NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10295, 2 June 1919, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Sir James Allen stated yesterday tha,c. lus attention had been called to a newspaper report that Messrs C. JTarr ana Vernon Reed had been to Napier choosing a candidate for the next election. "No authority for such action has been given by Mr Massey or by me as acting-leader of tho Reform party in Air Aiassey’s absence,” said feu* James. “The compact entered.into when the National Government was formed is still in existence, and will be maintained in its entirety so far as the Reform party is concerned until an announcement is made by its loader after the return oi Air Alassey and Sir Joseph Ward.”

The Government has given some consideration to the Board of Trade’s report regarding coal; but the subject has not been finally disposed of, and further consideration has been adjourned till a special full meeting of Cabinet, to bo held shortly.

Bankruptcies in the "Wellington district have been for some time jiast like angels' visits. Last month there was only one case of liquidation, the same as in Alay of last year. For this year so fur there have been three eases as against ten last year for tho same period.

The Thorudou branch of tho A.B.R.S. yesterday carried tho following resolution: ' 'That this meeting fully appreciates the. position ox tho E.F. autl C.A-, and our confidence Jh their- invitation to a round-table conference. We, therefore, wish to assure them of our sincere and practical support in their efforts for betterment.”

Once more, it has been demonstrated In the experience of the Pakeha’s soldiers on the troop train that it is want of thought, not want of heart, makes many men to, suffer , unduly (stated the Feilding -'‘Star” on Saturday). Althougni it had ample time to do so, the Defence Department failed to make any provision for meals for the men on the long railway journey from Wellington to Auckland. The train reached Palmerston after 11 o’clock, and, to tho surprise and disappointment of the men, tho refreshment rooms there were closed. Imagine such a state of things along tho whole route on such a cold night, and the men travelled in the most uncomfortable carriages tuo Railway Department has on the lines 1

One of the largest consignments of frozen produce tliat has left the Taranaki Farmers’ Meat Freezing Works was taken by the liner Kia Ora, which left Now Plymouth on Friday. The cargo was as follows:—Two thousand nino hundred and forty-five freight carcases of lamb, 4195 freight carcases mutton, 3764 quarters beef, 304 casks tallow, 10 casks pelts, 1200 cases preserved meats, 444 boxes tripe, 103 boxes ox kidneys, 44 crates sheep kidneys, 64 boxes ox hides, 101 bodies frozen veal. Tho visit of tho liner was opportune, as it was probable that otherwise killing would have had to cease. The expected arrival of the Whakatano in about a fortnight wxll still further ease the congestion in the storage chahers, space on the vessel having been allotted for about 14,000 freight carcases and pro'bably a quantity of tallow.

Referring to oases of stranded New Zealanders in Sydney and to quarantine restrictions in i\ew Zealand (says a Press Association message), tho Hon. G. W. Russell said that tho responsibility of protecting the public against a recrudescence of influenza rested with the Health Department. Experience showed that even where bacilli wore known practically to have died out in one country, whan they were taken to another country amidst frosh surroundings they named'up into virulence immediately. Tho New Zealand Government was not taking any chance in that respect. He deeply sympathised with stranded Now Zealanders, but what had been done was done for the good of the country. Agents in Sydney and Mlbourno have been instructed to give advances for New Zealanders' sustenance.

As the result of slipping on the deck of the Patcona on Saturday night u seaman named Andrew Papps dislocated his loft shoulder. He was removed to the hospital for treatment.

It appears from information supplied hy the prisons Department that it is only proposed to provide temporary jail accommodation at Trentham for a limited number of short-sentence prisoners who are to be engaged in swamp-draining 'operations and other improvements. There is no intention of placing permanent prison buildings adjoining the railway line. The section facing the Horetaunga railway station is moiely to be reserved as a means of entrance to an area further afield, where temporary and movable buildings will be erected. An entertaining story is told by an Italian writer concerning the manner in which the municipal funds of Courtrai wore saved at the time of the German invasion. When the enemy arrived these funds, totalling a very considerable amount, were at the Town Hall, and the problem of their removal greatly exorcised the civic authorities. The Mayor hit upon the idea of a mock funeral, and on the second day of the occupation an imposing cortege moved slowly through tlio streets with what the Germans were led to believe were the remains of a distinguished citizen. The funeral ear was heaped high with flowers, the city councillors walked behind, and German ofiicors stood stiffly at the salute as the coffin was borne past them. Needless to say, the “ corpse” has now been exhumed.

