Ifofrert.p §ag pirate, PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1918. BRITAIN'S FOOD PROBLEM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14607, 17 May 1918, Page 2

Ifofrert.p §ag pirate, PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1918. BRITAIN'S FOOD PROBLEM.

People m New Zealand who dwell m peace and plenty have, small conception of the stringent conditions under which the citizens of France and Britain ! have been living, and of the restrictions and discomforts which are being cheerfully endured m the great national effort to win the war. The food position m I Britain first became serious when m one season France lost 40 per cent, of her average harvest and Italy 33 1-3 pet cent, whilst supplies from Russia and Rumania w*re completely cut off. On top of this came blizzards m America, causing a 60 days' delay m the transport of food from that country. Next m succession of events was the tT-boat war. From February 10th, 1917, to the same date m 1918 we lost 1302 ships, representing tonnage aggregating 3,500,---000 tons. This loss of tonnage was a serious thing for an island people dependent largely on their supplies being drawn from overseas: Yet the net result brought small comfort to the> Hun, for he had boasted that his submarine warfare would strike terror into the heart of the British nation within three weeks and.end.the war m three months. That aspect did not and will never materialise. But at the same time m order^ to gain a right perspective of Britain's food problem, it is necessary to fully realise what our shipping losses mean, and in 1 this connection some interesting facts were recently given m a lecture by Dr Cameron, a representative of the Ministry of Food. Early m the U-boat campaign, he said, a 5000---ton grain ship was submarined. That meant the loss "of six \ million loaves of bread— enough to feed London for half a weak. In one week m December last we lost £3,000,000 worth of bacon and £4,000,000 worth of cheese. Then there were further losses to shipping, owing to th« Admiralty commandeering nearly half the merchant. ships for the transport of troops from America, Australia, and other parts; of the Empire. In 1914 we had 13,888 ships of over 1600 tons, and m February last there v^qvq 2993 afloat. Of that number 1800 had baen commandeered for, other services, leaving 1193 boats to do the work of 13,888. These figures, of course, only refer to the British mercantile marine, and Britain has had to charter and buy neutral shipping,' and has also utilised as far as possible captured German vessels. . "So much for the black side." said Dr Cameron. "Now for the brighter. The United States "had a wonderful harvest m 1915. The average harvest m 'America is 700 million bushels; m 1915 it sprang to 1100 millions. In the same year Canada's harvest sprang from 200 millions 1 to 400 millions. We owe much to America. In order to assist us to ths full, the Americans have instituted, food economies which must have a farreaching influence. They observe wheatless and meatless days, and recently" Washington wired to Whitehall that they wonldl be m a position to supply the Allies.with 150 million tons of bacon and 25 millions tons of frozen meat over and above what they were expecting to get. In addition to thes.e splendid contributions from the United States and from Canada, the British Isles have "been able to help thamselves. Tlie Government encouraged the people to place every 'available allotment under cultivation. The result is that tha potato supply alone has been augmented to the extent of an additional 3,000,000 tons, and Britain is looking forward to the greatest grain harvest m its history. Moreover thfr 'country, m the last six months, has increased its supply of pigs by half a million Henceforward food imports are to have the first claim on British ship-, !ping —all food shipments are to have 'priority." Ho* important this is will be understood when we state that 65 per cent, of Great Brtain's essential food oomes aoross the Atlantic from the

