Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1917. "OMINOUS PORTENTS."

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1016, 8 November 1917, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1917. "OMINOUS PORTENTS."

The people of Australia are to be invited to reconsider their determination upon the Conscription question. Without taking ;i fresh vote of the electors the National Government, formed by the coalition of the Hughesitcs and the Liberals, cannot introduce compulsory military service in tlie Australian Expeditionary Force. Mr Hughes, tho Federal Prime Minister, definitely pledged the Government to that extent. He had, as head of the Labour Government ,made the initial mistake oi taking a Referendum on the subject, and, largely as the result of the New South Wales' vole, the suggestion that the men required for further reinforcements for the Australian Expeditionary Force should he conscripted, was rejected by the electors. In New South Wales, where the activities of the LW.W. people and the Labour extremists were most marked, and where; all sorts oi unworthy and disloyal arguments and tactics \vvvv employed to defeat the conscriptionist proposal, there was a very solid majority against the Government, hut, taken as a whole, the Australian negative vote was not oi such an overwhelming character as to preclude the possibility of its being reversed. The so-called Labour Party in Australia exerted itself to the utmost to defeat tho Government, expelling such of its members and Parliamentary representatives as supported the taking of the Referendum, and threatening with its condign displeasure all who challenged its decrees on the subject. Thev went further, openly discouraging the volunteer movement, and. at their conferences, when invited to eo-operate with the Government in securing lecruits for the Expeditionary Force, declined to discuss the subject, or to move in tho sought-for direction. Now, the cables tell tis, the failure of the volunteer system is so pronounced that the Recruiting Committees are resigning in the Mother State, and declaring that only hy the introduction of conscription is it possihlo to secure the recruits required to maintain the Expeditionary Force iit its full strength, And, Lti view of the "ominous por-

tents" of which Mr Hughes speaks in to-day's messages, the National Uovernment has decided to ask the electors to revise the vote they gave last October, which, apart from- the soldiers vole gave the aiiti-conscnptiorusts; a majority of 117,760 on the issue, the soldiers' votes subsequently reducing it to something over 70,000. Apart from the New South Wales vote, which gave the "iintis" a majority of 119,2/9, the conscriptionist policy would have been endorsed by a majority of 1500 votes, but it is questionable if. on such a vote, any Government would have boon courageous enough to have introduced compulsory service with so trifling a majority, oven had it been possible to leave the Mother State of the Commonwealth out of the business.

TO STEM THE ENEMY PROPAGANDA. During the Referendum campaign in Australia under the Labour Government, the greatest possible latitude was allowed to those who objected to the conscription issue being placed before the electors, and the liberty thus conceded favoured a very dangerous propaganda, which, if not actually inspired from enemy sources, must have been extremely gratifying to the German and pro-German elements in the Commonwealth. The passions, prejudices and sentiments of the people wore played upon in every possible way, the effect upon the women's vote being particularly mbrkc„4 In tho appeals made on sentiment grounds. One of the most efi.Qyttv« tartoons and poems that were issued during the war, and circulated broadcast in New South Wales — , the poem that it was afterwards claimed "defeated conscription"—was entitled "The Blood Vote." The cartoon depicted a sorrowful-looking woman, hesitatingly dropping a voting paper on which the word "Yes" was visible into the "Conscription Ballot Box, with Mr Hughes as Satan, in the background, watching her action, a satirical sinile playing over his features. The words "The Blood Vote" were heavily shaded with blood drops hanging from their base, the pencil with which the ballot paper was marked being suspended at the top of the picture with great drops ot blood pouring from it. The poem that accompanied the cartoon took the form of questions put to his mother by her "little son," and her replies, the character of which is sufficiently indicated by the following verses: "Why do you hide your hand, mother? And crouch above it in dread':" "It beareth a dreadful brand, my sou: With the dead man's blood 'tis red. "They gave mo tke ballot paper. The grim death warrant of doom, And I smugly sentenced the man to death, In that dreadful little room." Other verses more pointedly suggested the remorse and grief of the unhappy woman who had awakened to the supposed realisation of a guilt that was certainly not hers, and there was of course no suggestion of tho fact that, by voting "No." she would have sentenced to death many of the men in the trenches, lighting to preserve her honour, her home, and her children, and to retain for them the liberties so greatly prized by the peoples of the democratic Australian States, comprising part of the "Greater Britain Beyond the Seas." But the cartoon did its work, and that very effectually, in conjunction with other literature circulated by the disloyalists of the anti-conscription crowd. It* remains to be seen whether the National' Ministry will permit of liberty running so much to license in the coinin"- campaign to which it is announced the Cabinet is committed. If they do we may expect to see the enemy propoganda in full blast once again. A CRITICAL HOUR. Australia must decide on the second vote whether she will quit or remain ill the war. which has reached its most dangerous and critical phase. The deplorable set-back sustained by General Cadorna's armies is, we learn, partly due to treachery and to the insidious enemy propaganda amongst the troops in Italy. Colonel Repington, who writes so sternly and stingingly of the "terrible stain on the Italian army's name," rinds the explanation of Cadorna's defeat in "a subversive propaganda." which has brought about "the greatest Allied disaster of the war." Writing about a fortnight ago the same high authority said:

