PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Fortieth Year of Publication. ESTABLISHED 1875 MANAWATU DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1915.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13064, 8 April 1915, Page 4

PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Fortieth Year of Publication. ESTABLISHED 1875 MANAWATU DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1915.

FROM the reports of proceedings at the Political Labour Party's conference in Australia it is evident that the chief idea in the minds of the leaders is to use labour for political purposes, with very little regard to the interests of the workers themselves. The desire is to capture all 'public positions, and the view is boldly expressed that all who interfere with the attainment of this ideal should be boycotted. Then again, there is an almost charming disregard for other people's interests manifested by the resolutions in favour of a non-contributing unemployment premium to be charged upon the industry, the compulsory schoo 1 attendance of all children till the sixteenth birthday, and the new platform plank providing for the regulation of the prices of foodstuffs at any time. In regard to the last mentioned plank the Labour Council wants the producers' profits to be regulated, but wants to remain free to regulate the charges of the workers engaged by the producter or employed by those providing supplies for the producers. It wants to be insured without paying any premium. and to have all its progeny educated at the public expense. Possibly by this time the members of that Council may be, like a celebrated historical personage, "astounded at their own moderation,'' for they neglected to frame a platform plank to provide for payment of wages without exertion. That was surely a deplorable oversight.

TO that same Labour Council Mr Holman addressed words which evidently fell upon heedless ears, for

after all his really sound advice j against gambling they resolved that any alteration in the system of betting should be by a nationalised totalisator, owned and controlled by the State. Mr Holman vainly urged that what a man earns should be dependent upon his own action and energy. But that s'ort of argument is out of date. The monks of old averred that "Labour is prayer," but the modern idea is that labour is an evil to be avoided by every possible means. So the labour leaders want to have means instituted by which the State will aid gambling, to give each a chance to become rich quick —or to lose all he possesses.

IN a recent issue we referred to Mr Primrose McConnell's condemnation of the Public Service Commissioners in his speech to an assemblage at Ruakura Farm of Instruction, of which he was till recently manager. From a northern exchange's full report of his speech we learn that his chief cause of complaint was the vexatious nature of the regulations issued by the Commissioners, under which he had to consult them before he could engage a temporary hand or increase wages by even a penny a day. In other words in his operations as manager he was bound by red tape, which was tangled around him by those who had no knowledge of the special work he was engaged to perform. It would almost seem as though the great value of the change from Ministerial favouritism to Departmental control is going to be nullified by the apparently irresistible tendency of all officialdom to use red tape rules and frame cast iron regulations. Red tape is the curse of the public service. The primary object of rules and regulations should be to promote the convenience of the public, but their effect if they are rigidly adhered to is to hamper or inconvenience everybody concerned. The rules should not include anything unnecessary, should be simple, and should be for general guidance only, leaving the official some scope for discretion and the exercise of individuality. In practice they are converting each man into a mere cog in a machine.

A Capetown Press Association message says the railway from Kablo in the Congo to Lake Tanganyika, has ljeen completed.

The Mokoia from Sydney, arrived at Wellington at 5 p.m. yesterday, and tne Hackness from Melbbmne, at. 6.15 p.m.

Gordon Traill, aged 19, was washed overboard from the cutter Rakiura in Foveaux Straits on Tuesday afternoon. Deceased was a splendid swimmer, but the heavy gale and high seas nu;de rescue impossible. At Palmerston Magistrate's Court yesterday Mr J. W. Poynton passed the jury list, there being no objectors present. The name of an unnaturalised foreigner was struck off the list. At the inquest on the death of Alfred Henderson, railway shunter at Linwood, evidence showed that deceased caught his boot in the check rail and was jammed between trucks. The verdict was accidental death. At the Timber Workers' Conference at Christchurch a motion was carried that the action of Government and the Foods Commission in failing to protect the people from exploitation be condemned.

Ohakune reports that a man named Rockel, a school teacher at Valley Eoad, near Raetihi, died from exhaustion while on a mountaineering trip on Rnapehu. No further details are yet available. Before Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., at Palmerston Police Court yesterday, four first offenders appeared on charges of drunkenness. One was discharged, one forfeited his bail of ss, and the other two were ordered to pay 2s cab hire, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. A new Post Office letter box has been erected on the corner of the Square and Colemaii Place. It will thus be seen that the agitation of the Chamber of Commerce is having the desired effect. There are a number of other portions of the town which need letter boxes, and it is hoped that more will soon be erected.

