LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 69, 21 March 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

On. Monday next Sir Joseph Ward is to deliver an.address to members of the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's l Association and their friends in connection with the Liberty War Loan. The last effort of the association resulted in the handing ovnr to ths Treasury of £111,000 free of all cost.

After discussing the matter with Mr. W. Ferguson and Mr. T. Moss, of the National Efficiency Board, Messrs. L. 0. H. Tripp and J. Huteheson have been appointed as a deputation from the Wellington War Belief Association to wait ■upon the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, and, with them, to consider the 'best method 1 of creating the organisation, whereby the 1 repatriation of returned soldiers may be most thoroughly and efficiently effected. At yesterday's meeting of the*-association, Mr. 'frinp advocated the establishment of a Ministry of Expatriation—a separate department. The deputation has yet to wait upon the Ministers.

Many of the wounded soldiers who roturned to New Zealand by the last transports wore a new service -badge. This badge, which is apparently modelled upon the French system, consists of a small reverse blue chevron for each year of service, worn low down on the left sleeve of the tunic. In the case of men who served in • the year 1914, the first chevron is red. It is understood that the order, authorising the wearing of these service chevrons was issued shortly before the last draft of men to return left England. ;

The Minister of Defence (Hon. Sir James Allen) was asked by an Auckland Star reporter how it was that the wives and children of home service men receive only Is and 9d respectively per day when the wives and children of men on active service receive 3s and Is respectively per day. The Minister said that the matter was being enquired into. The home service men, he said, have not the same responsibility as soldiers on active service. Then, again, the home service men volunteer for the job, whereas the man going to the front is compelled to • go.

The tender of Mr. G. L. Wakelin has been accepted by the Education Board for the erection of the new school at SeaJ toun. The building will contain three room*, and will euoommoddt* between 150 end 200 children,

A despatch from London, dated 4th March, says :—"General Birdwood, commanding the Australians, left a post yesterday a minute before a fibofl blew it and its occupants to atoms."

An officer stationed in one oi the Defence Departments in Christchurch recently received a packet of drawing fasteners from the Government Printer^ Wellington. He found printed upon tho box the words "Made in Austria."

Anxiety concerning the whereabouts of Mr. A. J. Thompson, of the staff of the Dunedin Magistrate's Court, who disappeared on 17th February, has been relieved. On Monday last he was found on the verandah of' a week-end cottage at Tamahawk, and as he was in a weak and emaciated condition,., he was removed to the Dunedin Hospital.

For some considerable time past there has been a great deal of dissatisfaction concerning, the mufti allowance of 30s gTanted to discharged soldiers. At yesterday's meeting of the War Relief Association it was indicated by the chairman (Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp) that the matter was going to be reconsidered, and the amount probably increased to £5. The general impression at the meeting was that the old allowance of 30s was an absurd one.

During Easter week the eighth annual | conference of the New Zealand Poultry j Association will be held at Wellington. Amongst matters to be considered are' importation of Asiatic eggs, tax on ; poultry^ keepers, stamping cool store or \ chilled eggs,' State poultry farms' fix-, perimental work, and Government controlled egg-laying competitions. The < delegates to go from Auckland are Messrs. S. H. Scott (president Auckland branch), A. G. Heighway (secretary), and A. S. Holmes (chairman of tho Egg j Producers' Association). i

Within the last few weeks there have been no less than four false alarms of fire in Petone, caused by some person or persons maliciously breaking the glasses in the street alarm boxes. Some time ago the polios were successful in sheeting home a similar offence to a youth, who was penalised by the Magistrate. The police again.have.have the matter in hand, and, in case of a conviction, have been instructed to press for a heavy penalty. The board is also offering a reward of £o for information that will lead to a conviction. The last • false alarm, was given on Tuesday evening.

It is a "long remove" from the area of the recent big bush, fires to Karon, but the residents of the borough, named are sufferers by its effects. They have to depend on tank water for their needs, and the dense smoke which spread over the country on Tuesday night penetrated: the tanks, causing the water to become "smoky" and most unpleasant to the taste, even when boiled. ' The majority of "Karon residents are now emptying their tanks, and are suffering great inconvenience thereby. The city water supply ia laid on to "the Cemetery, and residents, in its vicinity are to be seen of a morning obtaining; supplies in vessels of various descriptions.

