NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1916, Page 7

NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

SOLDIERS AT FEATHERSTON. (From Our Own Correspondent)'. Wellington, April 14. Accounts of the recent rioting at the Featherston camp have exaggerated the seriousness of the incident. There certainly has been dissatisfaction regarding some of the canteen charges, and the monopoly enjoyed by tlie lessee of the canteen. Complaints had been made and were receiving the attention of the camp authorities before the disorder occurred. But the "riot" appears to have been a boisterous demonstration by a few dozen men, whose comrades crowded round to see what was happening. Canteen proprietors are doomed to fall foul of the men they serve, Probably there never was a regimental canteen which did not produce grievances of one.sort or another, its patrons insisting that they are being defrauded. The staff has ordered an inquiry to be made regarding the trouble at Featherston, and whatever may be the result the public should not imagine that there is any weakening of the discipline in the camps. New Zealand's soldiers behave uncommonly well under the training as well as on service. TIMBER FRQM THE WEST COAST. The sawmillers of the West Coast have joined the throng of' those who want the Prime Minister to provide s'hips for the carriage of their ships to the "markets. Millions of feet of timber are accumulating at the mills; and the sawmillerg are being compelled to cease operations owing to the inability to get rid of stocks. The -Australian markets want the timber, but transport cannot be provided, owing to the shortage of ships. Mr Massey has promised the sawmillers that he will do what he can for them, but it is easy guessing that he will not be able to do very much. The indications are, indeed, that shortage of shipping is going to be more acute than ever later in the year, owing to tlie demands of the War Departments, the activities of the enemy submarines, and the clamour for shipping space in all parts of the world. The British Board of Trade is directing the allocation of all available ships through a Tonnage Committee of shipping and commercial experts, and naturally it gives first consideration to articles that are required for the military and naval services, such as meat, wool, and dairy produce. The New Zealand Government has more than once been in sore straits to find the ships required for the conveyance of coal to the order of the Admiralty. DESKS IN SCHOOLS. The Minister for Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) stated to-day that he was giving some attention to the question of providing a standard seat and desk for the public schools of the Dominion. "The old-fashioned seats and desks have been blamed, to some extent, for spinal curvature among the children attending the Stato schools," said the Minister. "Some of the Education Boards have shown a praiseworthy zeal in introducing an improved type of seat and desk, but others have made no move in this direction. Tlie new seats vary in design, and I am making inquiries with the object of seeing if it will be possible to introduce a suitable standard seat and desk for all public schools, supplies to be obtained by the Education Department and issued to the Boards at cost price." ARM BAOGES. A Gazette Extraordinary issued today authorises the issue of arm badges to officers and men employed on transports and other vessels engaged by the New Zealand Government for any nurpose connected with the present war. Some of the men have found themselves included among the "shirkers" by undiscerning persons, and they have asked for the right to rank openly among those who have served the nation in the present crisis. But it remains to be seen if any large proportion of the sailormen will wear the badges. The badges scheme, as far a3 Wellington is concerned, has fallen very flat. Siune of the returned soldier wear the red armlet and some of them wear a crown badge of their own selection. Others are content to display a button from their uniform w'hen they get into civilian clothes. The khaki.'badge, issued to the men waiting to be'called up, is seldom seen on the streets, though .several hundreds have been issued. ' Very few men are willing to display the "medically unfit" badge, though the prejudice against it seems to be (leclinjm;. Wellington may be singular'in this respect, but there if no doubt that as far as this town is concerned tlie absence of a badge on the atm proves nothing. Hundreds of men are carrying their badges in their pockets.