From to-day several slight alterations and additions will be made in the times at which the letter receivers are cleared in the centre of the town. The most important is an extra clearance at 8 p.m. The receiver in Church street (Opera House) has been removed to the corner of Princess street. A new receiver has been erected at the [Tnion Bank corner.

A rumour gained currency last evening that the New Zealanders had been engaged in a sanguinary conflict in the Gulf of Saros. This appears to have originated from the manner in which a contemporary in an adjoining town construed the message from Rome, stating that a sanguinary engagement has been proceeding in the Saros district since Sunday. The Saros referred to in this message is in Hungary, near the Dukla Pass. The Hamilton correspondent of Auckland Star reports that George Bellamy, aged 30, a resident of Scotchman's Valley, Tuawhare, was deer-stalking on Tuesday, when a companion mistook him for a deer and fired at a distance of 200 yards. The bullet struck Bellamy in the back, and lodged in the muscles. The unfortunate man was removed to the Waikato Hospital, where he is progressing satisfactorily. The following resolution was passed at the monthly meeting of the Palmerston branch of the Enginedrivers, Firemen and Cleaners Association: — "The Palmerston Branch of the E.F.C.A. heartily support Timaru and other branches' resolution in reference to the manner in which the working men are being exploited during the present crisis and that this branch is of the opinion that the Government should take immediate steps to prevent such exploitation." The C. M. Ross Company, Ltd., announce a special display of Dress Fabrics for this week, of which they invite inspection. Kabo Corsets are also specially featured in their announcement on leader page.*

j While standing near an engine on 8 'farm at Benton Square, Northumberland, a boy named Robert Richardson j was dragged on the axle owing to the '.wind blowing his coat into the machinery. The boy was extricated, but died soon afterwards.

There is now (says the Hawkes Bay Tribune) a keen demand for stock in the Hawkes Bay district, consequent on the restoration of the pastures. The growth of grass since the rain has been remarkable and there is now no anxiety concerning winter feed.

The Federal Prime Minister (Hon. A. Fisher) and the Right Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister of New Zealand) are corresponding regarding the Premiers' Conference. It is stated in Melbourne that if Mr Massey accepts the invitation to the Conference it is probable that the place of the Conference will be changed from Sydney to Melbourne.

After 14 years' courtship Miss Ellen Cook, a clerk, sued John Sinclair, a carting contractor, for breach of promise in the Glasgow Sheriff's Court, and was awarded £2OO damages. The defendant one day, as the weather was bad, instead of keeping his engagement to be married, went home to bed. The defendant's conduct, said the Sheriff, had been selfish, callous, and cruel.

Miss Dorothy Clarke, of Foxley Farm, Tollcross, Glasgow, met her death in a remarkable manner. She hajl been residing at Row, on the Garloch. near Helensburgh, and while out walking with a woman companion she was blown over Row pier and drowned. Miss Clarke's companion states that the wind filled Miss Clarke's umbrella, and she was carried over the end of the pier into the water. The total weight of the sheep in the guessing competition at the Caledonian sports was 971bs (ewe (531bs, lamb 341bs). The exact weight was given by Mr R. C. Wallace, of Palmerston. Other estimates were: Messrs Basil Thomson 97%1b5, W. Sutherland lbs, D. W. Remnant 9tfi4lbs and D. Gordon 96%1b5. The Presbyterian Church at Island Bay was burned down on Tuesday night. The origin is unknown. This insurances total £3BO. A two-storeyed hcuse of ten rooms on Thorndon Quay, Wellington, owned by Mrs E. M. Clapcott and occupied by Mrs Dora Munn as a boardinghouse, was gutted at a late hour. The occupants all got out safely. Discussing wheat prospects in New Zealand, Mr Massey expressed to a Post reporter his opinion that wheat will be at a price payable to the grower for two or three years to come, and for that reason, as well as for patriotic reasons, he was satisfied more wheat will be grown in New Zealand during the next two years than has been grown for years past. Regarding the option of a million bushels, which he had arranged with Canada, he was quite sure it wo'uld be quite sufficient to cover any possible deficiency.

