Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17482, 26 November 1918, Page 4

Our Wellington correspondent informs us _bnat arrangements for the purchase of INevf Zealand butter by the Imperial authorities are practically concluded, but some points regarding finance and storage have still to be adjusted. Press Association telegram -from "Wellington states that the Imperial authorities nave cabled to the Government that no more aviation cadets are required from JNew Zealand.

A Press Association telegram from Weilington states that Mr Evan Pansy's recom* mendations concerning electric power demand an expenditure of £7,500,000 for the North Island and £6,000,000 for the South Island. Sufficient money to make a start >vill appear cm the Estimates this year.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that 21 cases of cerebrospinal meningitis have occurred in the military camps. Two men at Trentham died within 24 hcrurs.

_ A Press Association message from Wellington conveys the information that the Dominion Conference of the Second Division League has been postponed. Tho remains of Private Cecil Barker were interred in tho Port Chalmers Cemetery yesterday. The Rev. S. H. Peryman conducted the funeral ceremony, and the Grand President (Bro. J. M. Harland) read tho Druids' service. Deceased was accorded a military funeral, which was largely attended, Major Fleming representing the District Headquarters Staff. Private Barker was a member of the Main Body, and, having lost an arm, ha returned. He was last week attacked by influenza, and succumbed to that malady. He was employed at the Hillside Workshops.

Our Wellington correspondent states that the Licensing Bill was before the Cabinet again yesterday, and underwent considerable revision. It cannot reach the House now for several days. Sir William Fraser 6tates that the Public Works Estimates will be ready for presentation at the end of this week or the beginning of next week. Ho considers that the Estimates will make ample provision for the necessities that may arise before next session. A report outlining the Government's proposals for the development of hydro-electric power will be presented to the House on Sir William Fraser states that provision wiil be made on the Estimates for the preliminary work, and that it will not be necessary to ask for a special appropriation until next year.

Narrow Neck Camp, near Auckland, where the native reinforcements have been trained is now being emptied, and is to be handed over to the medical service for pe in connection with tho treatment of invalided soldiers. Tho proposal is that the camp shall be kept for the temporary reccption of men who are reported to have lun"trouble, but whose condition does not warrant their being sent to a sanatorium. Men who aro definitely suffering from tubercular disease will not be sent to Narrow Neck. The Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) stated .that some men who showed! symptom of lung trouble in England arrived back in New Zealand practically cured owing to the beneficial' effects of the sea voyage. But it was desirable often to keep these men under observation for a short time in this country before they were discharged 1 , and Narrow Neck . Camp was to be used for tin's purpose. Tho Minister added that he had noticed a suggestion that this use of Narrow Neck Camp would endanger the health of tho neighbouring residents. The medical officers assured him that there would bo not the least danger The Director-general of Medical Services was making a report on the subject, and this report would bo published. The men who would! go to Narrow Nock Camp for observation, ponding either their discharge or their transfer to a sanitorium, would bo a danger to nobody. They wero men who had fought for their country and deserved the best the country could givo them.

The ferry steamer Mararoa had a stormy passage from Wellington on Saturday night (says the Chris tchurch Press. sShe left her berth at 4.30 p.m., and on reaching the Strait encountered a boisterous southerly wind and heavy sea, and at daybreak on Sunday was only off Kaikoura. The Mararoa carried a full complement of passengers, including nearly 300 soldiers from camp who were returning to their homes. The trip was an unusually protracted one," having occupied 19 hours. There had been no signs of life in a house within the city for a day or two so a Salvation Army worker determined to see whether all was well (says the Auckland Star). He knocked, but was not answered. So he went into the house which seemed' as though the occupants had left it at a minute's notice, for everything was loft as if it had just been used. Then he came to a door that was locked. He knocked again, but the uncanny silence made him suspicious. With help the door Was forced, and he saw then that ho was a day too late. A mother lay dead in tho one bed, and clinging to her was a littlo child, also dead. This was not all, for there were also two young children, both, lying on tho floor. Evidently, all four in the little family., were suddenly attacked by the sickness, and had died in neglect, unable to help themselves. There was no man about the place, and tho Salvation Army people are not meeting with success in their search for relatives.

