NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9807, 2 November 1917, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

, A new course of 'bayonet fighting instruction is to be followed at Trentham saimp, and later on at other camps Bayonet fighting is regarded as one of tho most important attributes of a soldier and very Jru-II attention has alvays been paid to it in the training of the New. Zealand Expeditionary Forces. The new scheme, however, will he more comp roll ensive than that previously followed. It will be carried out under the direction of Captain Brocks, an Imperial officer, who has had experience In the . field and in British training camps. ,

It is proposed early in the New Year to summon the judges of the Native Land Court 60 Wellington to hear and determine the question of the rights of the natives to the soil of the lakes wherever claimed, and, also any other rights that may be claimed in connectian with these lakes. After general principles have been decided, each judge in his separate distinct will deal with the local circumstances of each particular lake that may he brought before him. Advantage will bo taken of the presence of the judges, who are--also presidents of the Maori Land Boards, to consider questions of procedure in the conduct and management of those boards so as to ensure uniformity throughout the Dominion.

The executive of the Second Division League met last evening. Reports were received of formation of new branches at Canvastown, Carluke, Havelock, Wairau Valley, Tua Marina and-Kokerangu. The ‘'Handbook for Jtesor visls ’’ about to -be published was iapproved- It is intended to supply a copy to each man drawn in the ballot and the contents, which should prove of great value to reservists, are as follow: Classification, balldoting, appeals for. exemption, hearing of appeals, medical, examination,' financial assistance, soldiers’ paj and allotments, going into camp, discharge from camp, separation allowances, pensions on death of soldier, pensions on disablement, how to apply for pensions, concessions secured bv the league, etc. Each subject is dealt with comprehensively and the publication will bo a reliable guide to reservists.

The Hon. Arthur M. Myers, Minister for Customs, states that the amount of Customs revenue collected for the month of October was £377,956, and the Excise heer duty £23,552. The figures for the month of October, 1016, wore £'331,354 and £15,710 respectively.

Referring in Parliament yesterday to the statement that fourteen officers had been at a recent court-martial at Palmerston North, the Minister for Defence (Sir James Allen) stated that four officers constituted the court. Ono acted as prosecutor, three territorial officers were present for instruction, and four attended as witnesses.

In the Legislative Council yesterday the Hon. W. Earnshaw said there was a people in the country determined at all hazards to shirk their military obligations. Tho trouble was aggravated by merely sentencing shirkers to terms of imprisonment. This was not sufficient —they should be shipped to the front. This was the real punishment for them.

An uncommon moth dashed itself against the windows of the lighthouse at Akaroa a few days ago. On the upper surface of its wings there is a peculiar metallic sheen, changing from steel blue to grey. The under surface .s bright orange, and tho wings are marked with black. The moth is unlike any of the coloured figures in Mr G. V. Hudson’s n Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand,” and apparently is a stranger to this Dominion. The specimen has begn sent to Canterbury Museum.

Sir James Allen (Minister for Defence) stated in Parliament, in reply to a question by Dr Thacker, M.P. for Ohristohuroh East, that it is not proposed to increase the 30s allowance made to returned soldiers to enable them to roolothe themselves in civilian garb. “Tho reasons for this,” added the Minister, “have been already given in replies to similar questions. The more pensions and allowances are increased the less it becomes necessary for increasing the mufti allowance.”

A youthful offender appeared yesterday before the Juvenile Court at Petone, in tho person of a boy aged eight years and five months, who pleaded' guilty to a series of burglaries at Messrs Dimdore’s, Hannah and Co.’s, Bouthorne’s, Wilson and Mclntyre’s, Wearne and Collins’, and Mrs Holland’s; also to a charge of arson. The lad said that he had committed the crimes at the instigation of two other boys, and wanted money to buy lollies. The police and magistrate agreed that accused was a bad boy, and at tho suggestion of Mr Dineen, probation officer, h° was committed to the Wellington Receiving Some. /

