydney with a lump in his throat and convoying the warmest thanks to the Ministers and the nation. A cable states that a mountain top, 200 miles from Manilla, collapsed during a recent storm and buried the entire Igorotc village under hundreds of foot of earth, killing seventy natives. The King of Norway has decorated Madame Melba with the Royal gold modal of merit. Madame Melba sang at a concert in aid of dependents of Norwegian seamen killed during the war. She was accorded a public dinner and presented with laurel wreaths. A London cable states that while motoring to Southampton to farewell Lord Jcllicoe, Sir James Allen’s mol or, car collided with another. Sir James'! Allen was slightly cut about the face through the shattering of the wind'' screen. Representatives of all shipping lines operating from Japanese ports, who have been holding a conference at Yokohama, decided that the standard freight rate for the Pacific Ocean traffic shall be twenty per cent, higher than at present. It is stated that coal from Transvaal mines, via Delagoa, arriving in English ports is cheaper than coal delivered from British coalfields to local ports. One shipment was sold for £2 10s per ton less than the export price of British coal. The public axe reminded that only three or four days are left in which, they can inspect the designs for snickers’ memorials sent by the Government to the Borough Council for selection. The designs are on view at the Borough Council Chambers, St. Hill Street. The Mexican Finance Minister, in a speech, assured the establishment of a new era in Mexico. All foreign investments, especially petroleum interests wall be safeguarded, and the country’s political, economic, and educational system will be entirely reformed. Mr Massey has received a cablegram from Dr Cockayne, the Agricultural Department’s officer, who is in Australia investigating the matter of the potato embargo, stating that Mr Hughes agrees to send an expert to New Zealand, , and if the expert reports favourably the embargo will b« removed. It is understood the Statutes Revi-'' sion Committee of the Legislative Council has hoard all the necessary evidence in connection with allegations relating to the attitude of the Romau Catholic Ghurch towards the marriage laws of Now Zealand. It is not expected that ihe committee's decision will bo announced immediately. A London cable states that Lord Lady Jcllicoe and family left Waterloo on Saturday en route to New Zealand. They were farewcllcd by Sir Joseph Ward, Admiral .Montague Browning and Lord Southwark. As the train was leaving, Admiral Jollieoe waived a brace of grouse brought from the Scottish moors, where he had been shooting since the 12th. A New York cable says that the Department of Labour announced that more than 5000 immigrants are arriving in Now York daily, and that approximately 700, (XX) arrived in Uio United States for the year ending Juno 30th. Foreign steamship companies have reported to immigration officials that all available accommodation for a year in advance has been booked by prospective immigrants. The Dominion Butter Committee will meet next week to consider the British Government's offer for the purchase of the exportable surplus of butter. In the meantime it is reported that there is a shortage of butter for local distribution. There is a fair amount remaining in cold storage, but _ factories are unwilling to supplement this by the new season’s supplies, as it is not yen dvoided what the new season’s price is to be, though it is certain it will be more than iho present price. On Saturday the Mayor (Mr T. B. Williams) made representations to Wellington regarding the shortage of coal supply for the Gasworks, and received an assurance that if the sailer White Pine, with a cargo of coal for Wanganui, did not arrive to-day supplies would be sent by rail from Wellington. About 4 p.m. on Saturday a sailing vessel, supposed to be the White Pine, was sighted from the Pilot Station. There was no sign of the vessel yesterday or this morning. The objections raised by organised Labour to .systems of profit-sharing were dealt with by Mr T. Bloodworth in an address before members of Auckland Society of Accountants. Air Bloodworth said profit-sharing was a suggestion as old as the industrial evils it was supposed to remedy. The primary cause of the evils of capitalism was the separation of Labour and Caj>ital. There was legitimate capital used in industry, but a large amount of the accumulated capital owned by the employers represented the unpaid wages of former workmen. Trades unions were opposed to profit-sharing schemes because they tended to weaken unionism and divide the workers, and also because they tended to prolong the system of production for profit. Labour advocated the institution of a system of production for use,. Although labour unions had been charged with leaving out the great thiiM party—the general public—pro-fit-sharing 'left out all except the workers Owners and workers might combine to share the profits and raise the price of commodities, so than those sections of the community which could not participate would find their purchasing power was reduced for the benefit of other sections. Profit-shar-iim was not applicable to small businesses such as the majority Jp New Zealand. The real object of Urn scheme was merely to put capital on a sounder basis. The worker under a profit-shar-ing scheme received his wages partly in cash and partly in shares, which, however, did not entitle him to the same control of tho business as the capitalist, and this tended to create suspicion between the workers and employer.

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On Saturday morning the police received a telephone communication that a young man had been indecently exposing himself on No. 1 Line. The man was brought to the Police Station, but the informant could not be found to substantiate the charge. The police have reason to believe that this was the same person about whom they received similar complaints from Gonville. He admitted that he had served a term of imprisonment for similar offences in Auckland. L. Fremont, who did not appear at the Court this morning, was fined 10/v.'ith costs, for failing to attend a Territory.! parade. Patrick J. Hogan, for failing to pay a Company Commander’s fine < i 2 6 within 14 days, was fined 20.-- and costs 7Defendant said he did lo ' Prink the Company Commander had jm . ( r to inflict a fine, but subsequently W.rnod that he had and then he paid rim 26. The magistrate commented n :r;> the fact that defendant had bee;; fined on various occasions for breaches of the Territorial system, and unfortunately he did not appear to take bis drill seriously. A matter affecting the welfare of many returned soldiers was referred to at a meeting of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Committee by Air E. P. .Tones, who protested against- the publication ta the Mercantile Gazette of tbe registration of loans granted by the Eepatriation Department on the security of furniture and other property. Ho contended that there was nothing in the Act giving die Department a right to take out a bill of sale in such causes, and remarked that the practice of publishing these registrations was not followed in other centres. Mr Clark pointed oat that, on rhe- other hand, there was nothing in the Act to prevent the Department from doing so. Mr Wood said that at first the Department advanced loans on the security of a man’s word of honour, hut some men abused the privilege, while others enriaß.'crecl themselves by obtaining 1 res-! loans on security already pledged to the Department. ‘The Department 1 -id taken the step of registering these loans to protect the men themselves ns well as to look after its own interests. The .ommiltee decided that a deputation should wail- on the Eopatriat-iou oulcer and obtain further information. Canada is looking to the future with unbounded confidence. Sir Ecbert Bor-d--.i no: so long ago said; ‘‘The last century vus America’s, but the nest will rCanada’s Such are her resources, and such is the spirit of her citizens, that noth inn can slay her progress. ’ A destine of unsurpassed greatness seems to be i-icmiscd to the great Dominion, and this is certainly the view of her sons Decently in London ffir Lomcr Ccnia, tbe I-Tcnch-Canadian who has been Premier of Quebec for nitc-.-n years, was emphatic upon the point. ‘‘We count on exporting ever increasing quantities, besides wheat, of iron, clieofe, butter, and asbestos, of which Carada already supplies SO per cent. »: the -vrrid's consumption,” he said. ! Tn my u.tu pi evince of Quebec we Suave a gie it paper-making industry, v.-’nich wc are developing still further. 'There is, of course, a world shortage of paper, which i. partly due to the forests of the United States having been usee.Up without steps having lx-on taken to replace the wood consumed. But bearing in mind that mistake we are carrying out '-xtensive schemes of afforestation I.»«it!cs patting into effect other n.cjsur-s designed to prevent the exhaustion of our resources ”