ADMIRAL KOLCHAK

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 140, 13 June 1919, Page 4

ADMIRAL KOLCHAK

So much of the future prosperity of Russia seems to depend on the success of Admiral Kolchak and the Government which he has set up at Omsk that it is to be hoped the reverse his troops are said to have experienced is only temporary, and that when further supplies reach liim he may be enabled to join hands with the other forces which are seeking to overthrow the Bolshevik tyranny and restore something like settled government in Russia. The Admiral owes much of the success he has already achieved to his personal popularity. He is a true democrat, and long before the revolution he took a firm stand for the rights of the people as against the oppression of Czardom. But he is also a true patriot, and it was mainly owing to him that the Russian Black Sea fleet attained such a high pitch of efficiency in the early days of

the war. He mixed freely with the sailors, gave personal attention to any grievances they might have, and insisted on having the same food as the men. He lived like one of themselves, and always took his turn at any work that had to be done. His present aim is to make Russia asystem of federated States, under a republican form of government, wit*i an elected President at the head, and a Constituent Assembly based on a universal franchise for all men and

| women over the age of 21. The different ' States forming the Federation are to have the fullest autonomy consistent with a federal State. He recognises that Russia is composed of different races, speaking different languages and having different ideals, as well as. being in different stages of culture and development. But he also recognises that the prosperity of each part is intimately bound up with the prosperity of the I whole, and that Russia can. never be

really, great unless it is united under some central form of representative government. He is opposed to any separatist policy. In this he show 3 a true appreciation of the needs of his country. Ever since the days qjt Peter the Great, Russia has been struggling to reach the sea. All the conquests made since that time have been directed towards that end. But only a united Russia can hope either to attain it or to benefit by it. For acce3S to the sea means access from the Black Sea to the Aegean, and this would be useless if the Ukraine separated itself from Petrograd and Moscow. Central Russia is dependent on Siberia for food, while Siberia is in turn dependent on Central Bfussia for manufactured goods. The prosperity of Russia is intimately bound up with the prosperity of its different parts, and some form of government has to.be devised which shall be universally accepted. This is only possible under the scheme of federated States which Admiral Kolchak- is aiming at. The Admiral enjoys the confidence of all classes except the extremists, and even the extremists are beginning to see that their creed is bringing ruin on their country and themselves. The Allies may not recognise the All-Russian Government of Admiral Kolchak in any formal manner just yet, since to do so might seem to imply a desire to interfere in the internal affairs of another country; but they can continue to furnish him with mo«_y, munitions, and provisions to assist him in restoring order, and these will be invaluable. For the Bolsheviks owe what military strength they possess I to the fact that they seized all available munitions and money when they; assumed the reins of power, and the rest of the Russian people have not been able to defend. themselves against their tyranny. The Bolsheviks have massed the bulk of their munitions and other stores in Petrograd, and if that city is captured. by. the forces advancing against it the power of Lenin and his associates will be practically overthrown. I

Following is the official weather fore-1 cast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day: 'Tho indications are for variable and moderate breezes, but westerly prevailing. The weather appears likely to be cloudy and unsettled at times. Baro- j meter little movement, but falling j shortly. Sea and tides moderate. The resignation of Sir Francis Bell as Minister in Charge of the Scenery Preservation Department and the appointment of the Hon. D. 11. Guthrie j to the position is announced-. I The Grey Lynn School Committee has requested the City Council to erect two shelter sheds for the use of school children in bathing on the small beach-at the _nd of Garnet Road, Grey Lynn. The request is made on the ground that the city baths are too remote from Grey Lynn to permit of the school pupils there getting regular swimming lessons at the baths. The Council decided to point out that sheds on out-beaches had been found undesirable, and on the advice of the City Engineer, the Council was re- j moving somo of the existent sheds.

