NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 May 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

UNINTELLIGIBLE TITLES. 1 MILITARY TERMS RIDICULED. WELLINGTON, May S. "There will have to be many drastic changes before military nomenclature is at all intelligible," stated Colonel R. W. Tate, adjutant-general to the forces, before the Defence Expenditure Commission yesterday. Sir Robert Anderson, chairman of the commission, agreed that many titles now existing failed to convey anything "Take your own case," he said, "You are adjutant-general. What does it mean?" Colonel Tate* admitted it would be difficult to say why an officer with his duties should be called an adjutant-general." He quoted another anomaly. The director of ordnance stores, he said had nothing. ■ to" 'do with ordnance. Sir Robert. Andersen: And why the director of personal services? Does that title convey the officer's duties? Colonel Tate: No, We followed the Eritish example. The term "quartermaster-general'-'' was mentioned, and attempt was made to trace its history, which, it was asserted, went back to the days of the bow and arrow. The duties had changed, of course, but the title was the same.

Sir Robert Anderson: Why not lead the world in bringing about changes by the adoption of intelligent titles? Colonel Tate: I am afraid such a Step, taken in a little corner of the world like New Zealand, would have •little effect. Sir Eobert Andersen:. Try it, and you will find the whole world glad to follow you. WORK FOR EXEMPTED FIRST DIVISION. HAMILTON, this day. The Raglan County Council decided to urge the Minister: to force exempted First Division reservists to dp road work if they were suitable, owing.. to shortage of labour in the country districts. THE SEE-ADLER PRISONERS.'"' TOGO BACK TO MOTUIHL, CHRISTCHURCH, May £",'" It is understood that the V Int'errx•nient camp on Ripa Island is tti "'• be closed, and von Luckner andr.Ki'rscheiss, German prisoners of war,, will be transferred back to their old quarters' on Motuihi Island. During tlie summer months the accommodation on Ripa Island for the prisoners and their guards was quite satisfactory, but in winter time Ripa Island is unlit for an internment camp, the general surroundings not being conducive to the health of the men. INFANT LIFE PROTECTION. WELLLINGTON, May 9. Mr. Neville Mayman, who has been touring New Zealand on behalf of the New- South Wales Government, and been studying the Dominion methods of saving infant life, says he has been greatly impressed with the St. Helen's Hospitals, not only as obstetric hospitals, but as most valuable training schools for midwives. The Government was to be congratulated on the policy of establishing hospitals of this description, which could not fail to be of immense service in the reduction of infant mortality. Mr. Mayman .is loud in his praise of the New Zealand Infant Life Protection Act. . HUNTLY MINERS TO RESUME.' DISPUTE SETTLED. AUCKLAND, May 8. A Huntly message states that at a stop-work meeting to-day it was announced that all grievances had been satisfactorily settled. The company has arranged for a supply of stronger powder, and has agreed" that gates shall be put on the cages earlier-, so * that the men can be raised and lowered in the same time as formerly. Work will be resumed to-morrow morning.