United States and Canada. The exigencies of war have of necessity thoroughly reorganised the intricate machinery of commerce, and the new Ministry, of Food has had to launch the biggest scheme of. international socialism history ever knew and the greatest business project m the world — so vast v business project that last year its Wheat Commission alone bought £400,000,000 worth of grain and this year it will exceed the £500,000,000 mark. The Ministry faces three gigantic jobs — the maintenance m Great Britain (and to some extent m Prance and Italy as well, m the case of purchasing meat, bacon, hams, cheese, lard, butter, margarine, and sugar; and m France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Greece, and probably soon m Norway, Sweden and Holland m the case of grain) of an adequate food supply for present needs and a margin of reserve for future needs; and the distribution of foods and the control of their prices. At the present moment, it is> hoped that the margin of reserve is sufficient to guarantee the! bread of the Allied peoples and armies until the next harvest. This margin has been amassed despite the fact, that there is a. world shortage of food, due m part to natural causes and m part to the world's sudden conversion from production to destruction. It is a narrow margin, and takes no account of the luxuries m foods; it doesn't guarantee against privation, but it does guarantee for the present, at any rate, against the prospect of starvation. It affords unlimited quantities of even the necessities to none. Economy is now no longer voluntary. Tt is compulsory. It is the only way to maintain even a narrow margin m reserve. It has been achieved by putting an instant stop to the profiteer and the food hog, and by proceeding, especially m the case of potatoes and bread, to the subsidisation of the producers. The natural operation of the law of supply and demand having broken down, it has become necessary to fix prices, and Tather than permit consumer and producer alike to join m a a howl of "robbery," it has proved expedient to fix prieeg low to the consumer and to tax him indirectly for subsidies to the producer. Under this, scheme about £40,000,000 is paid annually to farmers the world over to speed them up m grain producing and about £10.000,000 to potato raisers, a policy which last year turned a potato shortage into a 2,000,000-ton surplus, and which has materially increased the stocks of grain over those pi a year ago. The net result is that the consumer m Great Britain can buy all the '-bread he needs at ninepence for a foui'-pound loaf. The reserve margin has been achieved largely by improvements m shipping control, lo get the most out *of the decreased tonnage, the Ministry of Shipping has speeded up the handling of ships, graded cargoes and makes it a rule to import the cargoes nearest at hand, (c. g., thoi ship which brings 1 a cargo of grain from Australia to London Docks 'could bring three cargoes of grain from the United States m the saitfe time). The intensity of this problem of getting the most out of a decreasing tonnage • may be- realised when one is reminded that a sunk 1600-ton vessel, not only .loses to Great Britain its 1600 tons of cargo, but at least 16,000 tons of foodstuffs. which it could have brought- to England m the time it takes to replace it. Having achieved its margin of supply, the Ministry's next job is to get it distributed to the consumers, and this has been brought about by an intricate system which it would taka us too long to describe Ono may Tinderstand how intricate this machinery is, when it is stated that the Ministry of Food is distributing through 100,000 retail shops— sooo of them the shops of co-operative societies, 10,000 the shops of multiple shopkeepers. 15.000 ordinary grocery shops and 70,000 small general shops. The essential thing is to disturb the normal distributing pi'ocesses as little as possible and at the same time to place them, under tlio strictest accountability. Accordingly, a. system of Registration and licensing has come m, by which the bona fide wholesaler is requh'ed to furnish returns of his ante-bellum trade and on the basis of these returns, he is licensed to purchase at the . Ministry's prices for wholesalo purposes under the Ministry's regulations. He then becomes m reality the. Ministry's agent with his fixed commission for his salary. So that the effect of the entire schevme is the total elimination of the. middlemen's profits, while tion of the middlemen's machinery, and substitution for his profits of fixed commissions which form merely an equitable salary for services rendered. The last of the gigantic jobs which confront the Ministi'y of Food,* i. c., the. job of controlling prices, is altogether too complox to go into. The Wholesalers' prices to the producers, the retailers' prices to the wholesalers and the consumers' prices to the retailei's each provide a new difficulty m every article controlled. It is a task which is raised to the highest conceivable point of complexity by the fact that every one of the 46,000,000 people to be fed m Great Britain alone, . possesses an income different. from every, other one; by the fact that local condi-: tions m every county are different, and., by the fact that prices must be fixed high enough to tempt producers to increased productivity and low enough at the same time to place the controlled article within" reach of the humblest consumer/ •However,, the work is being done and ! done on the whole, we think, well. Much could be told about the system of ration•ing and of how well it is being accepted by the people. (My as necessity arises, are additional articles of food to be put' under compulsory rationing, and then m such a manner as to impose the minimum of inconvenience and the maximum of advantage to the consumer, while leaving traders ready to resume business when v war conditions cease. It is a ; Satisfactory fact that, now m the fourth year of the war and at the end of the -Ministry of Food's- first year, Great Britain, France and Italy, despite com- • pulsory rationing, duei to world shortage of food, are not confronted J with anything like the hardships which confront the consumers of Germany and Austria, and that the prices of necessary ) foods, right now. m England, are lower lhan the prices prevailing a year ago, ihat is prior to the formation of the "Ministry of Food, although the natural tendency was for prices to soar as the war was lengthened. Lord Rhohdda assures us that we can be of good heart about the position at Home. The health of the Old Country was never better than it is to-day. Bjitain is sharing her bread with her Allies m France and Italy. The King is rationed as jrell as tho "humblest of his subjects. The f people are determined that if food is to be the determining factor, as well it may, then Germany is going down first.

