HOLLAND AND THE WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16665, 10 April 1916, Page 4

HOLLAND AND THE WAR.

Ant suspicion, that may have existed lest tho sudden military preparations oti the part of. Holland were due to a fear that her neutrality might he compromised through the landing of British troops on her coast -will by this time have been completely dispelled. The measures that have been adopted by Holland plainly constitute, as they are represented to be, a precaution to ensure the strict observance of neutrality. And there is no difficulty In accepting the view that they are particularly directed to ensure protection against German concentration on the frontiers. It is * specifically stated this morning that a strong Dutch force has been despatched to the frontiers for the purpose of defending them against the .possibility of their being violated by the Germans in the event of their being compelled to retreat as a result of the turning of their right flank. With the terrible example

of what has happened to Belgium ever before lier eyes, Holland cannot afford to place any trust in German good faith so far as her national rights are affected. It is quite likely, moreover, that the Dutch Government has cause to consider that the roving eye of the German Staff has shown too great a tendency of late to settle upon Holland as offering the means for an attractive variation or reinforcement of their military plans. At all events Holland has no reason to trust Germany, and has every reason to be aware that she excites German cupidity. She may fear that exasperated Germany will not much longer tolerate her as an obstruction in her desperate path. It has been pointed out that the interposition of Holland prevents Germany from using important lines of railway and bridges that cross the Meuse, and in the phase of the war which is now being opened, it may well be most essential to the Germans to possess as many lines of communication as possible with the western field. This being the case, the Dutch Government has probably, apart from other considerations, which are leading Holland to make preparations that may even the mobilisation of her recruits of the 1917 class, felt constrained to show that Germany need look for no encouragement of the idea that its people .would tolerate any infringement of their territorial rights. The whole conclusion to -which the military dispositions in Holland point is that it is held in that country that Germany has now "shot her bolt" and that the ensuing spring and summer campaign will witness a very definite turning of the tide in favour of the Allies.

