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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17686, 25 July 1919, Page 4

In moving tho adoption of tho. report of tho'Gas Committee at the meeting of the City Council last night, Or Bradley said tho works had sufficient coal in sight until the end of August, if the supplies expected came to hand as anticipated. If the boat now held up in Dunedin through tho necessary seamen feeling inclined to sign on to go to Newcastle were to get away they hoped to obtain another 1500 tons. Cr Bradley added that tho report by Mr A. Ford (engineer during Mr Hungerford's absence in camp) on the gasworks had now come to hand. It comprised 34 sides of oloaely type-written paper—somo of it very closely typed—and had been laid on tho table It is understood that a determined effort is to bo made by certain of tho Dunedin unions to bring about an alteration in the control of local labour matters. These unions, represented by what arc generally termed sano labour members, as against extremists, hold that tho local Labour Representation Committeo does not represent tho views of tho great majority of unionists and that it is only through the apathy of tho unionists themselves that 'tho committee, as at present constituted, exists. It is generally considered by unionists that if they could bring forward oandidates who arc iy>t imbued with the idea that the millennium can be reached by direct action those candidates would hv:e very favourablo prospects of success at the coining elections. Tho unionists agree, however, that candidates holding extreme views can have little hope of being returned at the hustings,—in fact, many unionists themselves will not give their support to or voto for such candidates. Ono of tho first movements of the proposed new Labour party will be to strive to cancel tho affiliation of the Otago Labour Representation Committee with tho New Zealand Labour Party and to form a distinct Otago Labour Party. A Dunedin merchant yesterday gave a member of our staff his idea of tho chief cause of the high cost of living. He stated that the large amount of borrowed money, and the increased issuo of paper money by the banks, had caused an abund-

ance of what might be termed artificial money, and that us a result there was a tendency to pay more than its actual value for land, for instance, with a general upward trend in the prices of produce. Anothor point put forward for the high cost of _ living was that no matter how high price)-, soared, the average housewife exercised no restraint in purchasing in the face of tho heavy prices asked. The merchant went on to say that if the general purchaser would only refrain from buying at high values, and ask for an article of a more or less similar character at a lower cost, tho tendency must be to lower the pxioo of most high-cost commodities. A deputation of medical practitionere will wait on the University Council at its next meeting to ask for reconsideration of tho council's proposals that the necessary extensions of the Medical School should be mado in the existing departments of Anatomy and Physiology in the original University buildings. Wo understand that the members of the medical profession areunanimous in the expression of the opinion that it is desirable, in tho interests of

