Page 7 Advertisements Column 2

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3446, 27 March 1920, Page 7

“i)i(l you make any attempt to acquaint the niilitary :_iu[lloi'ities that you would -be unable to attend drill?” asked the magistrate of a lad who was charged before Mr E. Page, S.Mj., at Petone with not complying with the conditions of the Defence Act. “I did sir! I spoke to Sergeant-Major .———. I forget his name.” Turning {towards the body of the court the ldefendant called out, in a loud Voice, “Wliat is ,the sergeant-niajor’s name, Tom?” much to ‘the amusement of waiting litigants and witnesses, of whom there were a larger number than usual. “If you will take the Railway Statement for 1916,” stated Mr M. J. Mack (general secretary of the A.S.R.S.) to a N.Z. Times reporter on Tuesday, “you will find that I 14,968 men‘ in all were employed on the INCH’ Zealand railways. That number ,was reduced to 12,391 in 1918. The iI9IS report shows the witlidmwals ‘ from all causes as 1268, and the enigagements 523; leaving a deficit for the year of 745 men. Then the 1919 report shows 1146 withdrawals as against (328 engagements, being a further deficit of 518;‘ or a total loss for the two years of 1263 skilled ‘ men. ’ ' E l The rabbit-catching industry has ‘attracted all SOl'f.\‘ and conditions of .men who in a few months are able to lpllt together a cheque that would take the greater part of the year to accumulate at their ordinziry occupatioiis (In the Southland "district bunny his lhaving a ‘bad time, and if prices of i-skins remain as at present farmers ‘should soon be relieved of anxiety ywhen the (l(‘D2ll’lllll,‘llt‘,S inspectors are labout. The Defence Departinent has ldispensed with the services of a num- \‘ ber of oflicers, and some of these have lprocured the necessary equipment and seized the opportunity offered by the state of the American and English "13Tk9'fS 'SO add to their worldly goods at. a rate iinpossilil‘6 in other ways. ISe"OT3I Cilpfflilis and lieutenants for whom the department llD..\' no use at lpresciit are Jpursuing the elusive rabbit in the lakes district and the attraction the occupation has for so many tlii'oiigl2oiit New Zealand has further reduced the supply of labour S 0 fill‘ :19 otlH‘l' vhtinnels are concerned. Big variety of new seasonfs Millineri‘ for ladies’ and children, now showing at The Big Value House.—— Collinson and Gifford Ltd.