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Otago Daily Times, Issue 16888, 28 December 1916, Page 4

Whelk tho spccial information which led to the decision of the Executive Committee of tho Belgian Relief Fund in New South Wales not to invite further public contributions to the fund is still much of a mystery, some light is thrown on the subject by the report of proceedings at a recent meeting of the committee. The conviction at which the committee arrived, that the Cermans are commandeering food supplies in Belgium, is based, it seems, on evidence gathered by Mr If. E. Prat-ten, acting on behalf of tho New South Wales Executive, of which ho is a member, m the coursc of certain investigations in England, France, aud the portion of Belgium

that Is not in the hands of the enemy. The committee recorded its appreciation of "tho fine services rendered by Mr Prat-ten in investigating conditions in Belgium and preparing a report which had the effect of preventing further supplies being sent to bo appropriated by the Germans." Wliat must .strike everybody as surprising is that there should be any need for a Belgian relief organisation ifi Australia to make private investigations into such a matter and to take isolated action in relinquishing its activities. Tho interests of overseas organisations of the kind ought to be safeguarded by those in Europo who handle their funds, and if they aro not there is something decidedly wrong somewhere. Aro wo to supposes that the NeutraJ Relief Commission is content to receive from all sources largo sums which it expends on food for the Belgians with tho knowledge all tho time that most of it will go to the Germans? Or are we to belicvo that the National Committee for Relief in Belgium which has its headquarters in London has grown indifferent and somnolent as to the true state of affairs ? A somewhat improbable situation is suggested. In tho meantime it is important to note that the Belgian Consul in New South Wales took suoh steps as were within his power to ascertain tho real position and that he rocoived from the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs the following communication :—

I have the honour to confirm my wire of October 10, No. 4: " Rumours absolutely false." In-fact, it results from the latest inquiries made at the request of the British Government, as well as from formal declarations of Mr Hoover, that the food imported through the American Relief Commission into Belgian territory has not been taken away from its destination. Such declarations have been made at different times in the English Parliament by tho London Cabinet

In view of this assurance the Belgian Consul's Fund in New South Wales is still to be carried on.

The damage done in the MHlthorpe district (New South Wales), according to a Press Association cable message, is estimated at over £150,000. The harvest is ruined.

A Press Association cable message from Sydney states that the inter-State shipping companies are continuing to eliminate return tickets, thus maintaining the 20 per cent, increase in fares enforced during the coal strike.

A Press Association telegram states that a conference of the Federated Boot Trado Employees' Association was opened at Wellington yesterday. Tho morning and afternoon were occupied with formal matters and a d;scussion on the association s rules. Tn the City Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., three first offenders, for drunkenness, wero each fined ss. with the usual alternative. John Marshall, who had been thr4e times previously convicted within tho last sis months, was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, and on a further charge of a breach of a prohibition order he was fined £2, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment. Thomas Henry Smith appeared to answer a charge of assaulting Aaron Davis, and the latter in turn was charged with assaulting Smith. Both men pleaded guilty. Chief Dctcctive Bishop detailed the story of the encounter, which was substantially as related yesterday. Davis was knocked unconscious, and had to receive medical treatment. The magistrate fined Smith £4, and ordered him to pay the doctor's f ee (£1 Is), with tho alternative of three weeks' im-

prisonment. Davis was oonvicted and dis-

charged. Tile only other case was a charge agatest Leonard Henry Satherly, of being

about to leave the dominion with the in-

tention of failing to maintain his wife and five children. He was remanded to appear

at Blenheim on Wednesday

Sixty-three charges of permitting treat- [ ing, affecting 12 hotels, were set down for hearing at tho Magistrate's Court at Thames last week. Sergeant Groan stated that the police had introduced a special constable into the district, who adopted the role of a Canterbury farmer, and he had stayed in tho town for about a week ostensibly with the intention of purchasing a farm at Ilauraki Plains, and had gone around making acquaintances and treating them at tho different hotels for the purpose of testing whether or not the publicans were observing the new anti-shouting regulations. Tho evidence of the constable was to the effect that in nearly all the cases the publicans and barmen allowed him to treat the others without any hesitation. In all cases where convictions were secured agaiast licensees or bar attendants a fine of £5 each was recorded with costs. The defendants concerned in participating in the shouts were each fined £1 and costs, with tho exception of a young man named Clarence Hawke, who had pleaded guilty and given tho polico no trouble. A conviction in this case was recorded, costs 7s to be paid. The magistrate said he had made the fines light because of tho constable having practically been a party to the offences, but he warned hotelkeepers that in any future breaches he would recommend tho licensing bench to cancel the licenses of those concerned.

