The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1918.

Evening Star, Issue 16710, 17 April 1918, Page 4

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1918.

At a special service of prayer and intercession early in FebFor What Are mary, hold by one of we Fighting? the great Homo firms

in memory of those of it? staff who had fallen in the war, the Bishop of London (Dr Ingrant) said : “If any of them were getting war weary, let them remember that if they had tears of sorrow in their eyes they had no tears of shame or remorse. If wo had stood aside in. this war, and allowed Belgium to be trodden under foot and Franco to be wiped out of the map, our tears would have been bitter, scalding tears of shame. It is well, at an hour when many people are seeking and finding solace in prayer—when mothers the wide world over are never long absent in their scoret thoughts from the sanctuary of God—when fathers and husbands, brothers and eons arc standing and falling before the hosts of the enemy' or Christian civilisation, that wo should not forget these things. Our prayers, to be effective, must bo intelligent. Sorrow and grief arc natural, but they are not the only feelings that should be ours in these days of menace ami peril. No man or woman who knows why and for what the democracies of the world are fighting, and why their sons aro in the battle, line, in Flanders, would, in these days of suspense, have them other than where they are. The cry of our hearts should not alone be “Give peace in our time, 0 Lord,” but “Strengthen and cheer our lads who today' are stripped for battle, and may they at all times bear themselves as becomes men who would rather die than that they and theirs should submit to Fnrssianism !” The present is not alone a. time for supplication and help, ’out for thanksgiving and pride as well, We citizens of this Ultima Thule of Empire arc privileged to participate. though not in our own persons, in that great battle the noise whereof now fills the earth.

For what are we fighting? Why are tens of thousands of our follows being daily sent to wounds and death? Mhy has the great Republic of the United States, through her Chief Secretary of State (Mr Lansing), dedicated herself anew to that cause to which some 12 months ago she pledged herself before tho world? Why do others recall .Mr Asquith’s words ; “ M <> shall never sheathe the word, which we have not lightly drawn, until Belgium recover in full measure all, and more than all, she has sacrificed, until France is adequately secured against the. menace of aggression, until the rights of the smaller nationalities of Europe are placed upon an unassailable foundation, and until the military domination of Prussia is wholly and finally destroyed"? The answer, in part, is because we forget. Largo numbers are thinking of one aspect only of this fearful turmoil—that of death and suffering—and many of us can only fall on our knees and cry “ O God, stop it! ’ But the answer is; "No! This must, not bo. Me must light on, else we allow without resistance Belgium to be trodden under foot and Franco to be wiped off the map. Our tears then would be the bitter, scalding tears of shame, and not, as now, those of thankfulness and pride tnat we havo done our part in helping to prevent this so foul a crime against God and man. ’ Yes, we come back to Belgium after all these months of blued and agony. Even as criminals, though their crime may never have been brought home, ore said to haunt its scene for years after, so Belgium and its butchery continue to haunt this world war. The one is bound up with the other. The shame and the menace of the mischief brought on Belgium iu 1914 will remain until their authors j have been driven forth from the society of mankind. One cable message recalls the pitiful story. Germany has drawn wealth as well as blood from Belgium, and iu this she has acted after Ixor own black and evil heart. In addition to monthly levies totalling £30,000,000, and requisitions in goods of about £18,000,660, the factories have been cleared of machinery and Hits private houses have been plundered. Mr John C. Van der Veca, the London editor of the Amsterdam ‘ Tolograaf,’ recently wrote: “Why, the manner in which tile Germans are carrying on inßelgium is worse than atrocious. . . . It cries to Heaven, . . . If it continues, the country and its people will bo wiped out. . . . it is a crime unheard of in tho modern history of Europe.” And so on he proceeds, until tha heart grows sick ns one reads. Yet it is imperative that wo should ponder over and remember these things, more especially at such times as those widen havo come upon us. If our prayers are to be in tune with the Infinite, then it is essential that we should know why and for what wo pray. The German War Lords know what they want. Their relations with their Deity are as ciean-cut and as clear as their aims in battle. They know their goal, and no sense of shams restrains them from declaring their want. It was tho ‘ Deutsche Zeitung ’ which gave this prayer to the world : Down with tho world-conscience! Away with tho spirit of world-brother-hood! Let the German consciousness of power alone bo our commander and leader; Its cry is; “More power 1 More German power!” That is the legacy which our dead heroes have bequeathed to us, written iu blood-red letters of flame. May those who trifle with this legacy be struck by the curso which will rise from their graves to God’s heaven 1 He whose world-con-science or sense of responsibility towards humanity causes him to say or write anything else than that which tho language of the power of the German sword commands is and will always bo a feeble political dreamer, a gloomy wanderer iu the clouds.

