THE BRITISH LABORER.

Evening Star, Issue 15908, 14 September 1915, Page 6

THE BRITISH LABORER.

NO TIME FOR PACIFISTS.

London 'Times' and Sydney 'Sun' Servioej. LONDON, September 13. At a congress of the Amalgamated Laborers' Union a delegate tabled a resolution instructing their parliamentary representatives to formulate and advocate terms of peace satisfactory to the working classes. After the mover had spoken the closure was applied, and the motion was iost, very few handa being held up in support.

INTRIGUE IN AMERICA. ’ LATEST GERMAN EFFORT. NEW YORK, September 13. (Received September 14, at 12.20 p.m.) The Dockers’ Union have revealed to the United States Government a German plot. A sum of a million dollars was offered to induce a strike among 2,300 dockers. The ‘ New York World ’ alleges that Dr Dcrnburg is implicated in it. Von Papen is taking a holiday in Yellowstone Park. , It is expected that his removal will be demanded. WAR: THE ROGUE’S CHANCE. PARIS, September 13. (Received September 14, at 12.35 p.m.) 31. Danava. a well-known Havre shipowner, lias been arrested, and will be ■court martialled for attempting to persuade an English shipping firm to increase by £5,000 each the selling price of three vessels being sold to the French Minister of Marine. GERMANY PROHIBITS DRINK. GREAT INTERNAL AGITATION. PARIS, September 13. (Received September 14. at 12.35 p.m.) A French official wireless states that there is considerable agitation in Germany over a recent order prohibiting the sale of alcohol. Firms interested have passed resolutions affirming that the Germans do not deserve this new privation, and demanding that the order be mitigated or revoked.

TRADE WITH ENEMY. MELBOURNE, September 14. (Received September 14, at 8.5 a.m.) The Federal High Court quashed the Commonwealth appeal in the Snow case, that of an Adelaide merchant charged with trading with the enemy, whoso cnee the Judge refused to allow'to go to the jury for lack of evidence on the grounds that they could not. examine the validity of previous proceedings except so far as they appeared on record.

LETTER FROM GALLIPOLI. THE NEED OF THE HOUR ; TRAINED MEN. TRIBUTE. TO LAST CONTINGENT. [By Our Own Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 14. The. Minister of Defence has received a letter from Headquarters at Gallipoli, dated July 25, stating emphatically that they do not want untrained or insuffi-ciently-trained troops. What they need is the proper quota of reinforcement's, which, the letter states, are worth three times that number of untrained men. The writer adds that every New Zealand officer and soldier would say the same. Tho communication concludes by declaring that the last reinforcements were perfectly splendid.

OVERSEAS CLUB. Thc-work of the ladies’ branch of (he Overseas Club is well in hand, and the boxes are, being rapidly filled for the British and Belgian poor. The committee will be pleased to receive funds for waistcoats for our boys Every 5s sent along for this fund means' a. comfortable waistcoat for one boy and these are so urgently reeded that a special effort is being made to raise funds for this purpose. The club room. Octagon Tea Booms, is open on Mondays,' Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 10 a.m." till 5 p.m. The committee wish to thank the following kind donors for their response:—Mrs A. ,C. M'Gcorge, pyjamas; Miss Lee (Queenstown), babies’ woollen underwear; Mrs and Miss Sinclair/ donation of soap; Mrs Watson, clothing for Belgians.

