THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1917. FOOD EXPORTS AND COLD STORAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17065, 25 July 1917, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1917. FOOD EXPORTS AND COLD STORAGE.

Tub principle that tho welfare of any one part of the British dominions must be subservient to the welfare of the whole Empire is one which no true patriot will, in the present war crisis, be prepared to dispute. Consequently the comparative isolation of this dominion, in common with Australia, in regard to shipping facilities at the present time, whilst affording cause for grave apprehension, cannot reasonably excite complaint. The Imperial authorities, faced with the serious situation created by a persistent and unremitting enemy submarine campaign, have been forced into the adoption of the policy of drawing essential food supplies from the nearest accessible producing centres. The unanswerable argument is that, as long as the submarine menace continues, the shorter voyages ensure the more rapid delivery and, therefore, the delivery of the larger volume of the commodities which are necessary for the sustenance of the civil population and the armed forces of Great Britain and France. The Federal Prime Minister has been enlightening the people of Australia as to the effect which the lack of shipping is having upon that country. He states that sufficient cargoes have already accumulated in Australian ports for between 500 and 600 tramp steamers, and that, if present conditions continue, there will by next February be an accumulation of wheat amounting to not much less than 6,000,000 tons. The main proposal put forward by Mr Hughes for the partial relief of this congestion is tho rallying of the industrial forces of the commonwealth for an extensive programme of shipping construction. The reflection of the alarm felt in Australia is seen in Mr Massey's evident concern lest the arrangement that was recently announced by him, under which seventeen steamers were to load in the dominion within the next two months, may be found by the Shipping Controller to be impossible of fulfilment. While Australia is anxious to get her huge stock of wheat shipped, New Zealand is troubled over the difficulty in the way of having her frozen meat and other perishable produce exported. Upon a moderate estimate, 50 steamers would barely suffice to lift the produce at present in store in the dominion, and another 100 vessels would be required to cope with the produce of the coming season. The present indications do not strengthen the belief that steamers will be available in anything like the numbers that will be required. Any suggestion that New Zealand should imitate Australia and embark upon a shipbuilding programme is impracticable. The most statesmanlike course that can be followed probably lies in the direction, as suggested yesterday by Sir James "Wilson in his presidential address at the meeting of the Farmers' Union, of taking immediate steps to provide for the erection of additional storage, both for frozen meat and for dairy produce. It will have been observed that Lord Harcourt, speaking out of the knowledge acquired by him at the Board of Trade, last week predicted a world famine of meat after the war. Not only is it desirable to make provision in the dominion to relieve the present congestion, but also to anticipate the prospect that there will be a heavily increased demand for New Zealand meat in the period that will follow the declaration of peace. It would be a prudent policy to prepare for that period by increasing, as far as possible, the herds and flocks of the dominion and by establishing such additional cold storage as the requirements of a restricted frozen meat industry undoubtedly necessitate at the present time. From Mr Hughes's statements with respect to the magnitude of the stocks of Australian wheat, it will be gathered that no fear should be entertained of the possibility of the occurrence of any shortage of breadstuffs in these dominions next year. It is curious to note that some of those who clamoured most loudly for State intervention in order that the consumers might not be exploited have beon vehement in their denunciation of the manner in which that policy has been carried out by the Government. The experience in all countries that have, during the war, had recourse to State' interference with the ordinary course of trade has been that the effect has, in the long run, not proved beneficial to the consumer. But the advocates of State control of food commodities and prices should be the last to complain when the effect of such interference is less unfavourable than might have been expected under the competitive system of commerce.

