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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17157, 9 November 1917, Page 4

A Press Association telegram from New Plymouth states that Sir James Alien announced last night that the Thirtieth Reinforcements had reached a port of call— "all safe."

In connection with the visit of the Minister of Publio Works to tho flooded area of tho Taicri on Wednesday, the hon gontloman met Messrs M'Lean (clerk) and Conston (engineer) yesterday in Dunedin. He promised to lay tho data placed before him in the hands of tho Cabinet, and forward an answer by Saturday week.

Tho Trentham and Feathorston military camps will close over Christmas with the exception of tho guards. The exodus (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) will commence about December 20, and the leave will cover about 17 days. Tho draft due for mobilisation in December will be notified to concentrate early in January instead.

No information has yet been received by tho Electoral Department (says our Wellington correspondent) that Mr Webb, KT.P., has fulfilled his avowed intention of resigning his seat. It is tho opinion amongst his friends in Wellington that he will not resign, and even his enemies admit that thero is.no real reason why ho should do so.

Tile Mornington cable tramway service will bo suspended during the whole of Sunday in order to permit of tho cleaning of tho boilers in the power-house. >

Advice from New York, under date October 3, states that the training of the first national army is under way and that a good portion of the 687,000 men is now in tho cantonments under instruction. Over and above this national army there are now bearing arms in the army and navy more than 800,000 men, all of whom volunteered. It is expected that a second call for about 500,000 men will soon be made, 'so that a new contingent will be ready to take the place of tho 687,000 now training

According to a circular just received from Messrs John Dunn, Son, and Co , of New York, "the last three weeks has seen great activity on the part of the American Government in oombating tho German financed propaganda against the war. Tho ways in which German money has been, and is being, spent are numerous, but good progress has been made in breaking up this nefarious business, and it is hoped that the situation will never again become as bad as it has been. The organisation of the Industrial Workers of the World seems to have been one of tho chief agencies employed in fomenting strikes, etc.. and its leaders are now pretty well jailed. A round-up of German sympathisers in and around Now York has been made within a few days and this has accounted for several hundred more plotters against the Government."

A correspondent at Suva writes to us to say that he read with interest and regret the references in the press of the dominion concerning New Zealand trade in Samoa, and that he hopes the effect will be to arouse traders from their lethargy and prevent the loss of the enormous trade which is now slipping away to Australia. He adds: " What applies to Samoa applies equally -to Fiji. For many years Australia has been 'scooping the pool' here, and is still doing so. If New Zealand is alert a large proportion of Fiji's trade can be secured. There are magnificent opportunities for, the establishment of factories to deal with canned fruits and bottred syrups, biscuits and confectionery, soap and candles, cocoanut oil and fibre, and canned meats. In the capital, Suva, there are splendid opportunities for progressive business men. An up-to-date butchery is an urgent necessity. To the right man starting a butchery substantial local financial support can bo guaranteed. There aro openings also for th© establishment of % chemist's business, a hairdressing business and a foundry. The climate is no drawback, being enjoyable and healthful."

In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr J. R Bartholomew, S.M., was occupied for some time hearing the adjourned action in which the Dominion Garage and Motor Company (Mr Hay) sued William Matthews (Mr Irwin) for the cost of repairs to a motor car owned and run for hire by defendants. A cross action wa* also instituted by defendant, who entered a cltfan for special damages. After hearing further evidence and tho addresses by counsel, his Worship reserved his decision.

In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiffs, by default, -.n the following cases: —Wimpenny Bros and Reid v. Alexander Johnston (Addington), claim £1 2a 6d, for motor accessories supplied (costs lis); Boyds Agency v. C. H. Quiriii (Kawhia), claim £15 4s 6d, for grass seed sold (costs £1 16s 6d).

