THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3279, 17 January 1917, Page 39

THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

NEW ZEALAND'S RESPONSE MILITARY SERVICE ACT. FINAL APPEAL BOARD. WELLINGTON, January 11. Under the Military Service Act the Government has power to set up a tribunal of final appeal to determine) appeals from the decisions of Military Service Boards. The Defence Minister was asked to-day whether ho proposed to set up any such tribunal. _ The Hon. Mr Allen replied, definitely in the negative. "I see no necessity for a Final Appeal Board," ho said. "The boards aro doing their work very well, and while this is so, there seems to bo no need for a board of linal appeal. We have had only two or three appeals from the decisions of Military Service Boards from the very many cases heard." HON. Mil ALLEN'S WARNING. WELLINGTON, January 11. The Hon. Mr Allen stated to-day that he had no intimation yet as to the number of ballot men who have not yet obeyed instructions to report to Medical Boards or have not turned up when ordered to mobilise. If there were any such men, urged them to fulfil instructions, as the Government has to carry out the provisions of the Act. He hoped,' and much preferred, that the men should come of their own free will, and bo treated as only "absent without leave," instead of for the more serious offence of desertion. MAKINGI^TsnOETAGES. Some leave-expired men will go north from Dunedin on Thursday to make up shortages in the Twenty-fourth and Twentyfifth Reinforcements, and another batch (probably much larger) wili depart on the 23rd. TWENTY-FIFTH REINFORCEMENTS. AUCKLAND QUOTA LEAVES. AUCKLAND, January 9. The Auckland military district's quota for the Twenty-fifth Reinforcements, recruited under the voluntary system, left for camp to-day. There were very few absentees in the City group quota when the roll was called this morning. WAR PENSIONS. SIX THOUSAND CLAIMANTS. WELLINGTON, January 11. The War Pensions Department last week dealt with 348 cases. The total claims to elate number 3348 from soldiers, and 2204 from dependents. The annual value of pensions granted to date is as follows:—933 soldiers, £49,059 (average £52); 388 widows and wives, £57,813 (average £97); 1381 other dependents, £39,654 (average £28); 2719 temporary pensions, £146,559 (average £53). Grand total, 5421 pensions and allowances; annual value, £273,095 (average £SO). The annual liablity is reduced approximately by £40,000 owing to cases being struck offl the roll. new zealantTccuimissions CLAIMS OF EXPERIENCED SOLDIERS. AUCKLAND, January 10. During his recent visit to the western front Mr C. J. Pair, M.P. for Eden, found that ninny non-commissioned officers who had seen service in Egypt and Galb'poli complained that they were overlooked in the matter of granting comniiss.ons. The system, Mr Parr says, seemed to be that the young men with no military experience were sent from New Zealand with commiss:ons, and men at the front with actual fighting knowledge were passed over. "For instance," Mr Parr continued, "1 found three sergeants in the trenches who had been through Gallipoli, and had served three montiis in the trenches in Franco, each of whom appeared fully fitted to have received a commission, yet they had been entirely overlooked. 1 both cabled and wrote to Mr Masscy upon the subject, and I have just received the following letter from the Prime Minister in reply: " I quite sympathise with what you say in regard to the question of promotion to commissions, and tins matter has been engaging my attention during my visit to England. I have already conferred with Generals God ley and Richardson, and I believe that, as a result, something will be done at once to do away with the grounds tor complaint wnich existed. The question, though by no means an easy one. is not insolvable, and 1 believe that cases such as you mentioned may easily bo dealt with upon fair methods.' "I have reason to believe," Mr Parr said, "that all three of those sergeants have, since the vis't of the Parliamentary party, received their com missions.'' THE SIXTEENTH REINFORCEMENTS. A member of G Company, of the Sixteenth Reinforcements, writes to us as follows, under date November 8. from Sling Camp, Salisbury Plains:—"As there are no doubt many people in Dunedin interested in the welfare and whereabouts of the members of the Sixteenth Reinforcements, who visited the city in August, 1 would like to inform them that we are (it and well, and undergoing training at Salisbury Plains. Wo aro in the depths of another winter, and oar departure for France is expected daily. We have not the time to answer the numerous letters received from Dunedin citizens, but, believe mo. the whole of us retain very kindly thoughts of the warm hospitality wo received during our three days' stay in your city." Til]: EIGHTEENTH REINFORCEMENTS. INCIDENTS AT ALBANY. ' Tito following extract from a letter re-

