NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 39

NEWS IN BRIEF.

■Subscribers to the North Otago Soldiers' Fund have decided to ask the Hon J. T. Paul to resign his position as representative on the Advisory Board of the Federation of Patriotic Societies.

The Dunedin Presbytery referred to a committee the question of how far the people might be able to use their approaching holidays in assisting those who had been deprived of help by the demands of the military service. At the annual meeting of the Otago Institute Dr Inglis was ejected president, with Dr Jack and Professor Park as vicepresidents. It was decided to express recognition of Dr Marshall's attainments as a scientist, and regret at his departure from Dunedin.

Dr Jack, Professor of Physics at the Otago University, referred at a meeting of the Otago Institute to the dilatoriness of the Government in the matter of scientific research, and said definite steps ought to have been taken by now to link science and industry. He was afraid the question had been pigeon-holed.

The Dunedin Presbytery last week approved of a memorial minute relative to the death of the Rev. James Chisholm. The minute placed on record the Presbytery's appreciation of his long and faithful services, which were briefly enumerated, and extended its sympathy to the widow and family. The Dunedin Presbytery last week placed in the hands of the Rev. H. B. Gray a call from the Hawera congregation, signed by 212 out of 239. Mr Gray accepted the call, and Professor Hewitson was appointed to moderate in the call with the North-East Valley congregation, which Mr Gray will leave about the first week in Februarv.

Mr Reid, S.M. at Wellington, decided that the owner of a motor lorry who had agreed to remove furniture from Wellington to Pohangina must be classed as a common carrier. The motor lorry went over the side of the road, and the furniture was damaged, £127 damages being claimed. The magistrate assessed the damages at £6O, with costs (£lO 13s 6d).

North Otago is undertaking to supply a Y.M.C.A. hutment for our men at the front. The boys of the Waitaki High School having agreed to forgo prizes this year, £IOO became availabb. As £6O became available through the recent swimming sports, the principal undertook to make it up to £IOO, thus making the school's contribution £2OO. The North Otago Patriotic Association voted £IOO, and at a meeting of business men it was decided to raise £6OO for the hutment, and £6OO for maintenance and trench conditions.

Elias Friedlander and Henry George Siedeberg were each fined £25. with costs, for exporting platinum without obtaining tho sanction of the Customs authorities. Both admitted the offence, but pleaded that they were not aware of the prohibition, as it appeared in the New Zealand Gazette only. Friedlander had sent to Melbourne in the usual way lOoz of platinum, which was worth about £lO per ounce, and on learning th.it this was an offence, had writton to the Collector of Customs expressing regret, and promising not to commit a, further breach.

William Lawrence Hooper, dealer in stamps, was on Monday fined the maximum sum of £SO, with costs (£2 14s), on a charge that ho affixed upon a postal packet a postage stamp which had already been used. The stamp was a King Edward VII sixpenny stamp. It was noticed by the lady clerk at the registered letter counter to have a blot on it, and as being rough on the surface, and she submitted it to the senior clerk, who was confident that the stamp had been previously used. The defendant persisted that the stamp was not in the condition alleged when it was affixed to the envelope in his office; but MiBartholomew, iS.M., said he entirely disbelieved that the stamp had been interfered with in the post office. Notice of appeal was given.

Columba Presbyterian Girls' College broke up for the holidays on Monday in the presence of a number of parents and friends. A capital programme was submitted by the pupils, and the items greatly appreciated. A display of practical homenursing was watched with close attention. Prior to the speeches the pupils presented Miss Ross, the Principal, with a handsome bouquet of roses. The Rev. A. Whyte, chairman of the Board of Governors, after referring to the fine work done in the college, appealed for more funds to relievo the board of the payment of interest, and more subscriptions to capital account, as more buildings were contemplated. The Rev. R. M. Ryburn (Moderator of the General Assembly) congratulated Miss Ross and the staff on the groat success the school had attained. Dr Pinfold said he was proud of the fact that the dux of the school belonged to the Methodist Church. Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., presented the Navy League prizes. Miss Ross thanked tho speakers, the board, si .iff. and donors of prizes. The roll number for the third term was 151 (58 boarders and 93 day pupils). A conference was held on Wednesday afternoon in tho Town Hall, Dunedin. under tho auspices of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, to urge the appointment of policewomen About 100 were present, and Canon Curzon-Siggcrs presided. The first resolution, urging the Government to appoint women police, was proposed by Mr M. Cohen, and seconded by Mis Perryman (editor of the official organ of ' the W.C.T.U.). Mr R. Gilkison moved—" That for every centre a woman should bo appointed as a ' protector' and adviser of young women and children, with the authority and standing of a justice of the peace; that such a ' protector ' should be authorised to attend all courts in all eases where any woman or child is concerned, and to intervene if she considers it desirable." Mrs Jackson, a member of the Charitable Aid Board, seconded the motion, which was supported by Mr Duncan Wright, Mrs Colvin (Salvation Army), the Hon. J. T. Paul. Dr Emily Siedeberg. and carried unanimously. It was resolved to forward the resolutions to the Acting Prime Minister and other members, of the Cabinet. Another resignation was announced at the meeting of the Otago Patriotic Association executive on Monday, a letter being read from Mr E. F. Duthie, who has two sons on active service, stating that as ho could not agree with the Hon. J. T. Paul's ideas of military service or loyalty he preferred severing his connection with tho association. Dean Fiteheft moved—" That the association is unwilling to accept the resignations of Dr Fulton, Mr Sargood, Mr Cohen. Mr Duthie. and Mr Mitchell, and asks these gentlemen to continue their membership in the association.'' The motion was seconded by the Rev. M.

Diamond, and supported by the Mayor and the Rev. R. S. Gray. The Hon. Mr Pavi said there was one thing he was pleased with, and that was that not one of the gentlemen who sat with him each week on the Soldiers' Dependents' Welfare Committoo, and had seen his work and personal attitude had said that he was unfit to associate with them in the work they were doing. He went on to rofo: personally to most of those who had resigned. He maintained that, if the Government had insisted upon tile wealthy classes of the country doing their duty to the men at the front and their dependents, the grave crisis which had now arisen would never have arisen, because the voluntary system

would have given every available man. He resented the aspersions on his loyalty, and was not going to take it lying down. If he wore disloyal in expressing his opinion against conscription, how many millions in the Empire were disloyal? The majority against conscription in Australia included one Premier of a State. He would say that his private atitudc and his Dublie utterances showed him to be as loyal and as anxieuis to win this war as any man at the table. He strongly objected to any suggestion that ho was in any degree whatever anxious to do anything else than win the war. The motion was then carried on the voices.