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Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 3

The mails which left New Zealand for the United Kingdom on December 1 arrived in London on January 10. The Union Steam Ship Company has received word that the crew of the steamer Wairuna, captured by fche German raider Wolf, with the exception of Campbell, an engineer, and Stenman and Patterson, tAvo firemen, have arrived safely in England from Germany. The silver war badge ie to be given to officers and seamen of merchant ships who through Avounds or illness attributable to Avar eervice are compelled to give up their employment in the mercantile marine. The London Daily Ncavs quotes tho folloAving from Searchlight, a view that one should imagine, very general. Lieutenant C. M'Cartley says:—"ln his travels the soldier from New Zealand lias, seen many countries, and tho more ho lias, peen. ox

shese the more he has realised how his own Country—in the justice of its laws, the ifirility of its men, the virtue of its women, £he prosperous condition of its working passes, and the grandeur of its scenery—-

far excels them all. He haa been disgusted at the vices of foreign people, I amazed at the conditions in which largo | numbers of his fellow-men live, and surprised at the laxity of morals prevailing

among all classes in even highly civilised countries. And in his pride of his native Hand, will he not fight to keep it free from the vices and deplorable conditions which exist elsewhere? He has been willing to die for his country; "will he not be willing to live purely for her?"

The Dunedin members of Parliament have received from the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald (Minister of Agriculture) the following telegram in reply to theirs in regard to the •price of bread:—"Referring to your telegram respecting bread prices, when the matter of new flour prices is under consideration I will ask the Board of Trade to submit a report on th© best method of preventing an increase ha bread prices. Meantime it is unlikely that there will be any increase in bread prices till March 1."

The steamer Willochra, formerly employed as a troopship to convey New Zealand soldiers to the war zones, is at present running between Rotterdam and Hull, carrying British prisoners of war who have been released from Germany.

As the result of a legal opinion received from the New Zealand Counties Association regarding the licensing of motor vehicles, the Waimea County Council has decided to impose a tax on all motor car 3 in the Waimea County, Takaka County, Nelson City, Richmond and Motueka Boroughs using its roads.

Mistakes in announcing casualties are not confined to any nation, if the following story from America is correct. The United States War Department informed Mrs Mary Sullivan, of New York, on November 6, that her son, Private James Sullivan, of the Marine Corps, died from disease in France on October 3. Mrs' Sullivan replied that her son was not dead. In proof of her statement she submitted the following :—First, her most recent letter from her son reports him perfectly well. Second, he isn't in France at all, but stationed at Quantico, Virginia. Third, if he died on October 3 he kept it concealed from his mother, for he was home on furlough on that day. A correspondent directs attention to the iact that soldiers who were in camp and were discharged at the time of demobilisation are fully eligible to take up land under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act. These men were not eligible previous to last session of Parliament, but section 18 of the Repatriation Act, 1918, reads as follows: "In addition to the persons referred to in section 2 of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, 1915, the following persons shall be deemed to be discharged soldiers within the meaning, and for the purposes, of sections 2 and 3 of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Amendment Act, 1917 —namely, all discharged members of an Expeditionary Force who, having been classed as medically fit (whether absolutely or contingently) for service beyond the 6eas, have served as members of that foroe in a camp of military training, and remained attached to that camp on the 12th day of November, 1918, being the date of the cessation of hostilities with Germany." Thus, if a man went into camp even as late as November 1 of last year, was classed as fit, and was in camp on November 12, he is entitled to take up land under the Act.

At a special meeting of the Bruce CountyCouncil yesterday the statutory half-holi-day for the district for the ensuing year was fixed •as Wednesday. After an interview with the executive of the United. Master Bakers' Association of New Zealand the Dunedin members of Pau liament have wired to the Government making strong representations against any increase in the price of 'bread. The usually quiet precincts of a Chinese garden at Milton were rudely disturbed early on Tuesday morning, when an argument arose between two Chinamen named Joe Lew and Kum Chung. The latter, becoming very exoited, pioked up a tomahawk and hit Lew on the head with it, inflicting five gashes, three of which required stitching. Chung was arrested by Constable Fox, and brought before the court on the 15th inst. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, with hard labour. Chung was recently sentenced to a similar term of imprisonment at Dunedin for threatening a city butcher with a knifo.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Congregational Church Men's Society in Adelaide last week on " Men, "Religion, and Reconstruction," the Rev. S. H. Cox, of Perth, said the average man in tho church did not take his work in it seriously (reports tho South Australian Register). Church work was still too "namby-pamby" and confused, and did not appeal to men. Religion was bigger than the Church. The wav had raised the pointed cmestlon —"Is the Hindu who sacrificed his life in Franco as real a Christian as the Australian who

