LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 208, 22 May 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Minister of Defence has received advice that the Thirty-sixth Reinforcements, tho Thirty-sevonth Mounteds, and the Wireless Troop have arrived at a pore of call, and havo reported "All Well." '

Tho war pensions- total is fast approaching the million mark. Up till March 31 the number of pensions granted to soldiore and their dependants was .tli,i'i7, and tho total annual value of tho pensions was .£90d,383. Tho averago rato of pension was ,£62 per annum.

Tho Central Firo Brigade received a call at half-past twelve yesterday to 17 Bolton Street, a residential property owned and occupied by Mr. Milne. Tho firo -was confined to the washhouee and tho damage was slight.

The Palmerston North Friendly Societies' Council passed the following resolution: "This meeting urges upon the Governiuont the just claims of friendly sooieties for the payment of contributions on behalf of all members on active service; that the lodges, having stood loyally by the members on active service, now realise that the call upon the membership is causing a severe strain upon tho remaining membera in the direction of the payment of- contributions of those called upon to proceed to the front."—Press A ssn. Tho police have practically given up hopo of discovering ,the body of Oswald Mavbew, who is wanted in connection with tho murder of Mr. G. Burke at Kakanui (says tho "Otago Daily Times"). A number of policemen are, however, still prosecuting the search. Right from the beginning of the search nothing which might be regarded as a tangiblo traco of Mayhew has been discovered. The police theory inclines to tho belief.that Mavhew has shot himself in preference to tho theory that he might have drowned himself, as ho wae, it is considered, too good a swimmer to adopt the latter means of self-destruction—that ie, of course, if he has committed suicide. It has been reported to the Wellington Rugby Union, that petty thieving from footballers' clothes is being committed at the Lyall Bay,playing ground. The union has decided to ask the police auIhorittos to plnco a constable on duty at pinying grounds while games aro in progress. Last Saturday cloven players were robbed. A peculiar position taken up by thn Education Department was rolated by the secretary of tho Hawko's Bay Education Hoard at the Inst meeting of the boiml (says an exchange). He stated that the settlers nt Waikohu had built a school and given it to thu board. When that body askwl the Department to furnish it, a reply was received that as the Govornmont had not built it (hoy would not furnish it. Had the Government been asked to shoulder the whole cost that would have been dona; but bocauno tho-settlbrs helped, tho Government would do nothing! The State schools are to observe a holiday on Empire Day (June 3), which is also the natal day of King George V.

It is understood that tho nursery which the Kesorves Committee of tho City Council started at Kilbirnio two years ngo is shortly to bo extended ovor tho wholo area which wns fenced off for tho growing of young trees, etc. So far the plants have dono splendidly in the nursery.

"You Ijnow, captain, that although appellant, is in tho First Division, ho has a wife and nino children," said Mr. J. W. Porntoii, S.IL, to Captain Bealo at the silting of the Military Service Board nt llasterton, when the oaptain was questioning an appellant. Mr. Poynton further explained that tho had married a widow with nine children since the Military Servico Ant wns passed. Tho information evidently convinced the captain of tho man's courage, as he remarked: "1 think, then, he is just the class of man who is wanted at the front!" The board allowed appellant, to etay at homo with his family for tho present.