We may shudder or merely smilo at such vulgar ravings; but tho words reflect the heart of that malign Power which is at largo on land and sea to-day. And it is against this Power that our lads havo been drawn up In battle array in Flanders for three terrible weeks.

We do well to pray and to ask for courage to bear what yet lies ahead of us : tmt let us not forget tiiat. tlxer© is no higher task to which those lads from the Mother Land and New Zealand and all parts of this world-wide Empire—• should they, in the good providence of God, come from out the furnace unhurt—are ever likely to be called than, the Cause for which some of them are laying down their lives even as these lines are being read.

It is so seldom that the people have an opportunity of congratuParllamem hiring the National Goand vornment and members of state Finances. Parliament for satisfactory work that unstinted praise should be given for their methods, manner, and service during the special session which opened exactly a week ago and terminated on Monday night. In six sitting days Parliament did l more practical work of an extraordinarily serious nature than is customarily done in six weeks. The gravity of the period and the temper of the people were realised and appreciated by administrators and legislators, and their work was accomplished with the least distinguishing characteristics of politicians—economy and indefatigable common sense., The profitable change in parliamentary methods and the results generally should be appreciated by the people, who for once in a- while had the pleasure of knowing that their representatives in Parliament met, talked, and w’orked like ■sensible men. In point of time the session had » parallel in the previous special session in April (how many years ago?) when it was decided to send the Into Mr Richard Seddou to the Old Country to represent Now Zealand at the Jubilee celebrations; in respect to the seriousness of business and the manner of transacting it, this latest session constitutes what is called a “record.” So let the Government and the House be congratulated. The work of the sassion does not call for tedious comment, although it deservos more tlian cursory attention. It was almost exclusively confined to financial business, though the Government managed astutely to incorporate in the new legislation several important provisions which in anything like ordinary circumstances would not, very properly, have been tolerated. 'The answer to this, of course, is obvious : if circumstances bad been at all ordinary these provisions, empowering the Government to establish and control National Service and extending the charmed life of the Goi eminent and the term of Parliament for another year, would not have been necessary. Still, the National Government, under the shadow of a grave crisis, eagerly seized a golden opportunity to bury with some decorum a heap of embarrassment. Wo may let it go and lie at that.

Parliament is also to be complimented on the sensible manner in which it disposed of the preposterous suggestion that leave of absence should bo given to hr Webb, so that he might retain his parliamentary status and draw his pay while serving two years’ imprisonment for the offence—unpardonable in the case of a responsible legislator—of refusing as a soldier to obey a lawful convnand. As a- matter of fact, Webb refused to don military uniform and pnrpare to take his place where character, conscience, and service are. most search ingly tested, and where, thank God, sane Labor is gloriously meeting the tost. In refusing Webb leave of absence Parliament did the right thing, and saved the law from a position of hopeless and dangerous lunacy.

