LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Chief Electoral Officer states that j,ersoi>s whose irimes have been removed from the electoral roll by reason of neglecting to notify clwnge of residence, will be allowed, under the Amending Act, 1014, to vote, upon making a declaration in the form provided by the Act.—Press Assn. Prominent South Taranaki men are taking a hand in Bwepp'mg away the liquy traffic. The following are appearing on the platform in a vigorous campaign thev arc launching: Messrs. W. D. PowJrell.F. MilU. 0. H-twken, A. Hunter, J. R Corrigan, and J. Blair, all of whom are members of the National Efficiency League.

Mr. Wilkinson usked in Parliament last session: Would the Minister of Public Works in view of the early termination of the war, authorise the construction of the railway fron Opur.ake to New Plymouth? (this length of railway is absolutely necessary to bring the branch lines to complete paying point, and ia ideally situated for the employment of returned soldiers). Sir William Eraser replied that the particular line had not been authorised by Pari lament, consequently no expenditure thereon web possible at present. "It has been said that the farmers are only concerned in keeping down the wages and preventing strikes," said Mr J. Boddie, president of the Provincial Executive of the Auckland Farmers' Union, at Wiangarei recently. He thought he knew as much about the wishes of the farmers as most men, and he declared this not to be the case. As a result of long years of observation he found the farmer had greatly improved and had a different outlook. As a result of the war and the epidemic they had come through a feeling of brotherhood and sympathy with the "bottom Mog" had taken its place in the heart of the farmers to-day, and he was sure if it came to a settlement of wages they would meet the other side halfway.

The number of men who actually succeeded in evading their military obligations and escaping the subsequent penalties cannot be ascertained exactly, and the authorities hesitate to give even wi approximate estimate. The official figures show that about 3000 members of the reserve called by ballot were not brought before medical boards or accounted for in any other way. But there is strong ground for believing that many of the men represented by the names in the list of missing reservists are not shirkers at all. They are legitimately out of New Zealand or they have been admitted to the forces, or rejected, with different addresses or slightly altered names. Carelessly filled forms, bad handwriting, and the abbreviation or dropping of Christian names have caused many a man to appear twice in the Defence lists, which were based originally on the National Register. A remarkable incident is related by a soldier who has just returned to the Dominion. One day during a British offensive a large batch of German prisoners were passing through the colonial lines, and the New Zealander3 were watching them curiously. To the surprise of all, one New Zealander stopped a prisoner and indignantly demanded what he was doing there. The German so challenged replied in perfect English that it was not his fault, and that he had been visiting Germany when the war broke out. and had been conscripted without ceremony and sent to the front. He added that he did not wish to fight, and had been looking for an opportunity to surrender. The New Zealander explained later that the man was a German who had lived in New Zealand for some time before the war and had worked on the questioner's farm in 1913. The war has been a great leveller of social distinctions. Take a story told by one Auckland returned soldier as an illustration. This soldier has for years been connected with the labor organisations. Some years ago he met in the Dominion a prominent English labor leader, who visited New Zealand, and who invited the colonial to visit him if ever he should be in England. Happening to be wounded in France, and invalided to England, the soldier called in London upon His old friend, who in the meantime had been raised to Ministerial rank in the British Coalition. The point of the story is that he found the private secretary to the Minister to be a member of the British hereditary peerage —an earl acting as junior to a man who had risen from the labor ranks. Moreover, his lordship was a particularly enthusiastic and energetic official, as active and industrious as any selfinade democrat could be.

Some interesting remarks concerning the great German bid for Amiens were made by Mr E. Kilkinson at a Y.M.C.A. luncheon at Dnnedin on Friday. During the great push in March, he said, the Fifth Army collapsed, and several of the best British divisions were rushed to fill the gap. Two Australian divisions were sent to the neighborhood of Amiens, and the New Zealand Division—then with an actual fighting strength of 15,000 men—was taken from Belgium and pushed in near Bapaume. The New Zealanders actually met the Germans, led by a sergeant-major on a bicycle, marching into the town to look for billets, and immediately turned machine-guns on them, drove them a mile back, and held that front right on till the advance. French papers were filled with accounts of the New Zeaianders, and one newspaper had the heading: "How the New Zealanders Saved the British Army."

Parents are asked to note that the big pantomime picture, "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp," will be screened at both Everybody's and the People's theatres for tho matinees this afternoon.

The Melbourne's great sale ends today. There will not be another opportunity of securing such money saving bargains for many a long day. Prices of dra-yt'i-y :ind clothing are still soaring, and it is anticipated that there will not be a fall in prjces for at least another eighteen months or two years.

Ac.ention is d.awn to the adult dressmaking class at the Technical College. A special feature is made of drafting and cutting out, and the class should fill up quici'.y. As only a limited number can be tvken, intending students should at once apply for enrolment. The Department of Imperial Government Supplies invites applications for the position of auditor of daily factories returns. Details will be found in advertisement.

A reminder is given of the band recital at the Breakwater to-morrow, when among the items to be submitted will be "Thy Sentinel Am 1" (euph. solo); "True Till Death" (trombone solo); intermezzo, "Secrets"; and several new marches. The special collection is to augment the bandsmen's benefit fund, and it is hoped this will be a »ulwtantial one,

Australia's annual war pensions liability is now £4,649,639. In a definition of the difference between pessimists and optimists, in tho course of his address at the Good Templar Hall on Thursday night, Mr W. D. Hunt said a pessimist was a person who, if he had the choice between two evils took both, while an optimist was one who, if he saw two evils said "To h with both."

