LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 19, 17 October 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Notice has been given of the enforcement on the Wellington wharves of the War Regulations regarding the employment of aliens on overseas steamers as from Monday next, October 22. Aft® r this (late, aliens or naturalised Britishers no matter of what race, will not be employed unless they have obtained licences.

There are so far no new developments in iho local seamen's strike. It is assumed that there will bo none until Mr. Justice Stringer gives liis reserved judgment on the points submitted to the Ar bitration Court for interpretation.

After eighteen hours' liberty, a soldier, who escaped from Mount Cook Barracks on Sunday evening, was recaptured after an exciting chase. Tho man had to force tho bars of his cell to get free.

Tho mobilisation of tho Thirty-fifth Reinforcements was begun yesterday at Trentham and Featherston, the bulk of tho draft being concentrated at Treatham. A large body of Canterbury men were ihe first-of the to outoi camp. The Otago men will go in to-day, arid the Wellington and Auckland drairs will follow on Thursday and Friday respectively. Referring to the returned soldiers under the care of the Health Department, tho Hon. G. W. Russell stated in tlit House of Representatives yesterday afternoon that the Government would have to face additional expenditure in order to increase the accommodation. The institution ai Auckland, which was a clearing station, would have to be oniar"od. A large number of men were now being dealt with, and the number would steadily grow as the men returned from active service.

"If you aro turning out good tradesmen arc von not turning out good citizens?" asked Mr. W. 11. Foster of members of the Kduuilional Institute last evening. Thero was a chorus of "No." and Mr. Webb pointed out tho rather obvious fact thai: "a man might be an excellent, tradesman and a scallywag as « citizen."

Up lo October S the AVellington • Acclimatisation Society had received returns showing that iho sum of «E430 has been received on account of fishing licences. This amount is slightly less than the return that was available at this time last year.

"If (lie members of the Second Division light half as hard when they get to the front as they do for pensions and allowances yt home, it would go hard with I lie Germans," said ono of the audience (sollo voce) at the Nuaio meeting of the league.

Dr. A. K. Newman (Wcllingtoni Hast) has given notice to ask the Prime Minister if the Government will at onco Re f u p a coimnissiou lo inquire into oil Defence expenditure, with a view of •■■urtailing any unnecessary outlay. Such commission, he says, should consist, partly of members of Parliament, so thai the Hoiism may obtain a full knowledge of 1b0.30 matters.

Owing lo lhc> r»i.hcr long-sostaincd drought experienced in iho Wellington district towards tho cud of last summer, it was thought that tho almost total drying 1 up of tho Wairul Stream, tho flow oi' which was not sufficient to keep tho city reservoirs supplied, would have spoiled tho stream for trout for a few seasons. Jfc was therefore with some misgiving as to results that some disciples of Isaak Walton, tried tho first few casts on Saturday last. They need bo!; have worried. The fish were there, and rose with their old-time Teadiness to the fly. It is known that one keon fisherman got thirty nice fish on Saturday and Sunday last averaging about a nound in weight. On Saturday another fisherman took the "limit" (20), another took 16, tho Game day, whilst his friend took twelve. As tho Wainui Stream was only a series of small vam pools in the middle of March last, it ie assumed that some instinct warns the trout to move down stream or even out to sea to avoid the death that would otherwise overtake them in the upper reaches in drought time. That must be the case, because f are found dead as the result of the drying-up process. That occurs, however, when they become marooned in a J >ac k which becomes banked in when tho water recedes.

Ihere are going to bo a lot of boomerangs 011 employer!) soma of those days," declared Mr. Pine, of tho First Auckland Military Service Board, concerning an appeal for a man who was oiaimed to bo indispensable to an industry. "We will see it in tho claims for increased wages," added the board member significantly.

A food reform league is about to be formed in Wellington. A meeting will T>o ht-id shortly, of which due notice will bo given. Ono of the objects of the league will be to teach tho dietetic value of foods, and to encourage a meatless diet. Persons interested are asked (o fiend their addresses to Mi&s Sreythe, 17 Hawkestone Street.

The following nominations have already been received for the council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce:— Messrs. C. M. Luke, A. Leigh Hunt, L. Ashcroft-Edwards, ,T. 1\ Atkins. .Tohn S. Barton, 'Ihomo3 Forsyth, W. ,7as. Gaudin, Lionel Nelson, Horace Kogers. and Herbert G. 'I'eagle. The council consists of fourteen members.

Mr. Boss Gore, formerly of Wellington, was tho chief organiser of War Chest Day in Sydney rocently. Tho iflllcctioiis in Sydney amounted to over .£15,000, in the State to wESI,OOfI, and it was anticipated that by the time all the returns wero in tho amount would ;cach six figures. Tho amount is to he expended on Christmas joys for the Australians in the fighting line and hospitals.