The vote of credit which has this -week been authorised by the House of Commons in connection with, the war expenditure is for a considerably larger sum than has been granted on any previous occasion. The votes tlhat have been successively granted since the wax began have been the following :— 1914-15. £ £ August ... 100,000,000 November 225,000,000 March 37,000,000 362,000,000 1915-16. £ March ... 250,000,000 June 250,000,000 July .„ ... 150,000,000 September ... 250,000,000 November ... 400,000,000 February ... 120,000,000 1,420,000,000 1916-17. £ February „. 300,000,000 May 300,000,000 July 450,000,000 October ... 300,000,000 December ... 400,000,000 T aruary ... 200,000,000 March ... 60,000,000 2,010,000,000 1917-18. £ February ... 350,000,000 May 500,000,000 July 650,000,000 1,500,000,000 £5,292,000,000 A mere glance at the above table will f=)how how rapidly the expenditure on the war is growing. When we know that the daily average expenditure by the nation is at a rate of something like seven and a-lialf millions, we are able to appreciate tho force of the statement that " war eats money." And it is plain tlhat one of tha

effects must bo that the taxpayer at Homo will have to bo prepared to make greater sacrifices than have yet been demanded of him. Yet, however great the sacrifice may be, it will be as nothing compared with that which. is cheerfully offered by the soldier on the altar of patriotism. It is one of the duties of flhose who stay at home during the war to contribute to the extent of their ability for the maintenance of the war services. In this country they are indeed waiting, and in many cases asking, to be taxed more heavily than at present, and tlie Budget, which is shortly to be introduced by the Minister of Finance, will be disappointing if it does not provide for additional taxation to a large amount.

The Germans may be depended upon to exploit, for .all it is worth, tho disturbing revelation wliioh has been provided within the past few days of the demoralisation! of portions of the Russian armdes. What the exact measure of the disorganisation may be can only be a matter of conjecture. It may be possible for tho Provisional Government, under the strong guidance of M. Kerensky, to arrest the process of disintegration. Tihe recent advance of the armies commanded by General Korniloff on tho south-western front, after a long period of inactivity which suggested that "Russia would be unable to afford any military help to the Allies this summer, was in itself a dramatic surprise Since Russia succeeded in effecting this coup, we need not despair of her ability to undo the mischief which has unquestionably been done by faint-hearted, if not actually traitorous, soldiers. In the meantime, however, it would be idle to attempt to disguise the fact that the whole of the Russian forces are threatened with disaster. The strength of a chain is determined by that of its weakest link. And if breaches aro liable to occur in the Russian lines through the indiscipline, cowardice, and treachery of regiments of soldiers, who decide by their own votes whether they shall obey the commands of their officers or abandon their CQmrad'es, and who are not incapable of following, not in isolated bands only but actuallv in drove?. the mean and ignoble course of desertion, it is impossible to place much reliance upon the impregnability of any of these lines. Fortunately, the better part of the dominant class in Russia seems to be deeply stirred by the disgrace which has been brought upon the arms of the country and- to be determined to cut out, if possible, the cancerous growth that is affecting her military forces.

The domestic troubles of a political nature with which Russia is assailed must in their way be a source of perpetual embarrassment to the Provisional Government, and it is possible that they constitute a menace to the freedom of the country hardly less serious than that arising out of the demoralisation of the armies. The task which M. Kerensky lias before him, that of attempting on the one hand to restore discipline in the armies and on tho other hand to repress disorder in the cities of Russia, is one that might well dismay any but an exceptional personality. And an exceptional personality is not desired by the extreme factions in Russia. There is, the special correspond en t of the Daily Telegraph wrote a few weeks ago, a group of wreckers in PetrocTad wtho have been threatening the new Premier of the-coun-try ever since he imposed upon 'liimself the duty of endeavouring to restore order out of chaos. "Don't dare to be a strong man," is their cry to him; " don't dare to be positive, definite, constructive; don't dare work for the safety and welfare and greatness of Russia, or we'll down you as we downed Miliukoff and Gutchkolf." It is under the most discouraging conditions that M. Kerensky is making what is clearly a Herculean effort to save Russia from the abyss into which fthe will be plunged if the disorderly elements of her population, intoxicated with the success of the revolution and prompted, doubtless, by the corrupting influences exerted in the country by her enemies, are not restrained. And it would seem to be a policy of despair that has led to the decision of his Government in favour of the immediate proclamation of a republic. For, if one thing has been made more clear th«m smother by the events of tJie - past three or four months, it is that the establishment of a- republican form of government at tihe present juncture is a dfecidedly hazardous step.