The financial legislation, which occasioned a keen but scarcely a. notable debate, provided authority ° for raising within Xow Zealand a farther War Loan of £20,000,000. It also altered last year’s provisions in res wet to compulsory contributions to War Loans, and provided a different scale of punitive contribution from deliberate- financial shirkers. Tho Minister of Finance made it dear that compulsion was necessary, and guaranteed that it would be enforced without fear or favor. We have already referred to tho despicable aspect of fmancral shirking, in the hope of securing greater profit from investment than tho very profitable terms provided by the State for War Loan subscriptions, and need not again discuss tho matter further than to say that such individuals; and corporations as sliirk their duty to tho Empire should be dealt with without mercy, and exposed like any other shirker, who may have more than loss of profit to shrink from. But there are other aspects of the now Finance Act that invito discussion. The Act is vague as to the amount that should bo contributed to tho War Loans by those who must contribute. It is stated that, the amount which any person may be required to contribute ■shall not exceed six times the yearly average of the Land Tax and Income Tax (exclusive of excess profits duty) paid or payable by the contributor for the throe years ended on March 31, 1918. The Tax Commissioner is given discretion to reduce the amount of compulsory contribution if tho contributor's circumstances justify reduction. Then tho right of appeal to a Judge of tho Supreme Court is given. The Minister is to bo complimented for providing for appeals to a Judge rather than to A, departmental Board of Appeal. Is it not practicable lor tho Tax Department to prepare and issue without delay a booklet showing approximate scales of the amounts of taxation and Wax Loan contributions to which taxpayers may be liable daring the war? This would simplify matters to many people, who require both time and advice as to securing ready money to meet the complex demands made upon their capital. It is to be regretted: that the Treasurer stubbornly refused to see any virtue at all in providing for an unrestricted issue of 5 per cent, taxable bonds instead of relying almost solely on the issue of 4£ per cent, tax-free stock. The present system is heaping up a pile of tax-free debt which this small country will have to meet at a time when there are no swollen war profits on its exports, and no incentive to provide money in a spirit of patriotism. Up to February 28 last the Dominion’s net wax expenditure totalled £35,201,580Loan authorities now total £85,395,830, of which £76,000,000 represent loans for war purposes. The total raised in tho Old Country is £19,500,000, but that stock has not bean put on the market. That is the position as disclosed by «ir Joseph Ward ; and it holds matter for serious rejection, and emphasises the need for rigorous national economy and thrift. Apart from wa r expenditure, the finances of the State are deemed to be very satisfactory by Responsible Ministers, who can talk lightly of millions. This year's revenue exceeded that of last year by £1,600,000 ( Out there was a heavy increase in expenditure,, owing principally to expansion of interest and finking fund chorees. Receipts exceeded £20,000,600, and the surplus—tho joy of Ministers—totalled four and a-quarter millions, bringing the accumulated balances for three years up to £10,750,000, of which sum £8,728,817 is profitably invested in Imperial .securities in London. Everything looks very well on paper, but the people should also look to tha ever-increasing amount of borrowing, and realise that tno day of reckoning cannot be avoided. To those who cannot fight for their country, the only advice is : Save money for it and keep, the rate of interest beneficially low. The State’s finances reveal the urgent need for honest thrift and economy and a severe curtailment of extravagant expenditure.

Mr Paulin telephoned at 2 p.m.: Strong N.W. to N.E. winds; fine for 24 hours; thick fog on east coast.

Concerning tho air raids in London, a letter dated February 24 says: “ Spent last Sunday' out at . As our friends tho enemy paid us a visit about 10 that night, and it is, nono too safe in the streets when they are iu town, on account of the shrapnel "from our own guns, wo remained until after 1 a.m., when the ‘all clear’ signal was given. On Monday wo had another visit from the Huns. Damage done on each occasion was very slight, owing to our greatly improved defence, only one machine getting into tho metropolis on each occasion. The business at the theatres is, of course, very' much upset owing to these raids. Afternoon performances are being given at most of tho houses instead of tho usual night performances.'’ The Membership Committee of the Otago Expansion League mot last the members present being Messrs \\. Stuart Wilson (chair), J. Jnglis Wright, A. Moritzson, and H. E. Wilson, Tho reports and statement for the month were presented and considered, and the _ arrangements completed for putting into operation tho annual canvass by members of committee for subscriptions of present members, and a campaign for securing a number of likely' recruits to the ranks of the league.

