LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taihape Daily Times, 22 July 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Red Jersey Appeal in Auckland to date has ■ reached the total of £20,358.

For exhibiting a film derogatory to the British troops of the American revolutionary period, Robert Goldstein has been sentenced in California to ten years in a penitentiary and fined £IOOO. . '

“As surely as you don’t provide good roads for the small settlers, you will drive them out, and the land wUI go back into big holdings,” said Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., who introduced a deputation to Sir William Fraser.

To-day was, an off-day in Taihape, as far as work was : concerned,, the surplus energy, of the. residents being devoted to, snow-balling It was very amusing - to see pcdestrains approaching corners in the various streets with a caution born of previous experiences However, all the various combats were waged with the greatest good humour. And no damage has been done.

It may comfort some people to hear the experience of a young lady in Havelock North (H. 8.). She has posted 400 letters to soldiers at the front and 400 parcels, and keeps a methodical note of each as it is despatched. From communications received she has had the satisfaction of knowing that not one has gone astray.

Up to March 31, 1918, according to an official statement, 664,104 German soldirs were considered to be “missing,” mostly as prisoners of war in enemy hands. France is said to hold 236,676, England 119,000, and Russia and Rumania 157,000. The remainder (151,428) “can for the most part be regarded as dead, though a portion of the missing men may one day turn up again.” M :

“Dry up, you fat-faced old 'baboon!” Such an interjection as this in the New Zealand Parliament (which may not always be a model of decorum) would certainly create a sensation, with unpleasant consequences for the interjector; but in the New South Wales Parliament, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P. (of Wellington), heard the remark made, and the Speaker was content with calling the member to order.

Less goods, under the three food groups of meat, dairy produce and groceries, can be purchased for the soveign in Whangarei than in any other town in New Zealand, according to the Government Statistician’s computations. What could have been purchased for £1 in the period 1909-13 now costs 30s 2d at Whangarei. Taihape is next, for there a former £1 worth now costs 30s l|d. On the same basis the following is what the peopje in the four centres have now to pay for a former °£l worth:-Wei-lington, 29s 3£d; Auckland, 28s 7d; Christchurch, 27s GJd; and Dunedin, 28s s|d.

Sevcral large shops in Napier are now displaying large signs containing a statement that no German goods are sold therein. This is stated to be the uecleus of a propaganda to oust the German manufacturer and importer from the commerce of the Dominion.

Speaking in the Wurtemburg Diet, the Minister of Finance, Dr. von Pistorius said: u lt would! require not only our work, but the labour of generations, to restore again Germany’s comercial relations. Even with neutrals the German merchants would have greater difficulties than hitherto