had dono likewise?" They must recognise the permanent value of other faiths. They must change their attitude. Credal squab? bles must go if they were to win the respect of the average man, who judged all sects by what they did. The first great demand on the Church was efficiency, but there was little of it there, and the fault lay with the average irresponsible layman. The Church must be reconstructed, for in the war men had learned to ask for sincerity and simplicity. The Church must awaken, wipe off its bad debts, and 'begin afresh. That would mean crossing off the roll all nonworking members.

A society is being formed in Wellington, to be known as the National Mothers' Help Society, which will be conducted as a branch of the Women's National Reserve, with the object of helping the mothers of the country, and by doing so helping the country itself to recover from its great losses through the war. It is contemplated that the workers will devote a few hours a week to relieve the overworked mother by taking out her little children, and therefore allowing her time for rest and refreshment, to the end that she may be the better enabled to carry out her duties as a mother.

Owing to a probable diminution of entries and a lack of publio support, the Tokomairiro Farmers' Club has decided to abandon the summer show, which wa3 postponed owing to the influenza epidemic. ! Tho effect of war conditions upon the marriage rate in the commonwealth is apparent from the quarterly summary of tho Australian statistics just issued (says the Melbourne Age). In 1914 the marriage rate was 8.80 per 1000 of the mean population. In 1915 the rate advanced to 9.14, but fell successively to 8.21 in 1916, 6.87 in 1917, and 6.79 in 1918. The decline has been common in all the States. The birth rate has suffered proportionately, having declined from 28.05 in 1914 to 25.52 in 1918. Victoria claims the distinction of having more or less consistently had the lowest birth rate and the highest death rate of the six States for some years. The highest birth rate last year (28.83) was in Queensland, and the lowest (22.61) in Victoria. Victoria's death rate last year was 10.13, its nearest competitor being Queensland, with 10.11. The death rate in the other principal States ranged between 8.72 and 9.44 per 1000 of the population. The Northern Territory's death rate, which advanced from 21.59 in 1914- to 25.16 in 1916, and declined again to 14.93 in 1918, still remains as distinctive in one direction a 3 that of the Federal territory in another direction The Federal territory's death rate, which has never been higher than 6.89, dropped last year to as low as 1.72. The reported explanation of this phenomena is the persistent disposition of the population to die elsewhere.

The greatest rainfall for last November 1 was recorded at a height of 1255 feet at Otira, with 28.38 inches .in 18 wet days. In 16 wet days at Arthur's Pass 18.98 inches of rain were recorded. The heaviest rainfall in the North Island was recorded at a height of 550 feet at Mangaot.ahi, with 11.30 inches in 17 wet days.. The greatest number of wet days in the North Island were experienced at Arapeti (Tokomaru), Whangamomona, and Oheke, the two | former recording 24, while the latter had 125 wet days. In the South Island 24 wet days were experienced at Ross, in West- | land. The lowest rainfall was at Dipton, Southland, with 1.19 inches in nine wet j days. In the North Island, Portland j Island, with 1.28 inches in 10 wet days, ] gave the lowest reading. The lowest num- : ber of wet days was recorded at Kaitaia, in ! the North Island, with four, while in the j South Island there were six wet days at j " Horohcre" (Central Moutere), Port Hardy in the French Pass, and at Blackstone Hill. An agreement between the DiinedinRoslyn Tramway Company and the Dun-f-din and Kaikorai Tramway Company on the one part, and the Otago Tramway Workers' Union on the other part, has been filed with the local clerk of awards. Clause 15 reads as follows. —" The agreement to

operate as from the date of the receipt by tho companies of the Order-in-Council empowering them to increase their scale of fares, and to continue in operation till December 31, 1920." The agreement docs not mean than finality has been reached in the industrial dispute between the parties. When the Order-in-Council is received the working conditions and wages of the car repairers, linesmen, greasers, and ropemen only will'be affected, the union delegates at tha tramways conference agreeing to accept the employers' offer regarding these particular occupations. The union delegates, however, declined to accept the employers' offer of Is 3d for conductors for the first two years of their service, and Is 4d for tho first year for motormen and gripmen. As regards these latter occupations, the union

