NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 1 September 1917, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

NAPIER CO¥RT SITTINGS. ' • NAPIER, this day. A seaman, named George Fallows, was found guilty of the theft of a pair of boots from the cargo of a home liner, and was sentenced to two months' hard labour. John Moriatz, pleaded guilty to the theft of bicycles aud bicycle parts, and got two years' reformative treatment. THE WAR LOAN. A GOOD EXAMPLE. FIELDING, this day. The New Zealand Romney Marsh Breeders' Associaton~ and Hereford Breeders' Association are . each putting the whole of the surplus funds into the war loan. INVERCARGILL, August 31. The following InvercargilL investments in the war loan Jiave been made during the last two days:—Southland Frozen Meat Company, £12,000; Murray's, Ltd., £5000; two business firms, £SOOO and £4OOO respectively; two citizens, £2OOO and £IOOO. DUNEDIN, August 31 j Local subscriptions to the War Loan include: Union Co.. £250.000; A. and T. Burt, £10,000; Mosgiel Woollen Co., £5000; Bruce Woollen Co., £5000; New Zealand Paper Mills, £5000; Otago A. and P. Society, £1000; Port Chalmers Borough Council £IOOOI Savings Bank officials experienced a very busy day, the rush of persons desirous of withdrawing savings for the purpose of transferring the money to the War Loan being incessant from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and also in the evening.

The Otago Harbour Board has decided to invest £15,000 in the War Loan. BIG SUBSCRIPTIONS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 31. ' Sir Joseph Ward intimated, in the House this afternoon, that he had been advised that the Union S.S. Company had subscribed £250,000 to the War Loan. The National Mutual Life Association had contributed £60,000. Subscriptions to the war loan by members of the Commercial Travellers' Association amount to £96,540. Court Roderick Dhu, A. O. F. (Wanaganui), have decided to invest £SOO in the War Loan. THE MYSTERIOUS BILL. WHERE MR. McCOOMBS GOT IT. BUT HOW DID IT GET THERE? WELLNGTON, August 31. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr. McCoombs stated that he told the Premier yesterday that he would tell him to-day where he pro'curcd the amendment of the Military Service Act, providing for the conscription of youths of 19 years, referred to by him in the House. A thousand copies of that amendment were, .printed yesterday in the Christchurch edition of a New Zealand journal. - Mr. Massey: What journal? Mr. McCoombs: "New Zealand Truth. He then proceeded to complain that the Premier yesterday had said that a copy of such amendment could only have been procured in one way, and that way a dishonourable one. To this he strongly objected and he thought the Premier should withdraw the expression. Mr. Massey said that at the time he spoke he was under the impression that Mr. McCoombs had a copy of the Bill in his posession. Had he known he was only reading an extract from a newspaper he would not have used the term complained of. Speaking to the matter on Thursday, when he challenged Mr. McCoombs to say where he had got the Bill, Mr. Massey said: When the question was sprung upon me the other day in the House, I was not quite clear as to what had happened. I have thousands of documents passing through my hands as Prime Minister, and it is not possible for me to remeiiber every one 4

of them. But what I said was absolutely correct. The Bill to which the honourable gentleman refers was not dealt with, by the Cabinet, and has not been dealt with by the Cabinet, nor will it be dealt with by the Cabinet, until we have dealt with the Bill for the shortening of the hours of license houses. . . The Bill is not mine. I have had nothing to do with it.