A curious answer to some questions relating to tho war was made by Mr. H. Holland, tho Labour candidate for the Grey seat, at a mooting in Beefton. The questions included the following: "Will the candidate frankly state his attitude towards, and personal opinion of, tho present war?" "Does the candidate desire a victory for the Allies and the breaking of the military power of Germany " "If ho does not desire the victory of tho Allies, will he discuss tho alternative thereto and indicate what course ho would recommend to be pureiied?" "Does the candidate bclievo that tho Allies could ahandon conscription at this time and defeat a conscripted Germany ?" "Does the candidate desire to eeo it this time in our history a 6ocial upheaval substantially similar to that in Russia?" "Will tho candidate affirm it as his opinion that the recent upheaval in Eussia has been substantially successful in bringing the people of tn'at country noaror to an era of brotherhood f" The candidate replied tttat he could not answer all these questions, since they would bring him under the War Regulations. The Official Bulletin issued at Washington contains ft letter from President Wilson enjoining tne orderly observance of the Sabbath by the officers and men in the military and naval service of the United States. "The importance for men and beast of the prescribed weekly rest, he fays, "the sacred rights of Christian soldier, and sailors, a becoming deferenoa to the best sentiment of a Christian people, and a. due regard for the Divine will, demand that Sunday labour in the Army and Navy be reduced to the measure of strict necessity. Such an observance of Sunday, he adds, is dictated by the best traditions of our people and by the convictions of all who look to Divine Providence ■ for guidance and protection, and, in repeating m this order the language of President Lincoln, tho President is confident that he is speaking alike to the hearts and to the consciences of those under his authority."

The Mayor (Mr. .T. P. Luke) acknowledges the receipt of a cheque for £12 from the Newtown Bowling Club, which represents various entrance fees, trophies, and donations made by members during .the past season The amount will be 'added to the fund for the rfliftf of dependants of Navy men (below deck hands, including firemen, stokers, etc.).

The following communication litis been Toceived from the Minister ; of Justice (Hon. T. M: Wilford) by Mr. B. Kennedy, assistant secretary of the Welling-, ton Hotel Workers' Union:—"Dear Sir,— IJoferriu? to previous correspondence with reference to your application for tho six • months' disqualification from employment in a hotel imposed on W. Middlcton, J. Hanlon, and Miss Francis for. breachos- of the anti-shouting regulations, I have to inform yon that the matter has been duly considerrd, and the Government is advised that there is no power to remit any part of the term of disqualification. I regret therefore that your request cannot bo acceded to. (Ri"'iedl 'T. M. Wilfn-'l." The ability (or inability) of a Native to iudgo a period of time was tested in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth last week. A Native witness had eaid once that he had been standing at a certain place for five minutes; In then said it was ten minutes. In order to test the ability of tho Native, counsel started him at the word "Go," and asked him to call out when he considered five minutes had elapsed. Tho Court waited in suspense and eilence, but was much amused when (he witness called out "jive" when exactly thirty seconds had passed.

"Tile authorities are starting a scheme i of night schools i'or the stall's of tho var- '■ ions New Zealand en nips in England, so ] that wo will not be absolutely wasting : our timo as far as our. civil occupations ] aro ooncerned," write a New Zealand'; Boldier from Sling Camp. "General Each-! nrdsoti understands how hard it will be for those of us who have been away any length of timo to sottle down again when wo got back to Now Zealand. Further than this, Oxford University has taken the load in placing a number of seats at the disposal of permanently unlit soldiers who havo passed the Now Zealand University entrance, examina-

tion, and who would caro to tako a year or two thoro boforo going back to New Zealand. London, Birmingham, nnd all tko other big universities are following suit. I wish I werp P.TJ. It would suit me down to tho ground to study law for two years at Oxford."*. A poll to Taise .£SOO to enable the lfo*ton Harbour Board to take over the wharf from the Railway Department was carried by 1361 votes to 24 (states a Press Association messago from Palmerston North).

The annual statement of tho public accounts of Samoa for tho year 1917-18 shows that the actual receipts during tho twelve months were .£98,937, or ,£111,225 more than the amount which had been estimated. Payments for the period aggregated .£89.801, a« against an estimated expenditure of ,£74,774, the difference being accounted for in large measure by tho Treasury and Public Works items, the fornfur. showing an excess of .£BI9O and the latter of .£4131 over the amounts estimated.