will havo to re-register under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and make application to the court io. have the conditions and wages of conductors, niotormen, and gxipmen brought into line with those on the Mornington line. In the meantime, pending the receipt of the Order-in-Council, the hill companies are working under the old agreement. On the 20th the Post and Telegraph Department resumed the services foromerly given to the public (states a Press Association telegram from Wellington). . The hours of attendance observed at offices prior to July 1, 1918, will be resumed, except in a few isolated cases. Approximately 200 men have been discharged from camp since the armistice was signed, and this enables the department to provide for clearance of tho posting boxes in the larger cities after 10 p.m., for the restoration of some of the postmen's deliveries, for longer attendance at public counters, and for extension of the money order hours, but mails will close as at present, except in the smaller towns. As soon as a sufficient number of men have returned from the front the full restoration of services will be given effect to. The usefulness or otherwise of school committees was exhaustively discussed by tho New Zealand Educational Institute on Monday (says the New Zealand Times). Tho majority of members were strong in the opinion that school committees as at present constituted are jiext to useless. Generally school committees were made up of men of mediocre intelligence who met together at regular intervals to indulge in occasional squabbles or perhaps arrange for the payment of the charwoman who cleaned out the school under their control. One or two teachers gave it as their opinion that school committees if regularly used might be helpful. The institute passed a resolution suggesting the . abolition of school committees and in their p'lace to establish education committees, such oommittees to be composed of strong men who could be given, more power to advance education along right lines in the districts under their control.

Beginning 1 work as an errand boy- at nine years of age, James Henry Thomas, M.P. for Derby, has been one of the foremost figures in the Labour movement in Britain, and now finds his work of many years crowned by his election as chairman of the Parliamentary Party. He has been the champion of the railwayman for many years. While always insistent in supporting what he regarded as their just demands, ho has ever been ready to adopt conciliatory methods, and has on several occasions been the means of averting a threatened strike; From errand boy Mr Thomas became engine cleaner on the Great Western Railway, and subsequently fireman and engine driver. His interest in the Trade Union movement began very early, and, before leaving Newport, after passing through various grades of the service he was elected president of the Trades Council. He was only 21 yeara of age at the time. He became president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in 1910, and has been General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen for some years. He has represented Derby in the House of Commons since 1910.

"We have asked the Homo authorities to expedite the return of all coal miners and men who have not finished their apprenticeships," states the Minister of Defence, in. regard to the repatriation of the N.Z.E.F. "The Minister for Public Works has also asked that a number of engineers in his department who are needed to prepare the work for the men who are coming back shall be returned as soon as possible. In cases of special hardship, too, the repatriation of the men is being expedited. The applications go through Base Records, and if they are favourably reported on, we cable home, and the men are returning at the earliest opportunity. Otherwise the fit members of the Expeditionary Force will return in the order in which they went to the front. The Imperial authorities have not said anything about setting aside a portion of our troops for service in Germany; and we have asked that they should expedite the return of our men, because they have so far to. go. They may not require to retain the whole of our men till peaco is settled. I cannot say. That rests, of course, with the Imperial authorities." The Minister anticipates that the great majority of the sick and wounded will be here by the end of February.

The Bluff Press reports that the men who handled the cheese loaded into the liner Kent have nearly all become victims to " cheese" rash, caused apparently by the blue mould on the cheese getting into the pores of the skin while the men were in a heated condition. The rash is lumpy in oharacter and rather irritating. This is the first time such an experience has befallen the local watersiders, but a similar occurrence has been recorded at Wellington when.the men handled cheese that had been in store for a long period.

Appreciative cheers greeted the reading by Mr Watt, tho Acting Prime Minister of the commonwealth, in the House of Representatives last month, of a _ letter from General Pau enclosing a donation of £IOOO from the French Mission for the benefit of the widows and orphans of Australian soldiers. The letter stated, inter alia: As a memory of our sojourn among you—as a passing sign of our gratefulness to Australia, which will be everlasting,—allow me, dear Mr Watt, to offer you the enclosed sum of £IOOO, which it is my -wish to see distributed by you in the best way in your discretion to the widows and orphans of the Australian heroes who, by voluntarily giving their lives to a sacred cause, have so largely contributed to the defence of the soil of • France, and to the now triumphant victory of the Allies.

