LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 113, 8 November 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

With this issue of The Post a Special Supplement is published containing a brief lint comprehensive story of the war, the termination of which is the subject o£ conflicting messages in ,©ur news columns to-day. The historical surveys and special articles have all been written specially for this occasion by members of The Post staff, and the supplement will bo found to cover the history of the war in all its important aspects and in considerable detail. In a brief account it is necessary to avoid, as far a-s possible, the smaller features of the war, and treat the subject only in large outline and with respect to the appearance which earlier events wear in the light of later ones. It is in this way that The Post's story of the war has been written, in order that it shall. have more than a passing value. Readers will find in it no elaborate statistics, few figures even; little reference to casualties, no attempt to state the numbers of the armies, or even the naval losses of the belligerents. ■ To have dealt with these on any reasonable scale would have been prohibited on the 6core of space, if it were not already undesirable for a still better reason—that accurate information is still lacking. Official data will probably rooii be available on these subjects ? and v.-jj.l form a useful appendix to the'current story of the war. We suggest that to-day's Supplement should be put aside, so that, with the addition of facts to be ascertained later, it may be readily consulted for information regarding the great war. "My opinion is that the General Elections of Eritain will be deferred," remarked the Prime Minister to an interjector last night. "I cannot see that any good purpose would be served by such publication," is the reply of the Minister of Defence to a question by Mr. J. V Brown in the House''of Representatives, "whether he will have tho Christian names and surnames of all interned aliens on Somes and Motuihi Islands published in the newspapers, or, failing that, in the Government Gazette"?" "I would like to think that this is the last war, but I don't believe it is," said Mr. Massey last night in the House of Representatives. Later on, he" remarked that if war was to cease it could be only by the co-operation of Great Britain, America, and.other nations which were working together now for the downfall of civilisation's enemies. A question by Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier) in tho House of Representatives was : "Whether the members of the Government, their wives, families, and friends, are presented with free passes to all the baths at Rotorua by the officer in charge; and, if so, who authorised it?" The Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald replied: There is no rule on the subject, but the ordinary courtesies are observed. The annual bazaar organised by the Ladies' Guild of the Donald M'Leanstreet Methodist Church was concluded last night. Although- the boisterous weather militated somewhat against the attendance, good business was done, and the effort proved thoroughly successful. As a result of the sale ana the generosity of donors, the sum of £100 will be paid off the debt. A feature of the "fair" was the drill by a squad of little girls. The South Wellington Orchestra rendered a musical programme during the evening. Tho Wellington Central Branch of the Labour Party has passed the following motion :—"That this meeting of the Central Branch is firmly of the opinion that support should be given to Mr. A. Henderson's claim that Labour should sit at the Peace Conference, and branches and affiliations of the New Zealand Labour Party should call on the National Executive to at once cable Home asserting Labour's right to an accredited representative. In the event of representatives being sent to the Peace Conference that an accredited'representative of the Now Zealand Labour Party be on© of those chosen." Tho""Gallipoli Medal" was mentioned by Mr. Massey in the House of Representatives last night. He explained that certain difficulties had occurred with the War Office, but he was hopeful that a satisfactory awarding would be made. He was in favour of the same recognition for all soldiers, British and colonial, who had landed in Gallipoli. He expressed appreciation of an editorial article in yesterday's Post, which, hesaid, had done justice^ but not more than justice, to the British troops for their valour in the Gallipoli campaign. • The Island' Bay Methodist Sunday School held, its annual tea on Wednesday ervening, when there was a large attendance of scholars and their friends. The meeting held in the church was presided over by the Rev. Dr. Pinfold, who delivered a suitable address. The annual report and balance-sheet was given by Mr. H. F Clarke, the superintendent, andi showed the school to be in a healthy condition. Anthems and hymns were rendered by the school children and choir, conducted by Mr, E. Burd. The einginjj was much appreciated. The Rev. F. T. Read, C.F., gave an interesting address, and the class and other pnz«3 were distributed! by Mrs. Pinfold. The Chairman of the Mount Cook School Committee reported at the monthly meeting of the committee last evening that each school building was being sprayed with a disinfectant twice daily. The ■ attendance has necessarily been affected by the prevalent influenza, but no serious casee have yet been reported. About £27 was realised by the concert held recently to raise funds for school recreation purposes. Messrs. W. E. Fuller and R. Simpson were appointed the committee's delegates to attend tho School Committee's* Association Conference, to be held in Wellington on the 23rd instant. Messrs. A. Blair, and J. R. Burley were appointed official visitors to the schools for November.

