GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

Levin Daily Chronicle, 6 April 1918, Page 1

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

At the Easter tennis tournament at Wellington, Mr E. Drummond, of Dannevirke, played in great form, and was successful in getting into the final of the championship singles, the final of the mixed championship doubles with Miss Waldio, the semi-finals of the men's handicap doubles with Mr J. H. Mitchell, son of 'a Dannevirke resident, and in the semi-finals of the mixed handicap doubles with Miss Waldic. Owing, to the tournament being postponed until next Saturday, Mr Drummond may not be able to take further part in the tournament.

Maori labour finds a place among the many things which have been developed by the war. The Taranaki " llcrwould be seen that the establishment natives have in most cases replaced white men on metalling and other road work. One contractor who before the war employed Europeans almost entirely now has two gangs of men working near Marogopa, on the coast above Mokau. One gang, numbering eleven, consists entirely of Maoris, and is, moreover, in charge of a Maori foreman, who is responsible for the carrying out of the work, and in the other gang there are only four Europeans among sixteen workers. "I would rather have the Maoris than the drunks," were the words of the contractor. The white labour which was previously available for this class of work was of very unreliable quality.

Says the New Zealand "Times":— The question has arisen as to what the position of Mr P. C. Webb, M.P., who is at present incarcerated for refusing military duty, will bo during the ensuing short session of Parliament. In ordinary circumstances where the offence has been against civil law, the imprisonment could not be broken, and to save seat and pay leave of absence would have to be applied for. But Mr Webb's offence, being a military one, it is a question whether the regular law of imprisonment applies. The matter so far as can be ascertained has not boon settled. If .it is decided that Mr Webb may i.-ikc ids seat in the House when Pai 1: anient is sitting, an order will have !■"> be obtained from the Minister for Defence or the Minister for Justice to secure his liberation for such periods as the House is sitting. In that case the unusual spectacle may be seen of a member of Parliament being eseorted to and from the Mount Cook Prison by a policeman or warder.