"The Education Department is a nonmoney producing Department," remarked a member of the Educational Institute last evening, "and therefore the Minister of Education—l say this with due deference to the gentleman who holds the position—is un absolute nonentity."

In tho Houso of Representatives yesterday afternoon Mr. Witty asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it was correct as rumoured in Christchurch that the Government had had the opportunity of loading three ships t'ov New Zealand with wheat from Australia (luring the past month, bnt declined the offer for fear that at this end there would be trouble in unloading the vessels. The Hon. W. D. S. Mao Donald, in reply, stated that he had had no otfor of any ship at all. It had been suggested that they might, have one of the transports loaded with wheat, bu,t in view ot the sacks being poor, necessitating « special vessel and the possibility of the strike being shortly over, it was not considered advisablo to persevere with this plan. At the Suuday morning service i" Wangiinui Chaplain Biamires referred particularly io the work of th© chaplaius at tho front. He paid a tribute to the thoughtfulness of General Russell and other commanders who gave tho chaplaius every opportunity of -using their influence with tho men, and contrasted the former with other staff cmcers who looked upon the chaplains as a confounded nuisance. The chaplains work was largely 01 a personal and social character, and their spheres of .abour included the training camps, the transports, Hit hospitals and hospital ships, and in the fighting Hues at the front. He had been engaged in all these spheres, and had been on eight ships, four of which had been submarined since he left them, while he had spent nine months in France. A considerable portion of a chaplain's duty was in censorin"—tedious work, which had to be performed by somebody. After referring to the various forms of services held, Chaplain Bkmires said that the chaplains did n good deal of route marching and training with the men, in order to keep themselves fit. for more strenuous work, and they had tittle spare time. Their business was to get: at heart-grips with the men, and the chaplains who shared the dangers and hardships with the men were the chaplains who had most influence. While the denominational spirit obtained to some extent in the camps in England, the boys at the front had no tinio for denominationalism.

At the Taumarunui Magistrate's Court, says a Press Association telegram. Louis Meads, of "Raetihi, was fined $15 and costs for shooting native pigeons out of season at Tongariro National Park. Two half-castes, for similar offences, wero fined .£lO and 4:5 respectively.

"Wo have nothing 1" fear from the abolition of the 'Education Boards, and everything to Rain."—Mr. IT. A. Parkinson at the. Mutational Institute.

At a special meeting of the Musicians' Union, Melbourne, it was decided (says tho "Argus")' that all members wlio are, or who have been, subjects of a.uy country that is now at war witli the King, should bo suspended during tho currency of the war. This suspension will tako effect, on October 20, but should any member think he is eutitled to exemption he may appeal to a committee that has been appointed to deal with such eases. The secretary of tho union (Mr. A. J. Davidson) said the action that had been taken would to some extent hurt their union; thev thought, however, that their first: duty was to the Empire. They were not inspired by vindictiveness in any way, but it was only fair that they should consider their own members ivho had «one to tho front. There were about. 115 of these ami it was not rislit that they should be fighting while Germans ami Aii.slvians were ■ holding comfortable bilieis here. Air. Davidson added that the union had lonff been aware of the desirability of taking some such steps, as this. There was one German member who would' opcnlv lxwst thai he was in receiot of information from Germany as to the progress of tho war, and that "we should see where we were" when it was all over. Another man,'an Adelaide player, would decline to stand'up when the National \nthem was Wins played. Tie had already liee'i expelled from Hie union. Miout forty members would be suspended," and five of the prineinal orchestras in' Melbourne would be affected by the resolution. The ways of tho pakeha are evidently still strange to somo of tho old Maori residents of tho district, judging by tho following story, the accuracy of which Ms been vouched for (says the "Poverty Bay Herald"), Coming into Giaborno lecently, an old patriarch drew a somewhat substantial cheque as his interest in a certain Saliva land transaction. Depositing J2IOOO in the bank, ho sot off on a new career, seeking to enjoy to the full the benefits of civilisation. His first cheque on his account was one for ,£s(io for a motor-car. Cheques on his account followed for sums of «fc, r io, ..CIIO, and various "livers." Eventually, having "overrun Ihe constable," one of liis cheques was returned with (he endorsement "N S.fc\" Proceeding to obtain the advice of a 'gentleman connected with Native matters, lie bitterly complained that lie was being "had." The old man indignantly scorned I lie. explanation that his funds were exhausted, insisting that he was bein-' beaten. The cheque book was produced, and a tally taken to demonstrate the state of his account, but figures or no figures, tho Maori was obdurate. Pointin" to the unused chequo forms, the old ■■mm declared he had twelve or fourteen more cheques left, and while they remained he failed to see why they could not lie used. Tt was only after a lengthy and somewhat heated argument the veteran was convinced on tho point.

The annual meeting of delegates to the Now Zealand Employers' .Federation is <e bo held in Wellington osi Wednesday, October 24.

