General News.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 13 April 1918, Page 1

General News.

"It is very regrettable that shopkeepers all over New Zealand allow the wives of working men to run up bills. Other women who are not the wives of workers are allowed to do the same without reference being made as to the amount a wife is allowed by her husband, or without reference being made to the husband.'' So said Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., at the Wellington S.M. Court.

A matter at present exciting attention at Canterbury College, is the apparent neglect of a student .attending there to parade when ordered into camp under the Military Service Act. The student has pronounced anti-militarist views, which he has often expressed, and it is gathered that he haß stated that he will not render service. Under such circumstances, unless he can explain satisfactorily his non-attendance to tho military authorities, the Professorial Board may act in the direction of withholding his scholastic privileges. The position is of interest from its legal aspect, as the student in question holds several scholarships, two of them recently granted by the New Zealand University, whieh. are subject, however, to confirmation. He is a brilliant scholar, and has distinguished himself as an athlete.

Mr Allun Bobinson, referring to the Baetihi fires at a meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce, said a modest estimate of the area devastated was 70,000 acres. It would cost £280,000 to re-stock that e.rea, and £150,000 for grass seed. The loss was at least £500,000. Many people had lost their incomes for at least five years. One difficulty was going to be income tax on incomes they would not be receiving for a number of years. He thought representations might be made to the Minister of Finanee on that point. The fire was a national calamity, which should be stood by the whole community.

The salient feature of the GovernorGeneral's speech at the opening of Par. liament yesterday was contained in one sentence: —You will be invited to consider the proposal that my Prime Minister and Minister of Finanee should represent New Zealand at the Imperial Conference and the War Cabinet, and to make provision for the financial requirments of the Dominion during their absence. During the present session the legislation to be proposed by my Ministers will be limited to the financial exigencies of the Dominion and such other matters as demand immediate attention consequent on waT conditions. A second session of Parliament will be convened later in the year for the transaction of general business, and for the consideration of such legislation as may then be considered necessary in the public interest.

Let who will be glum, the "Wairarapa Daily Times" is inveterately cheerful. This from an editorial yesterday:—"Tho Allies have the staying power. In the first round the enemy adopted "Battling Nelson" tactics and sought a knock-out. But the Allies' "ring craft" has stood them in good stead, and they side-stepped every attempt to make them take "the count,' and at the same time demonstrated that they themselves still retained strong hitting power. The gong is about to sound for the second round. The enemy may rush the Allies again, hoping to gain a "K.O. decision," but we can rest assured that the science of the Allies will again prevail, and the round end with the Huns further than ever from a decision. Then trainer Foch will pasß the word to the Allies, and in the "mill' that will follow, Referee Time will be seen watch in hand counting the ten seeonds that will mean the knock-out for the Germans. ''

The death occurred at the Masterton Hospital on Tuesday of a well-known Nireaha (Forty-Mile Bush) settler in the person of Mr Perey Roband as the result of a distressing accident which occurred over a wek ago. The deceased was engaged in ploughing operations, when something went amiss and the horses commenced vigorously kicking. The unfortunate man came within range of the lashing heels and he sustained frightful injuries.

A deputation to the Right Hon. W. f! Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, and Sir James Allen is being organised in certain Labour circles to request the release of Mr P. C. Webb, member for Parliament for Grey. No date has yet been fixed, but it will take place towards the end of the week. Political and industrial organisations in Mr Webb's electorate will be represented.

Freights to New York for produce, similar to that exported from New Zealand, to Liverpool Bristol, and for Manchester, are as follow:—Cheese, tallow, butter, lard, beef, pork and bacon, all 3 dollars per hundred pounds. Cheese was formerly carried from New Zealand on contract at %d per pound, and butter 2s 6d per box of 36 pounds, a 42 days' voyage, as compared with eight to ten days from New York to the United Kingdom,

In the early days of the war, anxiety found an outlet in work, and knitting became a popular accomplishment. People knitted at tho pictures, in theatre, at the raecs, driving, motoring and at friendly foregatherings, and the result was a constant supply of socks and other woolly comforts for the soldiers. There is now a vast increase in the number of our soldiers who require these supplies, but it is quite the exception to hear the click of needles at the pictures and see every available moment turned into socks. This means an approaching shortage of supplies. How about itf

Imports for the two months ended 28th February last were valued at £3,870,289, as compared with £3,587,600. Many lines show shrinkages in volume, but increases in values. But it is surprising to notice how many articles supposed now to be short have been coming forward, when taking into account the corresponding months of 1917. There have been increased landings of calcium carbide, cocoa, coffee, preserved fish, raisins, fruits, hosiery, rubber goods, corrugated iron, fencing wire, pipes, jams and preserves, leather, manures, millinery, paints and varnishes, pianos, rice, salt, wines, potable spirits, tea, textiles, cigarettes, and motor cars.

In a speech at Wellington, Sir Joseph Ward said he had received a letter from an officer at the front, Captain Thomas Seddon, indicating what the soldiers were doing in the direction of giving money as well as lives. Sir Joseph Ward read the letter, which indicated that a competition was recently held at the front and was won by members of No. 2 Company, N.Z.A.S.C., who averaged £19 12s 8d per head. C Company, N.Z. Pioneers, was second, and D. Company, N.Z. Pioneers, third. The total amount raised among New Zealand soldiers on active service was £12744 2s, which would be supplemented by money received under the coupon system. All the money would be sent to the New Zealand loan. This was the idea of General Russell. The letter added that the manner in which the soldiers had subscribed should be heeded by those who were diffident about lending their gold.

The Hon. G. W. Kussell has received advice that his son, Lieut. Douglas Russell, was wounded on March 29th. No particulars of the nature of the wound are available.