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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17429, 25 September 1918, Page 4

A distinct warning that the shipping shortage, which has somewhat seriously affected the trade of the dominion foi several months past, may become more acute in the months that are ahead is conveyed in a, statement by Mr Herbert Hoover, the Food Administrator of the United States. If, before the next European summer, tho Central Powers do not make peace proposals such as will involve an acceptance of the Allies' war-aims, they will be faced then with an American army of such a magnitude as will ,b e simply overpowering. It is recognised as necessary that this great force should be placed in the field, in the event of the war dragging on into next year, in order that the struggle may be brought to a close in the summer of 1919. All other considerations are subordinate to that of forcing the enemy to -come to terms at the earliest possible date. But the maintenance of a fresh Allied army of formidable dimensions at the European battle-front will involve an enormous strain upon the transport services of the Entente Powers, which are severely taxed already, in order that the task of supplying the civil population of Great Britain and France, as well as the Allied forces as at present constituted, with the foodstuffs they require may bo adequately performed. Fortunately," there ie no longer any anxiety about the food situation in so far as the civil populations are concerned, and there is a substantial ground for the hope that in Great Britain at all events increased home-production will have the effect of materially diminishing the demand alike upon the production of the United States and upon the available shipping space. But the transference of a huge American army to France and the provisioning of it when it is there will create fresh problems of transport. Although Mr Hoover speaks encouragingly about the extent to which the construction of new shipping is being effected, it is fairly clear that the Allies have as yet hardly begun to replace the great losses which the German submarines have inflicted upon them and that it ie idle to suppose that the output from the shipbuilding yards will provide anything necessary tonnage for the transport of the American army and of the foodstuffs that will be required by it. Mr Hoover says, in fact, that it will be necessary to divert Allied shipping from the Australian and South American trade to the service between North America and Enrope in order that the problem may be solved. How this diversion of shipping may affect New Zealand can only be a matter of conjecture. It is possible that it will gravely•■ affect this country. But it will apparently be a necessary and unavoidable diversion.

The apparently organised opposition •which was encotmtered by Mr M. J. Mack, the Independent Labour candidate, at his first meeting in pursuance of his candidature for the Wellington Central seat, may be regarded by him as a compliment. The extremists who support Mr Fraser, the nominee of the New Zealand Labour Party, may resent Mr Mack's candidature because it illustrates the lack of political solidarity on the part of the industrial classes and because it proclaims to the public the fact that the New Zealand Labour Party is not representative, or anything like representative, of the electors in whose name it professes to speak. But the refusal of a hearing to Mr Mack is not wholly explained by the mere fact that his candidature is resented by the -extremists. The real explanation probably lies in the existence of a fear that Mr Mack's candidature is likely to be more largely favoured by the working classes than that of Mr Fraser himself will be. Any 6 uch fear may be wollgrounded. Mr Mack possesses very definite views as to the need for the sinking of all class differences and of all class animosities with a view to the successful prosecution of the war. Mr Eraser's attitude towards tlje war is sufficiently indicated* by the fact that he has undergone a term of imprisonment for seditious utterances during the course of the war. An individual who has been convicted of sedition may be regarded on the West Coast as a fit and proper person to occupy a seat in the Legislature at the present time. . The working men and working women, however, who constitute by far the most numerous claes in the Wellington Central electorate, may have very different views respecting the type of person who should be returned to Parliament under present conditions. If so, they will naturally prefer Mr Mack to Mr Fraser as a representative of their class, and they will refuse to accept the dictation of the Bolshevists whose efforts during the war have been mainly directed to the object of sowing dissension, who have clone little or nothing to promote the end which has been * more necessary Uian any other—that of making the best possible use of the varied resources of the dominion in the interests of the Empire and of the Allied nations—and who even now speak of immediate peace by negotiation as a fitting sequel to the sacrifices of the nation.

A Press Association telegram from Chrislchuruh states that the Minister of Imperial Supplies has informed the chairman of the Canterbury Grain Merchants' Association that, consequent on representations by tho London Board of Trade, all the wool pussihle is to be shipped to Great Britain to the exclusion of general cargo. A Press Association message stales that it is understood that the matter of prosecuting tho Wellington tramwaymen uri(.'i?>- tJj<- «»° regulaiions dealing with essential indu'im-.-. has been referred to tho Government for co:isiderotic u.