The secretary of the New Zealand Catholic Federation,-(MT. G. Girling-Butcher)-has received the following letter from the Rev. Father P. J. Minogue, chaplain of the forces':—"l feel it my duty to thank the New Zealand Catholic Field Service for the grant handed to me before sailing. By means of it-1 have been abls to help the brave boys under my care in many different ways. I also thank the Catholic Field Service Fund for the comforts and writing materials. They are in great demand, and for them the boys are exceedingly grateful. The boys we are carrying express themselves grateful to' the New Zealand Catholic Field Service for the 'lift' on 'The Long, Long Trail.' Trusting that all is well in dear old New Zealand."

A correspondent of the Manawatu Daily Times, writing on Mr. Webb's case, says he ascertained during a visit to Taranaki that the contention that no one else could take the place' of, an elected M.P. has been disproved to the complete satisfaction of a constituency up that way. ' A member of Parliament is now in the fighting-line, and during his absence his wife has been very active in communicating with various departments on behalf of .some of her husband's constituents. The effect,, so it is said, is nfagical. In that district nowadays one never hears that "the matter will be kept steadily in view." On the other hand, a most commendable promptitude is displayed by the authorities. Moral : In some instances a married M.P. is worth two bachelor ones.

An officer holding an important command on the Western -front, writing to relatives in Stratford, states.: "With the coming of spring, the Germans are preparing for a big offensive which will probably mean the greatest battle of the ages, but the enemy will never ibreak through; whatever losses we suffer, the Germans will be more terribly punished. There will be I many unrarißes in store that the Huns have never contemplated. While it may appear that we are perhaps over-confident, it must be conceded that we are in a position to know the full strength of the enemy for practical war purposes; and, aware of our own resources, we know that we can hold him, and win the war. This is the faith on the Western front, and as events must prove, a faith, that is justifiable in every respect. Of course, I cannot give details of the knowledge that makes us confident, and now" can only say wait and see."

There was nonie discussion yesterday afternoon tit the meeting of the War Belief Association of Wellington as to the advisableness of making a contribution to the- funds of the War Contingent Association for the purpose of providing entertainment for nt men—New Zealand soldiers—while they are in London. Some doubt has been expressed as to tho legality of such a contribution, and an opinion' by Mr. C. P. 'Skerrett, K.C., was to the effect that the association could use its funds for the purpose. Tt was' pointed out yesterday that the money was badly needed, in order that the men might be kept off the streets at nights—away from the temptations which beset them on every hand in the great metropolis. There, was no difference of opinion as to the worthiness of the object, but some members expressed doubt as to whether the matter camo within the scope of the association. It, was eventually decided to. make a contribution of £175. An amendment to the effect that as the payment would be a departure from the primary principle of the association, a special appeal should be made to the public, was defeated by 5 votes to 4.

Advice has been received by the Wellington City Tramways department that the booster required for service on the eastern side of the Constable-street hill will be shipped from the United States at an early date. .

It has been laid down by a general principle by the War Belief Association of Wellington that assistance should not be given to tho dependents of deserters from the Army. It was pointed out at yesterday's meeting of the association, that there was always a danger when, the deserter was in Hew Zealand, that his wife might be in collusion with him. All applications of this- nature will, however, fie dealt with on their merits, and really »scessitouis cases will be relieved.

Dr. Frederick G. Richards, a native of Wellington, who, when in London at the outbreak of the war, volunteered for service, and has spent practically the whole time since in France, recently-re-ceived the D.S.O. At his own request he waß transferred from the British Army to the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces.

The monthly meeting of the Victoria, College Council was 'held last night,' when there were present Messrs. C. Watson (chairman), W. S. La Trobe, B. M'Callum, M.P., C. B. Morison, K.C., P. Levi, R. A. Wright, M.P., A. R. Atkinson, Bakewell, Professors Hunter and Garrou. Accounts totalling £1049 16s were passed for payment. A letter from Mrs. Chapman Taylor offering certain French books for sale was referred to the French teachers for a report. Mr. D. D. Thompson wrote accepting the position of assistant to the professor of mathematics.

References were_ made at last night's meeting of the Victoria College Council to the loss which education has sustained by the deaths of Mrs. M'Phail, assistant to the French, professor at the college, and the Hon. A. T. Maginnity, a member of the council. On the motion of the chairman (Mr. Clement Watson), seconded by Mr. R. M'Callum, M.P., motions of sympathy and appreciation were passed