efficiency, that provision for tho departments of Anatomy and Physiology should be mado in the block of buildings, already used by tho Medical School, in King street, opposite tho Hospital. A first offender for drunkenness was fined 20s, in ,default 48 hours' imprisonment, by Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., in the City Police Court yesterday. William Neilson Mackic, on remand, was charged with a similar offence. Mr Irwin, who appeared for the relatives, said he understood that the man had been released from tho Inebriates' Home, and expressed the opinion that he should bo sent back. Mr F. G. dimming said ho had known the accused for over 10 years. The man was a heavy drinker. His habits, while he was under the influence of liquor, were disgusting in the extreme, and witness was satisfied he would land in the mental hospital if ho kept on the way he was doing. Mr Cumming remarkpd that it was most unsatisfactory to havo persons released from tho institution without notification being sent to tho police or court authorities of the release. If there had been a proper system of probation in vogue, tho man would probably not have been in court. The Magistrate remarked that he had made representations on the subject before. Tho accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, on condition that ho left the town at once. The Magistrate added that, if he had to send tho accused back agRJn, he would recommend to the Minister that he should not be released before the expiry of the term of his committal. A Press Association message from Wellington states that at a largo meeting of bank officers last night it was decided to form a New Zealand Bank Officers' Guild, and a provisional committee was set up. In the Police Court at Port Chalmers on Wednesday Norman Walker, employed as assistant cook on the Marama, was charged with the theft of wearing apparel, valued at £20, and belonging to four members of the crow. The evidence showed that tho accused took tho articles to the railway station on Monday evening and loft them there. Messrs N. Dodds and A. Cable, J.P.'s, who occupied the bench, regarded the incident more as a drunken freak than anything , else, and fined the accused £5, with expenses (18s), in default 14 days' imprisonments Thomas Casey, a fireman, was brought before Messrs Dodds ajid J. M'Lachlan, J.P.'s, yosterday on a charge of being absent from the Waimana without leave. He was ordered to forfeit two days' pay. A seaman named John Brown was charged with committing mischief on tho Maunganui and with using obscene language. As other charges were pending, ho was remanded to appear before the magistrate to-day. The Postal Department advises that the cable t censorship to the United States has been abolished, and that messages written in code language may now be accepted the same as prior to the war. Messages, in code language may .also bo accepted for Italy. Power of description was not the strong point of a witness in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. When asked tho nature of a cut which had been inflicted upon tho claimant he replied: "Oh, it was not a bad cut." The Magistrate; "What do you mean by that?" The Witness: " Oh, -well, it was a pretty good cut." Tho Ngalcuta, which -reached Dunedin from Wellington at IL3O <um. yesterday brought with her 54 bags of mail from Australia and from tho North Island. This was all delivered in tho afternoon. The Briton, which arrived in Wellington on Wednesday, brought 26 bags of mail from two from Edinburgh, three from Glasgow, six from Liverpool, and 50 London parcel bags. As there wore influenza cases on board it was not certain y-wtorday when the mail might bo expected hero. It is announced that tho Imperial Governmont is prepared, in cases of proved hardship, to grant freo passages to • tho United Kingdom for tho widows and orphans of reservists who wei© recallod ■ from abroad on mobilisation, and who havo died while serving during tho war. A free passage will bo granted only if the wifo liad emigrated witliin three years of hor husband's death, though tho Ixxrda CommJssionors of tho Treasury -urouki be prepared, exceptionally, to allow freo passages in tho case of tropical countries, in cases of emigration over three years hoCore the husband's tk-sth. Froe passages f»x children will bo grantod only in oasoa >.yhcr« thoir mother is returning- to England *r \ wJiero they <k» orjihaDa. ' ' ■

Dγ Chesson, District Health Officer, Christchurch, telegraphed to the Grey Hospital Board on Friday as follows: —"In re tho lopor ease, tho newspaper reports aru most uufair, and should bo contradicted. The department is hastening tho building of o. Imt for tho leper. Each lopor hae a separate hut when completed, which I hopo will bo nost week. Tho man will then bo brought across. PJeaee point out that tho man haa been at Blackball mixing ■with tho population for sorno timo past, and is now under observation and prevented from mixing with, tho public, and is not as dangerous now as ho was when mixing with others. Your hospital is unable to provido accommodation- therefore, if arrangements at Blackball aro safe it was better to leave him there than shift him elsewhere pending preparations of accommodation for his reception." In connection with tho facilities provided for visits by relatives to soldiers who have to go straight to hospital on landing in Now Zealand without first visiting their homes, it is announced tliat free coach and steamer return warrants, in addition to railway warrants from-their homes to the railway station nearest to the hospital of tho class to which tho soldior is entitled, will bo issued to tho soldier's wifo and parents on application to Base Records. Where tho soldier has no wife or parents warrants will bo issued to ono next-of-kin. When the medical superintendent advises that a soldier is dangerously ill in hospital, and .recommends that it is advisable for the noxt-of-kin to visit him, free return railway, coach, and steamer warrants of the class to which the soldier is entitled "ill be -issued where necessary on application to tho Director of Base Records. Should tho soldier patient's condition continue critical, the next-of-kin or one othe-r relativo will bo granted an additional privilege of one-half fare once each month so long as the soldier's condition remains critical

