DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1917, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS.

EXTINGUISHING NATIONAL EESERVE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, May 21. A special emergency meeting of the Dominion Executive t/omicil of the National Reserve resolved, in consequence of ,the continued refusal of the authorities to give to the reserve proper recognition as an integral part of the defence, forces, the executive is of oph'ion that it is no longer possible to maintain the reserve ns an efficient organisation, and recommends the Minister of Defence that the regulations of March 1, 1910, published by Order-in-Couneil, be cancelled, together with all appointments gazetted therein.

MEDAL AWARDS. Wellington, liny 21. The Military Medal has boon awarded to seven soldiers of the New Zealand [■'r-'peditionary Force, as follows (the address of is given in parentheses) :—Private Frederick A. Brill, Machine Gun Corps (Wellington); Rifleman John T. Clearwater, Rifle Brigade (Mataura); Private Leonard B. Dickinson, Otago Infantry fOpotiki); Corporal William K Gordon, Otago Infantry (Mt, Eden); Q.M.S. Adrian J. Mason, Artillery (Petone): Corporal John McQuilliam, Rifle Brigade (Invereargill); Lanee-Corporal Walter J. Murray, Rifle Brigade (Opotiki). All are still on active service. 1 SLANDER ACTION. Christehurch, May 21. In the Supreme Court, Robert M'Elhiuney, sheep farmer, Ashburton, sued Alfred J. Keith, sheep dealer, Ashburton, for £5Ol damages for allcicd slander. The claim was founded on an alleged statement by defendant in an hotel at Waimate that plaintiff stole a sheep out of the public saleyards. Tlie case is proceeding. BUTTER FAT LEVY PROTEST. Auckland, Last Night. The provincial conference of the Farmers' Union opened to-night. The. conference unanimously passed a resolution recording its emphatic protest against the butterfat tax as unjust and uncalled for, and as being a special tax upon one of the hardest-worked sections of the community. One speaker stated that the matter would be fought out on the floor of Parliament during the coming session.