PERSONAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 319, 9 January 1909, Page 5

PERSONAL

Mr. Wm. Jennings, M.P., wishes to correct the statement made in our iisu» ot Wednesday, which, was copied Iron the Times, Wellington. In the biography of the new- Minister for Labor, Hon. A. sV. Hogg, it is stated that Mr. Hogg was manager of the Dimedin Age daily paper. The manager was the present member for Taumarunui, the editor being Mr Hogg, and the chief reporter Mr. J. M. Oddcs, now of Hansard stuff. An incident in connection with this paper may be worth relating. Owing to. the struggle for existence of the Age, money became scarce, and, to use a term well known in the trade, "the ghost" did not, walk for over three weeks, i.e., wages were not paid to the staff for that term. Arriving at the office one morning, Mr. Jennings saw a gathering round " the, stone" in the composing room, and which included 'the devil" (machine Iwy) and the present Minister for Labor. Th,' spokesman ("father of the chapel") represented to Mr. Jennings that the whole staff had decided not to bring out the paper that day unless wages were paid by twelve o'clock. The matter was represented to Mr. George Fenwick, who was chairman of the .Age Newspapei] Company, and who called a meeting* .ii) directors at Sivwright and Stout's oltnc. The result was that Mr. Jeunings was taken to the bank, and money totalling! just on £SOO was handed to him in Hi bag, and he returned to the office and' ■paid the staff. The Age struggled on for a short time, but eventually collaps-. Ed, Mr. Jennings resigning some months before its non-publication. ! Colonel A. Pole-Penton, of the Ordinance Board, Woolwich Arsenal, ami formerly Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, has been appointed to the command of the Royal Artillery at Malta, with the local rank of majorgeneral. This is a very important artillery command. 'Malta is an Imperial fortress and a naval base; it is garrisoned by about 7000 Imperial troops, of whom about 2000 are artillerymen.