A Press Association telegram states that in replying to Mr Jennings, in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Minister of Defence said that no bounty was paid to New Zealanders who resigned from tho New Zealand Forces and joit ed the British Forces. That course was not encouraged by ■ the Defence Department. A desire to assist a worthy object and the innate speculative spirit in most people were no doubt the factors responsible for tho presence of over 100 persons at the Brydone Hall last evening, when 'a large number of lucky bags remaining unclaimed from Saturday's campaign and comprising a heterogeneous mass of things, valuable and otherwise, were sold under the hammer. The bags were arcanged on tables, and under brisk bidd-'ng, every one was disposed of. The auction resulted in between £12 and £13 being realised. In the Magistrate's Court at Palmerston yesterday, Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., presiding, A. MUay, for failing to register under the Military Service Act, was fined £5, with costs (7s). Archibald Parkhill, for failing to attend camp, was penalised to the extent of 20s, with 7s costs. What constitutes "reasonable grounds" for belief by an employer that his employee or employees have enrolled under "The Military Service Act, 1916," is a matter on which the police and the employer may have widely divergent views. An employer who simply asks his employee whether he has enrolled, and takes an affirmative answer as a "reasonable ground" for belief that ho is' so enrolled, is held by the police authorities not to have fully complied with the provisions of the Act. Employers should, therefore, safeguard themselves by requiring each employee to produce his certificate of enrolment. The management of one of tho largest firms in the city has already decided to adopi this course. • A brief sitting of the City Police Court was held yesterday morning, Mr H. A. Young, S.M., presiding. Margaret Jonesi tho oircumstances of whose oase were published: yesterday, appeared to answer a charge of escaping from tho To Oranga Industrial School. Mr J. R. Lemon, at the instinoo of defendant's husband, appeared c.i her bohalf, and asked that tho girl be allowed to bo taken under the care of her parents, who were quite respectable. Senior Sergeant Hutton applied for a remand! for a week in order that certain inquiries m:g::t be prosecuted. Mrs Jackson, representing the St. Vincent de Paul Society, undertook, should the application of Sergeant Hutton be accedcd to, to keep the girl under observation for the time being if bail bo allowed. Under the circumstances, however, Sergeant xiutton deemed it inadvisable to allow the girl out on bail. His Worship expressed the same opinion, and remanded defendant for a week. The magistrate also dealt with a first offending inebriate, and inflicted n fino of 20s, with the alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment.

Those who keep bocs, and have one or moro hives in their possession, are required; by a recent Order-in-Council to register their apiaries on or before August 15 Forms of application may bo obtained at all the principal post offices in Otago, or at any of tho offiocs of tho Department of Agriculture.

Advancing' a plea on behalf of the oountry hotelkeepere, Mr Samuel Gibbons, one of the members of the deputation which waited on the Primo Minister and the Attorney-general at Wellington on Saturday, stated that if the profits that such' licensees made through the sale of alcoholic liquors wcro curtailed to any great extent it would practically mean closing such houses against tho travelling public. "As ft licensed victualler," said Mr Gibbons, "the country hotelkceper is able to carry on, but as an ordinary victualler he is faced with bankruptcy. And country hotels aro largely necossaTy, and largely availed of by travelling stockmen, as well as tho farming and commercial public." " Before I left wo had arranged for four movable huts to follow the boys over Mcssines Ridge," said Mr A. Varney, Y.M.C.A supervising secretary, at Wellington on Friday. "We knew that Mcssines would be taken. We also had a motor kitchen, which could' go where tho huts could not." This kitchen, he said, was provided with part of the money given by Mr M'Hardy. Somo of the huts in tho front linos. Mr Varney continued, had lately received some attention from tho Hun, and he had pieces of walls, books, etc., showing signs of bombardments.

In tho Milton Magistrate's Court on Monday, Charles Grey was fined £5 (with £3 7s Gd costs) for failing to cut down trees on his property to a height not exceeding 15 feet, after being served with notice by the Borough Council. The ' proceedings were instituted by another ratepayer (Mr G. 11. Thomson), independent of the Borough Council, as the latter body had expressed its satisfaction with defendant having trimmed the trees to about 20 to 25 feet. Tho Magistrate (Mr Acheson) ruled that the council could not absolve defendant from the cond'fc'ons of the notice served upon him, nor deviate from the conditions first imposed.