A man named Alfred Ward was brought to Dunedin last evening under police escort from Otira, where he was arrested on warrant on a charge o£ having in June obtained £4 from the Otago Patriotio Association by moans of a false pretence The allegation is that ho represented to tho Patriotio Association that tho Government owed him about £14, and that he had been unable to get it, with the result that he was hard up. Tile association got into communication with the Defence Department regarding this matter, at the same time advancing Ward £4 by way of a loan. The money alleged to bo* owing to the man was forwarded to him, but the information in tho hands of tho police now is tliat tho money had previously been paid, and, in fact, that he has been paid twice. He will appear before the Polico Court his morning, when it is probable that a remand will be applied for, as there are other charges pending. Tho Military Service Board spent a busy day at Oamaru yesterday, and between noon and 6 p.m. put through 3?. appeals from men called up under tho first ballot. Only one rppeal—that of a man over age— was granted .onfcrigh' but a considerable number were adjourned sine die conditionally. This was done in eases where the appellant was able to show that ho was doing important work that could not be undertaken by anvono elso, and in each 'case the condition attached was that ho should continue in this essential work. In all 19 cases were adjourned, 10 dismissed, and two withdrawn. The shortage of farm labour was a very prominent matter in tho appeals, and tho majority of the appellants were evidently faced with a serious difficulty in getting the necessary work about their farms done. It was pleasing to note an almost entire absence of anything that might fairly be called shirking. The board will sit again at 9.30 this morning to deal with seven cases that remain.

A good deal of evidence is coming in now (says tho Christchurch Press) that a considerable area of wheat (has been badly damaged by the frost which occurred at tho end of last month. The chief areas which appear to be affected are tho Southbridgc, Ellcsmere. Dunsandel districts, and certain areas in North Canterbury, and though the damage done is not so extensive, apparently, as that caused by the frost in November, 1915, yet it is severe enough, and will appreciably affect the yield of some thousands of acres. To show that wheat-growing is not the certain money-malcing occupation which it is thought, to bo by some people, a farmer who lives about 14 miles from Christchurch brought in a sample of wheat heads a day or so ago, which are absolutely empty, owing to the frost effects. 110 states that he skim ploughed the Land on which it was grown, out of grass, cultivated it elaborately, sowed 13 bushels of seed, and liewt of manure to tho cere, and tho whole of his time and money had been absolutely | wasted.

A Press Association message from Wellington states that while a launch was making a trip from the city to Day's Bay she broko down through engino trouble. She was sighted near Soincs Island by a ferry steamer, and was towed to the city. Tho three occupants apparently Buffered suffered little ill effect, though the rescue was timely, as a choppy sea was running and tho little craft was considcrahly buffeted.

A legal test of historic interest, linked in sentiment with the days when tho Maori held indisputablo sway in New Zealand, will bo brought before Judge Wilson in Whangarei on January 6, at a sitting of tho Nativo Land Court for tho Tokerau (North Auckland) district. The case concerns a long-standing claim by Natives to a river flat area at tho extremity of Lower Cameron street, now forming part of the Whangarei harbour endowment. Tho claim is complicated by tho fact th.'it. a number of buildings, privately owned by Europeans, now stand on the disputed territory. The Native claim, it is understood, will bo based on tho contention that the area has constitued a canoe landing from time immemorial, and that, as a consequence, tho Natives cannot be dispossessed. The claim was put into court by interested Maoris before the land was vested in tho Harbour Board, and later, when tho board's Empowering Bill was beforo the House a petition from the objectors was sent to the Minister of Marine and referred by Parliament to tho Native Affairs Committee for report. Last session the appeal was revised, and Parliament referred it back to the Native Land Court. Many points of legal and constitutional interest are involved, and a keen fight is expected.

We have to acknowledge receipt of a calendar for 1917 from Mr A. Sligo. The Harley Davidson motor cycle is the result of concentration on one ideal—to produce absolutely the best motor cycle possible to make, regardless of the cost of production.—W. Stuart Wilson and Co., Princes street, Dunedin, Otago agents.— Advt.

For week ; endera and campers the flock beds at 123 6d and the pillows at Is lid are the best value procurable.—Mollisons Ltd.—Advt.

A soft, round, natural, wholrsome stimu lant that ministers to health—Watson's No 10—Advt.

A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Aus tralasia, corner of Bona and Rattray street!, (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859 — Advt.

Launch owners, motorists, and others, don't have trouble. Buy our Columbia Hotshot Batteries. We have a fine assortment of Dry Batteries, Accumulators, Lamps, Holders, etc., for igrrition and lighting purposes.—'Turnbull and Jones (Limited),' electrical engineers, Dunedin.—Advt. Who is Peter Dick ?—The most reliable Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Certificated Con suiting Optician, 490 Moray place (off Prinze* street), Dunedin. Charges moderate.—Advt