A wonderful jewel romance centres in the auction at Christie's of a collection of ( pearls given by the women of the Empire to the British Red Cross . Association. The original intention was to form one necklace and sell it on behalf of tho Red Cross, but the women throughout the Empire responded so generously, sending 4000 pearls, that 40 necklaces were formed. The pearls were carefully graded and regraded by leading London experts. Many were of surpassing beauty and lustre. They;

included the famous Orient, 72 grains, valued at £15,000. Others were of 30 grains, and there were many black, pink, and bronze pearls. Historic diamond clasps were given by old aristocratic families, and a single diamond of 202 carats, in addition to old gold and silver ornaments. The exhibition at the Grafton Galleries drew crowds of women, despite the charge of 5s made for admission. An excited crowd of society people took part in what was almost a football scrimmage in order to gain admission to Christie's room oh the day of the sale. Record prices were secured. Prices for the day amounted to £85,000. The lots included a single row necklace, 623 grains, which sold at £22,000. Another brought £4600: Eleven unmounted pearls were sold for £3833, N one drop pearl for £750, and * a pair for £950.

A wire-making industry at Newcastle (N.S.W.) will shortly be established. , The company will draw its supplies from the steel works/*- and will employ about 500 hands. Electric power will be obtained from the Government power house at Newcastle, and 100 h.p. will be required for the first eection of the plant. When the works are running fully ICOO,.- men will be employed, and- ultimately they will be expanded to take on 1500 hands. The capacity of the works at first will be 200 tons per day of all kinds of wire, and ultimately they will put out up to 400 tons per day. The company will not only supply the whole of the requirements of Australia, but will export a large quantity of wire. Captain Hall Thompson stated to a North Island pressman that as a result of. further information received from Germany, it was learned that 35 mines were laid off Cape Farewell. Of these 18 had been accounted for, and probably others had also been destroyed by coming ashore and exploding. So bad had. been the weather during the last/ two months that the trawlers had been able to put in only a few days' work. With the advent of fine weather, and the assistance of the Tutanekai, which was now being fitted up for mine-sweeping, the captain hoped that in three months, at the most, he would be able to raise the embargo on the port of Wanganui. In" that time he hoped to locate the mines or satisfy himself that the danger was reduced to a minimum. He pointed out that the danger to shipping lay in the event of the steamers having to run away from the Wanganui roadstead owing to rough weather. The danger zone as defined by. the Admiralty is all that part of the sea between New Zealand and a line drawn from Egmont to Farewell.

The conference of representatives of the various Labour Federations throughout New Zealand, called by the New Zealand Federation of Labour, has now been fixed for January 28. The meeting will take place in Wellington. It is understood that an endeavour will be made to federate.all the existing federations in one big body; in short, the policy of forming what is generally known as "One Big Union," will be discussed.

Striking proof of the almost general immunity of tho old'from the scourge of influenza is given in the fact that not a single case occurred at either the Auckland Veterans' Home or the Costley Home. At the former 30 old soldiers, mostly between 80 and 90 -years of age, passed untroubled through all the long period of sorrow and immune from the deadly attack of the enemy which laid low so many thousands of the young and vigoroiia. Tho same fortunate immunity was experienced by 270 aged men and women at the Costly Home. The place was closed to visitors, and the only cases which occurred were one .or two among the staff.

Despite the fact that there is no longer a scarcity of tobacco leaf—the American crop, in fact, is reported to be a record one, far eclipsing any previous yield—there does not appear to bo any immediate prospeot of a drop in the prices of plug tobacco, and more especially of cigarettes.- One material cause of the high prices of cigarettes in the dominion is the heavy Customs duty -imposed by the Government. This duty is now 25s per thousand cigarettes, or 3d on every packet; of 10. It is also more or less' common knowledge that a combination is nowin possession of the principal brands sold" in New Zealand, but how for its aetfvities operate in arranging the prices cannot be ascertained. The fact that the restrictions whioh the Imperial Government plaow upon the importation of all tobacco leaf into Groat Britain have been removed r—the embargo was plaoea on the raw material on the ground thai the manufacture 6( tobacco waa & non-essential industry—may also have some effect on the tobacco market, aa stocks in Greai Britain were de-

