A SOCIALIST'S STATEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 March 1919, Page 4

A SOCIALIST'S STATEMENT.

REFUTED BY MINISTER i HOPELESS LEGAL TANGLE . WELINGTSS- ms day. The Minister for Defence in writing to Mr P. Fraser, M.P., regarding his statement ..that returned soldiers had signed a petition for release of men imprisoned for refusing to perform military service, says he has communicated with the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association, the secretary-.-" of which replied that while a few men may have signed the petition, a rcsoluiton passed last Novem-, ber strongly deprecating the remission of sentences imposed on men for refusing to perform unilitfaiy service during tlie war, and that every endeavour should be made to bring to trial men who failed to parade when called up, or who subsequently deserted. The letter further states that <a-t a meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association on sth February, a motion that the balance of •EJ ! . C... Webb's sentence be remitted failed to get a seconder from over 400 present, who expressed disapproval of the proposal in a marked manner. The secretary of the Labour Department states that the decision given by the Timaru magistrate recently'would be the subject of a Supreme Court appeal. Proceedings in the ease were brought under section 25 of the Shops and Offices Act, providing that shopkeepers may ask the Minister to fix closing hours "in the evening." The Chief Justice ruled that "evening" means abo-it the time of sunset. Subsequently Parliament inderted an amendment in the Act, defining evening as being the time of day not earlier than 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The Timaru magistrate relied on this, and gave his decision accordingly, with the Chief Justice's ruling, which' he held was not overridden by the Le,gislative amendment.? The Labour Departnient is now appealing against this decision.

ISSUE OF NEW LOAN DEFERRED .. .► SUBSCRIPTIONS FLOWING IN FREELY. WELLINGTON, February 28' The Acting-Minister of Finance stated to-day that owing to the continued steady flow of subscriptions into the Treasury, the issue of the new loan would not be floated in April. The Minister -added thai: the Treausry would continue to receive subscriptions as in the past, and he hoped the people would realise that the Government still needed money for war purposes. The war had foun the nation sound morally and spiritually, but the financial test would not be completed till after the was was paiu for..

A JUGO-SLAV GAOLED AUCKLAND. February 28 "This is„one..of a series of charges to come against about 80 Jugo-Slavs who have absolutely refused to obey notices to report for national service,' 7 declared Mr Selwyn Mays in conducting a prosecution against a Dalmatian named Nicholas Erceg, brought before Mr "Wilson, S.M., to-day on >a;' charge of having refused to do national service. Mr Mays said Erceg kept a shop and was one of five brothers, none of whom had done any national service. This man had been sent a notice early in December to proceed to drainage works. He did not go, and made no, communication with the Commissioner Mr Mays added that some time- ago several Jugo-Slavs wore prosecuted and imprisoned, and after that there was less trouble with them, but recently there had been bother, an out--break of .insolence and they tried by various stratagems to 'avoid national service. Defendant stated he had long ago written to the Government declaring his desire to help win the War. Mr Mays: Yes; and they -will do anything except fight or work.

Defendant was sentenced to three months' imprisonment 1 .

UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP GRANTED TO NEW ZEALANDER. AUCKLAND, This Day.