In tho Port Chalmers Court yesterday, before Mr N. Dodds, J.P., two first offenders, for drunkenness, were each fined IGs, and one was ordered to pay 10s 6d medical expenses. The chief business of the latest meeting of tho Women's Branch of the Educational Institute of Otago was a discussion on the education of girls—a question which has received much attention from the Council of Education since its inception in May, 1915, and which formed tho subject of a very able and thoughtful address by Miss Chaplin, of Christchurch, at the last annual meeting of the Otago Educational Institute. The opinion was freely expressed that tho present education system does not afford girls an adequate preparation for the lifo work that the great majority will sooner or later take up—namely, that of the future mothers and homemakers of the race; and that it never can give that preparation until tho education of the senior girls of the primary schools is in the hands of women instead of men. It was felt that girls of from 11 to 15 years of age would be helped in countless ways by the womanly tact of a cultured and refined woman teacher. Tho teachers realised tliat considerable alteration in tho present syllabus was required to suit the needs of girls, but that this could not be effected in any satisfactory way until the education and training of girls were in tho hands of thoroughly qualified woman teachers. Tho following resolution was carried unanimously:—"That this meeting of the Women's Branch of the Otago Educational Institute is of opinion that, with a view t the better training of girls for their fufcuj.'O lifo work as homemakers, the education of the girls of the senior division in all large schools should be in the hands of women."

One of tho tasks which tho Government should attempt to periorm in tho course 01 tho next tew weeats or months (says our Wellington correspondent) is that 01. Irarmng regulations under tno War Legislation Act ol last session.. Under this Act tho Government has taken extraordinarily wide powers. Tho most important is that defined in tho following terms: '"lho Governor-general may, by regulations, make such special provisions as, having regard to tho exigencies of the present war or tho conditions created thereby, he thinks advisable for tho following purpose: 'i'or requiring any perso-is, whether aliens or not, who are not engaged or employed in some industry, undertaking, or occupation deemed to bo essential or partially essential to tho publio welfare to become so employed or engaged or to take reasonable steps to become so employed or engaged, or to show cause beloro a stipendiary magistrate why they should not bo required to beoomo so employed or engaged.' " The regulations have not been prepared or ordered yet, but it is understood that tho Government did not insert the clause in the Bill without some real intention of putting it intS effect. If the olause is to have full effect, it is obvious that those sports and amusements which require for their maintenance the work of iahly large bodies of men will have to la discontinued or very much reduced. It is not clear that tho Government had in mind racing or any other spor" or even those well-dressed gentlemen whoso occupation it is to follow racing, of whom there are so many in every racing centre of any importance. Tho olause may be made to apply, also, to the regular purveyors of amusement, especially thoso not reputed to be very wholesoma

In accordance with the decision of tho Government, tho Government Statistician (Mr Malcolm Fraser) has issued a form to merchandise and other firms requesting information to be filled in in regard to wholesale prices. It is intended that a permanent system of recording wholesale price movements shall bo instituted on similar linee to those already in operation with reference bo retail pricos. finch a system has been in operation for somo years m Great Britain, Australia, tho United States, and elsewhere. Returns aro to bo posted not later than tho 23rd day of each month, lommencing this month.

At a meeting of tho committee of tho Canterbury Sheep Owners' Union, held on tho Show Grounds yesterday (says a Press Association messago from Christchurch) a motion was adopted recommending all members to aclhcro to tho present award rates of pay to shearers and shed hands. It was agreed to send copies of tho resolution to tho other sheep owners' unions of tho dominion. A motion was also carried expressing the strongest dissatisfaction at the amount of shipping space allotted to tho South Island since July 31 last, and a committee was appointed to convey to the Prima Minister tho resentment felt on tho matter by the producers. It was further agreed to take such steps to forward tho interests of tho South Island in tho equitable allotment of shipping space as tho committco considered necessary.

Ride a B.S.A..'—The B.S.A. motor cycle is world-famous for power, reliability, and smooth running, due to B.S.A. special design.—Particulars from Wilson, Dunedin.— Advt.

A Scarce Lino. —Ladies' coloured hose. All wanted shades, seamless and fast dye! All 2s 6d pair.—Procurable only at Mollisons. —Advt.

A. K. J. Blakcley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859.— Advt.

"Sure, I'll have some of that Watson's No. 10. It's what I call a whisky."—Advt.

To Users of Electricity and Others.—We invito y6u to call and inspect the very complete range of heating and cooking apparatus, etc. displayed in our show rooms.—Turnbull and Jones (Limited), electrical engineers, Lower Stuart street, Dunedin.—Advt.

Eyestrain I—Consult Mr Peter G. Dick D.8.0.A., J".1.0. lLondon). consulting and oculists' optician.—Peter Dick, jeweller, eic. 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.