LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 142, 5 March 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Minister of Defence has received advico that the Thirty-fourth Reinforcements have arrived safely at a port of call.

Information has reached the Defence Department that Return Draft 143 will arrive in Wellington on Wednesday afternoon. Immediately this information was received telegrams were sont to next-of-kin of the men returning, hut unfortunately there is not now sufficient time for all the next-of-kin to get to Wellington in time to meet their men on arrival. This applies to relatives living in distant parts of New Ztealand. It should be explained that this ship was not expected until later in the month, and advice was sent to the next-of-kin accordingly. The information the Department then had on the matter was that the ship by which the men were returning was to be diverted to an intermediate port en voyage, but apparently there lies been some raiscarriago of instructions, for which the New Zealand authorities aro in no way responsible.

"A great question of principle is.involved," remarked tho military representative on the First Military Service Board yesterday when the board was considering the case of a married soldier who wished to be released from camp until his class, (men with three children) was called up. The military representative said that tho principle' involved could be gathered from the fact that every married volunteer might apply for release from camp. The point mentioned was not decided, the case being adjourned for a few days..

Local tobacconists are finding it difficult to get all the supplies of standard lines they need. Shipping troubles aro at the bottom of the shortage, rather than any marked shortago of supply in the. country of production. Up till recently the substantial stocks hold, helped by those which have come along pretty regularly, have kept tho market fully supplied, but the shipments arriving have not been so regular nor so large of late, and orders have had to be cut down. It is difficult to-day to get a ease of cigarettes. Buyers may get half a case, and no advantage is to be gained from ordering a larger quantity ou the chanco of getting a correspondingly, larger proportion of the order. The fact that cash business, is being turned aside indicates that the shortage is national, not local. Not only are standard cigarettes affected, but standard English and American tobaccos (in tins or cartons) aie also in short supply. Matches, usually so cheap and plentiful, are now dear and scarce, and promise to be scarcer. Tho shortages in those lines indicate that the year may see many changes in trade, owing to the steady depletion of British and American shipping through submarine activity.

"Tipping," or tho making of presents to members of ships' crews by troops travelling on transports, has been prohibited by the Defence authorities, states tho Melbourne "Age." A special military order has been issued in regard to the matter. Soldiers are also forbidden to purchase food from any member of a transport's crew, and it has been suggested that officers commanding troops should consider tho advisability of declaring the vicinity of the cookhouse out of bound's, except ivhcn meals are being actually drawn.

The mobilisation of the Thirty-ninth Reinforcements is beginning to-day, imd will bo completed during the week. Tno recruits are going to Treutham Camp, in accordance with tho usual piocedure.

A suggestion from the Wairoa branch of tho Farmers' Union, that the Imperial Government be approached in reference to exporting horse flesh from New Zealand, occupied the attention of the Farmers' Union for a while on Saturday (says the ''Manawatu Times"). Mr. Vile said they could export 30,000 horses for consumption at ;Home and use the grazing for/fattening stock. Mr. Wingate said it was not commonly known that horso flesh would not freeze, but it could be tinned; In England and America shops for retailing horse flesh had been opened, and they had long existed in France. Mr. Vile further suggested that the export of large numbers of horses would improve tho breed of horses and assist breeders. It was decided to endorse the resolution..

Speaking in the Arbitration Court yesterday with regard to a case in point, Mr. W. A. Grenfell, who appeared for the Employers' Association, said that it would bo a very serious thing if unions were allowed to take up the stand that after securing an award to cover Wellington employers they could appear boforo tho Court later and ask that it be made to apply to the whole industrial, district.

Yesterday the sitting of the Court of Apneal was formally adjourned until April'B.

Tho Northern Assurance Company, Limited, has decided to open a branch in Wellington, and has appointed as its first manager hero Mr. William A. Parton, who was for Some time associated with the company's agents, Messrs. Badham and Biss.

Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp, Consular Agent for Italy, acknowledges receipt of the sum of £10, being a donation to the Italian Red Cross Fund from tho, Ohau Red Cross Guild.

A large and representative meeting was held at Eastbourne on February 27, whon it was decided that the timo had arrived to form a Ratepayers' Association. It was decided 10 call tho association the Eastbourne Ratepayers' Association. Mr. H. W. Shortt was appointed chairman and Mr. C. G. W. Richards hon. secretary. A strong committee was elected, and it .'s anticipated that the association,- now Hearing 50 strong, will justify its formation.

At the meetings of the Finance and Tramways Committees of tho City Council yesterday, tho chairman (Mr. J. P. Luke) was heartily congratulated on his return as member for Wellington North. Several of tho councillors spoko in highly congratulatory terms, and wished Mr. Luke a long and successful Parliamentary career. Mr. Luke responded suitably.

In order to prevent the disclosure of information likely to be of use to the enemy, or which might create alarm, the strictest censorship is now being exercised on all correspondence emanating from members of the Australian Imperial Force, states the Melbourne "Age." Officers and soldiers of tho A.1.l' 1 . after leaving camp in Australia are forbidden to despatch letters, postcards or telegrams containing refer-, ence to places which they have visited, nor. must they disclose their whereabouts or make any statements about losses, military plans and future movements. They will be held responsible for all statements contained 5n communications to their friends which may subsequently be published in the Press. Direct telephone communication by troops between ships and shore has also been prohibited.

Not long ago a free public library in the Wellington district had some books stolen from its reference department, somo of them comparatively new books, and therefore of value' to the institution. As a sequel to the loss of theso books, come a knock oue evening at the front door of the librarian's office. On answering the door the librarian stood face to face with a man who held a letter in his band and a book in the other. Tho visitor wished to know what the letter meant. The librarian perused the document and found that it was a letter purporting to be written by one who signed himself Chief Librarian, and- the text was a formal demand upon the addressee to return certain books taken from the library at once on pains of further action. With this letter the man handed back one of the missing books, and admitted that he had another, which he returned the next morning. It appears that someone must have known that the man in question was in possession of the books and had taken tho rather ingenious method, of seeing that they were properly restored without having to reveal his identity.

During tho period February 1 to February 27, 1918, the gate takings at the Newtown Zoo amounted to £88 135., compared with £53 14s. 9d. for the corresponding period of last year. A conference will shortly be held in Wellington between the Prime Minister and representatives of tho tanning and boot trades to discuss various matters concerning the leather industry. One of these will be the question of raising tho embargo on hides of a certain weight, and in connection with this matter the following motion, says tho "Otago Daily Times," was passed at a meeting of the local branch of the NewZealand Boot Manufacturers' Association, held last week:—"That this meeting strongly protests against the removal of the embargo on hides, as it will certainly lead to a further increase in the price of boots, which, at the present time, when tho cost of living is already so high, can be ill afforded by the public."

His Majesty's Trade Commissioner (Mr. R. W. Dnlton), who will shortly make an official visit to some of the. Pacific islands, will return to Now Zealand in time to direct the display of nriOsn goods that is to be made at the Manawatu Winter Show. Iho exhibition arranged by Mr. Dalton a? the Ilnwera Show last year was very successful, and'a great deal of interest is being taken in the forthcoming display at Palmerston North. The Manawatu A. and P. Association has provided the necessary space, and it is probable tTiat a British, shopping week will be'hold at Palmerston North during the show.