New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 72, 1 March 1916, Page 3

New Zealand

AN OFFICER IN TROUBLE. CHARGED WITH FORGERY. Per Press Association. Dunedin, February 28. At t!ie l*oliCf Court to-day, Captain Cecil Lyttelton Hawkins, an officer in the Defence Forces, wa s charged that on December 27, 1918, at Auckland, he did commit the forgery of an accountable receipt, purporting to be signed by J. H. Parslow, for £2 12s, and did cause Alfred Bartlett to act upon the same as if it were genuine. Chief-Detective Bishop asked that the accused he remanded to appear at Auckland next Monday. As other charges were pending against the accused, he asked that bail bo sub-

stantial. Accused was remanded accordingly, himself in £2OO. and two sureties of £IOO each. The hail money was immediately forthcoming. EARLY CLOSING OF HOTELS. PERTINENT QUESTIONS BY THE MODERATE LEAGUE. Wellington, February 29. An important stage in the movement for the early closing of hotel and club bars was readied to-day, when at a. meeting of the central executive of the Moderate League a letter was forwarded to the Minister of Defence, asking for definite official information as to the part indulgence in alcoholic refreshments has played with the Expeditionary Forces. The letter states that the executive consider that the military authorities are the only competent judges as to what regulations should govern soldiers in camp and on leave, and contend that no pressure should he brought to bear on the Government to carry out the particular views of sections of the civilian population, unless there is obvious neglect of official duty. Replies are asked for on the following definite points; (1) Has there been any material inefficiency of the Expeditionary Force and Reinforcements now at the front, due to drunkenness?; (2) Is drunkenness a material feature of the daily conduct of the

i camps in the Dominion ? : (9) How inaney men have been discharged from the forces for drunkenness?; M) Has drunkenness been responsilile for retarding the training of the men?; <o) Have soldiers done' anything to their own detriment, or detriment of the civil life of the Dominion, through indulgence in alcohol when in camp, or on leave, that would -justify a ser- | ions alteration of the civil law? ! THE ARBITRATION ACT. SUSPENSION EXPLAINED. Auckland, February 28. The Premier, explaining the Ortler-in-Council suspending the Arbitration Act preventing the employment ot rei turned soldiers, said the Order applies only to those soldiers incapable 6f efficiently working at their |>re- , spector thinks fit. It was t!io honn- ' den duty of the State to see that disablement contracted during military I service. ■ It provides that all applications for permits are to be made to the. Inspector of Factories, who. after making inquiries into their fitness and ability for such employment, and after giving the union which is bound bv the award or industrial agreement a rasonable opportunity ot expressing its views upon the application, may in writing issue to them discharged soldiers’ permits to bo employed in the industry for such term and at such rates, wages, and upon such other conditions as the in-‘ spector thinks fit. It was the disabled men, as far as possible, -were afforded all assistance to enable them to earn a living in the occupations best suited to their circumstances a»<l ! physical condition. MARRIED SOLDIERS’ ALLOW. ANCE. Wellington, February 29. The Defence Minister informed a Post reporter that the Cabinet today had decided that an increase of

the separaton allowance or married soldiers with families had been agreed to, and that in addition to one shilling per day allowance already given for wives of soldiers, sixpence pm- day for each child under 16 years ol age

nip to the maximum of lour children) would also be made. Therefore the pay of a soldier with wife and four children would he eight shillings a dnv which is the same maximum as that in Australia. The new scale would be retrospective, and the Minister hoped that those to whom it would be due would recognise that it would take some little time to get back payment sheets made nut. “I make it plain.” said Mr Allen, “that this is not not done now as a special inducement to married men. but to put them in a better position to go if they feel in earnest. don’t want to encourage a man with more than four children under 16 to go through the course. They are at liberty to do so if they think fit.” WOUNDED SOLDIERS' FUND. ' £ s. <l. ■Previously acknowledged 3088 11 2 G. H. Burrell ... - 1 U £BOB9 H 3