The wonderful results of strychnine poisoning for rabbits are pretty well known locally (states the Alexandra Herald), and one frequently hears of tremendous kills. An experiment made one day last week on a small property not 100 miles from Clyde was a big success—no fewer than 577 rabbits being picked up off a small corner of land.

"I am one of those few men in our movement," said Mr George Lansbury, rather impressively, at a Labor meeting at tho Albert Hall, "who has retained some faith in religion. You agnostics are not going to build up a new world by mere organisation or machinery. It is new hearts, a new inspiration, and a new spirit breathed into mankind that you want." , Since the advent of Murphy, the alert rat-catcher, who appears to revel in the slaughter of rodents, the pests have had a busy time avoiding the clutches of death (says the N.Z. Times). Murphy has many splendid achievements to his credit, but all these were probably eclipsed recently when he set sail on an oversea vessel going south. A practised nose smelt considerable prey within the confines of the steamer, and, with his four dogs, all keen for grim battle, the redoubtable Murphy soon had the enemy forces hors de combat. No mercy was shown the rats, and when the battle had ended the proud generalissimo counted a bag of 280. The only mishap on the eventful trip was when one of Murphy's clever dogs peered too deeply into an open hatch, and ended what the fond master would term a promising career.

Members of the new "Progressive Political Party" are holding their third meeting in Wellington (says the Wellington Post's Auckland correspondent). Considerable secrecy is still being maintained, and it is not expected that the public will learn much of the new party until the return of the two leaders. The new party has drawn up a programme, which it is confident will appeal to the public, but details will not be divulged until members have the opportunity of addressing the electors in the next campaign. One of the great differences between the new party and the old parties is in the matter of the construction of Cabinet, the personnel of which the new party maintains must be radically changed. Some thousands of men, mostly Second Division reservists, are at present on leave without pay. These men were under orders for camp when the armistice was signed, and they were notified subsequently that they had been granted leave without pay until further orders. Some of these leave men are anxious to have their status defined and have been approaching the defence authorities. The position, technically, is that they are soldiers, subject to the orders of the commandant of the New Zealand forces. But as a matter of fact their liability for military service Heed not be taken into account. They will be gazetted out of the forces when the peace treaty has been signed. In the meantime there is no duty for them to perform.—Own Correspondent. During last session Mr Pearce (Patea) asked the Minister of Education why he would not agree to at once disestablish the Hawera District High School and establish a technical high school, as recommended by the Council of Education and asked for by the members of Parliament for the Taranaki province, the Taranaki Education Board, and the public of the town of Hawera and the southern Taranaki district at public meetings? The Hon. Mr Hanan (Minister of Education) has now replied: It is quite understood that in due course the district high school at Hawera is to be disestablished, with a view to establishing in lieu of it a technical high school on a new site that has been acquired. Action, however, has to be deferred owing to the fact that the present accommodation is insufficient to start a technical high school under proper conditions. As soon as conditions permit of the erection of a new building at a reasonable cost the erection of the new technical school will be taken in hand.

A description of the hurricane which swept over the New Hebrides recently is given by one of the missionaries on Pentecost Island. He states that 13 out of 15 native churches in the vicinity of Pentecost were completely destroyed. Most pathetic and distressing scenes occurred, the natives being terrified at the visitation. The mere fact of a hurricane ocurring in November is most unusual, the season being from December to April, during which months the Southern Cross always lays up at Auckland. While a native teacher's family were fleeing for safety a tree crashed to earth and killed the only child. Many of the traders' launches were dashed up on shore. A tragic fate befel one trader, who had to swim from his launch to the shore through a sea; upon reaching the bench he made for safety, when a tree fell upon him and killed him. The people iir one or two islands are likely to he badly off, having neither houses nor food. The storm wrecked the bamboo plantations, from which most of the houses are built, and the destruction of the gardens and plantations of breadfruit, coconut, and yams has deprived tlie islanders of their main source of food supply.

Privates Blake and Sim, both returned soldijra, will address a public meeting liere on the liquor question next Tuesday, March 11, in the Good Templar Hall. The Nelson Evening Mail, in reporting - these soldiers, said: "I" their strong advocacy they dealt with the psychological, moral, labor and economic aspi;;ts of the matter and the effect upon repatriation schemes." Thew men should be heard by all. THORNYCROFT MOTOR VEHICLES REPLACE HORSE TEAMS. Draught horses are seen less and less on our roads and streets eaeh year, as motor transport develops. For heavy carrying, for dumping, for delivery service, in fact fcr all transport both in town and country for which horses have been used in the past, Thomycroft Commercial Vehicles will be used in the future. Made in five sizes from 30 to 40 l».p. with carrying capacities of 2, 24, 3, 4i and 6 tons, there is a model'for every purpose. Write to-day to A. Hatrick and Co., Wanganui and Wellington. 4

SHARLAND'S MAGNESIA is particularly soothing when the digestion is disturbed and there is a nasty taste in the mouth. Is 3d ner Bottle everywhere, 5