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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17089, 22 August 1917, Page 4

Sir James Allen announced in Parliament last evening that tho second part of the 27th Reinforcements had arrived at a port of call, and that the health of the troops was excellent. In the course of a speech in tho House of .Representatives last night, Sir James Allen declared that as regards the strength of the reinforcements, ho had acted throughout on the advice of the War Office. He could not disclose the communications on the subjeot, and if members could not accept his assurance, he must leave tho matter there. Mr Young: Why not have a secret sitting? Mr Okey: It would not be secret long. Sir James Allen subsequently remarked that certain information received by the Government was secret and confidential. According to tho Press a privato letter received in Christohurch from Sydney, dated 10th inst., stated that the SydneyMelbourne express train service had been suspended- on account of the strikes. According to a Press Association message, Mr Massey stated in the House last night that, at the request of the Cost of Living Committee, he had agreed to add Mr Walker to -the members of tho committee. The Union Company officials have absolutely no information of what may have happened to their cargo steamer which was due to arrive in San JJ'rancisco from Auckland on June 25—close on two months ago. She was equipped with a wireless installation, but its radius was limited to about 500 miles. Tho conjecture that the vessel may have been destroyed by tile submarine disturbances which occurred round tho coast of Samoa in June is questioned by the local officials, as on their reckoning she should have been clear of the locality at that particular time. It was reported in a cable from Vancouver in pur issue of Monday that three American, ono British, and one' Japanese boat were overdue, and had been given up, and that the owners believo that' the loss of the vessels is due to time bombs, but it is hardly supposed that the Union steamer is one of those referred to in this message. Nevertheless, tho feeling has now become general that she has been lost—by what means, may or may not be known later on. Captain Saunders was in 'charge of the vessel, and the crew, almost entirely composed of Australians, was finally signed on in Auckland.

An excellent illustration of the facilities afforded by the postal service of the dominion for the careful transit of presents for soldiers at tho front came under the notice of a Daily Times reporter yesterday when he was asked to inspect a parcel of goods forwarded some time ago by the Otago and Southland Women's Patriotic Association on behalf, of the localomce of the Union Steam Ship Company. The parcel was one of 200 sent by tho company, all of which were, in due course acknowledged ■by the recipients, with this single exception. It was subsequently ascertained, however, that the man for whom it was intended was inaccessible, and hence the parcel was returned. On being opened it was found to be ,in perfect condition, despite the fact that it had been considerably over a year on its travels, and its contents, consisting of tins of choco-' late, tobacco, mittens, etc., were all quite intact.

Mr Witty presented a, petition to the Houso of Representatives yesterday signed by the president, secretary, and councillors of the New Zealand Locomotive Engineers, .firemen, and Cleaners' Association, who, on behalf of the members of the association, ask that legislation be introduced to amend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act in order to permit the association to register as an industrial union of workers and come within the provisions of the Act in its entirety in like manner and. in all respects similar to members of industrial unions of workers who are not employed by the Crown or department of tho New Zealand Government.

On Monday night a light motor car owned and driven by Mr A. Eden, was badly smashed by a tramcar at the intersection of Castle and Frederick streets. Mr Eden was proceeding down Frederick street, and a tramear coming in the direction of the Post Office caught the car broadside on, and crushing it against the centre pole, almost doubled it in halves. The engine of the car, however, was little damaged. Mr Eden and his companion (Mr it. M'Cormick) were uninjured.

A Press Association telegram from Auckland' states that J. J. Boyd (Mayor of Onehunga and proprietor of the Onehunga Zoo) was charged, before Mr Fraser, S.M.. that He voted _at a meeting of the council on a matter in which he had a direct or pecuniary interest—namely, the rescinding of a by-law which virtually concerned the existence of the zoo. The Magistrate said the defendant had acted in his own interests and insisted on pressing the matter against the wishes of a majority of the councillors. Defendant would be convicted and fined £30, and costs. Leave to appeal was granted.

Mr H. A. Young, S.M., presided over a brief sitting' of the City Police Court yesterday morning, when jurank M'Alister pleaded guilty to failing to notify the Government Statistician of his change of address. Sub-inspector Mathioson stated that defendant had registered in Auckland, but left that city some few weeks ago to enter employment at the Otira tunnel. The police had made certain inquiries concerning the man, and had found: that his finger-prints were identical with those of an individual named Frederick Williams. Defendant was at present serving a term, of 14 days' imprisonment, which would expire to-morrow. M'Alister admitted he was a member of the First Division, and further stated that he had. no intention of evading his obligations. He was prepared to be medically examined at once, and to go into camp if declared fit His Worship, however, adjourned the case for a week to allow defendant to be examined for service. If M'Alister passes tho medical test the charge will be withdrawn by the police.