His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Liverpool) visited the Soldiers' Convalescent, Homo at Moiitocillo yesterday morning, and was shown over tho building by members o£ the executive. In the afternoon, at the Art Gallery Hall, his Excellency hold an interesting ceremony, at which six ladies and three gentlemen wero invested with the Order of tho British Empire. Later in the day his Excellency went to the Red Cross rooms in Bond street, briefly addressed a meeting of the society, and inspected somo of tho everyday work of tho members. In tbo evening Lord Liverpool presented medals for gallantry to those soldiers entitled to them or to their relatives. This ceremony was a most impressive one. ITis Excellency will leavo Dunodin to-morrow for the north.

A ress Association telegram from Wellington states that Kir James Allen lias received tho following message horn Mr Masscy and Sir J. U. Ward regarding tho epidemic on a New Zealand tiDopslnp : " Exceedingly grieved to learn of the casualties from the pneumonia epidemic; please convey to parents and relatives of those members of the Expeditionary Force whose illness has terminated fatally our heartiolt sympathy and condolence." It is understood that when Alary Jane Moody appears in the City Police Court thih morning charged with the attempted murder of lier nuiband another remand lor a week will be asked for. Mr Moody, though out, of tho hospital, is not weli enough to give evidence.

The Kaikorai Presbyterian Church was well filled on Sunday on tnii occasion of the cnixrcn juonee, Oil yuars nuving elapsed since tho lirst congregation was iornic-u, altnougn tnc enurch was opened in Iboo. ihe Kev. frulessoi- Hewitson occupied the puipit in tho morning, JUr Bowie addressed tlie young people at 6 p.m., and in tno evening tut> Kev. A. Cameron conducted the service. Special mention was made ot the social functions arranged tor to-night and Ihursday. 'i'ne offerings for the day wero £50 odd. A special jubilee souvenir is being issued. Yesterday atternoon Mr. Stubbs (registrar of the bupreme C-ouxt) read tne judgment oi Mr Justice Merduian in tne case of Jobn vVaddtU Gruy (ol Gienavy) and otners against Wilnam Locknart Gray (of Papakaio) and Andrew Gray \pi pukeuri), executors ot tne will of Wnuam Locknart Gray (late of Pukeuri, farmer, deceased.). 'iho piaintiii's asked the court to revote probate of the will bt tne deceased, on tne ground of tbe alleged testamentary incapacity of the testator. After going very fully into tho evidence, his iioDor said he had considered the evidence with great care, and he was satisfied that the doaondants had discharged the onus of proving that the testator was oi sound mind, memory, and understanding at trie time at which ho executed the will and codicil, and that he knew and approved of their contents. Judgment would therefore be for the defendants, who were also entitled to their taxed costs.

Edward Edwin Philip pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness in the City Police Court faolore Mr H. A. Young, S.iYL, yesterday. Sub-inspector Mathieson said he thought a prohibition order should bs issued against accused, who objected to this course, and Air Scurr said it would be too drastic a step for a first offence. A fine of 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, was imposed. On a charge of casting offensive matter the accused was fined 20s, in default four days' imprisonment.

A step has been taken towards removing tho disadvantage irom which Port Chalmers euliers througn want of a puoiic library. At the Borough Council meeting last night a committee consisting of the Mayor and Crs Lunn, Isbister, and M'Luehlan was set up as a result of remarks made by Or Lunn, to consider the advisability of tho council taking over the Mechanics' Institute. . A Cabinet Minister's lot is not always a happy one, especially if his duties embraco tho issuing of passports, 'lho Hon. G. W. Russell gave some of his experiences to a meeting at Nelson. All the worries caused by the administration of the Government policy with regard to patriotic funds was as nothing compared with the granting' of passports to women under present conditions. Many women had implored him to allow them to visit their sick and dying husbands in England, but they had to be refused, and this was a most difficult and trying matter. The policy laid down by the Imperial Government was that no women were to pass over the danger zone except in cases of extreme urgency. The reason was that thousands of brave men in tho mercantile marine had lost their lives by "saving tho women and children first," whereas, if they had not been aboard, the brave sailors would have boon able to save themselves. "A case of shirking of the worst type," was Senior Sergeant M'Namara's comment on charges preferred in the Auckland Police Court against Cornelius O'Shea, alias John Gibbon (.35), who had been arrested at Otahuhu for falsely answering questions by a constablo as to his military standing, and for travelling under an assumed name. O'Shea admitted both charge*. The senior sergeant said that O'iShea was employed in the Railway Department at Napier when tho ballots came into operation, and he immediately left his job and changed his name to " Gibbon." He was then lost sight of, and was not again seen until he was found this week working at Otahuhu. The Director of Personal Services at Wellington had requested that the man bo sent immediately to Wellington, presumably that ho might be dealt with under the Military Service Act. The Magistrate (Mr E. D. Mosley) remarked that defendant would have to satisfy the civil law before he was triedtby the military authorities. He would be sentenced to three months' imprisonment. The Defence Staff at present includes at least 14 directors of branches (saye the Dominion). They aro the Director of Recruiting, the Director of Infantry Training, tho Director of Personal Services, the Director of Organisation, the Director of Military Hospitals,' the Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores, the Director of Financial Services, the Director of Supplies and Transport, the Director of Medical Services, the Director of Military Operations, the Director of Dental Services, the Director of Base Records, the Director of Movements and Quartering, and the Director of Railways and Works. There are also many assistant directors and deputy directors.

