DOMINION'S PART.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1915, Page 5

DOMINION'S PART.

CROATIANS VOLUNTEER. FOK yiitvVlCE IN .SERBIA, By Telegraph.—>Pross Association. Auckland, Yesterday. Bartel Mihalfevic, a, native of i)almatia, and late editor of the newspaper Zora, has written to Lord Liverpool urging that u special Croatian regiment he formed in New Zealand for oervico in Serbia. Already 4t> Croatian volunteers in the Whangaroi district have intimated their willingness to enlist if the New Zealand Government will accept their services. Mr. Masaey replied: "il much appreciate the patriotic spirit which prompted you to offer yourselves in defence of your country, and shall be glad t6 com.nmnieate with the Minister of Defence H'ith a view to seeing whether it is pos< sible to give effect your request."

A MINERS' THREAT. MR. MASSEY'S PIGNIFIED REPLY. By Association. Wellington, Last Night. A few days ago the Point Elizabeth and Liverpool State Collieries Emsolution resenting the utterances of certain members of the Ministry, and of the press, "inasmuch as they are endeavoring to bring on a feeling favorable to conscription of the flesh and blood of the working class of New Zealand, while at the same time failing to conscript the wealth .and private property of the rich. Furthermore, we are determined to meet such a calamity as conscription by an industrial revolution."

A copy of this resolution was forwarded to itlie Premier, who to-night stated that he had forwarded a reply to the Union, wherein lie took exception to the wording and sentiments expressed in the resolution. He was proud that what were referred to as the working classes had volunteered so well for service, and reminded the Union that there are no clear distinctions in the trenches, nor were 'there any in New Zealand in the manner implied in the resolution, and ninety-five per cent, of the people of New Zealand were workers.

"Let me say in conclusion," added Mr. Massey in his reply, "that if the last sentence of your resolution is intended to 'threaten the Government, it will not have the slightest effect, and while expressing no opinion at present on the subject of conscription or compulsory service, the Government will do exactly what it believes to be right from a national standpoint, and is prepared to take the consequences."

RETURNED SOLDIERS. TRAVELLING PRIVILEGES TO BE GRANTED. Wellington, Last Night. "It has been already decided by the Cabinet that certain concessions by way of railway privileges shall be made to returned soldiers," said the Prime Minister to-night, "but details of the scheme have to be arranged between the Defence Department and the Railway Department, and a definite statement on the subject will be made within a few days." GIFTS FOR THE FRONT. Wellington, Yesterday. Colonel Charters, Officer Commanding New Zealand Base, Egypt, in a report to the Minister of Defence says:— "Gift goods are arriving regularly anil are being distributee! as far as possible in accordance witlk instructions. Unfortunately all the home-made jam went bad through the tropics, and a great .number of glass jars were, broken in transit."

Colonel Charters advises that all jam •be sent in tins, of say 71b. Jam is very acceptable, as the local stuff is very poor. All goods sent to Anzae are being; placed in charge of tin olFiccr, because of consistent tlTieving 011 the transports between there and Egypt. Special thanks are forwarded to the donors of money cabled on September 8.

The Maheno and Willochra comforts were sufficient for every man at the front and on detachment in Egypt. Thej' were distributed. No gifts were sent during August, owing to the heavy fighting making it impossible.