NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10137, 27 November 1918, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Hon. W. Earnshaw is apparently In some respects an idealist. This he demonstrated in the Legislative Council yesterday, when he put forward a proposition that the old Conservative party, the old Liberal party, and the old Labour party should join hands and prepare a • programme for the future development of the Dominion. There were great problems ahead of the people, and to solve these the closest co-operation of all parties was required. Incidentally, the speaker made an appeal to the Prime Minister to tell the country in plain words how it was' ; intended to go about the work of national reconstruction. A regulation has been issued by Defence Headquarters to the effect that whenever a soldier is granted a definite period of leave without pay by a medical service board on an appeal prior to entering camp such soldier is to be supplied with travelling-warrants to his homo as a charge against the department. , ■ ■■ _ ~ A youth named Leslie James Turner was admitted to the hospital about 7.30 o’clock last evening in an unconscious condition as a result of the front forks of his bicycle breaking and throwing him heavily to the ground. Turner, who resides at 109, Owen street, suffered injuries to bis head and knees. He was still unconscious at midnight. A petition, hearing 26,000 signatures and asking that four issues—national continuance, national prohibition, with and without compensation, and State control —be submitted to the electors at the liquor poll, and that the matter be decided by preferential vote, was presented to Parliament yepterday morning by Mr J. McCombs, M.P. for Lyttelton. The hon. member also presented a petition calling for a general election early in the new year. Some commotion was caused about 6 o’clock last evening at the corner of Taranaki street and Courtenay place when Constable Hunt was about to arrest a man for drunkenness. Two of the latter’s comrades are alleged to have assisted him in savagely assaulting Constable Hunt, who is recovering from an attack of influenza. A crowd assembled, and some tramwaymen went to the constable’s aid. Sergeant McKelvio and Constable King hurried to the scone. The police arrested three men, and lodged them in the Taranaki street police station cells. One accused will be charged with drunkenness, assaulting the police, and obscene language, and the other two with assault and obstruction. ivir Wilkinson asked the Minister for Defence in tho House yesterday what steps were being taken with regard to tho demobilisation of the men in the camps, also the men in Cl camp. Sir James Allen said that demobilisation was going on quietly and systematically. there had been considerable delay, however, owing to influenza, and tho disorganisation of the ferry and railway services. Notwithstanding this tno total number of men demobilised up to yesterday was 3009. He added that the men in the Cl camp were nearly all demobilised, hut here also there had been unavoidable delay. Would the Minister for Defence favourably consider allowing New Zealand troops serving in Egypt to demobilise from England instead of from Egypt, so that the men might have an opportunity of seeing the Home Country before their return ? was a question put without notice by Mr H. G. Ell, M.P. for Christchurch South, in the House of Representatives yesterday. Sir James Allen replied that tho arrangements for demobilisation bad been considered at tho Imperial War Conference, and it had been agreed that the demobilisation of the troons referred to should take place in Egypt. It had been arranged, also, so far as hjs memory wont, that those men who desired to go,on leave or on furlough to tho United Kingdom would be permitted to do so, subject to the approval of tho General Officer Commanding. Ho would bo very pleased, indeed, if it could bo arranged for tho men to visit tho Oldd Country. (Hoar, hear.) Novelty Overdresses for day or evening wear now on view at Kirkcaldio and Stains, Ltd. These are a special London purchase, bought at a heavy discount, and now offered at ono-third under their usual values. Showing in Silk Department and windows.—Advt.

