LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 85, 7 October 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At a meeting of the Wellington Section Committee of the "Public Service. Association, a motion was passed expressing gratification that the efforts of the executive committee had been sue-, cessful in securing an increase in salary of Is 6d per day for non-commissioned officers of the Police Force. It was also decided, in view of the statement recently made by the Government Statistician regarding the decreasing purchasing power of the sovereign, and the ■ admission of the Acting-Prime Minister in connection with the tramways dispute—that within the last twelve months "the cost of living had still further increased"—-to request the executive to approach the Government and ask for further relief in the form of increased salaries for public servants throughout the Dominion. ■ • A Press Association telegram states: At a conference of the School Committees' Association with the local members of Parliament on Saturday, it was decided to ask:all the committees and local bodies of South Canterbury to join in a vigorous agitafion and send a deputation to Wellington during the session to urge the restoration of the South Canterbury Board of Education in the interests of efficiency. The weekly review on the war, issued by the Ministry of Information, states that the maximum prices of milk in England have been amended in deference to the food policy of the Food Controller, so that it is hoped that friction will cease. Fish prices were reduced to ; balance the increase for meat. The fruit crops have failed, but the .supply of blackberries is exceeding anticipations, and jam stocks are considerably improved. A new factor in the classification of different species of. the same genus of plants is promised in the dyes yielded by the bark. For example, New Zealand '■has about forty species of coprosma, some of which have sttch'a close resemblance iha.t they cannot be ( easily distinguished. Mr. B. C. Aston's experiments prove that each species has its distinctive tint of colour in dyes obtained from the bark. • • ■ . Owing to the large amount of lifting of heavy goods, the Otaki Town Board has decided to \ make representation, through Mr. Field; M.P. for the district, to the Minister of Railways, for a crane. Much ■ difficulty is at present being experienced in handling heavy: material, and on several occasions accidents have been narrowly averted while' such goods were being unloaded. At a meeting of the newly-constituted Otaki Town Board, Commissioner Byron Brown was re-elected chairman, while the following committees were also chosen :—-Roads Committee : ' Commissioners F H. Bright and H.H. Olliver; Domain: Commissioners H. Nicolson, W. Reynolds, and the chairman; Building: Commissioners F. H. Bright and H. H. Olliver ; Cemetery : Commissioners H. Jficoleon and H. H. Olliver; representative to Horowhenua County Council : Commissioner H. Nicolson; representative to Fire Brigade: Commissioner W. Reynolds. Specimens of New Zealand dyes, made from several species of coprosma (grandifolia, areolata, foetidissima, and lucida) by Mr. B. C. Aston, chemist to the Department of Agriculture, are shown in the .current issue . of the Journal of Science. The colours range from yellow and brown and red, through intermediary tints, to black. Wool treated with these dyes was exposed during the whole of ■ a winter, month to rain, wind, and : sunshine, an 3 c-nly one 'Colour, (the yellow of foetidissima) faded. These dyes can be made. easily by any household, and thus they can have a use in home industries. The value, in the commercial sense, remains to be seen. It is possible" that the experiments with coproema may reveal a dye compound not previously discovered, but when the chemical analysis of the new compound was known it might be necessary to use constituents of coal tar for manufacture of the new dye on a large scale. Mr. Aston's work is'being watched with, interest by a. number of scientists and others. , In the Magistrate's Court, Wanganui, last week, S. L. Parsons, licensee of the' Rutland Hotel, was charged with failing to allow four of his staff a holiday under the hotel-workers' award. Mr. Weekes appeared for the defendant and Mr. Gohns for the Department. The facts were admitted. For the defendant it was submitted that owing to the influx of visitors for the Collegiate School football tournament, he was unable to allow his staff a holiday. The chef approached the licensee and stated that he would leave if the staff were given a holiday*. Defendant therefore acceded to the request and consequently committed a breach, although he paid his employees time and a-hn,lf for working. Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in imposing a penalty of £8, said it was a case of " cook rule " instead of award rule, and the defendant must understand that the awards were made to prevent sweating, and to ensure that reasonable wages and holidays were- given to the staff. Woman's sword is her needle—with your needle you can help your country. Folkw tho example of tho women of Europe and make your own clothes at home. New Idea Patterns make is easy for you to have serviceable clothes in the most -advanced styles, and to make them with the utmost ease. Call to-day at our Pattern D&partment and 6c<3 tho latest styles. Patterns (9d each) for everything you desire to make. C. Smith, Ltd., Cuba-street, Wellington, Sole Agents for Naw 2kaload,-r-Advt..