pleted to almost a minimum. These stocks have now to be restored. In the depletion 1 of the stocks, however, consequent on the I demand by soldiers for cigarettes, the | British merchants must also have had the I opportunity of getting rid of a large quan- ; tity of old stock. At any rate, returned : soldiers say that some of the cigarettes J purchased in England for them by patriotic) money raised in the dominion, and supplied to them in France, were cigarettes in name ' only. I The monthly meeting of the committee of the Duriedin Jockey Club was held on ThursI ciay afternoon ; present—Messrs P. Miller (in J the chair), L. C. Hazlctt, J. Gow, W. H. L. ! Christie, E. H. Lough, J. W. Thomson, SI. ; S. Myers, W. J. Coughlan, and J. A. Cook. , Mr R. Acton Adams wrote asking the com- ! mittee to obtain an explanation of the ; handicapping of Nocturnal. It was decided ; to forward a copy of the letter to the ! handicapper, asking for his reply. A cir- '. cular letter was received from the president ! of the Racing Conference, stating that the ! statutory number of racing days would be '. restored as from August 1 next; also that on ' the definite declaration of peace there might be an immediate restitution of the days of racing. It was decided that the first race : at the Cup meeting start at 12.15 p.m., ! and the last at 5.30 p.m., and to apply for ! train service corresponding to. the 1916 : meeting. The followingvwere appointed a j Judicial Committee—Messrs Cook, Elliott, ! Lough, Myers, and -Thomson, j Musical circles in America are keenly in- : terested in a new prodigy, a 17-year-old i Russian Jew, Jascha Helfetz by name, ' whose skill with the violin has been producing quite a sensation. Critics on some of the leading papers are paying the highest tribute not only to the ..perfection of his. technique but to the "rare artistio quality of his playing. It is said that at the age of eight months he could be stilled only by the tones of his father's violin—his father being a member of a symphony orchestra at Vilna. Ten months later the .'infant was clearly able to detect wrong notes, purposely played. At the age of three he received his first instruction on the violin, and was able to accomplish in a month or even a week what would take other children a year. At the age of four he so impressed the authorities -of the Imperial Music School with his ability as to obtain admission to their classes. At six he .was playing Mendelssohn's Concerto at ; Kovna, before an enthusiastic audience of a thoxisand people. j Mr and Mrs Ernest Firth, of Christchurch, who have been spending a few days ' in the city, assisted in the musical portion of the Central Mission service on Sunday. I A very largo congregation assembled, and I the service was conducted by the Rev. j Clarence Eaton. A pleasing feature notice- ! able was the presence of many returned I soldiers, to whom a iiearty welcome was : extended from the pulpit. Mr E. Firth presided at the organ, and Mrs Firth very acceptably rendered the solos " Abide With Me" and "Dry Those Tears." Mr Firth is organist of the Durham Street Methodist Church, and the assistance of the visitors was greatly appreciated by the Mission coni gregation.

| Mr O. J. M'Kenzie, Public "Works District Engineer, returned to Dunedin on Friday night from a visit to Dog Island. Mr M'Kenzie says that the repairs to the lighthouse have now been completed, a 1 reinforced concrete skin having been placed | on the outside of the house and a mass of i concrete inside. The new bridge which has been under construction by the Public ; Works Department at Arthur's Point is ! also finished, and will bo opened to traffio | in the second week in February. | '' Quite enough of them already if they did their duty properly," was the remark applied to the Public Health Department by the chairman of the Waihemo CountyCouncil on Saturday evening during a discussion on the influenza epidemic, which was raised by the receipt of the following resolution from Hastings:—" That the Council of the Borough of Hastings strongly ; urges on the Government of New Zealand ' the absolute necessity of strengthening .the j financial position of the Publio Health Department, so as to extend, its powers and functions and enable it at all times to successfully combat and control any epidemic that may attack the community; that a scheme be evolved whereby the bacteriological work of the department may bo extended*in every direction, that such salaries be offered as to induce and encourage men of great scientific ability to offer their ser- ! vices, and that each and overy local i authority in the dominion be asked to 1 support the resolution." 4 letter was also received from the Napier Borough Council