At the conclusion of an address to tho Christchurck Workers' Educational Assoj ciation on "The Progress of tho Press on Saturday night, Mr. Trigge underwent a process of questioning , lasting nearly half ah hour, which partly took the form of a good-natured "heckling." One question was to tho effect whether it was not a bad thing for democracy that all the newspapers should be in the hands of capitalists and run by editors who wroto as they were told to do by the capitalist owners. In reply ho said that it certainly took a good deal of capital to start and run a newspaper, and it was vory easy to lose a largo sum of money in suoh an undertaking. In that sense persons who owned newspapers wero generally persons possessing some capital. It was quite open to the -workers or any other section of the community to co-operate and start newspapers of their own, and this had been successfully done. Aβ to editors, it was ft complete fallacy to suppose that they were a set of persons continually writing things they did not believe in at tho dictation of some capitalist tyrant. A journalist who took his profession soriously naturally attached himself to a paper with whose jjoneral policy he was in sympathy. If that policy was changed, and ho could not conscientiously support the new policy, or if Ms own vjowa changed, it was hi's duty to get another job. When the London "Standard," which was a freetrado paper, was purchased by the Tariff Reformore, tho then editor navo up a position supposed to bo. worth ,£3OOO a year rather than remain on and "gently switch round" the paper to Tariff Reform. When the "Pall Mall Ga&otte' changed hands, and its policy was changed in consequence, tho editor, Mr. Froderiok Greenwood, and the whole staff resigned, and with tho help of some of their friends started the "St. James's Gazette/' in which they were Mα to continue to write according to their own conscientious views. Asked whether these wero not exceptional cases or whother he thought editors in goneral would act in this way, Mr. Triggs said he had sufficient confidence in his (profession to lwlievo that most editors would act in tlit> way hn had described. At a meeting held at Derby, Tasmania, Sergeant Moore appealed for re* emits, when eight young men outside Hit'hall said they would go on jo the vlalform if a cortain young man in the hall went up. Tho latter went up, amid cheers; but the eight mon outside the hall broke their promise nnd were severely robuked by Captain Honshaw. Tho chairman then announced that he would insure the eight young mon for .£2OO each if they would join up, but even then tho eight held aloof.

A meeting of tho parishioners of St. Peter's Church was held last night for tho purpose of electing a synodsman. The only nomination recoived was that of Mr. W. E. Bethune, and ho was declared elected.

Speaking at a public gathering at Kew Lynn, Auckland, on, Saturday, Mr. C. J. Parr. M.P., eaid ho had grave, doubts as to tho wisdom of New Zealand's war finance policy. The Government, ho said, was borrowing ovory penny that tho country eiponded on the war. The last shilling that patriots talked glibly about was, after all, a borrowed shilling. Tho result of wholesale boi. rowing for war purposes would be the creation of a very heavy debt, which tho country must shoulder after tho war. Great Britain, on tho other hand, was paying largely for the war out of annual revenue. Last year tho British Government paid 27 per cent, of the year's war bill out of income. For tho irholo war period Great Britain had succeedeft in paying 21 per 'cent, of tho total war account out of taxation. In New Zealand, with unprecedented prosperity and an unexampled revenue, we had, no said, paid nothing towards the capital cost, leaving the whole burden to posterity. Economists were agreed that the wisest policy was not only to borrow, but at the same time pay an appreciable part of war expenditure out nt annual revenue. Such a course made lor stronger finance after tho war, and gan, tho country an earlier'chance of recofcry.

A Now Zealand military officer,'who was in England during the German offensive, says that tho spirit of the British .people during that time was absolutely splendid. The bus-drivers were just going on strike, and there were very serious difficulties with the Society of .Amalgamated Engineers, but the German offensive settled all differences, and closed up the ranks. It was felt that the situation was very grave, but the courage and determination of the people seemed to rise higher than ever. There was a solid determination that even if Germany succeeded in getting to Paris and the Channel ports, and England was left to fight alone until American help was forthcoming in some strength, ehe should light on, sure of victory in the end. When an officer is returned to Australia on account of wounds or illliealth rendering him unfit for service hie appointment is terminated, and Tf ho re-enlists he must do so as a private. Replying to a question, Mr. T. Trumble, Secretary of the Defence Department, stated that if the officer subsequently recovered and wished to proceed again to tho front with tho Australian Imperial 'Force, he would not do so with commissioned rank. This action was taken, he explained, because the overseas authori-' ties had notified that the need at present was for men. The supply of bfficers was sufficient. He did not consider that this was likely to prevent officers μ-erving again, as, if they were really nnxious to go to the front, they would be content to do so as privates, and dc(fiend upon their experience and qualifications 1o lift them into the eommiseioned ranks again. When asked what would be the position of a commissioned holder of the Victoria Cross or other -special qualification in these circumstances; Mr. Trumble replied that in eucn oitsos action might bo taken to depart from tho rule, but this would only be done in special circumstances. He added that the services of returned officers were largely availed of by the Department in Australia.