The decorum of Magistrate's Court proceedings* at Milton was rudely disturbed on Monday, when an excitable person (who was appearing for his wife, charged with allowing cattle to wander) became abusive and defiant to the Magistrate (Mr Acheson), who ordered: him out of court, and the abusive language continuing, ordered his arrest. On Constable Fox proceeding to carry out these instructions a rough and tumble ensued around the court room, before the witness (G. A. Lilburne) gave up tho struggle. The court was adjourned to givo the man time to cool down and apologise, but on again being given the opportunity he declined' to apologise. Thus the unusual event terminated, but further proceedings are to be taken.

A return giving the number of boys trained on the Amokura since she has been the property of the New Zealand Government was presented to the House yesterday by the Hon. G. W. Russell. The total number was 378. Particulars as to what had happened to the boys were: Joined ships of the merchant service, 241; joined Royal Navy, 18; discharged; medically unfit, 5; discharged at parents' request, 16; transferred to ships of the Union Company as cadets, 16; dismissed or deserted, 21; died, 1; remaining on board, 60Representatives of the various flock, stud, and herd book authorities recently discussed with the Board of Agriculture a pro posal to form a National Live Stock Record Association. After a very exhaustive discussion on the subject, it was decided to recommend that m the opinion of the meeting, which was representative of the various breeders' associations, there should be not more than one association for each distinct breed of horses, cattle, sheep, or swine; and it was agreed that the board should communicate the resolution to the different breed societies, and invite them to appoint delegates to a further meeting in connection with the matter, to be held in November.

One little-known department of Y.M.C.A. activity in France is the provision for the relatives of soldiers. Mr A. Varney told his audience at Wellington, on Friday, that each_ week 250 relatives of soldiers -were provided with accommodation and facilities for their wounded boys. When a soldier is near to death, and it is thought that the presence of a relative may cause him to rally, the War Office issues passports, and permits, and advises the relative to get in touch with the Y.M.C.A. agent. The arrangements are very complete, the relatives being met at Folkestone and taken all the vray to the hospital, by steamer and motor. This effort has helped many soldiers to pull through, and has comforted the dying hours of others. Speaking at Friday's delegation from the Second Division League to Parliament, Dr Paterson, South Canterbury, said that a committee of the conference had discussed with the executive of the British Medical Association certa'n matters in which the P.fcond Division men were vitally interested. They found that in January the Minister of Health had met a deputation from the British Medical Association, which had suggested to him that an advisory board should be set up to deal with the question of utilising for the pnblic benefit ihe services of the medical profession. The doctors had voluntarily offered their services, and considered that the Government would be well advised to accept the offer, but the reply was that the Government was getting enough medical men at present voluntarily. The department preferred to go along in the present haphazard way. and one result of that was that some districts m Now Zealand were short of medical men.

"I wish- romo of you ladies could sec tho needlework don© by your boys," Baid Mr A. Varney, Y.M.C.A. secretary, in addressing a meeting of soldiers' mothers at Wellington on Friday afternoon. He was referring to the "hobbies department" established in the Y.M.C.A. hut at Hornchurch. _ Tho convalescent soldiers had amplo time on their hands, so all sorts of thing's were provided to give them some interesting occupation, and perhaps start them on a new career. They mended their own clothes, knitted, and so on. Then thoro were carpenters' tools and carving sets, nnd the Maoris were threatening to flood England with Maori-carved walking-sticks. This hut at Hornchureh, which was regarded as the finest of its kind in England, was practically under the complete supervision of the Williams family of Hawltc's Bay.