COMFORTS FOR RETURNING SOLDIERS. [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 13. When tnc Hon. G. W. Russell was in Auckland recently lie was asked if women who were anxious to find ways of helping the troops would bo allowed to provide comforts for the use of invalid men on the returning transports. Mr Russell placed the matter before the Minister of Defence on his return to 'Wellington. and be informed a pressman today that there was an opening for some effort along the lines that had been suggested to Him. “ The Minister of Defence tells me th.-vc everything passible is done to make the trip of the returning soldiers pleasant, and comfortable,” said Mr Russell. “Additional uniforms, medical comforts. etc., are placed on the outgoing transports, in case they have to bring invalid men hade to the Dominion. If the ladies of New Zealand wish to provide additional luxuries, anything that may be of use on the voyage will be gladly accepted by the Defence Department’. It has been left to me to inform those interested that any, comforts they think would lie suitable for the troops should be securely packed, marked with a list of the contents, and for what purpose intended, and delivered to Captain Bilton {defence store, Mo. 5 shed, King's wharf, Wellington).” The Minister added that the oases would be-placed aboard the transports as occasion arose, and every care would he taken to ensure that the goods reached the troops for whom they were intended. AN ADVENTUROUS CAREER. [Special to the ‘ Star.’] CHRIST CHURCH. September 13. Captain D. B. Blair, who is reported to be in the military hospital at Ras-el-Tin, Alexandria, suffering from a gunshot wound in the hand and laryngitis, has had an exciting career. He was born at Wanganui, and educated at Wanganui College. From the college Cadets he went to the Alexandra Cavalry Volunteers. Leaving New Zealand he went to Alaska, and was in the Klondyke, where he became attached to that famous body of men the North west Mounted Police,. He went to the South African War with the Second and Eighth Contingents. He continued in service in Africa until May, 1802, when he was chosen to go from there with the King Edward Coronation Contingent. After that he went on the reserve, and was for some considerable time in America. He was appointed on March. 17, 1911, to the New Zealand Staff Corps, arid has been adjutant to the Ist Mounted Rifles (G.Y.C.) ever since, leaving for the front in that position with the Main Expeditionary Force. He has the Queen’s Medal with six clasps and the Coronation Medal.

CRICKET AND THE WAR. [Special to the' ‘ Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, September 14. ' -At the annual meeting of the-Canterbury Cricket Association Mr-} Wilding (president) referred to the many cricketers who had died for the Empire and those who were sick or wounded. He thought it only befitting at such a, gathering, representative of the national sport-, that their thoughts should dwell for a moment on those men. New Zealand had a just claim to a rich.heritage of glory, on account of *the prowess of her sons. The example of these men must have an ennobling influence upon the succeeding generations, inis was not a time for pitying the men who _ had died or been maimed in the Empire’s service. Pity might be spared for those who were physically fit to fight for the Empire, and who, having no claims upon them which prevented their enlistment, had failed to seise the opportunity to do their duty. He could see no reason for abandoning cricket during the coming season. There were plenty of cricketers so'circumstanced that,they could not possibly volunteer for active service, and it was batter that they should keep the old game going than that they should mope about. The meeting decided that no representative matches be played by Canterbury this season. SOLDIERS’ BOOTS. STATE-BOOT FACTORY URGED. Consideration was given to the manufacture boots by the members of the Wellington Operative Bootmakers’ Union last night, when the following resolution was adopted That this meeting thoroughly approve the action of the Go” vermnent in deciding upon the adoption of a scheme which is to provide uniformity of sample and standardising of lasts in connection with the manufacture of soldiers’ marching boots. They believe that the supplying of lasts, knives, and patterns to manufacturers who desire to make such footwear is an admission to State control, which is essential for the carrying on of the boot trade, and they regret that the Government did not start a State boot factory, which would have eliminated much of-the cost now entailed in supplying footwear for the troops, and would' have assured that the material used would be of the highest standard of durability.'’ SALE OF A FLAG. [Per United Press Association.] TAIHAPE, September 14. A Union Jack sold at the laying of the foundation stone of the Taihape Freezing Works yesterday realised over £BOO. PERSONAL NOTES. Private Arthur E. Bonnin (Field Ambulance, South Canterbury Battalion), who died from wounds on August 9, was the second son of Mr J. L. Bonnin, of Brighton, Otago. Since leaving the Milton High School he has spent practically all his time in the office of the Westport'Coal Company. He took a. keen interest in athletics and, ambulance work, and was a member of the Dunedin Bearer Corps and secretary of the Dunedin Harriers for some years, till he was moved to Westport. When the. war , broke out he Was connected with the Timaru branch of the West-port Coal Company, from where he enlisted at once, going a wav with the Main Expeditionary Force. One of Private Bonnin’s outstanding characteristics was his thoroughness. He put his whole heart into everything he undertook. Private Bormin’a only brother (Trooper J. W. A. Bonnin) is now at the front, having left with the Fifth Reinforcements. Trooper John William Neilson (Otago Mounted, died of wounds) was a son of Mr Henry Neilson, Te Namu, Westport, Trooper George Alfred Cookson Valentino (killed) was educated at the Greendale Side School, Canterbury. He followed farm life until he started for himself as a contractor with bis brothers. Several years later ho gave up contractmg, and joined his brothers in a farm. When war broke out he, along with another brother, at once enlisted, and went with the main body of the Expeditionarv Force.