Tho cost of living problem has resulted in Wellington 'being deprived of some of its restaurant facilities. A largo drapery firm, which enjoyed an extensive patronage for its light luncheon department, has, under stress of circumstances, been obliged to restrict its catering to the requirements of customers who take tea and cakes. Hundreds of former patrons have gone elsewhere, but two other big catering firms haye cut down-their business, for the difficulty has not only been to make a profit at an increased rate, hut to compete against establishments which are now thriving on the husiness- of providing a restricted diet of tea and sandwiches, which seems to better suit the pockets of a vast number of shop-workers in thecity.—Wellington correspondent.

That there are 100 carpenters less in Auckland at present than there is work for was a statement made by Mr. T. Bloodworth at the City Council last night. There .was a peculiar situation just now in this connection, for while there was a shortage of carpenters, and also a shortage of milk in the city just now, the majority of the employed carpenters were engaged in building dried-milk storage, which would have an ultimate effect of helping neither —the shortage of carpenters nor the shortage of milk.

The directors of the Union Insurance Society of Canton, Ltd., Hongkong, have resolved to submit proposals to shareholders at an early date for the purpose at converting the existing silver capital of the company into sterling, and for increasing the capital so converted to the sum of £2,000,000, divided into 200,000 shares of £10 each. If the proposals are approved each shareholder will receive five shares of the nominal value of £10 each in exchange for each silver share held. Legislative sanction has been sought for the proposed conversion. A special vote of £3.000 was obtained by the Minister in Charge of Hospitals last session, to be allocated in, special grants to hospital boards where the burden of the district was exceptionally heavy, and where there was a necessity for developing the hospital service of the district. This amount has been, allocated as follows: —Bay of Islands Hospital Board, £000. to be used for work among the Maoris; Westland. Hospital Board, £1,000; Buller Hospital Board, £750; "Grey Hospital Board, £600. The amounts in the la6t three cases are to be available for capital purposes. It is hoped, states the Public Health Department, that during the current year an amendment will he obtained to the fourth schedule of the Hospitals Act which will provide for a more equitable apportionment of levy and subsidy, so as to alleviate the burden borne by the local authorities in some other districts.—Wellington 'correspondent.

A meeting of representatives of all local bodies in Southland considered the disabilities of the province in regard to transport facilities. The speakers urged the necessity for a regular steamer connection with northern ports and with. Melbourne. The railway service was also condemned. It was suggested that the province should unite in agitating in a more vigorous manner after the fashion of other provinces, and should bring heavy pressure to bear on members ol the House of Representatives and Ministers. It was resolved that a deputation, representing all local bodies, should wait on the general manager of the Union Co., Dunedin, regarding steamer serviecs. It was decided to forward the followingresolution to Southland members of Pai> liament: "This representative meetino- isstrongly of opinion that, in view of "the end of the war, the time has now arrived when at least our railway service be restored to the pre-war time-table, and we look upon it as your duty to use your best endeavour to this end!" It was also resolved to approach the oversea shipping comnaniesj ~ i

', The recent conference of representatives of tramway 'enterprises in the Dominion on the question of regulations the Public Works Department intended putting into operation, was. the subject of a report by Mr. W. J. Holdsworth to the City Council last night. He covered a number of amendments to the proposed regulations which had been submitted to the Minister of Public Works, and to which he promised to give careful consideration. The Defence Department invites artists and others to submit competitive designs for a certificate of service for members of the New Zealand Expeditionary arid Military Forces who have served overseas, and another for those who served in the Dominion. The sum of £150 is allotted for prizes, as follows: — Ovvereeas, first order of merit £50, second £25, with another £25 to be allotted among other designs of special merit; home service, first £25, second £10. £15 allotted amongst other designs. The support of the Auckland City Council has been besought by the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce in urging on Government to instruct the Industries Committee to visit the Bay of Plenty and North Auckland districts before presenting its report to Parliament. The matter came before the Council last night, and: the Council, decided to take no action. It is often interesting, to get down to the bedrock of the motive that underlies any action, and it is now evident that the man who threw those coins upon the stage at the Opera House on Wednesday evening did so in entire ignorance of what the effect would be, and simply as a mark of appreciation for the players. The unfortunate part of the incident is that two other gentlemen who were included in the party of three, have "been subjected to a fair amount of comment since the story was published. The actual facts are that these two met; another at the hotel. He had come from the country, and suggested an evening at the Opera House. It was this, third man who threw the money as.an appreciation, and in utter ignorance of the fact that his action, was an implied insult, although, his two companions, knowing! perhaps more of the ways of the city, did. their utmost to prevent his unfortunate error. It is unfortunate, too, that the two clever entertainers were made the victims of a misunderstanding,