At their own doorstep municipal legislators were censured on Saturday evening for failing to select one of three returned soldiers recently when appointing a ranger. There had been a few interruptions, mostly good natured, from members of the crowd whilst Messrs Steve Borehatn and Mat Bradley were making their appeal for recruits, and in most oases the speakers turned the interruptions to profit and left the interrupters discomfited, to the unconcealed delight of the crowd. The presence of a more objectionable interjector was got rid of through the ministrations of a discerning officer of the law. Paying tribute to the value of the soldier, Mr Mat Bradley had just earned applause for a .remark that if the soldiers fighting for their country received £1000 a day they would not be overpaid, when in pertinent inquiry from the outskirts of the crowd sounded a voice: " What about giying them a job when' they come back? The council didn't give one of the three returned soldiers tho job the other night!":—Mr Bradley said he did not know the rights and wrongs of the case in question,' and consequently declined to sit in judgment, but speaking generally, his estimate of the men who would "turn clown" a returned soldier was of a profoundly uncomplimentary character. The audience received the deliverance with approval. Intending passengers proceeding north to Wellington during Easter will be interested to learn that there will be three steamers from Lyttelton to Wellington on Wednesday, 19th inst., but only one on the following day. Those -who can do so will therefore be well advised to travel at the earlier date so that they may not be disappointed in securing accommodation. The Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence, left for Wellington by the second express on Saturday inorning. ■ In the course of a conversation with an Oamaru Mail representative on Saturday, tfye Hon. W. D. Mac Donald stated that it was the intention of the department to jstablish experimental farms in-the South Island. The number would most likely bo three, and the localities "would be determined by the climatic conditions. The circumstances in the South Island varied considerably, as regards rainfall and fertility, and all these had to be considered in conjunction with the areas enjoying a similarity of conditions. It was' tho department's policy to lessen the size of individual farms instead of adhering to the principle of great areas, such as Ruakura, where the experiments cover some 600 acres. Lessons in fruit culture, are not lost sight of, and farms for this purpose have been established in the North Island, where valuable information had been obtained. Dunedin merchants were in expectation that they would receive by the Ran gatira stocks of many lines of merchandise which have become scarce in the local market, and were naturally much disappointed when they heard that she had run ashore at Capetown during a fog. So far the necessary papers have not been received by* local merchants, but heavy ' orders sent to England should have been received in time for shipment by the Rangatira, and their non arrival must *be severely felt on the local market. Even if the cargo is lightered from the wrecked steamer there will be the difficulty of securing freight from Capetown, as the Home vessels calling there en route to the colonies will be carrying their own full cargoes. The consignees will, no doubt, be -called on, to bear a heavy general average rate on any cargo which may be salved, but, ot course, nothing definite in this* direction can be known until full particulars of the wreck are available. ■ I It is stated (says the New Zealand Times) that the measure adopted by shipping companies trading with New Zealand may have a serious effect upon the dominion's apple export trade with South America. The available commercial connection with the South American market will certainly be broken off for a time. | Considerable purchases of fruit have been made this season, chiefly from Nelson, Hawko's Bay, and the Wairarapa districts, and it was hoped that increased trade would be done with South America. The fruit will now have to be placed in 000 l stores until shipping space is available. Armed with all the accoutrements of a bona-fide theatrical advance agent, a Maori youth, apparently about 18 years of age, paid a visit to Petono 'on Tuesday (says the Wellington Post) for the apparent purpose of making arrangements for a "grand performance " by a Maori troupe of entertainers. With confidence and business acumen befitting his assumed position, the young Maori set about making all the necessary arrangements for the ( opening perfonnance. Tickets were printed, handbills wero displayed around the town, and tho Oddfellows' Hall was engaged at a fee of £2. When 8 p.m.—the time for commencing tho performance —came round, however, there was an attendance of about 20 people in the hall, but no sign of the Maori troupe. Not to be outdone, the Maori youth filled the breach, and commenced to entertain his audience single-handed. He had not proceeded far when the audience began to loso patience. Then it occurred to someone that all was not right with the "actormanager." The police wero communicated with, and tho "-young Maori's theatrical career was brought to an abrupt close. It is authoritatively stated by the Sydney Morning Herald that Mr Ilolman, the Premier of New South Wales, has received an invitation from the Minister of Munitions (Mr Lloyd George) to visit England. Representations have been made to tho Agent-general that Mr Holman's presence in England would be of value to tho British Government at the present time in connection with the manufacture of munitions, both in the commonwealth and in England. During his last visit to England Mr Holman made the acquaintance of Mr Lloyd George, who, it appears, formed a very high opinion of the State Premier's abilities.

Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P. for Tamnaru« nui, who has just finished a recruiting tout through his electorate, states (says the Auckland Star) that he had brought to his notice a number of distressing cases of infantile paralysis in the King Country. In somo instances the patients had to be carried in stretchers for many miles to the nearest railway station. When the treatment of returned 6oldiers was being discussed at tiho Patriotic Society's Advisory Board meeting on Thursday (says the Wellington Post), the Chairman (the Hon. J. T. Paul) said that two cases had come before him in Otago lately of a very bad kind. In one case a grocer, after his driver had refused to work for £2 5s instead of the award rate, £2 17s 6d, took advantage of the extended powers now given, and applied for a returned soldier, and offered him the job at £2 se. The , soldier accepted, but before obtaining tho permit ho hoard that ho would be displacing another man at a. low rate. Thereupon, he refused with indignation to accept tha position. In another case an employer asked for a returned soldier as lift attendant at 22s 6d a week. The committee pointed out that this was not a living wage, and the employer said he thought it would be all right if he could get a returned soldier who had a Government pension of £1 a week. In fairness to the employers of Otago, however, he must say that they were treating the returned men very fairly. The Finance Committee of the Drainage Board will report to next meeting of tho board that accounts amounting to £869 5a 3d, examinod and passed by the Works Committee on the sth inst., were passed for payment, and that further accounts amounting to £110 3s lid were similarly dealt with. Since the last meeting of the committee the sum of £3558 19s Id has been paid into the credit of the board's aggregate fund, and of this amount £2631 Is 9d comprises rates paid over to the board. The pass 'books were laid on the table, showing an aggro- . gate fund credit of £11,294- lis lOd. The election for chairman of the Otago Harbour Board will take place at the end of this month. So far the only declared candidate for the position is Mr E. C. Hazlett, • the deputy chairman, but it ia said that another candidate may enter the contest—that, in fact, the retiring chairman Mr J. M. Dickson, M.P., will seek re-elec-tion. Mr J. Loudon is the favourite for the position of deputy chairman. He may be opposed for this honour by Messrs Scollay and Russell. Owing to the severe illness which. 1 , has befallen Mr J. R. Scott, the South Island Dairy Association has perforce'had to call for applications for a new secretary. As the executive of the association is chiefly made up of Southland members, it is fieeJy stated that southern candidates will receive the preference when the final selections for the position are being made, and thai steps will later be taken to transfer the head office of the association to InvcrcargilL . Should a decision be .arrived at to make such a transfer it is asserted on sound authority that Otago and Canterbury would break away from the South Island Association, and form an association' of their own, and that such a hiving off might have ; a serious effect on the, cheese industry in Southland. Certainly factories there could then hardly anticipate securing business with Dunedin merchant houses, and, in'the absence of collective action, might find increasing difficulty in obtaining freight for shipment oversea, ' ■ • x ' The Opawa and the lonic, between them, are taking 'no less than 13,467 crates of cheese from the Bluff, and the loading of such a large quantity has very much relieved the position at the southern port. Befofe leaving Dunedin for the Bluff the Opawa took on board 2162 .crates, and the Arawa, which sailed from Port Chalmers'on Saturday morning for Timaru, took from here 733 Crates. About 8000 or 9000 crates of cheese will be ready to put on the Turalrina on her arrival at the Bluff. Some 1000 cratea will be loaded on this vessel at Dunedin. Until recently the North-East Harbour eemetery was in a somewhat disgracefully neglected condition, but that reproach has now been wiped out and the place will soon look as it should. On Saturday afternoons a, number of residents have held working bees on tho ground, with the result that tho place has been thoroughly oleaned and tidied up. , A correspondent writes complaining that the services at a funeral at the Anderson's Bay cemetery yesterday had to be suspended owing to a general melee amongst a number of dogs. He says thai he and others present were scandalised' by tho occurrence, and suggests that something should , be done to keep dogs out of the cemetery, especially while funerals are in progress Mr A. Cable, J. P., conducted a sitting of the Port Chalmers Police Court on Saturday morning, when a first offender was convicted and discharged for drunkenness, and Stewart - Neisll was fined 10s, with the alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment., for drunkenness'. The Lauriston Timber Company, at the meeting ■ of 'Clutha County Council held about the end of February, applied for permission to lay a steel tramline' on the road leading to Tahakopa railway station. /The application was held over, the • applicants in the meantime to advertise their request, and if there were no It was stated that tho request would be granted at the next meeting of tho council. .At Friday's meeting of the council Dr Trnby King appeared as a deputation in support of the application, and sought the permission of the council to lay a steel tramline/for sawmill purposes across the district road, section. 2, block H, Tautuku, and for such distance this road as may be needed to carry out the proposal of the company to truck gravel from the reserve to the station. The company wanted to get the work in hand before the season was too far advanced and the roads became impassable. The road would run from the gravel-pit reserve, and from tho sawmill, across the Tahakopa River to the Tahakopa railway station for the purpose of conveying timber from the mill and gravel from the gravel pit to the Tahakopa railway station. Dr King said that he was personally interested in this road, and had at various times offered to pay portion of the cost. On tho motion of Cr Christie, it was decided that the request be granted during the pleasure of tho council. At the meeting of the Clutha County Council on Friday a letter 'was received from tho Hon. W. Fraser (Minister of Public Works), stating that if the Otago and Southland Motor Clubs would provide) £200 for metalling the Waipahi to Pukerau road he would undertake to supplement this" amount by at least a similar amount when money was available. Tho council also rereceived a letter from the secretary of the Otago Motor Club ■ with reference to tho road, stating that at a meeting of the dub it was considered that the Publio Works Minister's letter to the council was too indefinite for tho club to pay its donation, but if the council would give a guarantee from the Minister that the sum donated by the club would be subsidised with 12 months tho club would immediately pay the £100. Tho letter was simply received, the Chairman stating that it was getting too late in tho season to do anything. , The judges of the Fields Competitions held under the auspices of the Otago A. and P. Society, will commence their tour of inspection about tho middle of this month. Although many of the crops of turnips in Otago • have suffered from tho effect of drought, still somo fine fields will be examined by tho judges, especially further south. Tho Otago schools plots will bo judged by tho instructors, of the Otago Education Board, who will visit the various schools which have entered for competition, and hand in their awards towards the end of this month. A considerable number of schools have entered this year for competition in tho various classes offered.

