THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 38

THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

NEW ZEALAND'S RESPONSE WAR HONOURS FOR NEW ZEALAND. OFFICIAL IDENTITY LIST OF RECENT AWARDS. The following is the official " identity list " of the officers, non-commissoned officers, and men who participated in the Royal honours on January 25. The list previously published contained the- names of the recipients only : C.M.G. Major Lewis Edward Harriett (Mrs M. V F. Barnett, Dunedin). D.C.M. Private Harold Boreham (James Boreham, Dunedin). MILITARY MEDAL. Private John Foley (Thomas Foley, Waipiro Bay, East Coast). Private Richard Witters (W. Witters, sen.. Gisborne). -' Arthur Ross Penman. (Mrs Marie Penman. Auckland). Lance-corporal Frederick Charles Glees.on (Mrs M. Glecson, Auckland). Private William Edward Hallam (Mrs F. C. Hallam, Bulls). Private T. W. Collier, Royal Scots (next-of-kin not known at Base Records). In the official "identity list" published last week the name of Major Norton Francis should have appeared as that of the recipient of the order of C.M.G., not of a bar to the D.S.O. MAIN BODY FURLOUGHS. NO PAY TO BE GIVEN. WELLINGTON, February 14. At a recent meeting of the Executive a number of inquiries were considered dealing with the question of pay to men of the Main Body who had returned to New Zealand for business or family reasons. It was felt that since the holiday for the Main Body was cancelled it was desirable that leave to return to New Zealand should bo as generous as possible. It was also pointed out that those able to secure leave under these conditions Were relatively fortunate as compared with the men still on active service. The Executive decided not to take any further steps.

SOLDIERS' FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BOARD.

INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND AVAR LOADING. Interviewed by. a Daily Times reporter yesterday," the _ Minister of Defence said that tho question had many times been brought before him of financial assistance to meet insurance premiums and war loading on new policies taken out by reservists called up for service, and for general information ho desired to state the practice of the board in the matter. It was as follows: 1. The board will consider the payment of insurance premiums and war loading (if any) on the full; sum assured under policies taken out some time prior to the date of the enlistment of the soldier, or to his being called up in the ballot, subject, of course, to his ffnaiJcial circumstances warranting a grant under the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Regulations. 2. In the case of new policies up to £2OO only ,thc board is prepared to consider payment of the ordinary premiums and the war loading, where there is ■no existing policy, and where the circumstances warrant a grant of financial assistance. It was to be remembered, of-course, that the board only assists with respect to a policy when a soldier is unable to'meet the premiums out of his military pay and would be under the necessity of allowing it to lapso. If the soldier had no dependents or other obligations the board would not grant any assistance if his pay and other sources of income were sufficient to meet the premiums and provide for hie reasonable personal requirements while on service.

WAR PENSIONS BOARD

The Minister of Defence has appointed Mr James D. Harper all additional member of the War Pensions Board. At, the outbreak of war Mr Harper, who had been for some years manager of the Wellington Timber Company, enlisted, and left with the Main Body in October, 1914. Ho was attached to the Divisional Headquarters, and served both in Egypt and at Anzac. Mr Harper was present at the landing in April, 1915, and served on Gallipoli for live months before contracting enteric fever, on account of which he was invalided to New Zealand and discharged as medically unfit for further service. Since his return Mr Harper has been actively interested in all questions affecting returned soldiers, having been chairman of the Wellington Return 3d Soldiers' Association since its inception, and also vice, president, of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association until recently, whoa he was elected acting president.

EVASION OF MILITARY SERVICE.

A FARMER CONVICTED. WANGANUI, February 15. After a two days' trial in tho Supreme Court, Douglas Campbell Waldie, a settlor in tho Waitotora district, was found guilty on~a charge of assisting Michael Killalea to escape from military service. Killalea was the principal witness for tho Crown, and as ho was bordering on collapse Mr Justico Hosking ordered* him to be medically examined before the case proceeded. Killalea. pave his evidence with difficulty. He said that years ago he came out from Ireland. He was cutting tracks on Waldic's farm, and after he was drawn in the ballot the accused induced him to make a dugout in a cliff, whore he lived for six months. Witness said ha worked in the daytime, but slept in t&o dns-out, and took refuge there when people were about. He was told that the. Government was shootuijj deserters or throwing them overboard from transports, and he was afraid to give himself up. Eventually Waldie leased tho &arm, and on witness shifting to another