All telephone connections for which subscriptions are unpaid at noon on Tuesday of next week will be cut off. The salaries of. members of the staff of the Auckland City Council were increased at the last meeting of the Council in sums ranging from £10 to £100 per year, on the recommendation, of the Finance and Legal Committee. Some of the larger increases were: City electrical engineer, £800 to £900; waterworks engineer, £600 to £700; city valuer,' £375 to £4-25 ; assistant valuer, £200 to £234 ; ; superintendent of parks, £300 to £400. A striking evidence of the shortage of labour was to be seen recently not far from Rakaia (says the Christchurch Press). A lady, wife of a. well-to-do farmer, undertook to drive a dray, with a spring cart, tied behind, from one farm to another, some distance away. The task was accomplished successfully, though on the . way a traction engine was seen coming. It was then a ;race to see whether the lady or the engine could get to a certain gate first. The lady won. ' . ; Preaching at the Cambridge-terrace Congregational Church yesterday, on "A Nation's Thanksgiving," the Rev. R. ,S. Gray said that during the past week they had had a, feeling oi\ gratitude to Almighty God for His many mercies. Tho night was; passing away, and the darkness was breaking with the dawn of a new day. They believed that the darkness was .going for ever. As to the soldiers, he said: *God forbid that any man who has given his strength, in ths cause of the Empire should be left in oblivion." A communication has been received by the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. J. H. Gunson) from Sir James Allen (ActingPrime Minister), says the Star, in reply to the request for means of establishing telephonic communication between Auckland and the North after hours, made by the deputation from the Wimmera -Relief Society which waited' on the ' Minister in July last. Sir James Allen states that he referred the matter to the Postmaster-General, who has replied that he has now arranged to put in the necessary extension bells at telephone offices at'-small coastal ports in the Auckland district, which will enable the assistance of telephonists to be obtained in the case of marine casualty. Lieutenant Leslie Alex. Crayon died at the Wairau Hospital last week,.succumbing to injuries he received at the seecond battle of Gaza, Palestine. The deceased officer, who was 24 ytars of age, was the youngest son of Mr. A. Crayon, of Grovetown. When the war broke out ho was a member of the teaching staff of the Grovetown School, and he immediately gave-proof of that high sense of duty that was one of the traits of an especially fine character, promptly enlisting and -being a member of one of the first drafts to leave Blenheim. He was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry fn-action at the second battle of Gaza, in the Palestineccarm r paign, on which occasion he was disabled by a shrapnel wound in the spine. The Wellington Football Association entertained the Auckland visiting team at dinner on Saturday evening. Mr. Albert Wells, chairman of" the association, presided, and had associated with him Messrs. W. Auld, H. M'Keowen, > and T. Shields, life vice-presidents. Messrs. D. D. Weir and. A. C. Kitto (Wellington Rugby Union) were among the guests. The usual toasts were honoured. Mr. Weir, in replying to the 9 toast "Kindred Sports," proposed by Mr!" M'Keowen, remarked upon the good fellowship existing between the Rugby and "soccer" players. He paid a compliment to the Management Committee of the association, which was primarily responsible for the flourishing condition of the game. The manager of the Auckland team thanked the Wellington Association for its hospitality, and .remarked upon the clean game'which had been played that day. The toast list was interspersed ■ with musical items, and- concluded with "Anld Lang Syrie." Ample justification for the internment, of seven men alleged to be in sympathy with rebellion in Ireland has bean supplied by the report of Mr. Justice Hprvey (says the Melbourne Argus editorially). As to those found to have been in active association through the Irish Republican Brotherhood with enemy interests there can be no question on one point. They must not be permitted to have freedom . during the currency of the war. Whether comfortable seclusion is sufficient punishment for such treachery is &■ question ■ which the Ministry, will, - of course, have to take the responsibility of deciding. The evidence showed • that all the men are imbued with a bitter antipathy to the United Kingdom. People who are not indignant will feel sad that such sentiments' could be nurtured by men who . have had long experience of rule under British conditions in Australia. In times of peace the vapourings ;of ill-balanced people provoke amusement rather than resentment, but there is a limit to patience. Passive disloyalty cannot be punished, but in the face of the audacious display of. disloyalty authority is not . quite helpless. . A new method of harassing the rural producer has been devised by the Ryan Ministry in Queensland (comments the Melbourne Argus), One clause in an Arbitration Bill now before Parliament proposes that .if farmers co-operate to work each others farms they are to be regarded as acting in the relation of employers and employees. While one farmer is assisting a- second he is to be paid arbitration rate wages, and when the second assists the first a reciprocal obligation is imposed. The Queensland correspondent of the Australasian explains that this vicious piece of tyranny is directed against settlers who attempt to solve the labour problem by assisting each other. He remarks that the unions "do not look kindly on men who help themselves." The same restriction operates against canegrowers; and although; the Liberal' Government previously in power provided for exemptions, concessions .are not readily granted 'by the Ryan Government. The men on, the land generally are having a bad time front" the Ryan Government. Farmers in Vic-. toria icnow how difficult it is to obtain labour, and the system of co-operation in emergencies has been very useful to them. Queensland is the only State where such a foolish, narrow, and selfish policy, wonld be possible. A striking example of. juvenile -^efficiency is . evident to those looking into one of Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd. Lambton-quay windows. " A nine-year-old Wellington "Meccano" boy employed his recent school holidays by erecting a giant Ferris wheel from stock of spare parts supplied by the New Zealand agents. This giant stands over 6ft in height, is lit with many an electric bulb, and revolves ponderously to the delight of the kewpies who inhabit the wheel, and the evident interest of the onlookers who throng the pavement outside.—Advt. The friendship existing between No Robbing Laundry Help and thrifty wives is very delightful. Is 3d packet sufficient for seven weekly family washings. Wellington Grocers.—Advt. Removing? Minimise trouble! Save ... expense! Utilise our Motor Service." Takes furniture about, out of, or into town. The New Zealand Express Co., Ltd., 87-91, Customhouse-quay.—Advt. Pick your summer straw 1 while our stocks are large. Boaters 8s 6d to 18s ': 6d. Toyo Panama 10s 6d to 255. Geo. " Fowlds, 13.—Advt. Doctors recommend groats for invalids.- .When you ask for Doctors' Cream o' Groata you get the best. All grocera.T-Ad^i. .-"'..■