coivod from Mr Cox, field secretary of the Y.M.C.A., has been placed at our disposal: '' There was to have bi on an anti-conscrip-tion mooting on the night of our arrival, hut the Mayor refused to grant the use of the Town Hall unless a deposit of £25 was made as a guarantee against any damage which might bo caused by soldiers. The four of us (two Y.M.C.A. field secretaries and two chaplains) went to see what mighthappen. The proceedings were transferred from the Town Hall to the band rotunda, but when the speaker rose in the dim light of a lantern he failed to obtain a hearing. Our Y.M.C.A. field secretary, Dr Bedford, offered to secure the' attention of the crowd, but the speaker declined his offer, and so Dr Bedford took the platform. He gave a stirring address in favour of military service, speaking for 20 minutes, and received a great hearing from all hands—-a big score for the Triangle. After the meeting we four made an excursion to get the boys out of the hotels (which close at 9 p.m.), and secured a big haul. On calling at one hotel at the top of the town at about 9.45 p.m. the- doors wore all locked, and, knock as wo would, they were not opened. Up a back stairway we went, and from a balcony wo saw four or five soldiers in a back bar. We got these, and also another half-dozen who were still being served. As soon as they were all out Dr Bedford gave the proprietor a great dressing-down, accusing him of playing into the hands of the enemy and threatening to report him. The fellow was frightened out of his wits." Dr Bedford writes'in a letter relative to an incident mentioned above: " At our last port of call the two Presbyterian chaplains and myself assisted to clear the hotels. The trouble is not with the men. but with the publicans. If the latter would observe the law there would bo little drunkenness. Time after time we found parties of men locked in back bars after the legal closing hour. Despite tin's not a man missed getting back to his ship before departure. Now Zealand mothers may well be proud of the boys who have left them." DEATHS OF SOLDIERS. Mr A. Garland, president of the Waimate branch of the .Farmers' Union, received word on Saturday that his eldest, son, Corporal E. Garland, had died of wounds in Egypt. Corporal Garland, an ex-pupil of the Waitaki Boys' High School, was a member of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, and was wounded in an engagement on December 23 AUCKLAND, January 11. A returned soldier, Private Ronald Henry Mayno, died in the hospital to-day. He was shot through the lungs on Gallipoli, invalided to England, and returned to the dominion in September. Afterwards he was discharged. The deceased was a native of the United States, and married an English girl while at Brockcnhuvst Hospital. His wife is still in England. PERSONAL. Dr Gilray has received a letter from his son, Lieutenant Colin Gilray, written at the General Hospital, Etretat, on November 25, in which he says that he is recovering from his wounds. Mr and Mrs J. 11. Shaw, of Waitahuna, have just received word that their son Oliver, who is one of five brothers on active service, has earned his commission on the field. Lieutenant Shaw is with the Ninth Light Australian Horse, and was wounded towards the close of the Gallipoli campaign. Ho is at present on the Sinai Peninsula, and writes of "severe fighting, but glorious victories all along the line." PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION RELIEF. AUCKLAND, January 9. At a meeting of the Claims Board of the Auckland Patriotic Aesociation to-day a lengthy discussion took place regarding the future policy of the board. It was felt that on the whole there was no reason to alter the system adopted during the past year, with the exception that in deserving cases it was recognised by members that where there were dependents it would be necessary to slightly increase the scale allowed for the purpose of meeting the higher cost of living, particularly where the Government pensions were deemed to be insufficient to meet the individual circumstances. It was reported that with regard to a case recently represented by the board to the Pensions Department the representations re suited in an increase in pension of 50 per cent. On the whole, the Claims Board is now satisfied with the pensions allowed by the department. " A PACKET OF JOY." An Otago soldier, writing to his parents from the troopship by which he was travelling, says: "To-day we had a few joy bags delivered. They were throe sacks of parcels put on board at Port Chalmers for the Otago and Southland men. There are very few men from those districts aboard, so that what was left was divided equally between the other two companies and balloted for. My luck was in, for mine was the first name drawn from the hat. The parcel contained —Two pair socks, one balaclava., one pair mittens, one toilet bag with cake of soap, a medicine bag with castor oil. liquorice and cinnamon, ointment, and eucalyptus in it, a cholera belt, two handkerchiefs, a pair of boot laces, and one housewife. Oh. it was a regular packet of joy! Good luck to the Otago ladies!" BELGIAN RELIEF FUND. THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES LIST. Previously acknowh dged ... £27,816 18 5 ■•Gratitude." 0 10 0 Todd Bros, and Co. (Ltd.). per the Belgian Consul 25 0 0 "R.D.," Kokonga 1 10 0 Mrs Henry Mitchell, monthly contribution 1 0 0 Proceeds of concert by some little boys and e-iris at Taicri Mouth ' 0 5 4 "J.H." 0 5 0 Tuanoka Mouth Patriotic Committee 6 0 0 Employees of D.S.A. £1 16 6 T) S ,\." subsidy on above ... ' 1 16 5 "•\Yarcoa" 0 7 6 Matea 'School 1 13 0 \ M'Lomsan. Weddcrburn (monthly contribution) ... 0 10 0 "\Y. \Y." 0 10 0 Total ~ ...£27,55S 2 1