part of tho district ho was arrested. Ho was then in on emaciated state owing to exposure. Tho defence was that tho accused neither employed nor encouraged Killalea,. Mrs Waldie (wife of tho accused) said she lived in a state of terror, knowing that Killalea was about, but she gave him food, as she was afraid of some revengeful act. They were afraid to inform the police because of possiblo consequences, as Killalea made threats to kill her husband. Finally they decided that the only course was for hereolf and hen husband to leave tho district at once. PROSECUTIONS AT STRATFORD. STRATFORD, February 15. At the Magistrate's Court to-day two employers, charged with employing deserters, were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence -within three months. In these cases the magistrate (Mr Crookc) made the order in the form stated because, he said, the amount of tho lowest penalty (£SO) would be altogether too severe under the circumstances. In the case where Robert Horace Phillips was charged with retaining in his service a son, aged 22 years, who was a deserter and is now serving a sentence of 11 months imposed by a courtmartial, the defence was that tho son was not in his employ, though allowed to remain on tho property. The son was always a religious objector, and an appeal on this ground having been dismissed the father denied responsibility. The court, held that tho evidence was insufficient to convict. SOLDIERS SENTENCED. Three soldiers at Trentham camp, having been convicted by District Court-martial of disobeying the lawful commands of their superior officers, have each been sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for two years. Their names are as follow:—Private L. Batten, Details, Trentham camp; Private H. Jordan, Details, Trentham camp; Private J. Calpin, Details, Trentham camp. Three more soldiers at Trentham Camp having been found guilty by District Courtmartial of disobeying the lawful commands given by their superior officer, have been sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for two years. Their names are as under: 71995 Private A. Eraser, Details, Trentham Camp. 71996 Private A. W. Harding, Details, Trentham Camp. 71999 Private J. J. Lloyd, Details, Trentham Camp. Another soldier found guilty of desertion and of losing by neglect his equipment, clothing, and regimental necessaries, was sentenced to 90 days' detention and stoppages of pay. The sentence in his case has been mitigated so that if he embarks for active service outside of New Zealand, then upon arrival at the final port of disembarkation the unexpired portion of his sentence (if any) shall be remitted, and his New Zealand records endorsed accordingly. In Trentham camp orders it is announced that 71116 Private M. Holroyd, C Company, 35th Reinforcemente, having been found guilty by District Court-martial of disobeying a lawful command . given by his superior officer, has been sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for two years. OTAGO WOMENS ASSOCIATION. A very large mail was received at the Early Settlers "Hall on Friday morning, including over 800 acknowledgements from France for the Dominion Gift Parcels. A great many letters go to the branches and to private individuals who donate one or more parcels every month. Miss Helen Mackenzie (hon. secretary of the Now Zealand War Contingent. Association) also acknowledges several cases of shirts and undershirts, etc., sent Home for the use of New Zealand soldiers.

AUCKLAND NURSE HONOURED.

mentioned: IN DESPATCHES.

Nurse Hughia Sutherland, of Waipu, who returned to New Zealand on furlough by the last returning draft after two years of active service, has been mentioned in despatches. The occasion which obtained her and several other nurses that honour was service aboard a transport conveying wounded and sick soldiers. The ship passed through a heat wave so intense that several of the officers, all but one of the doctors, and most of the-'orderlies and attendants were completely prostrated. The conditions on board for the wounded and sick and for those nurses who were able to continue or. duty were very trying. Nurse Sutherland has seen service in hospitals and' on hospital ships iia Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and West Africa. She received her training in the Auckland Hospital.

THE NATIVE RESERVE.

WELLINGTON. February 14. A Gazette Extraordinary publishes regulations as to registers of Nativo reservists under the Military Service Act. The regulations provide that there shall be. a separate register for the First Division of the Nativo Expeditionary Force-Reserve for each of the recruiting districts constituted for that reserve. When, the Minis ter has authorised the calling up from any recruiting district of reservists belonging to the First Division oi the Native Expeditionary Force Reserve, a selection of those ieservi9ts shall be made separately in re-spoct of each recruiting district from which reseivists are to bo called up. CHURCH ARMY HUTS. The Military Affairs Committee of the Church of England in New Zealand last week cabled Homo tho sum of £looo—-£SOO for " Hastings-Haveloek-Clive Hut" and £SOO for "Knox Naval Hut." This makes a total of 10 Church Army huts subscribed for during the last seven months. The Church Army huts are open to all, irrespectivo of faith, creed, er opinion. An Anglican chaplain with the Kew Zealand Forces, in a recent letter from the Walton-on-Thames Hospital, mentions that, while ho conducted services in the hut at Mount Felix, the same hut was also used by a Roman Catholic padre for mass and a Methodist chaplain for services. The New Zealand secretary is the Rev. K. W. Whibley, of Ormondville, Hawke's Bay.

JOTTINGS

Cabled advice, dated February 2, has been received by Base Records that 18959 Sergeant W. A. Thomas, a New Zealander