Volumes of blaok emoke arising from | ttbovo Eldon 'buildings at No. 90 Prinqes street about 2.45 yesterday afternoon caused two street indicators to bo broken as an alarm to the City Fire Brigade', which arrived promptly on the scone.. The outbreak proved to be a ohimney fire in the offico of Mr D. Moloney, accountant and financial agent. It seems that the fire was caused through the chimney draught lifting a re; jected hat, which had been lighted and thrown into the grate. The incident seemed to interest a large number of people who were about the streets at the time. The monthly meeting of the Kailcorai School Committee was held on Friday evening, when there were present—Messrs Geo. Moir (ohairman), D. Scott, W. Wilson, P. L. Ritchie, A. Ferry, R. S. Wardrop, C. J. Wilkinson, and A. Matheson. The Head Master reported a most satisfactory attendanoe and an increasing roll, allowing —boys, 314; girls, 283; —total, 597. The monthly averago was 557, and for the quarter 563. The Navy League forwarded two handsome pictures for the use of the school. The corporation had made a start with the concrete channel in School street, on completion of which the sanitary condition will be much improved. The Education Board has in hand the improvement of, the ventilation of the Gymnasium Hall. Bishop Julius, and' other speakers at a meeting of the Christchurch Society for the Protection of Women and Children, on Thursday, strongly urged that Parliament should pass legislation enabling such societies to compel worthless fathers and husbands to pay for the upkeep of their dependents. The Rev. F. Rule said that one difficulty in dealing with such worthless men was —their wives. Recently, at the Police Court a man, who had deserted his wife for months, was placed in the dock The woman, on seeing him, said " Poor fellow!" and pleaded to the\iqagistrate to let her husband free. Man and wife went away together, hand-in-hand, but, added Mr Rule, the " happy Home" did not last lonjr. The prominence which women in America take in publio life was something different from that to which the New Zealand Commissioners at the San Francisco Exposition had been used. Describing his impressions to an Auckland Star reporter, Mr Maurice O'Brien said he was especially interested in the doings of " the maiden ladies of the East." Tho American women had cultivated the faculty of push,, and in such matters as education they took a most prominent part. State schools with attendances of 900 or 1000 pupils were run by women. " Passing through the Exposition," said Mr O'Brien, "you would see a class of big gawky boys, and on either side of the laily teacher would be a 'boy with an arm round her waist. Yes, the Amerioan women are very different from ours in New Zealand. If that sort of thing were done here the other boys would probably want to kick the other fellows and send them about their business. But the Americans encourage it. In my opinion tho American boy has not half so much go in him as the New Zealander."

The Imperial Government has just placed iin order for 5000 Harley-Davidsons. The "Silent Grey Fellow" has proved bis worth. —W. Stuart Wilson, Dunedin.—Advt. 1 Just issued, 1916 winter edition "Homo Dressmaking Made Easy," fully illustrated'; posted free.—Mollisons Ltd., Dunedin.—Advt. Granville H. Sharpe says: "Watson's No. 10 is genuine, well-matured whisky, of high quality."—Advt. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, for oougbs and colds, never fails.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (noxt Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859.— Advt. ' Who is Peter Dick, —The most reliable Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Certificated Consulting Optician, 490 Moray place (off Princes street), Dunedin. Charges moderate.—Advt.