At the meeting of directors of batter factories held at Palmerston yesterday to considoc the price to be paid by tho Imperial Government for the 3917-18 output, it was decided that the offer of the imperial Government was inequitable. Messrs. M'Farlano (Pahiatua), F. .1. Nathan (Palmerston North), and Prouse (Levin) were appointed delegates to the conference.

The war has drawn the Hukering nations into very close sympathy with one another. A touching story was told by the l?ev. W. Beady, ohaplnin on ft hospital shipi concerning tho death of an Auckland eoldier, who died beforo Teaching liis home, and was buried at Tahiti. At tho military funeral the French garrison turned out to do honour to tho fallen soldier, and the French community took tho responsibility of erecting a monument to his memory. Subsequentlj the girls of a large French school requested tho principal to toll tne chaplain that, so long a3 their school lasted, they would seo that frosh flowers were kept on tho Now Zealanders grave. Mr W. H. Field (Otaki) has given notice to ask tho Minister of DcAmce whether he still adheres to his statement that all New Zealand soldiers at W front are amply supplied with clothing in face of the many communications from soldiers at tho front, verbal and written, to the contrary effect. Air. Field quotes in illustration this from a letter recently written from .no trenches in Prance by a young New Zealand soldier to relatives here mwo than twelve months after lie had left New Zealand: "Smart, attraotive soldiers who don't risk their necks » m England by thousands, such a contrast to poor ragjted me, alternately dodging shells and jabbering peasant French to umnter®tin" people. My present rig consists of a battered Australian hat and ragged tunic (tho old New Zealand one), and a pair of trousers made for a man about Gft 3in., whilo a small haversack contains all my belongings easily. Speaking at Wanganui on Sunday of the nature and variety of Bomc( f, he iat hold, Chaplain Blarmres said that one Sunday morning, over the Belgian border, he held sixteen serviceeach of about threo minutes eachamongst batches of men os tto wre moving towards the front. He had neld sorvices in a brewery and m a Catholic church, only tho bate walls of which latter had been left standing A Christmas service he bad held on the field during a fog so denso that the whole of the men m a battalion could not be seen at once. After referring to the great and useful work of the T.M.C.A., Chaplain Blamires, speaking of the morals of the men. said that the. standard was not too high as far as the Army authorities were concerned. The men, however, fr'&uently used bad language without thinking or meaning what they said, and dropped the habit when m hospital or in the company of civilians. Drunkenness was not very apparent _at the front, though plenty of lisht wine and beer were dnmlc. Gambling was very rife, but this habit was frequently formed as the result of trying to pass away the time in ths trenelies by pennies. There was abounding cheerfulness, unselfishness, devotion to duty, and wonderful courage and bravery in the face of groat odds displayed by the men. There were very few sceptics; he had not met on agnostic. Sen did not trouble about theology. Some of the noblest and best, trails" were found in men who had big vices, and our theology would have to be modified.

School teachers in Wellington have' complained frequently that teachers in this city work under very unsatisfactory conditions. Speaking at the Educational Institute last evening one of the speak, ere said: "I would like to take a deputation of members of Parliament round some of our city schools and let them see the deplorable conditions * ; ndor which some of the teachers are working." (Hear, hear.) Mr. .T. Payne (Grey Lyun) has asked the Minister of Defence: "Whether it is a fact that members of the CI Company at the Feather-stun Camp are denied. all leave, even local leave, and, if so, why is it that theso men, who are simply the victims of) circumstances, in that their physical condition does not permit of their bein j passed for active service **t once, are not allowed 'he same privileges as their more ltohinatc. fellow-soldiers whose health has enabled them to bo included in reinforcements. It is stated, says Mr. Payne, that many married men have brought down their wives with them, and have taken rooms near the camp so that their wives may bo near them as long as possible, Mid that these married men, after going to this expense, are not allowed to see their wives by virtue of the fact that the local leave is denied them. The recent storm in Sydney is referred to as under in «i letter dated October 10, received bv Mr. Walter Puller, from 51 r. Ben. J. duller:—"We had a severe storm hero on Wednesday, and a lot of damage was done. White City is jan absolute wreck, while the roof of the stadium was blown off. A ship foundered just outside the Heads, and two or three cargo boats were blown on to the shore, and damage was done to shop windows in the town. At the National our sliding roof was blown off, while at the Opera House two bis plate-glass windows were blown in, and at the Newtown Majestic, where the storm was very fierce, two wine doors leadfng to tho stage were taken olf their hinges and blown on to the <=ta"e. The wind sot undor the roof and took part of the wof J 0 ??® bricks wero loosened, which fell on to tile stage Tho electric lighting -wires were blown down, with the result that wo were not able to show up there last night. I The telephone communications were interrupted and disorganised all round and about Sydney, so you see what with war and strikes and storms feydnev- is having a rough time of it."