serving with the Welsh Fusiliers, has been awarded tho Distinguished Conduct Medal. His nearest relative is Mrs A. Thomas, 41 Harrison street, Wanganui. Mr Erio H. Halley has been granted a commission, and will proceed to England shortly as draft conducting officer. Lieutenant Halley has been serving the Empire since August, 1914, having been through both the German South-west and the East African campaigns with the S.AF.A. Lieutenant Halley is a grandson of the late Mr J. A. Matthews, Mornington. Corporal Frank Justus Tempero, who has received from King Albert the decoration of Chevalier do l'Ordre do Leopold 11, is a eon of Mr L. 11. Tempero, Eden street, Oamaru. He was born in Oamaru, and attended the North School, where he was dux of all standards up to the Sixth, where ho tied for tho place of honour. Ho then went to the Waitaki Boys' High School. He commenced teaching at the North School as a probationer, and, after having served two years there, ho went to the Training College. He was next appointed to the South School, from which he enlisted. He left with the D Company of the 26th Reinforcements as sergeant, but was subsequently reduced to the rank of corporal, as is the custom. On several occasions in France he was acting sergeant. Mr Tempero knows nothing of the services for which Corporal Tempero received his honours. THE BALLOT SYSTEM. THE DEFAULTERS' LIST. The Hon. Sir J. Allen (Minister of Defence) yesterday supplied a Daily Times reporter with some interesting information with respect to the number of defaulters since tho ballots commenced. Up to February 2 last 92,674 men had been drawn in the ballots, of whom 9001 were reckoned as defaulters —that is, they could not be found. Five thousand eight hundred and fifty-one of tho men have since been found ; 2497 cases are still under investigation, and many of the men will be found; and 653 warrants are in the hands of tho police. Three thousand one hundred and fifty men, therefore, remain to be found or arrested. Many are found without tho necessity of gazetting. For instance, out of the 5851, no fewer than 4351 were found without gazetting. Such men are those whose location is found by inquiry, and who-are secured and sent into camp. They also include men at sea-, in hospital, in prison, deceased,- etc. The total number gazetted is 2450. and the majority of the men have been located. Up to date, of the defaulters who have been found 2509 have been brought up for medical examinations, and the fit men among them Have been sent to camp. The total number of warrants issued up to February 2 was 1260, and under these warrants 333 men had been arrested, while 274 warrants have been withdrawn, leaving 653 still outstanding^ ORDERED TO PARADE. Notices in the Gazette call on the following reservists to parade for medical examination : Bretton, Charles Lawrence, traveller, Dunedin. Brown, William, Dunedin. Britten, John, tailor, 323 George street, Dunedin. Burns, P. J., Glasgow House, Dunedin. Columb, John, farm labourer, Outram. Hull. Frank, plumber, 7 Fairfax street, Roslyn. Hanlon, Francis, linoleum-layer, etc., 137 Great King street, Dunedin. Mangan, Hugh Henry, traveller. Port Chalmers. Ross, George, farm hand Lee Creek. Cameron, John Duncan, shearer, Kurow. Fredric, James. Augustus Hayze, master plumber, .Georgetown. Harbourne, Charles Fitzrov, labourer, Clyd-?. Larkin, James William, farm labourer, Livingstone street, Oamaru. Moffiit Ernest James, goldminer, Waikaia. Wilson. Jack, farm Wad, Otematata. Stevenson, David, station Bennett, Harold William, farm labourer, Dipton. Bones, Clement, sawmiller, Otautau. Buchols, Adam, East Gore. Crowe, Michael, labourer, Limehills. Deakin, David Swan, flaxmill hand, Cattle Flat. Deegan, James Lawrence, farm hand, Otahuti. Larsen, Albert, labourer, Balfour. . Lee, David Alexander Waddell, stripper? keeper, Mokorcta. MacLeod. Wm. Jas., labourer, Nightcaps. Parker, Wm., labourer, Wyndham. Scott, Robt. Forrester, labourer, Bluff. Sloan, James, stoker, Queenstown. Smith, Percy, farm assistant, Makarew.a. Stewart, John, scutcher, Wyndham Valley. Young, David, labourer, 162 Esk street, Invercargill. Ausfin, Jas., labourer, Timaru. ■ Barr, Stanley, labourer, Waitaki. Bates, Wm., shearer, Orari. Carroll, Wm., labourer, Ashburton. Chester, Henry Lennox, fajrm hand, Levels. Massey, Arthur, labourer, Glenavy. M'Oarthy, Patrick, hawker, "Methven. Murphy, Michael, farm hand, Rakaia. Spillane, John, farm labourer, Temuka. LETTERS FROM THE FRONT. IN EAST AFRICA. Lieutenant Sidney V. Montgomery, in writing to the head' master of the Albany Street School from Dar-es-salaam (East Africa) says that he can quite realise that there are few at the old school who will remember the -writer, "but in these days, when the Empire's forces are concentrating from all ends of i;he earth, the old school where we were taught that all the ends we should aim at were ' our country's, our God's, and truth's' is still remembered. Probably in your own town some controversy has raged anent the advisability of teaching children so much about the history of the Old Land and so little about their own birthplace. To-day I can fully appreciate Mr M'Millan's reading of 'Westward Ho!' Mr Spence's insistence on our knowing precisely why Oliver Cromwell harmed Charles, and Mr Thompson's lucid explanations of our Imperial policy that led US against Russia at Alma, Balaclava, and Sabastopol" The writer states that ho was enjoying wonderful health. Fever had been a terrible scourge in the British ranks, no fewer than 30.000 men having been invalided from this cause alone in 12 months. When ho wrote they were preparing the final assault against the Germans, and " there is no doubt," he added, " that before three months are over another dominion will bo added to our possessions."