NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 October 1917, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SECOND DIVISION BALLET. EXD OF OCTOBER. WELLINGTON, Oct 17. The first ballot of the Second Division is fixed ior October 29 ? and names will be gazetted about November 6. Class A of the Second Division now comprises 15,292 men. Since the taking of the last ballot there have been accretions numbering 1274 from the First Division. These will be called up by "Gazette" without ballot. It is expected that Class A, with further accretions during the next two' months, will provide sufficient men for three ballots. MOTOR FATALITY. MAN AND DAUGHTER KILLED. MASTERTON,, this day A party left Masterton a little after 8 o'clock consisting of Messrs. Laing, James 0 -'Connor and his daughter. After 12 miles were covered, and when approaching Kahumingi Bridge something went wrong and the ear crashed over the side of the bridge, falling a distance of about 20 feet into the river. The occupants were pinned underneath but Laing managed to free himself. Assistance was obtained and when the car was removed off 0 'Connor and his daughter it was found .that they were dead. i

MILITARY DEFAULTERS. SHOULD THEIR LAND BT3 CONFISCATED? J i WELLINGTON, Oct 16. The Defence Minister presented a return to the House to-day showing that of 2560 cases of men who have failed to answer the call in the ballot, under investigation by the Director of Personal Services, the number found as a result is 743 at the date of the previous return. There are 495 warrants outstanding. Mr Isitt asked if the Government intended to have the spectators at racecourses, etc., examined for tbeir registration certificates, and was assured that the Cabinet had decide! that the police shall take action. Mr Isitt asked if the Government would confiscate land of men who turned tail and bolted when called up, he had in mind two brothers in Canterbury, large landowners, who disappeared when called up. Mr Massey: Who has their land? Mr Isitt: They -have and their relatives are working it. Mr Massey said he had a good deal of sympathy with Mr Isitt's suggestion, and the House would have a chance to deal with the matter as Mr Anderson had given notice of an amendment to the Expeditionary Forces Bill.—"Manawatu Times." WHEAT FROM AUSTRALIA. MINISTER EXPLAINS POSITION. WELLINGTON, Oct 16. Mr Witty asked the Minister of Agriculture to-day if the Government had been offered the opportunity of loading three ships with wheat in . Australia for New Zealand recently, . but had declined, owing to fear of not .being able to get them unloaded at this end. The Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald replied that he had received no such offer, but it had been suggested "that one of the transports might have been instructed to call in for a cargo of wheat. However, as the Australian strike might be over in a day or two this suggestion was not adopted. In order to get satisfaction out of a wheat shipment a special boat for the purpose was necessary. There "were, he added, two or three small sailing ships offering at double the freight wanted by the Union Company.

Every German U boat carries skilful navigators and certain other specialist ratings. The remainder of the crew may be marines or mere shipyard labourers. Sailors are not needed for the kind of work that falls to the lot of the "remainder." ISTo trace has yet been found of Miss Martin and the man Young, whose clothes were found among the lupins a few days ago (says the Otago Daily Times). Mrs. Young is ; proceeding against her husband for desertion and a warrant has Wen issued for his arrest. The police has issu'etl "missing friends" notices regarding Miss Martin, not entertaining the idea of suicide. The usual crime reports have been circulated with regard to Young.