SERBIAN RELIEF FUND. TOE OTAGO DAILY TIMES LIST. Previously acknowledged ...£1772 3 1 "Gratitude." 0 10 0 Tuapeka Mouth Patriotic Committee 6 0 0 | Total £1778 13 1 | RED CROSS FUND (OTAGO). THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES LIST. Previously- acknowledged £277 15 1 I Mrs M. Nichols 12 10 0 Total £290 5 1 GISBORNE DISTRICT. WELLINGTON. January 10. Rod Cross Day for the Gisborne district realised £4617, which has been remitted to England. PAY OF SOLDIERS. i TEN SHILLINGS PER DAY SUGGESTED. At the meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council on Monday a letter was received from the Petone Borough Council embodying the following resolutions, and asking that they be supported by the St. Kilda Council: —" (1) That it be a recommendation from the Petone Borough Council to the Government that the pay of all men who have enlisted from New Zealand and are serving with the forces, whether on land or sea, be increased to 10s per day. (2) That, in view of the fact that the Government has conscripted men, it take immediate (-tops to conscript wealth, and pass such measures as will prevent the public being exploited, and thereby enabling persons to amass fortunes out of conditions arising consequent on the war; such legislation to bo retrospective from the outbreak of the war. (3) That the wealth and profits so conscripted be utilised for the benefit of the men and their dependents who are serving with the forces." Cr Dove moved that the letter be referred to the Finance Committee. Cr Eager seconded the motion. Cr Scurr thought the council should deal with the matter that night. He was euro they approved of the principles laid down in the resolution. They must all bo agreed that the money being paid to the men was totally inadequate. Further, the men who were being sent out of the country were being exploited for the benefit of men left behind m this country. —(Cr Kilpatrick: '■; Hear, hear."). " I feel I speak on behalf of every member of this council," said Cr Scurr, " when I say wo are entirely in accord with what the Petone Council has said, and that some proper and adequate provision .should be made for the men sent out of the country to fight and for their dependents. At the time these men were sent away others who are already wealthy were allowed to accumulate greater wealth by the exploitation they were permitted to carry on consequent on the laxity of the Government." He moved as an amendment —"That this council heartily approves of the principle embodied in the Petone Borough Council's resolution, and resolves to give that body the support of this council in compelling the Government to recognise its duty to those who wore being sent from this country to fight on behalf of the wealthy, who remained behind and were permitted by a supine Government to reap huge profits out of the prevailing conditions." Cr Kilpatrick seconded the amendment. He heartily agreed with what Cr Scurr had said. It seemed to be the sentiment of everyone they met that proper provision for payment to the men was not being made, and that opportunity was given to others to make more. Cr Dove said he would withdraw his motion. He had moved it only to enable the matter to be discussed by a larger meeting. Cr Eager agreed to the motion being withdrawn. He, too, desired a larger attend anco at the council. He quite endorsed the remarks of Cr Scurr. Cr Scurr's amendment then became the motion, and was carried without dissent. WINNING THE MILITARY MEDAL. OTAGO BOY HONOURED During the heavy fighting which the Now Zealand troops m France took pan in last September, Bombardier Charles E. Mains, a son of -Mr and Mrs Janes Mains, of Sawyers' Bay, performed service of so distinguished an order that he was awarded the military medal. Bombardier Mains left New Zealand with tile Main Body, and after the conclusion of the Gallipoli campaign he proceeded to France with his unit. By the last mail his parents received two letters from him and also an enclosure from the High Commissioner for New Zealand congratulating him upon the honour which ho had "so well earned." Bombardier .Mains leads up.to an account of tie.' incident that won him the medal by expressing his pleasure at hearing that one i of his brothers had won a boxing tournament. He goes on: "That will bo another medal to add to our collection in the family. I and I am very proud to be able to say that I too have another one to add to mine, the best I've got yet. 1 have won the military medal for fixing up our lines of communication on September 15 during an advance from Gincliy and Delville Wood to Flers, when things wire pretty busy. I was out all that day and.until 5 o'clock the following morning. 