NEWS FROM THE FORCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2362, 19 January 1915, Page 5

NEWS FROM THE FORCE

"A NEW ZKALAND CORRESPONDENT. Since the tending of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt, along with the Australian force, and especially since the Australian, newspapershave been able to publish newsletters from the official correspondent accredited by the Commonwealth Government, attention has been called by certain New Zealand journals to the desirability of appointing an official correspondent to accompany the New Zealand . force on behalf of the New Zealand Press. The Government has been i blamed for seeming indifference and in- ■ aotion in the matter, but in actual fact • the question of the appointment of an official correspondent to accompany our troops has had' the attention of Ministers for some months. There havo been many cases contributory to the delay. First of all, when it was known that our force was to go to the front in Europe, an announcement was made by the Minister'of Defence in the House that the War Office would allow only one correspondent representing New Zealand to accom- . pany the troops. Then, on the recom- . tnciidntion of the. New Zealand High i Commissioner, Mr. Guy Scholefield, a i journalist formerly well known in Wol- ; lington, now representing a string of New Zealand newspapers .in London, ; was appointed to bo that correspondent. Presently questions wore asked in tho Mouse as to whether tho papers' which . einDloy Mr. Scholefield would have first call on his matter, or whether all would bo treated alike. It was clearly stated by the Prime Ministor that unless Mr. Scholefield would undertako to treat all papers alike some other arrangement would havo to bo made. But it was apparent from the statements of tho Defence Minister that this point had not been definitely settled before Mr. Scholefield was appointed, pre. sumably because it was taken for granted that Mr. Scholefield, as the official correspondent accredited by the Govern* ment, would treat all papers alike, Since that timo, however, nothing has been said about Mr. Soholefield's appointment. Correspondence has passed and negotiations have been going on between the Government'and newspaper proprietor? and other interested partiflß, and id is understood now that if the newspaper-owners can agree amongst themselves as to the payment of salary and expenses of a correspondent the Government, is prepared to make another appointment. ,Tho Hon. H. D. Bell has been attending to the business for tho Government, and lio stated yest'erdtty that he was not yet rondy to matte a. mont. When ho makes his statement ho will doubtless explain whether now appointee will replace Mr. ScTiolelield. or whothor'both, will go to the froffi. In the market place at Alfort the other morning (writes the Paris correspondent of the "Da.ily Express") a number of fat pigs had come up for auction, and for one of them the auctioneer started the bidding at 100 francs, "105," "106," "110," camo the bidding, and "130," and then, to the amazement of tho company, a stentorian voice shouted "3600." Everyone held his breath, and then thoro came from the samn voice, "Fire!" It was an officer at tho adjoininu barracks instructing u squad of artillery reoruits in rango.iJwlinc, /,