DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1918, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS.

THE MAX. By Telegi.ph.—Press Association. Palmerston N., April IS. Palincrstcu loan contributions are £ 95,750, or £76,630 less than last time. IIAWEEA LICENSING APPEAL. Wellington, April 15. The full Court reserved its decision in the case of Crawford and Challis against Nuttall. DEFENCE EXPENDITURE COMMISSION.

Wellington, April 16. Before the Defence Expenditure Com- I mission to-day, Mr. A. M. Adanis, chief 1 executive officer of the Munitions and 'Supplies Department, presented a memorandum in explanation of the circumstances which brought the department into existence, and the methods by Which its business since had been carried on. Under the old system buying was not conducted on scientific lines, and requisitions from camp were not fulfilled promptly enough. Branches of the department were competing against one another in purchasing goods, and as the result of the rush of orders due to the increased reinforcements stocktaking got very far behind. This system had now been altered, a special supplies board of leading business men having been appointed to direct purchases, while special experts had been engaged to make the purchases. The result was that a great saving had been effected.

CABLE ' DELAYS. Wellington, April 16. 11l connection with the delay to cable traffic with and via the United Kingdom, Sir Joseph Ward makes the announcement that an indefinite delay is occurring on all traffic and the public is urged to use the cables for messages of urgent importance only. In view of this information, which has just been received from the London office of the Eastern Extension Cable uompany, Sir Joseph Ward has advised the New Zealand troops at the front and elsewhere to send their cablegrams at ordinary rates, as other messages have been subject to a delay varying from four to six weeks. Quite recently there was a blockade of •20,000 messages at one of the cable stations between here and London. With this fact in mind the public will realise that the cables should not be used except for urgent or important purposes.

LAST MAN ON THE FAKM. Wellington, April 10. A deputation of farmers from Ashburton district v.aited 011 the Premier, asking the Government to consider favorably the retention of the last man on the farm.

Mr. Dickie introduced the deputation, and other Canterbury members were present. The importance of wheat production was emphasised, also the difficulty of obtaining men who would take the same interest in their work as bona fide farmers on their own holdings; It was suggested that all sine die cases reviewed,

The Premier, while stating that the appeal for men must come first, thought they should by the organisation of industries be able to do everything they had promised the Imperial Government, and yet maintain production. He thought the suggestion that sine die cases be reviewed was a good one, probably a great deal of combing out could bo dona.

AUCKLAND COURT CASES. j Auckland, April 10. At tlio Police Court, Wong Chuck was fired £3O for raising n warning when the police were raiding a Chinese gaming liouqe recently. Three youths were charged with damaging inotor-cars belonging to eight owners, and were sentenced as follows: J. W. L. Casey, aged 17J, to three years' reformative treatment; George H. Welch, aged 10, and Albert C. Brown, aged 17, to two years' reformative treatment. The evidence showed that accused, of whom Casey was the ringleader, took the cars at night, returning them before morning, and causing damage to a varying extent. One car was damaged to the extent of £lB, and taken again after repair, being then damaged to the extent of £l4.