"The question of the reclassification of the Post arid Telegraph Service is now under consideration," states Sir Joseph Ward. Sapper E. E. A. Pexretfc, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Perrett, who left with the 30th Reinforcements, has been wounded in the right leg. Before entering camp, he was on the staff of the G.P.O. "The Government will do everything possible to keep the American Meat Trust in check' in this country," stated Mr. Massey yesterday. "It is necessary to give every possible protection to producers and the public." Mr. Holland (Grey) has asked the Government whether, in view of the fall in the purchasing power of tho sovereigu, it will agree to a readjustment of the terms' tmder which National Provident Fund benefits are payable. "When will the Government make a commencement with the proposed Technical College building on Mount Cook, Wellington?" is a question of which Mr. J. P. Luke gave notice in the House yesterday. The Minister of Defence has been asked by Mr. T. A. H. Field (Nelson): "Whether he will give a definite reply to the Returned Soldiers' Association's request' that the. present scale of separation allowances be made retrospective to the married men who voluntarily enlisted?' In his speech last night Mr. Massey said that encouragement would be given to the establishment and. strengthening of the right land of industries. He mentioned iron, ship-building, paper-making, and others. He had been assured that there were large supplies of wood in New Zealand as suitable for paper-mak-ing as the best soft woods of America. When Mr. Massey remarked in the House last night that dual control of territory had always failed, Mr Brown (Napier) interjected: "We are suffering from dual control in this House." "The country has not suffered from it," retorted the Prime Minister. "No country of the Empire has been more prosperous than New Zealand during the war, and no country's soldiers have done, better than New Zealanders." The sale of work at the Cambridgeterrace Church was brought to a successful conclusion last evening. An excellent musical, and elocutionary programme was given, arranged by Mrs. A. M. Lewis. The amount raised by the sale, including a gift evening recently held, totals £270. This, coupled with the magnificent gift of Mre. M. A. Williams of £200, will more than wipe out the chief mortgage of. £400. Daring the severe gale on Wednesday night the canvas camp at FeatherstJbn was wrecked. Yesterday afternoon the military authorities arranged for the ac commodation of 900 men in tho town, securing the Town Hall, the public school, the gymnasium, the Presbyterian Church, the Anglican schoolroom, and the Oddfellows' Hall. All were willingly offered. In the House of Representatives yesterday the Hon. J. A. Hanan replied to Mr.'Hunter: "I am strongly of, opinion that a reform in the direction of providing school books and stationery at cost price to the public schools is very desirable, and when normal conditions are resumed I hope to take steps whereby school stationery and other school requisites may be supplied at the lowest possible rate, either through the medium of a central departmental store or by the adoption of some other general business arrangement." • The Hon. T. M. Wilford replied tq Mr. AVitty in the House of Representatives yesterday that the Government is con sidering an increase of pay for prison officers. To Mr. Poole, Mr. Wilford said: "It will be necessary to introduce legislation to meet some of tho recommendations of the Waterside Accidents Commission, while other recommendations of'the Commission will be brought. into effect by regulation. Legislation is now being prepared by the Law Draftsman, who has also in hand the drafting of those regulations which can be brought into operation without amending the present law." Recently Mr. Anderson (Mataura) asked the Minister of Defence "whether it is a fact that, no matter how they may have distinguished themselves, or how high^ they may have been. promoted for military services in the field, members of th© New Zealand Expeditionary Forces who were Territorials before enlisting are .reverted to their original rank in the Territorials on being discharged ■ from the Expeditionary Forces; and, if so, does the Government consider this a right and proper tiling?" Sir J, Allen replied yesterday:—"At this stage the question presents many difficulties which call for the most serious consideration, but later on I hope to be in a position to make a statement on the subject." An interesting pension point can be seen in the following question and answer:—ln the House of Representatives Dr. Thacker asked the Minister of Defence, "whether he will put the widows and dependents of soldiers who' lose or have lost their lives in this country on an equality as regards pension and allowances with those of the men who have lost their lives at the front?" The Minister replied: "Widows and dependents of soldiers who have lost their lives in New Zealand are provided for by the War Pension legislation equally with the dependants ot soldiers who have lost their lives at the front, provided that the soldier has been engaged on active military service." "Our first duty is to provide land for our own soldiers who desire to settle on it," remarked Mr. Massey last night. '' They should also have preference of employment in the service of the State, local bodies, and private employers. The soldiers have done their duty to us, and we have to do our duty to them." He praised the enterprise for the raising of a scholarship fund for soldiers' children. He declared that no soldier's child-should be allowed to go into the world without being taught some trade or profession. The State's responsibility in regard to soldier's children should not stop at the age of sixteen years. "As sood as the disarmament of the Germans has been completed," said Sir Joseph Ward in the House of Repre- j sentatives last night, "you are going to have a large number of ship 3 coming out here." In his opinion there would be greater relief from the shipping, point of view than 'at any time since the outbreak of war. Then the people would begin to have the benefit in the way of a reduction of prices. He did not believe that the cost of living would ever be as low as before the war—not for ten years, at least, but there, would be a higher rate of wages all over the world.