Advice has been received to the effect that Private Ernest Marshall, of tho Canterbury Battalion, who left New Zealand with the Fourth Reinforcements, has been wounded and admitted to the Canadian Hospital at Taplow (Buckinghamshire). The nature of the wounds is not stated. Private Marshall, who is 34 years of age, was born at Waikouaiti, and was educated there and at the Albany Street School. For many years he lived" in various parts of Otago, but latterly ho resided at Temuka, and more recently in Blenheim.' from which town he enlisted. He was formerly a member of the Zinsari-Rich-mond Football Club, and a few years ago he represented Marlborough against Wellington. ' ° Mr S. E. Brent, accountant, of this City, received word this morning that his younger son, Trooper Theodore Daniel Brent, of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, was killed in action on the 21st August. The deceased was born in Outram on the 24th June, 1889. 'When the war broke out he was working on the land in South Canterbury. He was one of the first to enlist, and left with the main body. Apart from his relatives, he will | be missed by a number of people to whom he endeared himself by many j thoughtful, kind actions. His old school- j mates will remember him by the nickname of "Barney." Trooper L. K. Pope, aged 23, who was killed in action on August 6 or 7, was a son of Mr H. K. Pope, solicitor, Southnampton, England, and brother of Mr F. K. Pope, formerly of Palmerston, now of Waihemo. Trooper Pope came to New Zealand to learn farming in 1912. He was very well known to many in the Palmerston and Waihemo districts, and was one of the first to enlist at the outbreak of tho war, being a member of the sth Mounted Rifles. He had returned to the trenches only a few days after being " discharged from hospital sick " when he met his death. A brother, H. Kelway Pope, is at present at the front' in France. Private Edward John Early (killed) served through the South African War. He -was one of the best-known figures in the King Country timber industry, as well as in cricketing circles. His age was 36 years. Lance-corporal J. Kelly (killed) came to New Zealand five years ago. He was about 28 years of age, and enlisted from Kohu Kohu, Auckland. He was a native of West Hartlepool. The immediate cause of his enlisting was the killing of two of his sisters by the Germans in the naval attack on his native town. Sergeant-major J. Aitken (reported missing since August 8, and now believed to have been killed) was the third son of the Rev. G. K. Aitken, of Methven. and was about 24 years of age. He had resided in Gisborne for about eight years, and was a carpenter by trade. He was a popular young man, and a prominent footballer. Sergeant-major Aitken left Gisborne with the Second Reinforcements as a sergeant. Private Budge William Oliver (Wellington Battalion, killed) was the eldest son of Mr William Oliver, of Nelson and Mahakipawa, and was about 27 years of age. Private Oliver joined the Main Samoan Force (Engineers), and on his return to New Zealand lefft for Egypt. He was always a keen Volunteer, and belonged to the H Battery (Nelson), but for some years past had resided at Wellington, where he was employed as; a French polisher for Messrs Wright, Ranish, and Co., billiard-table manufacturers. He was born and educated in Nelson.