A sitting of the Juvenile Court was held yesterday afternoon, over which Mr H. A. Young, S.M., presided. Two lads of 14 years of age were charged with being concerned in. certain thefts at Port Chalmers. One lad had already been committed to the Weraroa Training Farm last year and placed under the care of the Rev. Father Coffey, and was ordered in the present instance to be sent to the school. The second lad was also committed to the same school,' but under the guardianship of the Rev. Mx AxolserL

Some interesting figures were laid on the tablb at a Farmers' Union meeting at Auckland. They concern British imports for 1915, comparison being made of thojo from within the Empire and those fnm foreign countries. Thirty-four per cent, of tho wheat and flour came from within the Empire, the butter from the Empire was 'valued at five millions, and from without 22 millions. Much the greater portion of the imports of cheese, rubber, and wool came from British dominions, but only 28 per ceiit. .of the meat cam- from these sources, 20 i>er cent of the sugar and cotton, worth 17£ millions, as against a valuo of 47 millions brought in from el3ewher«.

A young man, who stands about 6ft 7in high, was arrested at llanfurly yesterday, and was brought down to Duncdin last night by Constable Bandy. Ho will bo charged in the Police Court to-day with failing to register under tho Military Service Act.

Tho hot baths which are provided! by tho authorities in I'Yanco for the use of soldiers after being in tho trenches have been described by a Wellington boy in a letter to his parents. The baths, in his case, were in the dyo works of one of tho big cotton mills. The old dyo vats wore utilised for the purpose of bathing, and in each vat were from 10 to 12 men. The water reached up to tho neck, and was warm, with disinfectant in it. Before bathing, says tho writer, the men leave thoir valuables with a N.Z.M.C. man, and then are oach given a peg on which to hang their clothes. After the bath under-clothes and a towel are given to each man, and his uniform is disinfected. All tho laundry work is done by a staff of women—in this place they number 170 —who boil and wash all the things and then steam them in special machines. The baths aro usually under the supervision of tho New Zealand Medical Corps. Christian Frederick Edmund Anderson appeared before Mr L. G. Rcid, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington on Jn-iday, to answer a charge of making use of a disloyal utterance. Anderson, who is an elderly man, is a soap-pedlar by profession, 'and on a recent date "business" took him to Lindsay's boot factory, in Woodward street. Somebody mako a remark concerning the Kaiser, whereupon Anderson turned round and said: "The German people are higher morally than you. If it should take a hundred years the German Empire will be established here. Thev would never have done what they have if they had not received provocation," which statement indicated disloyalty or disaffection in respect of the present war. Subinspector Dew stated that the defendant had been very well treated by tho authorities, who, instead of placing him on Somes Island, had allowed him his freedom. The defendant said he was not a German; he was a Dane. The sub-in-spector said the police records showed that the man was a German. Defendant was sentenced to ono month's imprisonment.

A Hindoo timber worker named D. N Dcsai appeared before the Second Auckland Military Service Board at Te Aroha yesterday (says our own correspondent). He said that he was willing to render military service provided satisfactory arrangements could be made. He was a Brahmin, and to eat ordinary camp food would be contrary to the teachings of his religion. The Chairman said the New Zealand authorities did not wish to accept the services of Hindoos owing to commissariat difficulties, iixemption, sine die, was granted.

The apparent inconsistency of a man employed in the Defence Department in advancing a plea for exemption on religious grounds was commented on by the Military Service Board at Auckland yesterday (says our own correspondent) during the hearing | of an Appeal by Wilfred J. Davey, a clerk at the Defence Office. The appellant stated that he was a member of the Testimony of Jesus, and his religious convictions forbade him to bear arms or to take any part in warfare. It would also be against his convictions to perform ambulance work "Then, how is it that you are working in the Defence Department at all?" asked a member of the board. i\io reply was made. As the sect .of which Davey was a member did not come within tho scope of the regulations governing the exemption of religious bodies, the appeal was dismissed, -the appellant was instructed to proceed to camp with the September draft, but tho board agreed to recommend that ho should be given non-combatant work.

