New Zealand

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 224, 1 March 1915, Page 5

New Zealand

OUR MEN IN EGYPT. THE SICK LIST. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, February 27. The Defence Department is advised that the following men of the expeditionary troops in Egypt are seriously ill—Lieut. Norman Harry Purdv, N.Z. Fieid Artillery; Trooper Robert Dugald Ross, Otago Mounted Rifles; Trooper William Mervyn Doull, Auckland ifounteds; Trooper Charlds Edward James, Otago Mounteds; Private David Morgan, Auckland Infantry; and Driver Charles Smith, X.Z. Field Artillery—all suffering from pneumonia. Gunner Percy Stace, N.Z. Field Artillery, has peritonitis; Private George Richard Wills, Canterbury Infantry, tuberculosis; and Lieut. John Thomas Moroney, Otago Infantry, tuberculosis, dangerously ill. The message adds that all are improving.

OCR BELGIAN FRIENDS. H

MEAT FOR ARMY PURPOSES. ' Wellington, Last Night. Arrangements liave been practically completed for forwarding regular shipments of meat for Imperial army purnoscs. The result of the conferences between the Prime Minister and representatives pf the meat companies is that a schedule of prices for all grades of meat has been drawn up, which may be altered as values fluctuate. With the sanction of Mr. Massey, this schedule R'ill be printed this week, and made available for publication. The schedule has been forwarded to the Imperial authorities, and Mr. Massey now only uwftits instructions as to the quantities to be shipped.

The only difficulty which now seeniß to be presented is sufficient cool storage snace aboard the vessels available for the export trade during the [resent nipntlr. Mr. Massey stated on Saturday that if two more vessels could he obtained, tilings would be all right for the (rio'nth, but he does not see at present where they arc to come from. The steamers which are on the freight list for March arc the Matatua, Tainuf, Karamea, Otaki, Kaikoura, Ruahine, Westmeath, and Star of Australia. The Westmeath is to go into dock for two or three days at Port Chalmers, but will be ready when she, is wanted. Seven Bhips are booked for departure in April, and it is known that several others will be available of the Shaw, Savill Line. They are coming to Australia, and on > discharging cargo there will sail for New Zealand. Mr. Massev has been assured by the Commonwealth Government that no attempt will be made to interfere with these steamers coming to the Dominion.

A PATHETIC APPEAL. Wellington, February 27. A pathetic appeal for assistance for the Belgian workers has been received by Mr .T. Reid, secretary of the United Federation of Trade Unions. The letter is dated from Amsterdam in December, and is addressed to trade union national centres throughout the world. It draws attention to the pitiable plight of the Belgian laboring classes as a result of their country being ravaged by war, and says that work stopped in all factories and workshops the first day hos„tilities commenced. Unemployment has developed to such an extent that the trade unions are powerless and unable to effectively fight the miseries accruing therefrom. Although the utmost has been done, the steps taken are in no way sufficient to keep the workers and their children alive. The Belgian trade uniong used every possible means t(J savq their organisations • from destruction and to support their members during those tragic moments, but their means are entirely exhausted. The letter closes with an urgent request for, funds from trades organisations for the Belgians. The unions are at present "undergoing a most serious and sinister Srial."

PROPOSED NEW TAXES. Foxton, Febnirtr* 27. At a public meeting last night a resolution was passed urging the Government, for the purpose of providing Dominion relief for the Belgians, to introduce legislation increasing the land and income tax to establish an equitable fund for that purpose. The meeting decided to furnish reasons for such legislation to the Premier.

WESTPORT MIXERS ENLISTING. Wcstport, February 27. At the send-off to a draft of reinforcements for the expeditionary force it was stated that so many men have Enlisted from the collieries that the West port Coal Company might have to close one of its mines, owing to the shortage of labor. The pay-sheets show u reduction of £SOO fortnightly. CONSECRATED COPPER FOR GUNS. Received 28, 5.5 p.m. Petrograd, February 20. Tlit' Germans are removing copper platen from the domes of the Catholic churches at Lowiez. Several who protested were hanged in the street.