Though the cost of building presents a serious problem to the majority of those who wish to provide a new dwelling, the building industry in Wellington, wires our correspondent, is being carried on as actively as the supply of hands permits. This is due to the necessity for more accommodation for the larger businesses, which evidently anticipate a great development of trade now the war is over. A notable addition to the city is the seven-etoreyed ferro-concrete block which houses the Dominion Farmers' Institute and a number of concerns associated with the farming industry. Though, not completed, the substantial nature of the building enables- a large i portion to be used while construction continues on the top floors. Motor importing firms and those connected with the export business are showing building enterprise, and the- State Fire Insurance Department is contracting for the erection of a very handsome reinforced steel structure onLamhton Quay for its. head: offices. Meanwhile, the new Parliament Building is very slowly approaching; completion. It will not he finished,, even: if the-session is delayed, until-late in'theyear, but it is anticipated that the Legisr lative Council will: be-ahle to use its newChamber this session. Experiments to improve the acoustics, of the House- ofRepresentatives have had, it is reported-, a very satisfactory result.

The stoppage of work at Pukemiro mines has naturally increased the scarcity of- coal at, a time when, the shortagehad already become acute. Only a few ■bags of coal at a time-can now be supplied by dealers, and. naturally the demand is very strong when from 400 to 500 tone of coal per day ceased, coming on the market owing to the stoppage of work at Pukemiro. The shortage of coal has had the effect of increasing the demand for coke, and that fuel is now very scarce. Auckland is no worse off than: southern cities in the matter of coal supplies. A gentleman, recently returned from- Wellington, stated that while in a private hospital there themedical man ordered a fire ln the room* but was informed-that there was.no coal available for that purpose.

Thirty-four applications for advances to purchase furniture were granted to. returned soldiers by the Auckland Dis-; trict Repatriation Board this week. Major- Buck sat at the meeting yesterday afternoon, having been appointed by the. Government to assist the Board in the case of applications from Maori soldiers. A number of applications from soldiers who wished to. start in business, were also dealt with. The Board decided to recommend the Ministerial Board that the former body's powers be enlarged in respect to the limit of assistance to be granted for soldiers wishingto go on the land The object- is to aid j soldiers to purchase stock and erect buildings.

A peculiar circumstance is recorded in . connection with the suicide of. a girl named Jessie. West, who jumped off the wharf at Whangarei. Two- men who were returning- from a fishing trip saw the boy the next morning, upwards ofthree' miles down the river. It was then floating buoyantly. They, hastened to the nearest telephone to. inform the authorities and search was made without result, but the body was later washed ashore at Awaroa Creek. Dr. C. E. Maguire, medical superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, states that he had never known or heard of a case in which the body of a drowned person failed to sink immediately after death. The period during which it remained submerged depended upon the rapidity of decomposition, and the usual period of submersion is from five to ten days.

A hitch, has occurred in regard to carrying out the suggestion that flags of honour should be supplied to firms where their men were replaced in their work as they returned from the front. The proposal was that the word "honour" should be placed on the New Zealand flag. This scheme was warmly approved by the Min-. ister, but unfortunately it has now- beea discovered that it is illegal to add to the flag of New Zealand the word "honour " The matter, however, is not yet done with as ifis hoped an amending regulation may yet enable the flags of honour to, be distributed as proposed.

The City Council has instructed its solicitor to draft a by-law relating to thp attendance of taxi-drivers on their care at the taxi stands, the present by-law on the subject having been held to be applicable to drivers, of horse-drawn vehicles, but bad in it_ relation to powerdnven vehicles.