News of the Dominion

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 24, 12 June 1912, Page 4

News of the Dominion

Well Conducted. GT~r T the annual meeting of the AuckJ I land Licensing Committee, the police had a complaint against ** the management of only one out of the fifty-seven licensed premises in the district. The complaint was of a general nature, alleging drunkenness on the premises, and the unfitness of the licensee to run a hotel. The hearing of the complaint was adjourned. Work iu Wellington. The Mayor of Wellington told a reporter tiie other day that he does not now receive so many applicants for employment as when he first assumed office. The system which he introduced a few weeks ago, by which applicants for work are referred to various corporation departments where they would be most useful, is working satisfactorily. The majority of unskilled applicants are referred to the city engineer’s department, and a fair number have already been given work there. At the present time about 150 men are employed on the Wainui main duplication and construction of the new Bell-road reservoir. Clerks are the most difficult eases, owing to the very restricted range of clerical employment in the Corporation’s services, and the Mayor generally gives them introductions to outside business firms. From present indications it is not anticipated unemployment will be severe in Wellington this winter. Naval Base. Capt. Rolleston, officer in charge of the naval establishment at Sydney, arrived at Wellington by the Moana last week to make inquiries On behalf of Admiralty respecting the establishment of naval stores at Auckland or some other suitable locality. After April 1 next the naval establishment at Garden fslandt Sydney, will be exclusively required for the Australian squadron. Captain Rolleston will visit the principal' centres, hut there appears little doubt that Auckland will be finally decided on. As indicated in the telegram, the British naval base in Australasian waters is almost immediately to be transferred to New Zealand, the ships that are to be stationed here being attached to the China squadron, and including, besides cruisers, several submarines and destroyers. The Hon. Arthur M. Myers (Minister for Railways) stated, in reference to the near establishment of a naval base in New Zealand waters, that Cabinet had already approved of the expenditure of money required for the establishment or a naval depot in Auckland, as the result of communications that have passed between the Admiralty authorities and the New Zealand Government on this matter. Barmaids in Private Bars. Some time ago Inspector Ellison was asked by the Wellington Licensing Committee if unregistered barmaids were employed in private bars in Wellington. The Inspector replied that at present

none were so employed, but he expected that very soon several would be, as hotelkeepers were aware that no offence against the law would be committed by employing them. Very few private bars, and some so-ealled public bars in licensed houses, were really bars within the definition of "public bar’ or "bar’’ in section 4 of the Licensing Act, 1908. The prohibition in regard to employment of barmaids under section 36 of the Licensing Amendment Act, 1910, applied only to employment in or about the publie bar of any licensed premises. Witnesses Refuse. At the Cost of Living Commission at Dunedin, Mr. W. C. McGregor (solicitor), said he appeared on behalf of Dunedin merchants who had been summoned to appear at witnesses. He had advised them that they were not bound to appear, and they did not propose to attend to give evidence. This statement was not made in any disrespect to the Commission. The Commission retired to consider the position. After consultation the chairman, Mr Tregear, said the Commission had reported to the proper authorities the refusal of certain witnesses to give evidence in order that a proper legal course might be adopted. Hon. J. A. Millar’s Health. Talking to a reporter recently, the Hon. J. A. Millar confirmed the statement that he had suffered in health. He said that a elot of blood had affected the retina of one eye, which was completely deprived of sight. The eye gave him no pain whatever, but the seriousness of the position was shown by the fact that the blood pressure, which normally was 195, had increased to about 225. He added that he had complete confidence in the Dunedin doctors, whom he had consulted, and they had insisted upon his taking absolute rest. In other respects his health was excellent. He had never, in fact, felt in better condition or more fit for work. Mr. Millar was asked if it would be necessary for him to follow his doctors' advice at once and retire from the prominent position he now occupied in political life. He replied with a good deal of emphasis that he would be in his place in the House during half the session at least. "I’m going to straighten things out,” he said, "Tin not going to leave until things have been settled, and I shall probably stay in Wellington for about two months.” He would take his rest after that, and it would be taken somewhere outside of New Zealand. "Waikato Winter Show. The sixth annual Waikato winter show was formally opened by the Hon. A. M. Myers on Tuesday last. In the course of a few remarks appropriate to the occasion, the Minister commented on the astonishing development of Hamilton in the last 20 years, and quoted figures showing the population of the borough had increased from 1212 in 1891 to 3542 in 1911. The figures for the whole county of the Waikato showed

a corresponding startling increase, while in daily cows alone in ten years the advance had been from 2633 to 14,371. The Minister made the welcome announcement to those interested in show matters that a special train would be run for the conveyance of stock to and from the Manawatu and Waikato *A. and P. show's in November next, which, if the experiment was successful, would be continued.