“In every work the beginning is the most important part, especially in dealing with anything young and tender.”—This quotation from Socrates appears on the title page of a little pamphlet on “The Oare of the Teeth,” writ-ten by Dr TruLy King, and published under the auspices of the New Zealand Dental Association and the British Medical Association. The Plunket Society highly approves of the pamphlet, and strongly commends it to the notice of parents. As is stated in an introductory .para-, graph, the purpose of the booklet is to convey to people in a simple and interesting way the leading facts concerning the nature, growth, and development of tho teeth, and to show how they can bo safeguarded. This purpose is admirably carried out. The booklet, printed by Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., is dedicated to Lord and Lady Plunket, whose work in connection with the preservation of child life is well known.*

Replying in Parliament yesterday to a question by Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P. for Taumarunui, the Minister for Defence (the Hon. Sir James Allen) stated: “No official communication has yet been received from tho War Office with regard to the issue to soldiers of distinguishing marks for men who have served six months or more in any theatre of war. The only information as yet to hand is that contained in a Press Association cablegram, appearing in the public press, to the effect that the War Office is arranging for tho issue of a red chevron for officers and soldiers who entered a theatre of war in 1914, and a blue chevron for those who entered subsequently, with an additional blue chevron for each year of service, thus ensuring a special distinctive mark for those who have served in the overseas theatres. If the information as supplied in this Jffioas Association cablegram is correct, then the War Office order will apply to soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force abroad. A distinctive mark, for those officers and other ranks of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force who have returned to Now Zealand, and are now employed in a military capacity in New Zealand has already been instituted. These returned soldiers are now entitled to wear a red stripe, two inches in length, to be worn on the left sleeve. ’ ’

In the House of Representativca a few days ago Mr Dickie (Welwyn) asked the Minister for Railways a question as to the carriage of milk and produce on the railways. The printed reply of the Hon. W. H. Herries is as follows : —The existing rates for milk and cream have been in operation for many years, and were fixed on a low basis for the purpose of fostering the dairying industry when it was in a languishing condition. The rates for distances over thirty miles are lower than the initial rates, and at the time they were instituted they met the then existing conditions when factories were few and separated by long distances. With the establishment of factories at shorter intervals, the conditions have bee'h materially altered, and in practice it is found that rfiilk and cream are not infrequently carried to central factories, passing cn route smaller factories established in tho vicinity of tho railway. The destination ot cream or milk, as of other goods carried on railways, is determined by the consignors, and the business of the Railway Department is to deliver the gooda at the point consigned. It is not unreasonable to suppose that bc-fo-e establishing an industry in any vicinity the farmers have taken the whole of the circumstances into consideration. and made themselves fully acquainted with the conditions governing the business nnon which they are entering. The existing rates for mdk and cream traffic are nnremunerative. to tho Railway Department—they do not cover the hare cost of services performed; and it is intended to review the position in common with other railway rates when more normal circnmstancefl prevail.

Sunday afternoon swimming at the To Aro baths has been authorised by the City Council from November 4th till March 31st.

On the recommendation of the reserves committee, the City Council last night decided that an application for permission to erect a building on the Day’s Bay beach for bathing purposes should not bo acceded to.

During the quarter ended September 30th, the total value of imports of New Zealand was: —From United Kingdom, £1,647,309; Ceylon, £57,298; Canada, £172,853; Australia, £753,687; Japan, £99,419; United States, £844,943.

Yesterday’s “Gazette” notifies that the closing hour for watchmakers’ and Jewellers’ shops in Wellington from December Ist till 14th shall be: —On .Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9' p.m., and from December 15th till 31st, on all nights at 11 p.m. “

At Dunedin yesterday the Conciliation Council considered the Otago metal workers’- assistants’ dispute. The employers offered Id an hour increase all round and lid an hour war bonus. The offer was accepted, and an agreement was come to accordingly (reports the Press Association).

The Arbitration Court was yesterday engaged in hearing on application made by Mr J. T. Paul, M.L.C., on behalf of the Tailorossos’ Union, for an additional 10 per cent, war bonus. Mr Pryor appeared for the employers. The court reserved judgment in the matter. The case was afterwards proceeded with in which the Wellington Tailors’ Union sought a decision of the existing award in regard to wages and hours of employment. Mr Kearaon appeared for the union. Air 1 ryor, for the employers, urged the maintenance of tho present award, wi a some alterations in regard to the system of working. Evidence having been heard, judgment was reserved by the court. Mr Justice Stringer presided with Messrs Scott and McCullough (assessors).