Sir Hubert Hadfield, chairman of tho great Sheffield lirm of steel-makers, which employs 15,iaa) men, says, in tho •‘Weekly Dispatch,” of “Labour’s Demands”:—“iUy own opinion is that there is nothing very extreme in the demands of Labour, as some employers seem to think. Nationalisation ot all vital industries is, of course, a vast proposition, and 1 cannot agree about this, nor do 1 think Labour asks for it. Nationalisation of railways seems to be a cotntm-senso way of settling some of tho difficulties, i do not want to quote or represent my own works as a paragon for others to copy. But facts speak Tor themselves. Twenty-three years ago we introduced In Sheffield a IS-hours week, and .1 tried to persuade other employers to do the same. Very fw would listen to such a scheme. vv o have made other concessions. The result of our policy 7 has been harmony and pleasant relations all tho time between employer and employee. The employer must take risks and make experiments that are likely to conduce to beneficial results all round. 1 am no prophet, but I believe that before the end’ of this year we shall see our way through this great crisis in human affairs.”

Recent occurrences have indicated that the robberies committed in tho streets of the city of Melbourne ami suburbs at tho poiut of a revolver were not the work of well-known criminals, whom the police had under suspicion, hut of a band of callow youths—many of whom are not more than sixteen years of age. In such circumstances the culprits are dealt with in the Children's Courts, and unless they are guilty of oifenecs which warrant the magistrate committing them for trial, they are usually lightly" dealt with. With the best of intentions, the presiding magistrate gives the youths route sound advice on the lines of : ‘honesty is .the best policy,” hut in most cases the emfiryo criminals listen with ill-concealed Impatience, 1 and before leaving the court have been heard to comment ou the “senile imbecility” of the speaker. That was not tho expression used on one occasion, but it conveys the exact meaning of the foul language used by an incorrigible youth oi under sixteen. It has also been noticed that when allowed “out on probation” these youths openly jeer at their probation officers, and it is a question now whether the kindly, but mistaken, leniency exhibited hv magistrates of the Children's Courts should not he su&tivuted by sterner measures of correction. It is evident (says the Melbourne “Argus”) that there is a dangerous “crop” of youthful criminals growing up. A veteran member, of the Criminal Department stated that fully 60 per cent., of the house and shop-ureaking crimes in tho metropolis was the work of youths of about sixteen years—and, in his opinion, the niost effective way of checking their evil career was a course of punishment which • included private whippings.

In these days of greater or less peace when thousands of men are throwing aside their uniforms and hastneing back to civilian life, signs are not wanting (says the “Otago Daily Times”), that military stars are losing their lustre and some are even" in danger of falling from their high places in the firmament. It does not follow that because men submitted quietly to all tho inconveniences' incidental to tho military system under tho dire stress of war that they are going to do so now that the strain is removed. In fac, it is clear that some will not. An amusing demonstration of tho returning spirit of civilitn independence was given In a local military office tho other day. According to usual custom a considerable number of men had been summoned regardless of the waste of their time involved, to appear at tho same hour before a board. One by one at long intervals the men were called upon, until tb© patience of one of the awaiting ones was thoroughly exhausted. He proceeded to explain with some emphasis thah he had left his work in a distant country district suddenly to attend the board, and that he was going hack that day, too. Tho sergeant-major addressed naturally resented such assertiveness, but he was only met with further demands to know why only one day’s notice of teh board’s sitting had been given. Commands to got back to his scat and wait his turn were quite unheeded by tho indignant counterman, who now began to inquire who it was that sent out the offending notice. A sergeant-major present was brave—or incautions—enough to claim responsibility, whereupon the countryman proceeded with soldierly ornamentation to give him “a piece of hi® mind.” The sergeant-major rose to push the man back to his place, when ho was met with several rapid and most ably directed blows that found their mark about his eyes and nose. For a few moments confusion reigned, and it is whispered that several highly placed officers executed strategic movements to the roar. Then an officer who had stood his ground called on members of tho staff to arrest the disturber of the peace; hut tho response was mostdisappolnting. No one seemed disposed to argue the matter further, and the country visitor, having effectively registered hi® protest, picked up his hat and moved off to catch his train, leaving tho scandalised staff to busy themselves over tho formulation of charges in due order. It is said that tho face of tho sergeant-major chiefly concerned will form invaluable evidence at the trial.