Last December Mrs. A. Wood, of Beach ltead, Devonport, sont a cako in a tin to her son (who is O.A.S. in tfrancej, also- a pair of mittens and a short note signed, "From your loving sister Ivy.' The mitts and note were wrapped in brown paper and placed round tho tin, arid tanvas was aewu round, this adarese being only on tho canvas. By the last mail Mrs. Wood received from a lady residing at Seascale, Cumberland, England, the following note:—"Dear Madain,-As I was walking down the shore this afternoon, I found this letter which had come out of a parcel. No doubt you will know that a ship coming from Australia was wrecked and camo ashore near Seasealo. It was lnden with mnny things, including mailbags, which, I am soery to say, contained mostly soldiers' parcels. Some were brought out of the tide and dried and sent iO their .owners, but I greatly fear most part of them were dratroyed by water. This letter was wrapped in brown paper, j so T picked it tip, thinking if it had an address on, I would eend it; but finding none. I am chancing you getting it back, so that you may let your brother know his parcel vns Inst Trustimr you may receive it all right, also that your brother may hnya the test of lr.ck and a safo return iiomo. We liava guessed that this rr.iiAt ficd you.' Support oE the steps the New Zealand Educational Institute is taking in regard to promoting educational re.tivm in New Zealand, to enable the Dominion to copo with after-way problems, was souelit in n communication received Iroin the institute .by the proviwM execute of tho Auckland Famiere' Union at a meeting of the latter body. It was suggested that tho executive should bbbs a resolution urging that nothing should he done that enoroached upon tho present national system of education. Several sneakers said they did not think the national system was in any danger, and the e.tocutive should avoid anything that savoured of sectarianism, seeing that among its members were representatives of all denominations. Other speakers woro of opinion that tho resolution was in such general terms that it could not do any harm. They said that, apart from the question of encroaching upon tho national system of education, tlio executive should support the institute in its endeavours to secuTO educational reform Eventually a resolution was carried urging the Government to foster the educational system, and also to aim at making provision for tho , proper equipping of the rising generation to compete successfully in tho growing requirements of modern development in all spheres of life The resolution also urged that no financial consideration should be allowed to" hamper such an important national duty. Tho boycotting of Gorman goods was mentioned at the meeting of the provincial executive of the Auckland 1 armors Union on Thursday, states tho Hori aid" Mr J S. Fishor said the question had been discussed at Cambndgo, and it was suggested that the provincial executivo should prepare a document, the signatories of which should agree not to buy Geramn goods for at least fifty years nfter tho' war. Mr. Fisher suggested that the executive oxpress an opinion upon the matter. The chairman. Mr. ,T Boddie, said the question ehonld be deferred for the conferenco to discuss. Mr. .T. S. Montgomery said ho consideied it should be deferred'until after the war. At: present no one could say wliat was going to happen'. Calm consideration should bo given to trade questions after the war. Mr. E. Somervilie stated that until Germany was benton to her knees she would insist on tho right of freo trade. Mr. J. JR. Mnkgill snid what the peoplo in Now Zealand should do was io develop their own material resources. By doing this they would assist the Empire when tho day of settlement , came. Ho drew attention to what the British Producers' Association was doing to organise industries for tho trade fight that was lwund to come after tho war. Mr. E. D, Duxfiekl snid Mr. Fisher had not suggested legislative action, but only the encouragemont of sentiment. Tho discussion ceased without any definite action being taken.