"General Cadorna has known for somo time that the enemy was preparing an offensive, taking- advantage of tho passivity of the Russian army to transfer from the Galician theatre troops to the Italian front. Ho has btift'ened the specially croated 14th German army with a number of good lighting German divisions. Cadorna probably welcomes tho, offensive this season, as he has ample strength to defeat it, in solid, well-defined lines, and with superior artillery. He is certain to make tho enemy pay dearly, and if assistance is needed, tho Allies will promptly render it. The wholo of the West Front is now one, and arrangements have been made- for mutual assistance when necessary. We all stand behind Italy in I his affair, and can afford to send one division for every German division. As long as we fight, the Germans, it does rot matter to us where. Italy has a splendid oportunity to teach Germany and her dupes a. much-needed lesson."

Italy lias failed us: Russia is apparently 'helpless and hopeless. There is, therefore, all the greater need for vigilance on our part, to defeat similar enemy propaganda to that which is seemingly responsible for tho undoing of two of'the Allies upon whom we depended.

The- Sydney Industrial Gazette states that 2,443.244 working days were lost in the recent strike.

One large Pulmcrstoit firm had all the class A reservists in its employ drawn in the first ballot of tho Second Division.

Large quantities of timber are still coming down the Main Trunk, and being forwarded to Wanganui for shipment to Australian markets,

The Y.W'.C.A. Board of Management will hold a meeting at tho Women's National Reservo room-. Broad street, at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning.

It is stated that tho stone fruit crop throughout the ' Manawatu is one of he lightest, that has been known for years, while the apple crop is exceptionally heavy. The OhaUunc-Raetihi railway is now almost completed, and it is confidently anticipated that the official opening will tako place early in December. The newly-elected committee will practicallv take on the functions of the Uarton Borough Council. Mr Bush hasS been olected permanent, chairman.

At the Taumarunui Magistrate's Court a youtliful offender was committed for trial for the theft of a rifle and 2000 rounds of ammunition, and a revolver and 200 rounds of ammunition.

The amount of pleasure and profit you can secure during the day depends upon the recuperative value of the hours of sleep. The C.M.R. kapoo bedding is designed on scientific principles that enables you to secure 60 minutes to the hour of sleep that is sound, comfortable and refreshing. Are you satisfied to spend restless nights upon inferior mattrasscs when C.M.R.'s cost no more. Let us demonstrate to you the advantages of our scientifically made bedding. The C. M. Ross Co., Ltd.—Advt. Always useful! One of our Thermos and Icy-Hot Flasks can bo put to all kinds of uses, and will always be found reliable ami valuable in the tiomd, iVatson Bros., Lui.-Advt.

v Uininrv recruits i" future will be rMedical Board, instead of by a local, doctor, l>cfore Uioj arc unaii, attested. ■ ' At the Supremo Court, Dunodui, v- U-r ,l«v A .drew Townlcy, stock dealer, rta, onteiml to three months' imprisonment for neglecting to keep proper book* of ~.-. count • ill The latcsv recruUs to register at the local trow office arc John Proctor, clerk, Palmeffon North; Robt. Wm. Homo, farmer, En? and Thomas Henry Clark, draper, qnoifl idea of the fertility of Bayswater n ibSUn fftaVmg 4CO 47 head of cattle for the past two months, and taej can't keep the grasi! down, _ "I think that the Write b now practically ended," said Mr John Adarnson, a Queens land politician, who arrived in New ■ 4«a And recently, to a I'o^repo rtri. I ' „hat. I was able to hear in the for at several years. A well-known fanner in the Lijburn dts,,i , (Southland) informs the Tuatapero Guanliah that red deer arc very.nung this season. The other day he noticed Song a number of deer that were in close proxiniitv to his residence a bunch of five of: the finest stags he has yet seen in the < Lilburn Valley. We arc indebted to Mr T. R. Moore, of Terrace Kikl, for the information that tiio ra i„fall between 9 o'clock yesterday morning ml 9 a.m. to-day was 1.29 inches Ihe o was, also, v high barometei -during_ trw time, it never being below 30. As the hifore mentioned figures indicate, the rainfall vesterdav \"as unusually heavy. " The Patriotic Shop opened to-day with a. large supply of home-made dainties and country produce Ladies m, charge this week are Miss Johnson, Mrs Keeling [West End) Misses Stallard and Batchclor (Frtzhcrbert). Mrs White (Tokomam), and Mra Rix (Linton). The competition this week include a blouse and dress.