asking support for a resolution requesting the Government to set up a Royal Commission to inquire into the epidemic? and tho way in which it was dealt with.—Cr O'Connell was in favour of tho Hastings resolution, but other councillors were chary of' the proposal -on the score of expense, and the opinion was expressed by several that the department had failed owing to othei/ causes than the want of a professional staff. It was pointed out that the already had power to increase his staff, and that New Zealand was not the only country in which the epidemio had run its course despite medical measures. One councillor said that the doctors " didn't know a ' blooming' thing about it." The resolution was formally received. The Hon. T. M. Wilford had some extensive motoring in his own car in the South Island (says the Post). One big run was from Mount Cook to Picton. He left Mount Cook on Friday morning of last week with Mrs Wilford and Miss Wilford, and: went on to Timaru and, Christchur'ch. At this city Miss Wilford left the car, and Mrs Wilford and Miss M'Lean; took seats for the run to Kaikqura and' Picton, which was reached on Monday night, >, A visitor to Dunedin in connection with the conference of the New Zealand Railway Officers' Institute on Saturday informed a Daily Times representative that a new political party, distinct from any of the present parties in the House of Representatives, was being organised throughout New Zealand. Asked what the aims of the new party would be, the visitor replied: "It will be purely a progressive party and one which will, without any camouflage whatever, seek to bring about reforms which tho Government of the day and its predecessors *in office have failed' to tackle, because of the wire-pulling done whenever these reforms were mentioned. It will be, I think, the most demooratio party that has existed since the late Mr Seddon's death. It will represent the democracy and be distinct from ultra-conservatism and Bolshevism. In short, it is out to do all it can for the dominion's future progress and the pi-osperity and happiness of all sections of the people, and in particular that "•reat middle section of the community which to-day has little or no representation in Parliament. The visitor added that an outstanding feature of the party would be the fact that young progressive men possessed of the moral courage to tackle big questions in a businesslike way. were to be given a chance of doing something to restore order out of the chaotic state into which our political affairs had fallen." Questioned further as to whether this party was being promoted by any of the people associated with the recent no-license campaign the speaker replied: " Certainly not, it is the outcome of a great deal of thought that has been given by several educationalists in the northern centres to pressing economio questions in New Zealand which are apart altogether from the liquor question. Tho aim of this party will be to relieve a majority of the people of this country from the unduly heavy burdens they have been compelled to carry for years, and at tho same time to see that justice is done to all sections of the community."

A Lyttelton Times representative was informed by Colonel J. C. Nichols, A.D.0., Commanding the Otago Military District, that as the outcome of a recent conference in Wellington between the district staff officers and the headquarter's staff, it has been decided to make a considerable reduction in tho existing establishments of the forces in New Zealand when the work of demobilisation has been completed. As far as practicable effect has already been given to this polioy, but it is found that a considerable number of the men who were previously employed in administration work in connection with the camps and the Military Service Act will be required for demobilisation and repatriation duties. Colonel Nichols stated that a considerable amount of time at the conference had been devoted to the discussion of demobilisation plans, and as far as the Defence Department was concerned these were now complete. The Demobilisation Committee, which has been drawing up plans in "Wellington in connection with demobilisation for over a year has been keeping in constant communication with headquarters in England in order to co-ordinate the work at both ends.

A question which continues to concern returned soldiers throughout New Zealand (says tho Wellington Post of Thursday) is the basis of superanmxation for those who join the service of the State or local bodies that have superannuation schemes. For example, at a meeting of the committee of the Wellington Returned Solders' Association, it was stated that a harbour board employee, who had been wounded at the front, was unable to h& certified as fit to

participate in the board's superannuation and insurance scheme. The man had joined the staff of the board, and was able to do, apparently, the duties allotted to him, but because he had been wounded he could not be certified as physically fit. The committee decided to send a deputation to the board, with a view .to suggesting that the regulations might bo relaxed in the case of returned soldiers who joined the board's staff.

Australia appears likely to be thrown on its own resources for its linseed requirements. The temporary disability (says tho Age) should prove to be an ultimate blessing. ■ The Director of Agriculture (Dr Cameron) has been informed by the Director of the Commonwealth Bureau of Industry that the Indian Government is disinclined to permit the continued export of raw linseed to Australia in preference to the oil, as the exportation of the ~ seed is adversely affecting the oil-pressing industry in, India. Apart from this, a shortage of , oil cake for military forage purposes is being brought about. The recommendation is made that all the linseed required for tho production of oil in Australia should be grown Tocally, and that farmers should receive encouragement to embark on this irorm-of cultivation. ' Victorian farmers have already been induced to cultivate flax for fibre and oil by the gurahtee by tho commonwealth on behalf of the Imperial Government, of £5 per ton for flax in the sheaf. It is understood that the commonwealth Government is considering the advisability of guaranteeing an even higher price for crops grown in 19J9.