It will be some time before Mr Barry Lupmo will forget Violet Day in Wellington (says the Post). He will have pleasing recollections of the appreciation manifested of his splendid part in tho effort, but there was also an incident that was not pleasant. The crowd which asesmbled to eee Mr Lupino sell spring hats by auction completely blocked the junction of the Brandon street with Lambton quay. An injudicious taxi-driver endeavoured to force his vehicle through the throng, and was given a lively time in consequence. As the cab passed the lorry on which Mr Lupino and the members of the "Very Good Eddie" Company were- standing, a rug fell out and. was snatched and thrown to the comedian, who immediately put it up for auction, and sold it to a lady for eight shillings. About 20 minutes later the driver of the taxi returned, accompanied by a police officer, who informed Mr v Lupino that he would have to come with him and explain, as he had been charged with misappropriating the rug. The comedian, accompanied by the manager of the company (Mr Harold Bowden) proceeded along the quay accordingly. The manager offered the driver the value of the rug, but the man refused to accept it. It looked as if the arrest would be carried out, when a lady appeared on the scene and threw the rug to the taxidriver. It appears that the lady was the owner of the cab and the rug (which she also bought in the auction), and that the driver, who was her employee, had no busines to lay the complaint. When the taxidrivers on the nearby stand heard of the incident, they offered a rug for Mr Lupino to sell. He bought it himself, and handed it back to ihe men, who then auctioned it again.

Explaining the movement in Australia to grant relief to the survivors of the First Australian Division, who have now been on active service for over 1000 days, a Melbourne newspaper recently stated that over LOO volunteers had already sent in their names to the recruiting authorities in Victoria. In most cases the men have asked for guarantees that the soldiers they wish to relieve will be brought back to Australia immediately for an extended spell. It must, however, be realised that before any of the original Anzacs can be brought out of the trenches reinforcements must be made available in sufficient numbers to fill not only the places vacated by the men of the First Division, but also to make good losses occasioned by casualties in the field. The Anzacs cannot be withdrawn from the fighting line unless the Australian units are maintained at their proper fighting strength. Captain G. J. C. Dyett organising secretary of the Victorian Recruiting Committee, stated that 6000 volunteers would have to be enrolled by the end of September, in addition to the ordinary monthly quotas of 7000 men, to make practicable the proposal to bring back to Australia in time for Christmas all the survivors of the first contingent.

Interesting particulars relating- to the tailoring trade were given at the hearing of the tailors' disputo by the Arbitration Court at Auckland. Sir Pryor, the employers' advocate, said the trade was practically dead. This was not entirely duo to the abnormal Conditions consequent upon the war, although it had to bo admitted that the latter fact was a "knock-out" blow. In 1914 98 tailors in Auckland were cited as parties to the award, as against 70 at present. On the other hand the number of wholesale manufacturers had increased from 12 to 18, due to the fact that the latter could supply a good article at considerably less price than the tailor, who was compelled, by what was known as tho " log " system, to charge higher prices. In 1913-14 11 shops employed 259 hands, as against 116 in 1916-17. In 1913-14 the 11 shops mentioned bad effected sales amount ing to £24,248, compared with £14,161 in 1916-17, and this' in spite of the increased prices. One witness, a leading tailor, deposed that material had increased in price by approximately 100 per cent. He gave particulars of decreases since 1915-14 in his firm's output and staff, which decreases he attributed not to the departure of men for tho front, but to the competition of factories. The standard of work produced by the latter had risen considerably, whereas tho prices had remained the same.

" I would certainly enter an emphatic protest against this case being continually adjourned were I not aware that the detects ves are overworked. Tho accused are iespectable citizens, and the present is tho first time they have been before a court," said Mr T. M. Wilford, who appeared at tho Wellington Magistrate's Court in defence of David Hodges, charged -with attempting to obtain £975 from Henry Martindolo by means of tn alleged false pretence. Counsel also said that since tho war the detectives had been called upon to do a large amoun. of extra work; so much so that some of tho men had broken down under the strain from neuritis. Knowing the true position, ho refrained frpm entering a prooe&t.

The question has arisen whether parents of soldiers aro entitled to make application for land for their sons while on active service. The Commissioner of Crown Lands in Auckland has been communicated with en the subject, and has sent the following reply : "Agents duly authorised to do so can apply on behalf of absent soldiers only for Crown lands opened in the usual way tor publio selection. Lands set aside for disposal under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act can bo applied ,for only by soldiers themselves who have returned to New Zealand after active service abroad, and who have received their discharge." *

At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Shipowners' Union Colonel R. A. Chaft'oy stated that thero was ample boy labour for shearing and harvesting from the boys of the secondary schools. Ho believed that no fewer than 750 would bo available- from the Waitaki Boys' High School, Christ's College, and the Boys' High School, Christchurch. The quality of the lads was good, and he knew that last season they had done excellent work and been of the greatest possible value. Mr B. Seth-Smith and Mr W. H. Parkinson endorsed these remarks as to the splendid way in which the boys worked.