NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 November 1917, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

WAR AND HIGH PRICTS EFFECT OF RECENT VICTORY. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 27 3§?an anyone give us an idea when the price of material will come down after the. war?" asked Mr Staples at yesterday's meeting of the Selwyn Plantation Board. "I can," said Mr. George Scott, the well-known ironfounder, of the firm of Scott Bros., Who preceeded to relate an incident which he considered typical of what would happen after the war. On the day that the recent advance was made on the western front he received a number, of American quotations by cablegram for material for his firm. The first was £7O per ton yet by five o'clock the price had fallen to £3O per ton. "I said at the time," said Mr Scott, "that I was sure that something was happening at the front, and and the Americans heard of it before we did." EMPLOYING A DESERTER. HAMILTON, Nov. 27. Bush aontrcctors, named John J. and William Dent, Ngaruawhia were charged at the Police Court yesterday with employing a deserter from the Expeditionary Force, named Victor Malines.

Senior Sergeant Cassells, who appeared for the police, stated that Malines deserted from the 22nd Reinforcements at Hamilton wherTon final leave. He was subsequently arrested by the police at the-defendants' camp near Waingaro. The defendants pleaded They admitted employing the -deserter, but declared they did not know that he was a deserter,! They admitted that Malines, when questioned was unable to produce a certificate of registration; this } the man explained by saying he had registered, and-that the card was in the post-office at Hamilton. Mr Rawson, S.M., said that under the Act the defendants we ~re liable to thre months' .imprisonment, or a fine up to £IOO, for employing a deserter. He also drew attention to the fact that ; ,for employing a man SVEo~ had failed to register they were liable to a fine of not less than £2O. In dismising the he said that -his remarks should be a warning to others. i: '*-'-^&

CANTEEN CONTKOL. from one of the camps'relative to the taking over of the canteens by the Government, a corres- j porident of the Auckland Star says:— "The- Government has now controlled the canteens for two days, and I do not think anything apart from actual training has done so much for the men as this. It is going to benefit them in, every way. To give you an instance, a small refreshment that previously cost sixpence is now obtained for fourpence. Shilling haircuts now cost threepence, and the articles which are needed every day are reduced in price on an average of 25 per cent. There is.-no dealing in actual cash, but at each door of the Featherston Canteen there is a desk at wnich the soldier buys credit tickets which he exchanges for the articles, at different counters. The staff is of all home service men, and thus the wages and profits are retained for soldiers. Previously the profits were delivered outside the camp to private individuals, who had leased the canteens. If the organisation and discipline is - maintained, the Government action will be one of the finest things yet done for the soldier in training in New Zealand camps.''