Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17502, 19 December 1918, Page 4

A Press Association cable message from Sydney states that cables are delayed, and there is no further news available.

Members of the Headquarters Staff will proceed to Port Chalmers on Saturday morning by the 7.20 train to meet the incoming troopship Tofua. The medical board will carry out its work while the vessel is in tho etream, and the men will bo brought to Dunedin by the 3.15 p.m. train. Men living north and south, of Dunedin will leave for their respective destinations by the express trains on Monday morning. Base Records has received particulars of the incident for which the Victoria Cross was awarded to Sergeant John Gilray Grant, of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, for gallantry in tho field of action. At Bancourt, on September 1, under pointblank fire at 20 yards, he rushed enemy posts to the right and left, showing conspicuous bravery. It is recorded that throughout the operations, lasting -threo days, he set a splendid example to aIL His noxt-of-kin is his mother, Mrs J. Grant Hawera.

_ A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the Cabinet had under consideration yesterday tho fixing of the prices of wheat for tho 1918-1919 and 19191920 harvests. For the coming harvest the arrangement had been that there should be a minimum of 6s 4d per, bushel, bat that the growers should , have , , a free market for the sale of their grain, which meant that they could get as much more than 6s 4d as the market would give them. The growers considered that there ought to be a definite price, and this has now been agreed upon by the Government. There loor 0 ! ,50 a defi , nite Price also for the 19191920 harvest. Tho Cabinet decided on the price to be offered to growers, and they will be communicated to tlie growers in Christchurch to-day by Mr W. G MacDonald, of the Board of Trade. In the meantime the Minister in charge of the business is not announcing the price.

Now that the various qnarantine stations have been handed over by® tho Defence Department it has been decided to make very considerable additions to the accommodation available on the islands. The Minister of Pubb'o Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell) lias secured the approval of Cabinet for considerable expenditure in this direction. Tho work at Motnihi Island (Auckland) and Somes Island (Wellington) will be proceeded with immediately. If necessary, provision will be made at each island for SCO bods in addition to the accommodation already existing. The Minister is making further inquiries regarding Quarantine- leland at Port Chalmers.

Some interesting remarks about the political situation in New Zealand were made by Mr W. A. Veitch, M.P., at a meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board on Friday night. He said that from information he had received from outside circles tho political truce which now existed between the parties would bo abandoned when the leaders returned to this country, and next session would see the two great parties in opposition. It was quite likely a trial of strength would take place within the first few daye of the session, and this might result in a dissolution and an appeal to the country somowhere near the end of 1919, and the first working session of Parliament probably would not take place, in such a ease, until 1920.

Tho question of the payment of wages in the case of shops, factories, offices, and so forth dosed during the recent epidomio was submitted! to the Solicitor-general (Sir John W. Salmond) for his opinion by the Department of Labour. The Secretary of Labour has received his opinion on the points submitted, which is as follows: "I am asked to advise as to the obligation of employers to pay wages to their employees during the period for which of business were closed by order of the district health officers, in view of the epidemio of influenza. .Such compulsory closing of the places of business does not in itself in any manner take away or affect tho obligation of employers to pay wages. So long as a, servant is not guilty of misconduct ho is entitled to bo paid his wages until his engagement has been lawfully .terminated by the requisite notice. It makes no difference that by reason of some emergency ho has been prevented from actually working. The only employers, therefore, who can refuse to pay wages are those who, on tho closing of their premises, took occasion to terminate the engagement of their servants in the proper manner having regard to the terms of that engagement, the custom of the trade, and the provisions o£ any award or industrial agreement relative thereto. I ought to add, however, in order to avoid misapprehension, that in the case of servants employed by the day or hour, tho terms of their employment may be such that tho mere closing of the employer's place of business is in itself a sufficient notice of the termination of their employment."

The Otago Expansion League lias been advised by the Postal , Department that a tender has been accepted for the conveyance of the Cromwell-Pe-inbrofcc mails during tho ensuing trionnium thrice-weekly as at present. It was regretted that the Pembroke mail revenue was not sufficient to warrant the additional expense of increasing it to a daily service. From tho beginning of next ycvix mails would be despatched between Clyde and Cromwell by train daily.