Speeches were also made by Mr. Parlane (the president), Mr. Manning (Mayor), Mr. Bollard, M.P., Mr. Young, M.P., and Air. Coates, the member for Kaipara.

A large increase in the total number of entries over previous shows was noticeable, the records having increased from 2652 in 1911 to 3074 in 1912. The horticultural section showed an increase of 200, agricultural 100, dairy butter from 50 to 132 and cheese from 5 to 50. The industrial section had also nearly 100 more entries, while the school section had more than doubled itself, 1911 showing 300, and in 1912 612 entries. The most valuable prize given consists of the Coronation Challenge Cup, valued at 100 guineas, for box of butter suitable for export. This was won for the year by the Apiti Dairy Company, with half a point ahead of the Cheltenham, Hamilton, Raetahi, and Lepperton factories, which were all bracketed equal for second place. Raglan distinguished itself in the root section, having secured the 25-guinea trophy for the best sample of John Bull swedes, grown by J. Pegler, as well as securing two specials and a first and second in the open class. This district was the only one progressive or enterprising enough to get together a court which showed clearly the productiveness of the land around Raglan. The exhibit consisted of root and grain crops, apples and vegetables, iron ore, Maori curios, and even to a kiwi egg, and was one of the most interesting features of the show.

The Ruakura Fann exhibit occupied the whole of one end of the building, and was a fine collection. Numerous varieties of grain were shown, all from crops harvested on the farm, including •barley, wheat, runners, oats, rye com, and speltz, and, chief of all, the rustresisting oat developed by Mr. Green on the place. Most interesting was lucerne, shown with roots, with the small nodules in which this plant stores nitrogen, plainly visible.

Education and Strikes. In the course of his evidence before the Education Commission at Auckland, Mr. R. F. Rudman (principal of the Thames High School) detailed a conversation he had with the late Hon. James McGowan (formerly Minister for Mines and Justice) some six weeks ago on the subject of strikes. Air. McGowan on that occasion had remarked: “We will never stop strikes until the teaching of the elementary economic conditions is carried out in all the schools of the Dominion. Such teaching would have a splendid effect on the thoughts of the next generation, and would tend to the settlement of labour problems.” The

witness mentioned thia conversation bora use Mr. McGowan had given the matter much thought. In answer to ques-^P* 1 tioirs. Mr. Rudman said that, speaking' from his own point of view, the teaching ou * of economies might have a good effect and tend to enlightenment, but he un- el derstood the syllabus was so crowded few already that there was no room for the'Jev subject. it, to Auckland Exhibition. th, A decision was arrived at by the Brl Works Committee of the City Couireil thj last week to grant the Exhibition! su Executive the consent of the Council n a to proceed with its application for anr ( Order-in-Counoil to.have the Outer Do-hat main and the cricket ground closed for ini the Auckland Industrial, Agricultural, leol and Mining Exhibition, to be opened in u] December of next year. The consent in was granted upon certain conditions, tliqnta. ehief of which are: — tini (1) That an agreement shall be pre- th< pared by the city solicitor and entered into between the City Council and the ol) Exhibition Executive, limiting the use of ml seer

the cricket ground by the Exhibition authorities to not more than 20 days during the summer of 191314, not more than sir of tfeose days to be Saturdays; (2) that a cricket ground committee shall be set up, consisting of the Works Committee of the City Council and three members of the Exhibition Executive, to control the use of the cricket ground, all fees payable by clubs to be received by the City Council as usual; (3) such area of Outer Domain as is not required by the Exhibition to remain a reserve under the Council, which shall receive the rents from such unused portion. Auckland City Finance. The figures for the financial year indicate that the position of the Auckland City Council is particularly good. When the present Council took office, at the beginning of the financial year, the overdraft was £34,393. By March 31 last it had been reduced to £17,644, and that amount included £13,314, advanced from the general account in anticipation of street improvement and other loans. Those advances are now being repaid as the loans are being floated, so that the net overdraft on the general account stands at £4,330. The state of the city's finances is regarded as particularly satisfactory, in view of the fact that" £33,916 has" been spent on street maintenance, and £9,000 on permanent new work, such as kerbing and channelling. All the special accounts are in credit, showing that the Council's financial .position is a strong one.