. Tho revenue from the amusement tax during tho financial year 1917-18 amounted to £16,273, stated the finance Minister yesterday. Tho tax came into operation on .November Ist, 1917, consequently the amount received was only for live months. Referring last night to tho censorship of cinematograph films, the Finance Minister said that during tho past year 2825 films, amounting to 6,761,570 feet, had been examined by the censor (Mr William Joliffo), and fees amounting to £1958 had been received. “There is again—due principally to war conditions-—a largo increase of the bank-note tax for this year, which amounted to £167,914. The revenue received from this source (said Sir Joseph Ward yesterday) is £42,000 greater than that received for 191617.” Sir James Allen stated in the House of Representatives yesterday that he hoped that Trentham and Featherston would be retained as territorial camps when demobilisation was completed. He hoped, also that the 400 acres of farming land now under full cultivation at Featherston would be used for training returned soldiers for agricultural work. “In view of the fact that practically every section capable of occupation as a separate holding is being set aside Wiou a view to its allotment to discharged soldiers, only a very restricted area has boon made available for Selection by ordinary settlers (stated tho Finance Minister. last night). A considerable area, however, opened in previous years is still available for application." ' Tho revenue of tho Registrar-Gene-ral’s Department, though steady up to the year 1915-16, showed a decided drop from £16,865 in that year to £12,450 fo t. the last financial year. This decrease, stated Sir Joseph Ward last night, was due entirely to fluctuations in tho number of marriages solemnised, which showed a decrease of about four thousand for last year compared with the number solemnised in the year 1915. The total expenditure on mental hospitals for the year 1917-18, stated Sir Joseph Ward last night, and the receipts for maintenance, sales of produce, etc., amounted to £67.543, leaving a net expenditure of £164,680, an increase of £20.131 over tho previous year. Of this increase the war bonus, which was charged against the vote last year, represents £7674, and the higner cosi of provisions, bedding, clotning, fuel, etc., together with the increase in the number of patients accounts for the balance. “There is a small falling-off in totalisator revenue, caused, no doubt, by the reduction of the days of racing by something like one-third (stated the Finance Minister in his Budget speech). Nevertheless, the amount put through tho machine has, in proportion, more than held its own with that of former years, taking into account the reduced number of racing days, the revenue received being £213,932, as against £257,436 for 1916-17.” It is reported from Dunedin that tho collision of the warships New Zeaaud and Australia took,place some time before the Jutland naval battle. The vessels met almost, “end on,” a ram to ram collision being averted by a very few yards. Although actual dates are not recallable, the approximate time is estimated bv the fact that the naval officer who told of the occurrence also described an abnormal haul of netted German submarines being brought into an English seaport one day, and how some of the submarines, remanned with British seamen, afterwards fretted tho German fleet in the Jtuland battle. ■ At tie quarterly meeting of the Public Service Superannuation Board twelve contributors retired under section 3o of the Act, by reason of age or length of service, wore granted allow, ances totalling £1569 9s per annum, and five contributors, retired as medically unfit, were granted allowances of a total of £153 Is nor annum. Fifteen widows and nineteen children were granted tho statutory allowances, amounting to £517 per annum. In consequence of retirements under section 35 of the Act. accrued compensa-. tion to tho amount of £2652 16s 7d became a liability of the Superannuation fund and a corresponding relief to the Consolidated Fund. In tho course of his Budget statement &ir Joseph Ward said ho desired to acknowledge the able services rendered bv the Treasury staff. A vast amount of additional work and responsibility'has been thrown upon the Treasury in connection with tho raising and the management of tho war loans, arid tho enormously increased volume of revenue and expenditure since tho war commenced has also greatly added to the work of the staff. The increased work has been efficientlv carried out in tho face of great shortage of staff, owing to tho war. and at a very small additional cost to tho country. The financial operations of this country during me recent critical times have required very careful handling. It is impossible to exaggerate tho import, ance of tho work which- attaches to the regulating of the financial obligations or tho Dominion, and which has involved not onlv the making of suitable provision for financing tho war, but for financing all other services of tho Government ns well. Sir Joseph Ward also acknowledged the work and assistance rendered generally by the postal service at head office and throughout tho Dominion. During the year ended March 31st last, said Sir Joseph Ward in his Budget survey last night, tho activities of the Prisons Department have grown considerably. Buildings have been erected, several miles of road constructed, afforestation pushed on. reclamation works proceeded with, farming lands developed, dairying engaged in, and manufactures carried on. Every class of work has been carried out by prison labour under tho supervision and direction of prison officers. So far as the revenue of tho department is concerned, me year was a record one. Tho cash credits received from other departments and from outside sources for stock, wool, farm products, etc., amounted to £15.083. The estimated valno of prison labour employed on various works over and above tho cash returns was £18,239. and the valno of the labour employed in carrying on prison industries. farming, etc., amounted to a further £9939. Tho actual value to tho State of prison labour in 1917-18 was therefore J-43,-261, a very fail percentage of the total expenditure (£81.362) on prisons and prisoners during the period covered by the Budget.