Our Auckland correspondent telegraphs that the concern of tho Devonpc-rt people regarding tho transfer of prisoners of war to Narrow Neck has been greatly appeased by a reply from the Minister of Defence to the effect that the transfer is only a tomporary measure.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the Minister of Defence, \vb.o has. been trying to arrange few- New Zealand soldiers in Egypt and Palestine oppertunties to seo the Home Country before returning, has received word from the War Office and the Minister of Shipping in tho United Kingdom that it may be difficult to comply with the request owing to lack of shipping v transport. These soldiers may have to come home direct from Egypt unless they are willing to submit to a lon<r delay before repatriaiion.

Tho now law limiting the hours during which, picture shows may be open is likely to cause the Government some littlo trouble (says our Wellington correspondent). Tho owners of tlio theatres intend to propose to tho Minister that tho legislation is quito unnecessary in a healthy community, and that tho iiiw bo • suspended, by the Minister undertaking Uiat there shall be no prosecutions if it is disregarded. Some of tho proprietors of tho bigger theatres in Auckland aro 6aid to contemplate defying tho law, oven to the expense of the continuing penalty of £5 per day. Tlio Bill was rushed through the House without any consideration at all, and not a proprietor except Mr John Payne, who is a member of the House, had an idea of what was being done until tho law was actually made. Tho legislation is hitting tho employees hard, and they aro making independent representations to the Government. A Press Association message from Wellington states that a deputation from the workers in tho picture show business in Auckland waited on the Acting Prime Minister yesterday, and asked him to use his influence to have tho operation of the Act suspended until it could bo amended by Parliament. Sir James Allen replied that he would communicate with the Minister of Public Health on tlio matter.

Tho Otago Expansion League recently forwarded a telegram to the 'Minister of Defence strongly urging immediate actio'n by him to obtain information concerning soldiers who had previously been reported prisoners of war. The league pointed out that a number of relatives of soldiers in Otago had- not received any news of the return of their sons, and th®cabled accounts of the missing, torture, and death inflicted on prisoners captured by the enemy led to a great deal of anxiety. The Minister was asked to secure and publish immediately upon repatriation the names of prisoners and to order immediate urgent inquiries to be made respecting tho "fate of tho missing men. In his reply the Minister stated that some time ago he cabled England and asked that we should be immediately informed of released prisoners °f _ war as soon as they arrived in Great Britain. This information had; been regularly received and published in the daily newspapers. Every effort was being made to secure information* and the relatives would be informed as soon as the department had information.

Boot manufacturers in Auckland who were carrying out Government contracts for military requirements have been notified (telegraphs our correspondent) that the contracts are to be terminated as soon as the work already in hand is completed. Thus factories may now turn their attention to supplying domestic requirements, in respect of which considerable arrears havo to be overtaken. Speaking in regard to the prospect of a reduction in tho retail price of footwear, the president of the IS T ew Zealand Boot Manufacturers' Association (Mr VV. Hammili) held out little hope of boots or shoes becoming appreciably cheaper for a considerable time. He 6aid there was bound to be a tremendous demand for raw materials for several years, and one result of this would bo that prices for all classes of leather would remain inflated. This, combined! with the fact that the live stock, frorn. which the raw material was secured was greatly depleted, would mean that tho cost of manufacturing could not be lessened to an extent likely to prove of benefit to the consumer.

The Secretary of the Otago Expansion League has received a copy of tho Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act passed last session. Subseotion 2 of clause 59 states: "It shall be lawful for any local authority, the'tlistrict of which is within or partly within the Provincial District of Otago, to contribute out of its general fund or account such a sum in any one. year as the local authority may think fit as»a subscription to the funds of the Otago Expansion League." Already a move has been made by the Canterbury Progressive League to take advantage where possible of the extended powers given to local bodies. Recently an organiser was appointed; by the body mentioned to tour the district with a view to soliciting financial assistance from local bodies for the purpose of carrying out the aims and objects of_ the league. The success achieved by this officer, it is stated, has been most encouraging. The Otago Expansion Leaguo has a scheme under way which should ensure a big increase in its income as a result of the additional powers upon local bodies by the Act. Many people were abroad last evening, and a large proportion of tho crowd was attracted to the Queen's Gardens by the playing of the Band of the Fourth (Otago) Regiment. In the pleasant evening it -was very enjoyable to walk in the reserve and listen to tho bright and tuneful selections which, made up the programme. The items were:—March, " The Famous Cadet"; overture, "Les Cloches do Corneville " ; waltz, "Lille d'Amour"; selection, "The Khaki Camp"; march, "The v»clsli Brigade"; waltz, " Saran Roso"; and the National Anthem. The band was conducted by Lieutenant George.