Female Labour. The dearth of female labour which has long been a troublesome problem in New Zealand was a subject incidentally touched upon by- Mr. Justice Edwards while summing up in a divorce case at the Auckland Supreme Court. “An excellent cook, or an indifferent cook,” said his Honor, “has very little difficulty in obtaining a situation in Auckland or its vicinity.” At a later period his Honor remarked: “There never has been any time within the last ten years when a mother or her daughter •could not obtain a good situation at a respectable place.” Need for Settlement.

The Hon. James Bryce, British Ambassador at Washington, was the guest at a Chamber of Commerce dinner in Rotorua. on Friday night. Beplying to the toast of the evening, he said he had been struck with the rapid growth of our exports, but he had also been struck with the great need for closer settlement. Strenuous efforts should be made to set-

tle the country. Closer settlement would be good for everybody, good for working men, good for landlords, good for export houses, and good for commerce. The reputation of New Zealand staple products in England was so well established that the Old Country would take as much as we could send. Mr. Bryce also referred to the possibilities of trade with Canada. He said Canada could take a great number of things New Zealand could export. The strength of the Empire was not to be measured in the figures of commerce but in active trade which implied 'closer intercourse between the component nations. Canada had granted most liberal facilities for set'tle-

went, and he predicted that within twenty-five or thirty years there would be comparatively very little land available there. Touching briefly on the question of immigration, Mr. Bryce said if the people of Great Britain were but aware of what an attractive country New Zealand is immigration would go on increasing, and it was for New Zealand io facilitate that immigration. We had immense advantages and splend'd opportunities, and we had none of the traditions and none of the h ib ts that sometimes fettered old countries. Appreciation. As a mark of appreciation of the improvements already made on the suburban railways, residents of Manurewa and i’apaknra on Satu day evening last banquetted the Hon. A. M. Myers (Minister for Bail ways) in the Manurewa Hall. The-beader of the Opposition and members of Parliament on both sides of the House were present, and generally the speakers bore testimony to the excellent work done by the Minister in respect of railways administration. Education. The "Royal Commission on Education has been taking evidence at Auckland during the week. Mr E. K. Mulgan, Chief Inspector of the Auckland district, expressed the opinion that some schools were understaffed and head teachers were grossly underpaid. Be thought more should be done in fitting teachers to impart agricultural instruction. Mr Hogben and Mr Mulgan both agreed that children were over-examined. Mr H. J. D. Mahon, of the Grammar School staff, speaking of scholarships, expressed regret that country boys were not given a boarding allowance to enable them to attend a secondary school in town. Bishop Cleary put in a strong plea for Roman Catholics for the removal of religious restrictions, so that Roman Catholic schools should obtain the full benefit of free education bv the State.

Labonr Candidates. The Federation of labour. at its conference in Wellington, provided for candidates representing the Federation being “run” at the general elections. Candidates must be financial members of the Federation and wage workers. A new constitution adopted (provides, among other things, for abolition of the wage system. Borrowing.

Beplying to a Clutha Valley deputation, the Hon. T. Mackenzie (Prime Minister) said the time had come for Parliament to consider whether or not a separate borrowing scheme should be adopted for developing the country. He was in favour of a policy to construct light lines as feeders to main railways. He was going to submit, to Cabinet a proposal dealing with the number of 'branch lines required, and make their construction part of the Government’s policy, and thus raise, Parliament being willing, money for the purpose. General Strike.

The Federation of Labour discussed the question of calling a general strike of affiliated unions in support of the Waihi miners’ demands, and it ,has been reported that it was decided not to adopt the extreme step, at all events pending the decision of the Arbitration Court in regard to the Reefton dispute. The official statement, however, is that the whole matter was left in the hands of the executive, and they still have it under consideration. The derision of the Minister for Labour that the Waihi Enginedrivers’ Union must be registered under the Arbitration Act has rather tended to complicate matters. The mineowners have intimated that they are agreeable to a conference with the Federation of Labour, but that they absolutely decline to interfere in the dispute between the Miners’ Union and the enginedrivers. Opposition Caucus. An Opposition caucus was held in Wellington early in the week. Rumours of coalition were denied, and a plan of campaign for the ensuing cession was adopted. Mr Massey will probably take the first opportunity of moving another vote of no-confidence in the Government.