Miss Joan Diekson-Poynder, only child of Lord and Lady Islington, has adopted tho youngest child, born in hospital, *of the rather large family of a French widow, whose husband was killed at the front. The Hon. Joan D : ckson Poynder has been engaged on nursing work for a long time. She helped in the hospital for officers which Lady Islington opened" at her town house in Chesterfield Gardens, and since then has been a nurse at Rouen. She brought Tier small charge to England some weeks baok, and took it to a cottage in Kent, where it is in charge fc the present of a motherly nuiae. This is the outcome of some paper suggesting that ladies of means and no occupation should adopt babies instead of poodles, and 'lavish on poor little human beings some of the money and affection which a child would appreciate, but which frequently bored a dog. There was some correspondence on tho matter, and one cynio probably got to the root of the matter when he pointed out that when the lady got tired of a poodle 6he could soli or poison him, and that the law forbade such drastic courses with babes. Now, however, a girl of 19 has braved convention, and has led the way in what may prove a kind new fashion.

• In a question in the House of Representatives Mr V. H. Reed stated that Dr Leopold Kleimen Hagen, of Wurzberg University, Germany, had been recently appointed medical superintendent at tho Bay of Islands Hospital, and Dr Valintinc (In-spector-general of Hospitals), after an official inquiry held locally, had supported the appointment for the period of tho war. Would tho Minister for Public Health, asked Mr Reed, state the evidence upon which Dr Valintine founded hi 3 opinion 'hat Dr Hagen was of British birth and the 6on of German parents who had been naturalised in Britain? The Hon. G. W. Russell stated that in the course of the inquiry evidence was given by Constable Douglas, of Kawakawa, that Dr Hagon was of British birth and the son of German parents. Dr Hagen had stated that his father, who was born in Germany, was naturalised beforo ho was born, and that his mother was born in London, but of German extraction. Mr R-eeci stated that ho was far from satisfied with the Minister's reply. The most curious and most unsatisfactory aspect of the matter was that the Inspector-general of • Hospitals actually supported Dr Hagen retaining the appointment for the period of the war.

Tho chairman of the Second Otago Military Service Board (Mr V. G. Day, S.M.) and the military representative (Captain Barrett) differed over the proper procedure in a case which came beforo tho board at its Invcrcargill sitting on Saturday. The position was that an appellant hd/3 been cajled up under clause 35 (family shirkers'). His appeal against the calling up had been adjourned sine die. Later he v»s called in the ballot and again appealed- Mr Day held that, as he interpreted the Act, the man could not bo called to camp until his clause 35 appeal had been revised. The captain admitted that, theoretically, that might bo £o, but added that tho practice was to call the man to camp on his ballot. Mr Day expressed surprise that tho military authorities should follow such a course and said he_ thought that, in tho circumstances, tho civil courts could intervene and get a man out of camp. In order to protect this particular appellant tho board granted a sine dio exemption of tho ballot appeal also.

Tho Rov. H. O. Fenton's lantern lecture at Anderson Bajr to-night should be of special interest, since many of the places depicted have been destroyed by the Germans.

Tho annual meeting of tho Roslyn Presbyterian Church will be hold this evening at 7.30. Tho meeting will be of a social character. A general meeting of the National Welfare Association will be held in the N.Z. Express Company's buildings on Thursday, at 8 p.m. The Ladies' Committee will meet m the same place. Start the day smiling, and you will smile all day. Buy a Harloy-Davidson, and you will smile for years.—Wilson, Dunedin.— Advt. S Matthew's Church, Stafford street — War intercession service, to-night, 7.45 All invited.—Advt. Sent post free to any address on receipt of 2s: One dozen ladies' real Irish h.s. lawn handkerchiefs, Mollisons sale.—Advt. Hurrah! for deliverance from baek-rack-lng rubbing With "No Rubbing " Laundry Help you just soak, rinse, wring, and hang A. Struthers aid Co., George street Advt. Which won? Well, if you mean whisky Watson's No. 10—easily.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakelev, dentist. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859 — Advt. Launch owners, motorists and others don't have trouble. Buy our Columbia Hot shot Batteries We hav<2 a fine assortment of Dry Batteries, Accumulators, Lamps Holders, etc., for ignition and lighting purposes:—'Turribull and Jones (Limited), electrical engineers. Dunedin.—Advt. For Influenza take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Never fails. •Is 6d, 2s 6d — Advt. Eye Strain.—Consult Mr P. G. Dick D.8.0.A., F. 1.0. (London), consulting and oculists optician.—Peter Dick, jeweller etc., 480 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.