1 did not know anything about it until we had been relieved and were on our way here. It was at Corbel that the colonel told me and congratulated me. I am now entitled to wear the little ribbon for that particular modal. We put up a record at the place where we have just come from, being in action for eight weeks. You see it is so hot there that one crowd can't very long. f was awfully glad to get away, and consider myself more than lucky to do so." In the course of his second letter, which is dati d November 24. Bombardier Mains says: "I think from what 1 hear that we are settled down for the winter. 1 hone so, anyway, as we are very comfortable, and it is only occasionally that you would know there was a war on here ai all. You can't imagine what a wonderful relief this i> after the Sommo. You know, for eight long weeks one's nerves were strung up to concert pitch, and I often wonder bow long a man could have stood the strain. I am very, very thankful that 1 am not much troubled with bad nerves, or 1 don't knowhow I would have got on at all. It used to

bo groat watching tho German prisoners coming in, in long strings at a time and trying to talk to them, but occasionally you'd strike o«io who could speak English perfectly. There was a larjje percentage of j young buys among them who always seemed j to be more than happy at having been taken prisoner without being badly wounded." 'J he writer adds that lie was also selected j by General Russell out o; a crowd of picked I men to represent New Zealand artillery in | a painting which is to go to the London j Art Gallery. IHO NOI; H S FOR All SIR ALIAN SOLDIERS. The number of members of the Australian Imperial Force whoso gallant conduct during tho present campaign had been recognised by tho award of decorations, according to tho London Gazette files to hand (January 5) is as follows: Victoria Cross (V.C) H Order of the BathKnight Commanders (K.C.T3.) 1 Companions, Military (C. 8.) 20 Order of St. Michael and Saint GeorgeKnight Commanders (K.C.M.G.) ... 1 | Companions (C.M.G.) 34I Distinguished Service Order — Companions (D. 5.0.) 69 Military Cross (M.C.) 121 Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) 257 Military Medal 250 "LIVE UP TO THE REST YOU KNOW." A MOTHER'S LEITER TO A SOX WHO WILL NOT RETURN. Ihe following copy of a letter written by the mother of a New Zealand soldier at tho time of his departure for the war from which ho will not return, for his nama occupies a place in the Roll of Honour of those who have laid down their lives for their country, hart been placed at our disposal in the hope that it may afford a measure of comfort to other bereaved and anxious mothers : "My dear dear Son, —You are going oufc into tho world to fight a great light both for the good of your country and also of your own character. 1 send you forth with the prayer, " Go, and may the Lord go with you,'" confident, even before 1 ask it, that God is always witlj you, guiding and helping each sold who seeks His help and guidance; but remember, He cannot reach your consciousness unless you open the door of your heart and mind to His Divine influence by looking to Him and asking for His presence with you. It matters nob how simple the prayer, even though unspoken or unexpressed in words, if yoa but send a thought, an aspiration upwards, acknowledging God's Divine Fatherhood and loving care of you. and seeking inspiration and strength to do right. Live up each day to the best you know, never stoop to do anything lower titan that, and God will indeed be very near to you whatever dangers and temptations may surround you." " Ho" will help you to keep pure, honest, and loving, and you will reap the reward of doing right by greater happiness and power in all you undertake. Road these words very oft< a my dear one, and think of your loving old mother, and all the love' and hope and faith in you she is sending out constantly, and try to realise that distance can only separate us in a bodily way from our loved ones, but has no power to'separate our souls. When theso loving thoughts are sent one, like wireless telegraphy, they carry their message just in the same way. and more than that when our bodies are 'asleep. The soul—tho real I—travels on tin' astral, the next plane of existence to this material one. and there we meet our dear ones and spiritual guides, and waken up in the morning (maybe with no distinct memory of if. for the brnin is a bodilv instrument and also sleeps when the body sleeps) but with refreshed mind and stronger to enter upon the duties of tho dav. Therefore see to if that your last thoughts are pure and loving ones, for on the wings of those thoughts are you bornein your sleep. Write to us as often a» you can; remember what a comfort and pleasure you will give us all by doing so. If it is not easy, just a few lines telling' us how your health is. and if you ara happy. -Ever your loving mother."