Tho arrangements by tho United Christian Council for observing to-morrow as a day of prayer are being noted with interest. Tho meetings will be held in the Burns Hall' drom 10 a.m. to 9 p.rn. The promoters have endeavored to make the interests as widely representative as possible. Tho first session will be conducted by tho Primate, and prominent civic and business leaders will take charge of later hours. Through the president of the Students’ Christian Union the University undergraduates have been specially invited to attend from 2to 3 p.m. dho secretary (tho Rev. G. Hoighway) suggests _that those unablo to- attend by reason of the pressure of their ordinary work should strive to be in tho spirit of prayer for the nation during the day.

Extract from tho letter of an cx-Hun-edinitc received by this morning’s mail : “The food question does not seem to improve hero. It is a common thing to see queues a mile long waiting outside shops in the hope of getting a moiety oi butter or meat. To-morrow (Sunday, February 24) food cards come into existence, and it will bo impossible to get anything to oat without presenting your card —if you are a householder when buying your goods or if (like me) one cats in restaurants, when getting served. Have had to live all this week on fish and eggs, as our meat allowance under the card 1 .dinning system is indeed very small.”

Tito business of tlio old-established firm of Mills, Dick, and Co. lias boon purchased by Mr A. Sligo and Orr, Garupnell, and Co. The onginal style of the old firm was Pinkerton, Mills, and Co. 1 hen it was Mills and Ilopcraft. Mr John Rick, brother of the, Hon. T. Rick, became a partner in tho sixties. Quito a. number of publications were issued from the Stafford street office at one time and another. The 1 Echo’ was one ot t here ; ‘Grahams Review ’ was another. T J he firms .aivnual almanac also became a standard publication. Most of tire men who worked at Mills. Rick, and Co.'s have passed awnv, but four who were on the hooks in .1871 are still in Dunedin, these including Mr Win. Reid (the accountant!, Mr R. IlntUm (compositor), and Mr J. J- Connor (pressman). Some verv big cheques are. being made just now by rabbit-trappers, and large quantities are coming torward for the Cromwell Canning Company (says the ‘ Argus '). Apart from this quite a number of men have secured bloc Us for trapping for the skins, and from now on there is every prospect of skins bringing big prices. " One well-known expert trapper on Mount Pisa has been making .some fine catches. On Monday and T uosdav last, for the two days, lie bagged 500 rabbits, and as these were_ going to the factory it is a great performance, and probably a record under the conditions. The Hawea correspondent of tho ‘ Cromwell Argus ’ writes that several parties of deerstalkers have returned from the Hawea forest, but the heads are hardly up to expectations. The best brought out so far is a splendid fourteen-pointer, secured by Mr C. Harvey on the Sawmill block. At the monthly meeting of the Dunedin Fire Board yesterday afternoon a letter was rend from the Town Clerk replying to certain, clauses in the superintendent’s annual report. Tho Town Clerk stated that tho danger of tire from electric irons had been atteneded to by the issue of printed notices to users of these irons. Other matters referred to were now before the General Committee of the City Council. The chairman and other members of the hoard said they bad_not heard of anyone having received the notices, and apparently all of them bad not yet been distributed. A letter was received from the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce on the subject of fire protection on the wharves and shipping. The chairman said that the correspondence had already appeared in the Press, and that tho next move in the matter should come from the Harbor Board. The letter was referred to the General Committee for consideration. It was decided to refer tho suggestions made by Superintendent Napier for new water mains in a portion of Ward street and Constitution street to the City Council, with a request that tho suggestions he given effect to. Our Christchurch correspondent wires: —ln view of the statements made by members of tho Government in the House concerning the proposed introduction of national service, Mr J. A. Frostick, Canterbury representative on the National Efficiency Board, was asked whether a recommendation in favor of national service had been submitted by the board to the National Government. Mr Frostick replied in the affirmative, and said that this bad been done about last Juno or July. Mr Frostick was asked whether the board's scheme proposed the compulsory transference of men from essential to non-essential occupations. “No,” said Mr Frostick, except in bona fido State services. Tire board have not suggested that compulsory service should obtain in private employment, believing that the great bulk of the people are not only willing but anxious that in.the national crisis their services should be util'fid in the direction most needed, and for this purpose the board's classification of industries and operations therein, as approved by the Government, is accepted as a fair classification of the essential character of the employment. Asked whether the scheme proposed provided for machinery to deal with the inevitable difficulties that would arise in administration, Mr Frostick replied in tho affirmative.