At a meeting of the Thorndon branch of the A.S.R.S., held yesterday, the Longton case was discussed, and the following resolution was unanimously carnet; '‘Thar this meeting views with alarm the introduction ol autocratic Prussian rule into the railway service by the Minister for Railways, Mr Herries, as such actions of his use of the veto in the ,Longton case, and also the flouting o? ‘'scraps of paper,” official obligations given this man, duly indicate. 1 ’ Arising out of the above, the following was carried; “This meeting considers the time opportune for the executive council of the A.S.H-.S. to press for a staff board, to bo set up similar to that set up by the post, aria Telegraph Department.”

A correspondent suggests that the Rifle Club, which regards rifle-shooting as a -sport, should be encouraged by the Government by the -issue of the latest pattern of service rifle adopted by the Array, the long rifle being preferred. Failing this a supply of long Lce-Enfleld barrels should be procured —a free grant of 200 rounds of ammunition per year —members to have the privilege of purchasing 200 rounds at i>s per 100, a.s was the practice before the war ; rifle ranges within reasonable distance of towns, and railway passes to practices and rifle competitions within a limited distance. Rifle club men should put in a certain amount of training, for without drill they would be of very little use as a defence unit. Other sports, such as football and cricket, do not look to the Government for assistance — neither should riflemen, unless they give something . in return.

Ir the Juvenile Court on Saturday several parents appeared before Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M., for failing to send their children regularly to school. In one case the father of a boy said his son left his homo at Lower Hutt each day in order to attend school at Wellington, but had beeu ‘‘wagging rt" withsome other lads. The magistrate said that fhe distance the boy had to go to school probably had something to do with his playing truant, as his parents had not the same control over him as would be the case if he attended a school nearer to his home. Tho case would be adjourned for six months. Tho lad in question had written to the schoolmaster stating that he was absent through illness, and had signed his father’s name to tho letter. Another Huttboywas dealt with in a similar manner. In a third case Mr J. W. Butler, truant inspector, said the child, . nine and a-halt years of age, had not passed tho first standard. During the past year tbe child had been absent from- school 10U times out of 321 possible attendances. A fourth parent stated that his child was subject to fits of illness, and for periods it was impossible to send her to school. Tho child mised 129 chool attendances last year. Kach case was aajourned for a nroiith.

A very practical method of distributing an extra bonus to the staff, saya tho “Bankers’ Magazine.’’ for February, has been conceived by the directors of the London County Westminster and Parr’s Bank. It is proposed to set aside £140,000 out of the past year’s profits for tlie purpose of a staff bonus of about 10 x )e r ,ceut. on salaries, the same to be paid by tho distribution of next fully-paid £1 shares taken at the issue price, of 35s per share. ,In this bonus all members of the. staff, ■ both temporary, and . permanent, wili'“participate, - subject • to theor having been twelve months in" the service of the bank on Decembei 31st last, receiving one share in respect of every £2O of salary then being paid. Tho dividend on these shares will be limited to 12J percent., and as a result of this particular transaction the capital will bo increased by about £7O,O(J'J, and the reserve fund by a like amount. This" bonus is additional to the considerable:, -amouiits’ which have been added to the salaries in tbe way of cash war bonus for the purpose of meeting the increased cost of living, and it has a good deal to commend it, for besides being an incentive to thrift, it gives every member of the staff an actual proprietary interest in the business. Tho scheme will involve the issue of a new class of shares, which is still subject to Treasury consent.