CURRENT TOPICS OF THE DAY

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 20 November 1914, Page 5

CURRENT TOPICS OF THE DAY

(l'ROir VARIOUS SOUIICES")

The Astute Kitchener

Lord Kitchener, according to a meagre paragraph in the daily press, has made one visit to Paris to consult with the Frenchgeneral staff. An Auckland man declares that he has received a letter from Home, wherin is stated the real reason of the visit of the Cold One. Kitchener was puzzled that plans he had made were frustrated, or at least not carried out. He jumped to the conclusion that there was a traitor in the French camp, and immediately went to Paris to see about it. A meeting of the General Staff was held, Marshall Joffre presiding. At this meeting Kitchener (so the story goes) demanded the instant arrest and trial by court martial of one of the French staff —indicating him. This officer's colleagues were astonished. The Britisher must be mistaken, General was beyond suspicion. " Unless General is court - martialled," said Kitchener, "I withdraw the British Army!" The officer was court-martialled. It was proved he was in the pay of the Kaiser. Kitchener went back to London. -v # *? Against a War Tax " What does the Government propose to do in connection with a war tax V" was a question asked of the Prime Minister, Right Hon. W. F. Massey, at his Papakura meeting. In reply he said he thought it would be most foolish to impose a war tax. The Government had arranged for a loan at a very favourable rate of interest. The war would cost New . Zealand £2,000,000 and probably more, and if a war tax was imposed what would be the effect? The industries of the Dominion would stagnate and thousands would be thrown out of employment because wages payments would be interfered with. All who contributed to the taxes would pay towards the sinking fund and interest on the war loan, so that no war tax would be necessary. England's Hope Few of us who have discussed the British Empire with Germans or indeed with any Continental friends, have been told time and again : "Your Dominions are no good to you, because you have freed them from your government." We have replied to their incredulity: "The Dominions are among our greatest sources of strength, not in spite of, but because of their freedom." The war is proving splendidly that we are right, and that, as Burke said when we made our unrepealed mistake in America, " Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom." — London " Chronicle." ■•,- # # One as Good as the Other In camp the Maori is tremendously keen on drill, and at Avondale in particular keeps his tent in a state of spotless cleanliness. But he is just a little weak in military etiquette, particularly in regard to the rule that applies to salutation to superior officers. One military officer, who is a bit of a martinet in his way, got the shock of his life in one of the Maori camps the other day. With an expansive grin on his face, a raw Maori recruit from the wilds lurched along, and, without any preliminary salute, accosted his superior officer thus"What ho! Boss. What the time, eh ? By corry, time,.for kai I think." The very superior officer turned pale with annoyance, hut befqre, he could frame a suitable reply the Maori warrior passed on his way, <f ?? * Johnny at. Home The '"knut" at Home is getting all that has been saved up for him. In his fashionable pose as a clothes prop or a cigarette holder or walking stick support he is not popular. Thousands of girls in Britain are working to make clothes for soldiers, garments for the wounded, and gear for fighting men. The bloodless barracker, the frank "Johnny," and the idiot Labour " orator'" j have been pushed off'"their I perches' by v>-omen;, and even the I Suffragette is sewing instead of ' burning churches, A large party | of school girls in Suffolk (accord- : ing to a letter received from the I Old Country) lately captured six ! profound " knuts" in a park. Having ascertained that none of ■ them was going to the front they stripped the half-dozen of all but their beautiful pink shirts, fnmk. their clotht«s in a pond and then; left. The police found three up trees and the others shivering behind bushes.