Benches for the use of waiting passengers hare been or are to be put in position by tho tram lines at Tainui road. Queen’s Drive, St. Clair, Allan dale road. Forbury Corner, Maitland street, Eglintoa road, railway slat-inn, Howe street, Jformanby terminus, Calder street, the Gardens, and Frederick street. Or Scott and his fellow-members of the Tramways Committee will have the blessing of many a weary person for those chances -of a sit down.

Tho .appeals against the valuations of Forbury Park and Ta-huna Park will come before thj Assessment Court on the SC(h Inst. They are expected to last about throe days.

In the Supreme Court to-day (states a C’-ir i-t.-h'irrr.'K teletrrarrd tho Canterbury Law Society proceeded to have a rule nisi made absolute striking Robert Daniel M’iver, of Kaikoura, off the roll of >a.licit ovs. Mr Justice Herdman ordered the rule nisi to be removed to the Court of Appeal, MTver being suspended fiom practice, in the meantjmo. A patriotic spirit lias been shown by tho {armors of Otago and Southland on many occasions, and those farmers who attend the Burnside stock sales are noted for their generosity when it comes to , the question of assisting any worthy cause. At the Burnside sales to-day 30 sheep wore donated by various farmers to bo sold on behalf of tho Red Triangle fund. The sheep wore auctioned by the Otago Farmers’ Cooperative Association, and good prices were realised. Three wore sold at 38s per head, eight at 265, 11 at 20s 6d, and 8 at 36s per head. A number of sheep were donated and sold for a similar purpose last week, and tho fund should bo considerably augmented as a result of the generosity of those farmers.

The difficulties under which Dunedin booksellers labor is indicated in a letter which a local firm this morning received from a well-known American publishing company. The writers state: “Wo regret that we aro late in sending your order. Everything seemed to work against us. The "Government declared so many heatless days that it was difficult to get tho eempofition done, and tho pxesswork was further delayed' by the .extremely cold weather. On" many’ days tho presses could not run. After getting the quarterlies into tho bindery, instead of having them bound in three or four days, it took three or four weeks on account of the great shortage of labor, so many being called by draft to the army.”

New season's photographic goods; excellent slock now arriving. Cameras from 6s. Send your order early to H. J. Gill, 11 and 13 Frederick street, Dunedin. ’Phono 1,144. —[Advt. i Ladies requiring riding outfits aro advised to call on Ansell, Octagon (a specialist in this work), and see the newest English riding tweecln. —[Advt.] Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money. [Advb.^ A notice to member of tho Wakari Bowling Club appears in this issue. Dunedin "ladies are greatly pleased with tho quality of “No Rubbing” Laundry Help and “ Golden Rule ” Soap. Warded Bros, and Co.—[Advt.] Cheers for Watson's No. 10 whisky. Unbeaten in mce for quality. Really high-class, —[Advt.] Eyestrain!—Consult Mr Peter G. Dick, D.8.0.A., F. 1.0. (London), consulting and oculists’ optician.—-Peter Dick, jeweller, etc., 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—[Advt. j