■fiiafc the high cost of living, affects the ministry, in common with other sections of the community, wag indicated by a discussion at the Methodist Synod! yesterday, when the home mission grants to the circuits and home mission stations -were under consideration. Instructions were recently given from conference to the circuits and home mission stations to take steps, where possible, to secure a minimum stipend for married ministers of at least £200 a year, and for married home missionaries of at least £160, in which purpose tho Homo Mission Committee was willing to aid with a pound for pound grant. A lay representative to tho synod said that some of the circuits were amder the impression that home mission contributions, which were understood to be devoted to helping struggling back _ block causes, were often applied to assisting city circuits where the need was not so apparent. The : churches were desirous that their ministers should receive adequate stipends, but they wanted to be quite clear where the money raised for home mission purposes went. A minister said ho thought if the circuits understood that_ part of tho object of these home mission grants was to enable city circuits (as well as others) to pay their ministers adeqnate stipends, the home mission fund would: commend iteejf to them more than evex. Another minister said on £200 a year it was extremely difficult to make ends meet, and in fact it would be impossible unless a man had saved something previously.

" One question on which the medical authorities have expressed strong opinions is the nieons by which the influenza, epidemic has been spread," said! the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Russell) a few days ago. "The opinion laid down in New Zealand lias been that personal contact was the only means of transmitting infection; but a gentleman who has arrived from America and who studied the influenza epidemio there tells me that the keeper of a lighthouse on Lake Winnipeg was affected. A relief launch was sent to make inquiries when the light was not shown, and the keeper and his wife were found both to bo stricken by the disease. Inquiry showed that these people had not had any communication with the 'shore, direct or indirect, for a period of eight weeks before they wore infected. Not letter had! boon received from the shore. *I leave the medical profession to solve the problem."

It was stated at the aaitual report presented to members of the Viticultural Society of Victoria that tlio 1918 vintage was tho worst,on record for many years (reports tho Age). Owing to the prevalence of black spot, oidium, and downy mildew, many vineyards had no vintage at all, and those that did experienced considerably reduced yields. The 1917 vintage produced 1,302,660 gallons of wine, as against 1,580,367 gallons for 1916, bi-ing a decrease of 77,707 gallons. This was very bad. But tho 1918 figures recorded the great shrinkage of 502,008 gallons compared with 1917, Victoria, having made only 600.660 gallons of wine, of which & considerable quantity would go to the still. As a natural result, wine was very scarce and prices high. Fortunately South Australia had a record vintage, which had relieved th<; situation somewhat. The urea under bearing vines was slowly year by year increasing, there being now 18,900 acres in Victoria, as against 15.604 in 1917. Tho non-bearing acreage showed an increase of 18 ) acres, there being now 6336 acres under non-producing vines, as against 4460 in 1917. The t~'-' number of vine growers in Victoria is i&K, an increase of 92 more tbia hut jea*.

A Press Association telegram from Cbristchurch states tliat at a meeting of tho Canterbury branch of the Farmers' Union a resolution was cArried to the effect that tho meat contract with the Imperial Government should bo on the same terms and for tli© samo period as the wool contract.

Tho Dunedin grocers' shops will be op™ between tho Christmas and Now Year holidays, closing only on Wednesday and ■Thupday in Christmas and' New Year weeks

Record! Congratulations! Cable from South. America: Raul Rigonti wins kilometer championship (the rate 93.8 miles per hour) on a Harley Davidson.—Wilson — Advt.

Jap .washing crepes, in white and leadin" colours, 50in wide; price Iβ lid yard"samples posted free.—Mollisons, Ltd.—Advt! St. Kilda ladies are greatly pleased with the quality of "No Rubbing" Laundry Help. A large packet. Is 3d—sufficient for 7 weekly family washings.— Sneddon and Son. —Advt.

Electric Incandescent Lamps, Drawn Wire Metallic Filament, Philips Manufacture 15* 25, 32. and 50 candle-power. Price' 3s each. Special terms for quantity orders — TurnbuH and Jones (Ltd.), Electrio Encinegrs.—Advt.

Watsons No. 13 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money Advt

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

Christmas Presents: Just landed, highclass English Crescent Ware. Exclusive latest decorations.-Peter Diek, Moray pW direct importer of jewellery, eta—Advt