An article published in the Melbourne Age recently regarding tho alleged poisoning by Germans in America of canned foods intended for consumption in the British Empire attracted widespread attention in Australia, and from many quarters tho Federal Government was urged to take steps to protect the Australian public against the possible danger. When the House of Representatives met recently Mr Fowler (Western Australia) referred to tho article. In view of tho possibility of poisoned foodstuffs being 6ent to Australia, he asked tho Minister of Customs to have a stringent inquiry and reliable tests made, so that the publio mind might be set at rest. Mr Anstey (Victoria) urged tho appointment of " Government tasters."—(Laughter.) Mr Maloney (Victoria) asked the Minister to appoint a scientific committee to watch over all imported foods coming into Australia. Would the Minister cable to America inquiring whether there was any truth in tho statement? If it were found to bo true, the Ministry should prohibit tho importation of foodstuffs. The Minister of Customs promised that exhaustive inquiries would bo made. If it were found that there was any reasonable ground for the allegation, steps would immediately be taken to prohibit the importation of goods from countries where adulteration was taking place. An extraordinary statement as to a secret appeal whioh is being made throughout the Dimboola district on behalf of German and Austrian prisoners was made at a confer-

ence in Melbourne of country delegates of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' League. Mr W T. Layeock (Dimboola) said that a pamphlet was being circulated in the district secretly. Every man who received a copy had to sign it. It was marked as originating with the Society of Friends in London, and its purpose was to raise funds for distressed German and Austrian prisoners. The money was to be sent to Germany. Collections were being taken up from house to house. "Wo havo the names of men who have shame-facedly told us that they have subscribed to it," continued Mr Laycock. " One statement on the pamphlet is that its contents must not be given to the public press. It goes on to tell of tho wonderful work Germany did for enemy aliens in Germany during tho wax, and describes how, well they were fed and clothed. Wo secured somo of the pamphlets—never mind how. We looked them up in our office, after making typewritten copies, which we deposited elsewhere. Before wo had tho pamphlets 24 hours somebody 'went through' our place and got them. Wo then took out tho typewritten copies, but had not them out for 10 minutes before they disappeared. Four of us were watching at tho time, but they were taken away somehow. Theso pamphlets state that the appeal is authorised under the Defence of the Realm Act, 1916." The president (Mr Palmer) said that he would at once bring the matter under the notice of the Repatriation Department, which had control of appeals. He would also direct the attention of the Intelligence section of tho Dofence Department to the statements made. o . A farewell social meeting will bo held this evening in tho Choral Hall to say good-bye to Mrs George Allan and her daughter, who are returning to Bolivia, and Mies Elder, who is returning to her missionary work in Peru. Mrs Allan's husband is director of tho Bolivian Indian Mission. Don't be humbugged by the train service—buy a Harley-Davidson Motor Cycle pnd motor to business. Immediate delivery Particulars from W. A. Justice and Co 290 Princes street, Dunedin.—Advt. •'"' Best Coir Matting, 18in, Is lid; 27in 2s lid; 3Sin, 3s lid yard; 36in, bordered' 4s lid yard.—At Mollisons Sale.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1559 — Advt The law of success is operating wonder fully in favour of "No Rubbing" Laundrv Help and "Golden Rule" Soap.—Hunter and Etheridge (Ltd.).—Advt. Electric Incandescent Lamps, Drawn Wiiv Metallic Filament, Philips Manufacture 16 25, Si, and 50' candle-power. Prioe ~£a each. Special terms for quantity orders — Turnbull and Jones (Ltd.), Electrio Engineers. —Advt. Whisky perfection—Watson's No. 10, tho favourite of all who know. Order it. Advt Eyestrain! —Consult Mr Peter G Dick D.8.0.A., F.LO. (London), consulting and oculists' optician.—Peter Dick. jewellorT fcto.. 490. Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.