A Gisborne resid nt, Mr C. Ivess, liaa worked for some time on an invention to protect ships from the torpedo, and wrote to the Minister of Marine asking for tho help of a skilled engineer at the Government's exnense. As his request was apparently overlooked, he has again put forward his claim. It is not, he states, tor gam that he has perfected his invention out to aid the Empire in the stopping of submarine outrages He claims to be able to stop a torpedo travelling at 20 knots per hour on, the surface.

The principal war bonus outlays are£Post and telegraph Department, JBOO.OUU; Railways, £265.000: .Justice, £2200; Prisons, £2460; Police. £12.000: _ Internal Affairs, £8320: Mental Hospitals £3/o0; New Zealand Defence stall, £5000; Custorn* £2000; Marine, £2160; Lands, £9000: Agriculture, £6200; Education and teachers, £60,815. Tho estimated gross outlav on war bonuses is £600,000. _ W hen the matter was under discussion in the--1 louse last week, Sir Joseph Ward, in reply to a question, said the bonus was not permanent, but for the war period only. \ valuable gift has been made br Mr James Jamieson", of Christohurcb, to tho Chri>tchurch Museum, in tho shape of acollection of valuable and artistic bnc-n----brac representative of a period extending from the 16.h century to tho early Victoria era. The ( liriatchurch Sun says (lie articles, which are of exquisite' workmanship, are. nob only representative of decades, bill ajsopf various countries, including Italy, France, Holland. Scotland, and Kiiglaiid. I iu-y have been pronounced by connoisseurs a3 typical'examples of the Old World craftsmanship, and as possessing great artistio merit. In all. 250 pircrs have been donated. They have been collected by Mr Jamieson over a period of 40 years. North Island grain merchants have not been buying Otago oats freely of late (says the Dunedin Star), quantities having been landed there from Australia at" a lower price than we can supply for. Our farmers have, however, found a good market in Canterbury for seed oats, the. last crop in that district haying been poorer than usual. It is a little difficult to see how much oats we have in stock in,Ota go, but the general opinion is that the holdings are about up to the average ajt this time of year. One thing quite sure hj that tho acreage put down in oats this spring is smaller than last year, this being due largely to the wet weather making much of the land unworkable, and also to tho shortage of labour.

"It is to be regretted," said the Hon. W. Earusha-w, in tlie Legislative Council last week "that while Now Zealand as a- wholo has done a great deal in the war, there is a section in the country that is determined at all hazards to shirk its military obligations." Ho ventured to that tho crisis was being- accentuated by giving terms of imprisonment to these men. Merely imprisoning these men was not sufficient. The class of men who preferred imprisonment to State duty was, fortunately, not large, but. he urged upon the Government and tha military authorities that the procedure adopted increased the number of shirkers'. Shipment to the front, and not imprisonment, was the proper punishment. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Messrs A. J. Graham and S. Abrahams, J.P.'s, preliminary evidence was taken in the bankruptcy charges against Reeves and William:'. Tho charges are that (1) Reeyea and Williams trading together as dairy factory proprietors did within three years of commencement of their bankruptcy fail to keep proper books; (2) that with intent to conceal the true state of affairs they wilfully omitted to keep proper books or accounts relating to the business of tho firm; (3) that with intent to defraud tha creditors of the firm of Reeves and Williams they made to Emily Elizabeth Williams a frift of certain property belonging to tha firm. The defendants were represented by Messrs Cooper and Lloyd, and Mr Loughnan conducted the case for tho Official Assignee.