Information that has reached New Zealand through official channels shows that the military authorities in the United States have not thought it necessary to place barriers in the way of enlistment of men of German parentage. Tens of thousands of young Americans whose parents were born in Germany, and very many men who were born in Germany, have been taken into tho American army. They aro reported to be fighting against Prussian militarism as determinedly as tho boys of pure American blood. Some months- ago an American regiment composed largely of GermanAmericans crossed bayonets with one of the Kaiser's crack regiments on the west front, and beat it decisivelv.

A cable message to tho Australian papers states that Mr W. M. Hughes, on behalf of the Australian Commonwealth, has invited 33 leading British and French journalists, including Sir Geoffrey Dawson (editor of The Times), Lord Buinham (proprietor of tho Daily Telegraph), Mr .J. 1,. Garvin (editor of the Sunday Observer). Rudyard Kipling, and M. Marcel Hutin (Echo do Paris), to visit the Australian front in parties of fivo with a view to enhancing tho friendship between their countries and Australia. A small chateau has been engaged for their accommodation in the battle-zone, nud young officers who have taken part in tho lighting will conduct the visitors amongst the men. *

According to Lieutenant-colonel J. L. Sloeman, 1.G.5., there are some popular illusions regarding flying. In an address on aviation at the Canterbury Officers' Club ho said he hv-.d come to the' conclusion that the average man's impressions of tho sensations felt on a first -flight were erroneous. No sensations were really felt on a calm day. The sensation at the start was really one of annoyance at the noise of tho machine. There was a general impression that a flight caused giddiness; but. such was not felt at a height from tho ground. Swinging was felt very slightly, and bumping was uncomfortable only on occasions. The sensation of flying was not at all uncomfortable. It was no ns<: looking from the ground to see in which direction the wind was blowing. The first duty on the western front be r t.: - o fi-itvji \ras to send an aeroplane up I.V/0 fret '-o record the winds and their Tclocif./ aad direction.

The electric lights were off for about a quarter of an hoar at Port Chalmers last evening. The street lamps were not affected. Further evidence of the fact that Britain is fully alive to the possibility of Germany crumbling up from within as soon as the people are made acquainted with the true state of affairs was afforded last week (states the Patea Press), when a. local resident received from the front a copy of a, leaflet which the British had been distributing in thousands in Germany by means of aeroplanes. The leaflet puts the- position very clearly before the German people with regard to tho folly of attempting the impossible task of conquering practically tho whole world merely for the sake of gratifying the war lust of the Kaiser and tho German military party. Sir Kobert Stout, Chief Justice, in an address at Carterton, said if there was to be any hope for democracy and the future of humanity tho wa»r must go on and on until Germany was utterly defeated. He emphatically ridiculed the Bolshevist idea of "no indemnity, no annexations, no reparation," which parrot cry was being echoed by someof our own people, tho so-called pacifists. If this were to bo the adopted principle, then murder, theft, and rapine were to be condoned, and instead of punishing wrongdoing, wo should shake hands and live amicably with the wrongdoers. Those who held these views should go to Russia, where the ideas were being so dreadfully put into practice. There was no doubt whatever that part of the German plan was to conquer England as well as France and Russia, and seize the British colonies. Reports had actually been made of the mineral and other possibilities of New Zealand.