NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 January 1919, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

ASSISTING SOLDIERS.

APPLICATIONS DECREASED.

WELLINGTON, January 28.

“Many applicants,” states the December report of the Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board, “have taken advantage of the special provision under the regulations for financial assistance to meet confinement and surgical operation expenses. Under these headings £324 was disbursed during December, the amount being considerably less than that disbursed in the previous month. The board has power to grant up to £5 for confinement expenses, and £ for £ us to a maximum of £lu on account of surgical operation expenses.

“Now that the number of new applications coming before the board has greatly decreased, it has been found that a board of three members is able to cope with the work. In consequence, states the report, Messrs C. W. Chilman, M. J. Kilgour, A. S. Mitchell, and W. G. Morpeth have ceased to act as members from December 31, 1918. Mr. T. S. Ronaldson will continue to act as chairman of the board, and will have associated with him Messrs. Thomas Wilson and W. E. Bethune. These members will serve in an honorary capacity and hold regular meetings as heretofore.”

epidemic fighters.

CERTIFICATES TO BE PRESENTED

CHRISTCHURCH, January 27.

The certificates which the Public Health Department is having prepared for presentation to those who took an active part in the campaign during November and December against the influenza epidemic will shortly be ready for presentation. The Hon. G. W. Russell ■ isbated to-day that the printers were working on the certificates. “In many districts the proposal is being received with great tion,” said the Minister, “and from the head of the Dunedin citizens’ organisation I have received the names of nearly 250 persons to whom he der sired certificates to'be presented. Mr. Russell expressed the opinion that no one would feel insulted by the offer of the reward. If some did not wish to' receive it, they had only to say so an<i there would be an end of the matter as far as they were concerned.

STEAMERS DIVERTED

PROM PANAMA TO SUEZ,

WELLINGTON, January 28

A number of vessels which “were to have gone to England,"via America, have been diverted to the Suez Canal, and many would-be passengers who had actually booked now find no berths available. The Acting-Prime Minister stated to-day that the Government has no control over these vessels, which are in the hands of the Shipping Controller. The vessels have been diverted in order to pick up troops that come from Mesopotamia. It is necessary that these troops should be moved before the hot season commences. The Minister admitted that a little distinction might have been drawn where there were a few first-class and second-class berths available for New Zealand passengers, but he had nothing to do with that. “The question of compensation,’ said the Minister, “is quite outside our jurisdiction.”

ITS WORK FINISHED.

0 THE EFFICIENCY BOARD,

WELLINGTON, January 28

It appears from a statement made by the Acting-Prime Minister, that the National Efficiency Board’s tenure is definitely limited. “The Board,” says Sir James Allen, “sent in, a report that their order of reference had been nearly completed, except for a report on educational matters. This being so, and the war having ended, they considered their order of reference carried them no further. I have seen members of the Efficiency Board, and told them the Government were very anxious that they should finish their work on education, and after that it was not considered necessary to extend the order of reference or to continue a board in existence for post war problems.”

COURT-MARTIAL OF CRAMPTON

ADJOURNMENT GRANTED.

WANGANUI, this day

The court-martial of Lieutenant J. W. Crampton opened this morning. Crampton was represented at the morning’s hearing by Mr. N. G. Armstrong, acting for Mr. Lougbnan, Palmerston North, Mr. Holland, M.P., applied, for permission to assist the prosecution on the grounds that he was the instigator of the proceedings, and contended that the first charge was made by him at Reefton on May last, and he had on various occasions since demanded a court-martial.

Mr. Armstrong strongly opposed tee application, contending that an insti-

gator should be something more than a writer of newspaper correspondence or for a demand for a trial. The institutor of the proceedings was Crampton himself.

The Crown Prosecutor, Captain F, Hudson, pointed out it was a question of conferring not assisting the prosecutor. He failed to see how he could be assisted very much by Mr. Holland, but had no real objection to the latter sitting with him. The judge advocate, Captain Baldwin. expressed the opinion that before a civilian could sit with the prosecutor he would have to be able to give material assistance. The court ruled Mr. Holland was not entitled to sit.

Mr. Armstrong applied for an adjournment, saying Crampton received notice of proceedings a week ago, and decided to engage Mr. Loughnan, of Palmerston North, but the latter was absent, and he only got into touch with him on Monday last. Since then there had been no time to prepare the case. One of Crampton’s most important witnesses, Sergeant Smith, was ill in the hospital at Hawera, and would not be available for about ten days. The court adjourned till February 12 at Wanganui. A MEETING OF CHAMPIONS. DESERT GOLD AND GLOAMING. NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. Gloaming has already arrived, and Desert Gold definitely arrives on Saturday. The champions will probably meet in the Taranaki Stakes on Thursday, and great interest is taken in tho event.