During the mouth of October the estates of 199 deceased persons were placed under the charge of the Public Trustee. ' The Karori Defenoe Rifle dub will fire the second match, of ite first series tomorrow afternoon at ranges of 300 and 600 yards. In this week's Gazette is published an Order-in-Cottnoil.exempting a portion of the north-western side of Aurora-terrace from the street-Widening provision* of the Public Works Act. : Three first offenders -were dealt with in the usual manner by Mr. P. V. Frazer, 8.M., at £he Magistrate's Court this morning. Alexander Aspin, a second offender, was fined 10s, in, default 48 hours in gaol. "It is not. considered advisable to prohibit the importation of spirits; but preference is given to priority cargo, and, in the latter, spirits are not included," states the Minister of Defence in reply to a question about recent importation? of # whisky. . The Hon. D. H. Guthrie (to Mr. Anderson), in the House of Representatives: "The extension of the time within which, a- lessee.in perpetuity may acquire the freehold being a controversial subject, the National, Government does not propose to introduce legislation dealing with it. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) has asked the Prime Minister, "whether in view of the loss, much of it not recoverable through' insurance, sustained through ■ Tuesday night's fire, by a considerable number of working people residing in Jessie and Ebor streets, Wellington, the Government will give a £ for £ subsidy to the relief fund now being raised by the Mayor?" The Hon. W. D 8. Macdonald replied to Mr. Luke in the House of Representatives yesterday, that if he would move for a return information as to the cost of Australian wheat and the price offered to Now Zealand farmers would be supplied. To Mr. Malcolm he stated' that the whole question of State farms was being .thoroughly gone into in connection with the reorganisation of the Agricultural Department. The sudden death of Mr, Q. E. M'Connell, C.E., of. Auckland, is announced. The deceased was the eldest son- of the '.late v Mr. James Edward M'Connell, former Ihief engineer of the London and North-Western Railway, and came to the Dominion as an engineer on behalf of Coutts's Bank, which was. interested in various large mining ventures during the great gold-mining boom, but was at the time of his death the representative in Auckland for the firm of Baldwin and Rayward, patent agents. News has been received in Sydney of the death in England on 4th September of Professor Theodore T. Gurney, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics in the University of Sydney. Professor Gurney was appointed to the Chair of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in 1877, in succession to Professor Pell, who retired in 1876. He graduated' as Third Wrangler in 1873, after having held the Bell Scholarship, and was elected a Fellow of St. John's College. He occupied the Chair of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Sydney until 1902, when he re. tired for reasons of health. An inquiry was held to-day regarding the death of the little boy Frederick Charles Lewis, aged 4 years -and t months, son of Mr. Frederick Lewis, of Thorndon-quay, at the Wellington Hospital on Wednesday, following severe scalds received through .falling into a copper of boiling water on. Tuesday morning-. The child had clim bed up on the capper to reach a wheel placed at the back, of the bricking, and was thrown into the water through the wooden lid of the' copper tipping when ha placed his foot on it. After hearing evidence the Coroner, Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony that death resulted from shock due to severe scalds, the result of falling into a. copper of boiling water. "The time has come when we should recognise that it is necessary to prevent disloyalty being imported into this country," said Mr. L. M. Isitt in the House of Representatives. "If the Prime Minister were here I would ask him to introduce legislation to'prevent any man convicted of sedition being elected to this House or to a City Council or any position of public trust, or to consider having an Act passed' that will insist on everybody who wishes to settle down as a permanent resident of the country giving an oath of allegiance, and. expressing a willingness to/ fight in the country's defence if fighting is needed. I strive to avoid • bigotry or injustice, but this war should have taught u» that on whatever basis we may build our Dominion and the future of our people it is a stringent and pressing duty that we should do all we possibly can to foster this spirit of patriotism, that intense love for and pride in our country that, to my mind, is the basis of true citizenship.' A well-attended meeting of residents of Eastbourne was held last night, when the Mayor detailed at length the position as to the motor-bus service which has been a subject of interest in the borough for a few weeks past. There were about 2W present, the Mayor (Mr. P. Levi) and' councillors occupying seats on the platform. Mr. Levi, after explaining the details of the acquisition of the 'buses, stressed the point that the council had no intention of running in opposition to the present service, but understood that the present service was going to be discontinued. Mr. Levi then called upon the Ratepayers' Association representatives to speak, and Mr. J. Heenan stated that the, objection of the association to the purchase of the 'buses was on the ground of principle. They held that the policy,of the expenditure of public money without consulting the ratepayers was wrong, and they also objectedl to the use of ferry money for the establishment of services outside the ferry servico. After some further discussion a motion was carried, with three dissentients, "That tliis meeting of ratepayers protests against the establishment of » motor-bus service, and calls upon ■ the council to immediately dispose' of the 'buses."