When a man with many convictions was brought before Mr L. G. Keid, S.M., yesterday on a charge of being a rogue and vagabond, it transpired that on a recent previous appearance before the court the delinquent had been let off on a promise to leave Wellington and go into the country, do not think it is fair,” remarked Mr Reid, “that people of this class should be pawned off on to the country. ~ly practice has been never to let a man off simply because he promises to leave the town; If he is dangerous m one place he is just as much d ?f ge l™ntrv another, and why should the country districts bo loaded with crim “® ® Senior-Sergeant Emerson that in this particular caso the detendant had ..there \ s’- ’4.■_frt-r Vmtt> in Masterton. work waiting ror mm - ~ “Oh, that is a different matter remarked the magistrate, but as it has turned out the work awaiting the accused was another drinking bout.

Recently Constable McGowan arrested at. Ruatiti a man who is, believed to be either a Turk or a Bulgarian, who had evidently chosen this hinterland as a refuge (says the Raetifcr correspondent of the “Wanganui Chronicle”). Luckily the man was in. bed in his camp when the police stepped inside, and his bound towards a rifle was too late. The captive was brought to Raetihi, thence to Wellington, and he is now safely interned. It is reported that on the journey the captive was very talkative, and made no attempt to disguise his sympathies. TTia spoke of submarine visitations, and evinced great contempt for the port defences of New - Zealand. His remarks in this connection suggested something more than random braggadocio. On the same evening, at Raetihi, the local police also arrested an Austrian who had been in the Ruatiti district for some time. He , was also interned.

Mr Sodden (Westland) —per Mr Colvin—asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he knows that from the horses in the Army (those being used by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force included) mares suitable _ for breeding have been 'picked out with, a view to sending them to England; and whether some scheme of keeping valuable blood stock replenished in New Zealand has been decided on bv the Government to take effect immediately or at the end of the war ? In a printed reply yesterday the Hon. Mr MacDonald said: —“The Government is not aware of the fact stated, but it is satisfactory to know that good New Zealand mares are to be utilised in England for breeding purposes. In purchasing remounts for the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, the purchasing officers were specially .instructed that good mares, suitable for bleeding purposes, were not to be taken, unless under special circumstances. It was, however, found that a large number of good mares were offered for sale, their owners having no intention of breeding from them, and consequently a limited number were allowed to be purchased, but every precaution was taken to ensure the retention in the Dominion of the great majority of the best type mares.”

A reply was made by tbe Minister for Public Health in the House of Representatives yesterday to tbe following question asked by Mr R. A. Wrignt:—■ (1) What financial assistance is granted to orphanages conducted by religious bodies, and as_ to whether the Minister would 1 explain the conditions to be complied with befpre a religious body becomes entitled to a subsidy. The Minister’s reply was as follows: (1) Under tbe Public Health Department’s estimates there is a vote of £2300 under tbe heading “Grants for Refuge Work.” Out of this sum the following grants are being made for this year: St. Mary s,«Otahubu, £3OO (£2.50, 1916-17); Door of Hope, Auckland £100; Nazareth Home, Christchurch, £100; Salvation Army. Wellington £500; Mt. Magdala Asylum, Christchurch, £80; St. Saviour’s Home, Christchurch, £200; Victoria Home, Invercargill, £100; St. Marys, Wellington £200; total £2300. With she exception of St. Mary’s. Otahuhu, the vote is the same as for 1916-17. The work of all these institutions is not confined to orphans. In addition, die St. Andrew's Oiphanage at Nelson, as a separate institution” within the meaning of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act has been granted a subsidy of 24s in the £1 on donations. Hast year this institution received a total subsidy of £69 only from the Government. The Government considers every application for financial assistance in refuge work on its merits. Donnelly’s Hair Restorer. —A real Hair Tonic. Cures dandruff, stops hair falling. Chemists, stores, hairdressers: 2/6. Donnelly’s, 65, Vivian street, *