An item on the Supplementary Estimates presented to Parliament on Friday was an increa.se. of £l5O to an officer in the Justice Department, whose salary is £750 pec year. It was challenged (wires a correspondent) by Mr Anderson, who desired ta know why £l5O was to be granted to ona officer, and only a £SO increase- to ajiother officer with the same salary. Tho Hon. Mr Herdman, Attorney-Ger.eral. explained that the item referred to Mr P. S. Macassev, Crown Land Officer, whose services could only be retained by granting this increado. Tina capable officer, Mr Herdman said, had been offered two partnerships. . As a matter of fact, several barristers had left the Crown Law Office to enter private practice, which was more lucrative. Mr Anderson said ho was .satisfied with the Minister's explanation. Mr Wilford gave it as his opinion tliat tho Crown Law Officers were overworked and underpaid. Tho item was i>as a ed.*

The scarcity'of domestic servants is reported to have become very acute in Auckland during recent months. Employment in offices and factories is now open to _ a. large number of women owing to the absence of so many men on active service. It is also stated that many girls are now in receipt of soldiers' pay. this placing them beyond the actual need of work for the time being. Many domestic servant;, usually come to the Dominion from Australia for the summer months, but; for well-known reasons, this migration had not taken place this year to the same extent as formerly. Conditions in hotels, restaurants, and the large boarding houses ara now regulated by an industrial award, and it is asserted that a great many domestics prefer to work in those establishments. where the hours of work are fixed, and where they have their evenings free, rather than in private houses, where definite hours of work are not laid down, although tho work itself may be less exacting and the conditions generally more pleasant. Although good wages are beinjr offered, there are very many vacant positions for domestic servants in private families

"By George, it looks like new!" That's what a pleased man said when we handed him the Panama hat. he had brought us for renovations. Soft felts' and pan ama a made to look almost as good as new- by out' process. The cost is so small that it paya handsomely to bring in your hat. Collmson and Cunninghame's men's section—Advt. Your canary will do better on Spratt'd seed. It is as clean as bird seed can bo made, so you don't pay for dirt! Kvery carton contains a piece of cuttle fish bone, winch birdie relishes. Seed is :v mixture that time has proved to l>p right. Packet*. 8d and Is 3d. at Collinson mid Sjon'.-i, Broadway,—Advt,

~ i „ Ww.'.York message Males Hint, Mr 1,, '.ah® 13 en , ' ,,H ' tf(l Mayor of that city. ,i , ~,,( ffl art « the Government and ovcry act ~l" V : H The New York State has adopted v,,|,u " ' ll "' |#|rtron of the Auapuni Old People's ,'"!'<' || liss Kilgour) reported to the llosui 1 '^lN -to-day that on October 31 there were J inmates in the Home, 21 males and live h'fuilcs. --',V'f, nl Mastcrton reservists called up in the -I" class of the Second Division have one of more children, and they will pro baWy,ypn application, be transferred to Liter etosseti. One man claims to have a family K>f six children, The .Palmerston North Citizens' Loyal Association met in the Zcnlandia Hall oil Monday evening, and made all arrange-ni.-nU for the entertainment to returned Mildierii. which will be held in the Kuipire Hall in about a fortnight's time. A visitor from the Hay of Plenty district informed the Te Aroha News that Indians nwe being employed in various' industries jn ever-increasing proportions. One llaxlilill wai almost entirely run f»v the black nlell, who got the award wage and conditions,

biitce its Opening n month ago, th« Willard Home in l-'if.liorbert street, established to accommodate the wives and families of soldiers at the Awupuni camp, has fully justjfjed its- existence. A large number of families have taken up their residence there. and the ( schemo of the founders appears to be working otlt on the successful lines predicted,

A Palmerston gardener, who has five thousand strawberry plant* under cultivation, 6tated that up to the present ho has only been able to obtain a few boxes of fruit, owing to the ravages of slugs and the continued wet weather. The crop is nu abnormally heavy one, but as toon as the fruto begins to mature armies of slugs attack it during the night and eat the hearts out of the large berries.

There is a veritable match famine in London. In public-houses, hotels, and clubs there matches are becoming almost as precious a s sugar. To-day, says a Londoner, 1 went into three shops successively, and not a box was to be had. The automatic machines, too. were all sold out. The manager of one West End club told me thai he is keeping his supply in the safe, and the servants have to account strictly to him for every box which is doled out. I see the time fast approaching when members of clubs will have to find their own lights. A rather surprise request for about 12 months' grace in which to pay a line of £1 and 7s costs was made by a defendant, at the Magistrate's Court, Gisbornc. The defendant, Martin Christian Andersen, was convicted of riding a bicycle on the footpath in Ormond road. The Magistrate considered the request ridiculous and ordered defendant to be detained until the line was paid. "1 have- nothing." defendant said. "How am 1 to get along?" Later on, defendant again repeated his request for time, and he was granted seven days.