Mr Cutten, S.M., Coroner at Auckland, in giving his reserved decision on the inquest on the 'body of Margaret Dewes who was killed by the sudden dropping of a lift in Hobson Buildings, found that the accident was due to the neglect of Henry Renner, the lift attendant, aged 17, to place the control lever at neutral position when he opened the door to allow deceased to alight. The employment of this boy was a breach of the Act, but there was no evidence that any person was guilty of such a degree of negligence that he could be found guilty of manslaughter.

It is stated by the Christchurch

News that one of the five survivors of H.M.S. Good Hope, which with the Monmouth was sunk on Ist November off the eoast of Chili, by the German

Pacific squadron, was Mr Arthur L. Forbes, a New Zealander, and a grandson of Mr William Forbes, of Bealey

avenue, Christchurch. He served for some years in the Royal Navy, and was in H.M.S. Euryalus when she

visited Lyttel'ton in 1905, but subsequently bought himself out ot + he service. He then joined the London Metropolitan Police, asd continued in the Royal Navy Reserve. Forbes ana his four companions had been landed for look-out and signalling duties on a small island some days before the action.

At Auckland Police Court yesterday William Ryan, charged with being on licensed premises, admitted the offence. He was described by the police as a big bettor whose character was gcod and who always met his liabilities. He had never been before the

Court previously for a breach of the

Act. Counsel for defendant said his client had been to the races and had a 'drink or two otherwise the offence would never have occurred. The Magistrate said he did not think under these circumstances it would be prt.per to impose the fine of £IOO but differentiation must not be made between the small man and the big man. Defendant would be fined £SO and costs. Jas. Hye, a contractor, who had been previously fined £2O for betting, was lined £4O and costs for a further offence of this nature. Alfred Birch, for betting on Ellerslie racecourse, was fined £3O and costs. Geo. Powell for betting on the wharf was fined £2O and costs.

Our seas are not a bed of roses

(wrote a London correspondent at the

end of February). Those who go down to them in submarines have to stand the hardest buffets. Only this week a number of German submarines badly mauled during a gale in the North Sea had to make Norwegian ports in a very battered and briny condition. The crews ruefully reported that they had been many days in heavy weather, enduring privations, loss of sleep, and discomforts through the ceaseless rising and falling of the mountainous seas. They were all in an exhausted condition, and some of them were sufficiently ill to deserve treatment in a hospital. By international rules they were allowed 24 hours to quit neutral waters to refit and to regain the self-command which their experiences had somewhat undermined. Then thev hue 1 to return to their quest, much to the muzzled annoyance of the majority of the crews, who had had enough of the hardships incident to this kind of seawarfare. Not th*? least of the disabilities with which the Germans have to contend is the disinclination which their sailors feel for constant or continuous service in a submarine. Presentation Articles for Easter. — Fine Art Chinaware, Electroplate and Silverware, Trinket Boxes, Flower Tubes, Pin Trays, Inkstands, Photo Frames, Rose Bowls, Ebony and Sil-ver-backed Brushware, Match Boxes, Shaving Mugs. Silver Sovereign Cases, etc., at Wm. Park's.* „ Tjf

The money thrown on the stage at the Operatic Society's concert in aid of the Belgians last evening amounted to £l3 Is 4d.

It is estimated that the total to be handed over to the Belgian Fund as the result of last night's concert should be £75, and possibly more. The exact amount cannot be stated till returns of tickets sold have been made.

At the annual conference of The Timber Workers' Federation, the following remit was carried unanimously ''' That the Government be urged to establish a State farm for grain growing, a State flourmill and State bakeries, with a view to preventing any further exploitation of consumers." Melbourne reports that Victorian butter" is becoming short, and greater difficulty is experienced in obtaining supplies. The Northern States trade is turning to New Zealand, and if it is possible to purchase in the Dominion, a request for a temporal}' remission of threepence in the duty will be made.