Teachers, for tho good of tho children, have interested themselves in tho class of moving picture- shown in New Zealand. Mr F. A. Garry reported to the Educational Institute on Wednesday (says the Wellington Post) on behalf of the committee which had interviewed the New Zealand Picture Supplies (Limited), with reference to moving pictures for children. The picture proprietors had admitted that there was a problem for teachers who were charged with the education and training of children, and they did not wish to do anything which would , antagoniso the teachers. At the same time, tho proprietors made it plain that their business was-"dollars," and that they had to consider the public taste. They could not run picture shows at a loss. They had, however, drawn up programmes of scenic, industrial, educational, and dramatic subjects which the teachers could not but commend. These programmes could be supplied' for two years, and new supplies coming forward would enable them to be continued afterwards. In making the programmes such that they would offend no one, the proprietors had gone further than they need have gone. The proprietors, however, stated that if such programmes were shown the public would not attend; but if the teachers woujd endeavour to induce. tho children to attend such programmes and keep away from others, they would be con- : tent to have them shown without making a profit, so long as there was no loss. The proprietors wero willing to give private screenings to teachers, so that'they might explain' the pictures to the pupils beforehand. Mr F. Coleman (Nelson) said they had a system operating in Nelson for some time for the screening, of approved programmes for children on Friday afternoons, with a view to preventing children from attending tho general programmes. Tho system worked admirably. The members of the committee were thanked for their report.

A recent Paris message stated that the cession of Spanish- Morocco to France in exchange for a cash consideration of £40,000,000, the return of Gibraltar to Spain by Britain, and the abandonment of Ceuta in Morocco to Britain by Spain, are openly discussed, Tho Spanish Premier, Count Romanones, outlined these proposals during his visit to Paris to President Wilson and M. Clemenceau. Officials neither confirm nor deny the report. Still these proposals were freely discussed in the corridors of the Chamber of Deputies, as well as the renewal of the proposal to build a tunnel under the Strait 3 of Gibraltar to provide a direct land connection between Africa and France, which could bo extended to England if the English Channel tunnel were constructed.

Artists of Australia and New Zealand are appealed to for designs "for a proposed memorial to Anzao horsemen, to be erected in Egypt. The idea oi tho memorial originated with tho Ist Australian Light Horse after tho battle of Roman], and it was intended to commemorate tho members < of that unit who had fallen in battle in defence of the Suez Canal. The application was extended, and. it was resolved that a memorial to cost from £SOOO to £6OOO

should be erected, and all members of tho Australian and New Zealand Forces wer# asked to contribute a day's pay toward* the expense. The response was liberal; the Australians contributing £2569 10s Bd, the New Zealanders £659 4s 2d, the totalis;from the men themselves being £3228 140. lOd. Other sums brought the grand total to £3473 Is 6d. No publio subscriptions were asked tor, but in order to meet tho < expressed desire of relatives of men who ■■"' had fallen tho fund was opened. to such.' '• . The difficulty now is not so much one of.. funds as of designs. The municipality offPort Said has offered a site in full vie\r of passing ships. Designs are asked noi only - from Australian and New Zealand artists, but also from men in the field, and' Mr J. M. M'Donald, secretary New. Zealand Academy for Fine Arts, Wellington. i» anxious to hear from them in respect to tho matter. : " '. ' ■-.. ■ \ Is

A cablegram to the Australian paper* of January 3 states that Colonel T. H. Dodds, Commandant of the A.I.F. Headquarters in London, announces that finality has been reached in regard -to .the .191415 medal, which is to take the place of tho Gallipoli Star. It has been decided that tho medal shall be issued to all British fighters in 1914 and 1915, including the .'Australian. Mechanical Transport, Siege Gunners, Anzacs, who fought in Egypt, the first New Guinea expedition, and the Australian, naval forces on board of warships in 1914 and 1915. The ribbon will be similar to that of the Mens medal. A small quantity has been sent to Australia. Colonel Dodd* has ordered further large supplies. j ■■.-"'' '.:■