"Snails are the curse of my life," said a hardy veteran in garden culture in Sydney the other day. "I have had fo block them from climbing tho roses by putting a collar of coarse sandpaper round the main stem of the plant, and I find it quite an effective barricade." This novel and ingenious idea has proved most effective, amusing as it may seem at first. "I often wish I were back again in France," he continued. "1 never had any bother with snails there. . I used to watch the gardner eat them with great relish—but. unfortunately, the Sydney variety is not so appetising, so I Just squash 'em."

Tin output of white pine logs af the Taita and Maitahi localities in the Kaihu Valley is being largely increased, owing to the fine weather (says'the North Auckland Time-). It is anticipated that in the fear future a double train service will be carried on daily between Dargaville and the log-skids. During the twelve-iuonthlv period ended March 31? the railway carried 7.752,000 feet of log and sawn timber, and it is expected that quantity will be double during the current twelve-monthly period. The mam supply of white pine for the several sawmills is now practically contained in the Kaihu valley although -some thousands of sunken legs have vet to be refloated in the Awakmo, Mnngamii, Kaihu. and Mangakahia streams. An ex-inmate of the Old People's Homo at Awapur.i waited on the Hospital Hoard to-day and complained of his treatment by anothei patient whilst he had been m the Home. The speaker stated that he was in bed one night when the other patient came home from Palmerston and assaulted him. He had written complaining ot his true ment, but had got no satisfaction, and now came to the Hoard. Mr J. Vow. a member of the visiting committee to the Home, B aid the complaint had been considered a ,,d tho patent complained of reiiriman led. Mr F. Aisher, of the Hospital Board stall. added that the party making, the complainant made himself a nuisance, and if he was roughlv handled he deserved ah he got That ended the matter.

It ha- recently become known to tho authorities that some military shirkers vvero refuging in the Tararua ranges, between Pahiatua and Palmerston, in which district a number of thefts from dwellings have also been reported lately. Police, activity resulted in a man named I'ran/. John I'>. Banene, alias Francis Baucke, being arrested on Monday night. The man wa s brought before Messrs S. Abrahams and A. J. Graham, J.P.'s, at the Police Court, this morning, and charged that on November 4, 1917. he. did steal a razor, shaving brush, and pocket knife, of a total value of 19s 6d the propertv of John ( harles t road. of Aokautcre. Sergt, Henry, who prosecuted, asked for a remand till tomorrow, as further charges were pending. I his wa,s grunted

The health inspector (Mr M. O'Brien) reported to the Hospital Board today that the following infectious cases had occurred during the month : Palmerston 5. I'oxlou 3. Kairanga 3, Kiwftea 2. Manawatu 1. In all 14 cases were notified and attended to, (mowing a decline on the previous month. especially of diphtheria cases in Palmer--ton North. Disinfections were curried out ill all cases on the removal of patients to the hospital, or in cases of patients being nur.-ed at home after convalescence. Having visited many of the small towns in the district," tho inspector stated, "I hud their sanitary condition satisfactory, ami m many instances the drainage set right. Under' the Sale of I'ood and Drugs Act prosecutions for the adulteration ot milk have been instituted, and substantial lines recorded."

Japan was once a country noted for hei rarity of strikes, but a great change Has taken place this year (says the Japan limes of September-Bth). Organised system is now seen in the uprisings, which makes them more impressive. One of the. roots may be enormous mountings of the prices of commodities but the fundamental cause must not be misunderstood. It is the, workmen s realisation of the inequality of distribution, With tho widening of education of the country, the labouring class of the nation has come to bo able to reflect on its position, and so demanding of their emplovers a reform in their status. Ihe capitalists, accustomed to the canine submissivencss of the labouring class, took to intimidation, but they have found out that the new tendency was not to be fooled with the old feudalists trick- of government,.

A- somewhat unusual will was argued before a Victorian Judge recently (says tin' Sydney correspondent of (lie Press). The late Lawrence Benjamin left a will directing that £IO,OOO be paid to his son when ho had attained the age of 25 years, and making tlii-, further provision: "1 hereby expressly declare that, if my son shall at any time, whether before or after my death, intermarry with any person rot of the Jewish faith] or not, of Jewish parents, he shall I*' entitled to no share or interest under my will" Having reached the age of 21, tin von asked that the money be paid over U him. claiming that under the law lie was entitled to it, provided that no ..other persoi wa«i shown to have an interest, in the estate Afer very lengthy'argument, in which th' point about marrying in tie- Jewish faitl was closely reviewed, the Judge dccidei that the sen could not obtain (XtSSCSsion o the £IO.OOO until he had reached the age u, 25 and that until then he could not marn anyone outside the Jewish Church withou risking the loss of the entire legacy. Jle let it to be assumed that the sou could marn after that, anyone he pleased, without, for feiting his legacy.