Two very old established Auckland brewing firms, Campbell and Ehrenfried and the Great Northern Brewery, have amalgamated under the title of the Lion Brewery, Ltd. The new directorate includes Mr A. M. Myers, M.P., Mr Philip Luckie, and Mr A. S. Bankart. Campbell, and Ehrenl'ried was established by Sir John Logan Campbell as far back as 1840. Constable Donald Shaw, of Napier, who disappeared from the police station in that town last Thursday night and has not since 'been seen or heard of, is a single man about 38 years of age, and a native of Scotland. Before coming to New Zealand he was /in the Scottish police force. He very recently returned from a six months' health recruiting trip. There is a substantial balance to his credit in one of the banks. He was stationed in Wellington for pome time, and has relatives in the Wairarapa. Theft, forgery, and bigamy were charges upon whjch Richard Gerald Da vies, thirty-four, Wolverhampton, was committed for trial at Wednesbury. It was alleged that he stole a cheque for £lO sent to his landlady from a soldier wounded at La Bassee, endorsed it with a forged name, and cashed it. Posing as a single man, he courted the landlady's daughter, Lily Sophia Hunt, and after eleven days married her by special license, representing himself as a corporal. Davies remarked that he must have been semi-conscious when he married a second time.

Mr Schwab may have lost a considerable order for submarines, but he still should be able to see the silver lining of the war cloud, says the Toronto Financial Post. The Bethlehem steel works have nearly 11,000 men now on the pay-roll working on orders for war and construction materials for the Allies, which are estimated at 135,000,000d01. To handle this rush of business 15,000 men are likely to be employed, which is 3,000 higher than the previous maximum record. The great activity at present is in connection with the manufacture of shrapnel shells, which are shipped to Canada every night. How many Germans are there in the United States? When the war stcrted, the German-American agitators began to talk modestly about 6,000,000 or 7,000,000 Germans, and people of German descent in this country (says the Providence Journal). The figure rose rapidly. In September the declaration grew to 14,000,000. A month ago the German Ambassador referred touchingly to the 20.000.000 German and German-American citizens in this country. Hermann Ridder, the Teutonic howitzer of New York, capped this proposition two weeks ago *vith the claim of 25,000,000. Then Congressman Bartholdt, in a speech to the House, apologising for being able to be a German and an American at the same time, declared that one-third of the people of the United States had German blood in their veins. If this keeps on we shall have a record of 97V2 of kultur before we know it. Hoch der Arithmetic!

The possibility of shooting at the butts without the services of a marker fciui o'J seeing one's hits instantly recorded on anindiea tor set a foot or two away from the marksman is a much-desired consummation that is due to the industry and ingenuity of an Australian inventor (says the Melbourne Argus). After lfi years of experimental work a full sized model of an electrically operated target, which dees all this has been constructed, and some interesting developments may be expected before long. The target is made up of 17 steel-plate sections, and the impact of the bullet on one of these drives it forward about half an inch. This establishes an electrical connection, and the value of the hit is recorded on the indicator referred to. The segments are brought backto their position by coil springs. In adition to showing the scores the indicator is provided with an attachment that records the scores on a tape. The wires connecting the target and the indicator can be laid for any range. Usually two or three ranges would be ,provided, and at each of these a box would be permanently fixed. The indicator can be placed in any terminal by simply lifting off the box. The Auckland Star of Tuesday, has the following:—"X'm tired <v£ life, and everybody seems to be against me," was the reason given by Ada H. Parsons, a married woman, who resided in Alexandra street, when asked why she had shot herself in the breast with on the evening of St. Patrick's Day. The circumstances surrounding the case showed that the woman had suffered in health ►from a hard struggle for existence. Her husband is a cripple, unable to work, and the woman had to be the breadwinner. She struggled along to keep the home going, but her health suffered, and, probably fearing the prospect of having to continue the struggle with failing health and hard times ahead, she became melancholy, ami obsessed with the idea that the world was against her. Early on the evening of March 17th she and a neighbour had words about their respective dogs having a dog light, and after the dispute she went to the back yard, and her husband was startled by the sound of a revolver shot immediately afterwards. He found his wife lying with a wound in her breast, and in her right hand a revolver which she had recently bought and which she said was for the purpose of shooting cats. The injury was rvot serious, and Mrs Parsons was this morning dicharged from the hospital, and brought before the Police Court to answer a charge of attempted suicide. The case vras adjourned in order that a magistrate might deal with it. ,