GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2270, 30 April 1921, Page 1

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.

What closer settlement means to the country was put in a unique manner by Mr A. P. Whatman at a returned soldiers’ re-union at Carterton on Saturday night. Mr Whatman said he was glad to know that his gift of the Ahikouka property for soldier settlement was appreciated. When he had the land it was running a fat bullock to the acre. “It is now carrying,” said Mr Whatman, amid loud laughter and applause, “almost a baby to the acre. Every time I visit the soldier settlers there is word of a new arrival. A baby to the acre is a greater asset to the country than a bullock to the nei'e.” In reply to si letter from Mr IT. Holland, M.P., urging the release of a man sent to prison for having allegedly sold copies of a Communist programme, and other pamphlets, Sir Francis Bell pointed out that the pamphlets advocated in the plainest manner bloodshed and violence 'as methods by which the propaganda was to be carried into effect. He added that the Government does Mmf intend to interfere with liberty of speech or action, Imt that it does intend to prevent violence and lawlessness. It was, said Sir Francis, unlawful and seditious to advocate murder and violence as legitimate methods for the attainment of political means, and that the Government would use all its (rowers to in-event violence and lawlessness.

Katana, the Maori faith-healer, was mentioned by a speaker at the Red Cross Society's meeting at Wellington on Tuesday. In reply, Dr. .). S. Elliott, who had delivered an address on “Quacks and Quackery,”

said: “That comes under the head ot: faith-healing. We admit the value of faith-healing for certain functional conditions. Regular medical practitioners know tins

value of faith. We resort to it. We often have cases where people have been in great pain, and they have been given hypodermic injection.- of morphia, but they arc sometimegiven distilled water iu-tead of morphia, but they think it is morphia, and go to sleep. They tire made to sleep on faith. There has been faith-healing in all religion-.” Captain Butler, of the Los Angeles Police Department, California, in a letter to Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., refers as follows to the notable comments made by Commissioner O’Donovan on the occasion of tin 1 murder of Constable Budding whil-t in the execution of his duty in making an arrest in Brook Street, Wellington:—“We have all read Commissioner ((’Donovan's speech, and must say that it is a masterly eulogy not only of Constable Budding, but it is equally applicable to the scores who fall annually in the line of duty. It is a sad commentary that the general public wait until a. police officer is killed to give him proper recognition. Could the public. realise the truths so well uttermi by the Commissioner‘in bis tribute to one of his subordinates, the police officers would* receive some of the bouquets while here on earth, instead of when they have gone to the hereafter.”

An opening for New Zealand meat at. Honolulu is suggested by Mr A. Mortizson, formerly of Dunedin, who is now manager of the import and export department of the PanPacific Traders, Ltd., Honolulu. Mr Mortizson says if portion of the freezing space on the AucklandVaneouvcr steamers can bo allot-

ted to Honolulu, and the call at Sydney left out, more New Zealand meat could be consumed. Supplies now came partly from the Hawaiian ranches, partly from San Francisco raid a fair quantity from Australia. New Zealand meat is better liked than Australian, the only drawback being the faulty steamship service. Butchers would not leave their present wholesale dealers unless they were guaranteed supplies. The firms which contract for the Army and Navy meat would also take New Zealand meat if the supply was forthcoming every month. There was enough freezing space at Honolulu for all requirements, “I dont’ know how the Empire would get along without Scotchmen,” saicl the Rev. M. M. D. Sutlicrland, in tliq course of a sermon at Christchurch on the occasion of a church parade of members of the Caledonian and Scottish Societies, with their pipers. Mr Sutherland said that lie knew of no country that had produced so many good and great men as Scotland portion'to population. It was often said that Scotchmen were brought up on oiftmeal and the Shorter Catechism, and it was a combination that represented plain living and high thinking. He believed that Scotchmen or those of Scottish descent in New Zealand, in pursuit of such ideals, should read Burns’ “Cottars Saturday Night” once a week. Speaking for a moment of (he part taken by Scotchmen in the affairs of the Empire, lie remarked that at the Peace Conference, of Britain's six representatives only one (Lord Milner) was an Englishman, and he was horn in Germany; one was a Welshman (Lloyd George), one was a Scoteh-Canadi-an (Bonar Law), and the other three were Scotchmen.

Ninety per cent, of the telephone users in Jersey pave, in answer to an appeal by circular, declared their intention of discontinuing the use if the new scale of charges i- adopted.