Captain Hall Thompson lias received a cablegram from the Admiralty Board (says a Press Association message from Wellington) expressing congratulations to the navy on the completion of its great "work by tho surrender of the German Qcot without the shock of battle. A Press Association cable message from Sydney states that Alderman Joynton Smith (Lord Mayor of Sydney) is claiming £5000 from the Morning Herald for alleged libel in an article published on tho 19th. inst. A motorist was racing back to headquarters one day last week (says Friday's Auckland Star), when ho happened to glance to the roadside, and saw two very small children standing hand-in-hand ; crying bitterly. Ho pulled up, but all tho two forlorn little* ones did was to look back into a house. They were two young to talk, so tho motorist went inside, and found that both father and mother were dead. The two little toddlers were rcanoved right away to the kindergarten, aim a* rangements were mado for the burial of their parents. Trentham Camp, whio> is being emptied as quickly as circumstances will allow, is to bo used during tho next year or two as a hospital for returned men as well as a musketry school and - territorial training ground. It is not intended that 6erious medical or surgical eases shall bo sent to Trentham, but accommodation will be provided for from 900 to 1000 men and for the necessary medical and; nursing staff in order that milder cases may bo handled there. Referring to this matter, tho Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen) said that tho hospital provision to be mado at Trentham was for emergency tise. The existing buildings would bo available. Ho hoped that there would bo no occasion to make any extended) use of Trentham in this way, but nobody could tell in advance what the requirements of the demobib'sation would be, and the Defence Department wished to be prepared for all eventualities. If the returning troops included any big bodies of men in need of medical attention, the milder cases would •be sent to Trentham. The fate of Fcatherston Camp is still undecided, but there will bo no undue haste displayed in demolishing this camp. The future requirements of tho Territorial Forces of New Zealand havo still to be considered, and one of the possibilities of the future is that tile training will be more concentrated than it has been in the past.

Some tho men discharged from the training camps have complained about deductions being mado from their pay for articles of kit lost or retained. The grievance does not appear to be a substantial one (says our Wellington correspondent). The department, as a matter of fact, treats the men with a good deal of generosity. A soldier returned from overseas is discharged, with a full kit, including uniforms, great-coat, boots, and underclothing. He must return one of the uniforms and the great-coat if he wishes to rcceivo the full mufti allowance, but any returned man can retain his full kit if he chooses to do so. A man who is discharged l from the training camps without service overseas is not allowed to retain his kit Without charge. Every article that has been issued to him remains the property of the State, and has to be accounted for when he ? is leaving camp. An article that he does not return to the camp stores must be paid for, but tho prices charged are low for new articles, and they approach tho vanishing point in the case of articles that have been in use for several months. The following prices, charged to recently dischargedl men for articles they elected to take with them, show that the soldiers are not treated badly:—Two blankets, 12s; pair of boots, 3s 6d; pair of breeches (old), lOd; pair of puttees, 6d; hold-all, Id. ' The Defence Department is not making any money out of the discharged men. It is now understood 1 (our parliamentary correspondent reports) that Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have realised the futility of attempting to bring the session to a close before their departure for London early next month, and that they will leave Sir James Allen in charge to complete tho business for which members were called together. The House is much better disposed towards the Minister of Defence than it was a year or two ago, and 1 he would not be likely to encounter any of the old factious opposition. In other circumstanccs the failure of the Government to stay more effectually the advance in tho cost of living would have been the subject of much drastic criticism. But in the absence of the Prime Minister, who is regarded by disgruntled members as the chief offender in this respect, probably the hard things that were to have bsen said will bo reserved for a more opportune occasion. Meanwhile the critics are discovering additional reason for protest in the fact that while the Minister of Industries and Commerce deprecated arbitrary interference with food prices during the period of the war, he now has fixed the prices of fish, fruit, and vegetables to meet the needs of the influenza epidemic. Of course the cases are not exactly parallel, the epidemic presenting conditions which did _ not exist before, but the critics are finding plenty of sympathy in making their point.

The outcome of the Liberal caucus is being awaited with much interest by all parties in the House of Representatives. Our parliamentary correspondent advises that Sir Joseph Ward has made it quite plain to his supporters that while he is determined to continue his loyal support to the spirit of the party truce, ho is in no way committed to such an arrangement as was suggested by the resolution adopted by tho Reform caucus. He is quite prepared to join with his friends on the other side of the House in promoting a sound and patriotio policy, but he is not inclined to hamper tho aspirations of his friends on his own side in regard to domestio affairs. Ho may find the course he proposes to follow a somewhat difficult one, but there is no reason to supposo that the differences between the two old parties are going to bring about an embarrassing crisis just yet.

Manufacturers of motor cycles imitate the tank colour, etc., with a view of making tho public believo they are peerless Hurley-Davidsons.—Wilson, Dunedin.—Advt. 38-inch Jefro Ginghams, for dresses and blouses; navy, pink, brown, black, red checks; slightly damaged; 2s 3d for Is 6d yard.—Mollisons.—Advt.

A Is 3d packet- of the famous "No Rubbing " Laundry Help is sufficient for seven weekly family washings. Truly a wonderful boon to every housewife.—W. Aitken Advt.

Electric Incandesccnt Lamps, Drawn Wire Metallic Filament, Philips Manufacture, 16* 25, 32, and 50 candle-power. Price' 3s each. Special terms for quantity orders Turnbull and Jones (Ltd.), Electrio Engineers. —Advt.

Watsons No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the -monev — Advt.

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

Christmas Presents: Just landed, highclass English Crcscent Ware. Exclusive latest decorations.—Peter Dick, Moray place direct importer of jewellery, etc.—Advt