Temporary bridges .having been erected across the wash-outs 'beyond Matawai, the train, service to Motuhora will >be resumed to-morrow.

Additional donations Received by the treasurer of the Y.M.O.A. Fuml are as follows: Znrze £5, E. W. Coop £25, J. J. Rogers £2.

Advice has been received by the Gisborae West School Committoe that Mr Sidney King has been appointed assistant master.

A meeting of the Cook County Council will toe held next 'Friday at 11 a.m. m connection with the subject of Kaiti •drainage, ami' to adopt the classification list.

At the Hospital Board meeting yesterday afternoon, the Mayor (Mr> W, G. Sherra'tt, intimated that hp was gp;ing to Rotorua on the 30th inst. on a fortnight's recuperation holiday.

Six applications for the position of Medical Superintendent of the hospital wei*ei received at yesterday's meeting of the Board, but after some discussion it was decided to extend the time of closing applications till the 29th inst. There were no applications from local medical men.

In connection with the old hospital 1 buildings the Salvation Army wrote offering £1000 for the building and £52 {)er year for a term qf 3Q years f;or %he and. iVffcer having been, discussed by the-memhers qf the Jlpspital Board yesterday, it was decided to . accept the. offer, except that the period of the lease pf ,land at £52 annually be reduced to 20 years, and a revaluation be ma.de ; for the last ten years, eqst of thp buildjng fo be paid by easy instalments;

The attention of the Magistrate's Court was occupied this afternoon with the hearing of a claim for £4 10s 9d. being a dispute between Alfred Brown, motor engineer (Mr. Willock) and Andrew MoCullocli. taxi-driver (Mr. Burnard).

The following players will represent United Thirds on Saturday afternoon : — Burt, R. Bartless, File, Warren. Ronga Ria, Charles, Forbes, Hacche, Mackev, Wootton, Kura, Torrie, B. Bartlett, G. Cudd, and Kennedy, (emergencies Weatherley nad Richards).

Before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M., m the Civil Court yesterday afternoon, Hemi Popata (Mr Hei) proceeded against Waitu Paku Teka (Mr. Dunlop) fnr the recovery of £11, alleged to he money lent to defendant. The defence contended that the payment was made as compensation for an action of the plaintiff's grandson. After hearing considerable evidence , on the point judgment was given for defendant with £3 0s 6d costs.

On Thursday evening next Miss Vera Moore will give her second and - last pianoforte recital. An exceptionally fine programme has > been * arranged, including the Bach suite m G minor, Brahms Raphsody, Beethoven's Rondo, and the famous Prelude m C sharp minor by Rachmaninoff. Miss Moore will again have the able assistance of Mrs. J. A. Rosewarne and the Rev. H. Packe. Programmes of admission are now on sale at Chrisp's.

At the Cook County Council meeting this morning it ■ was announced that a Bill was being prepared by Sir Joseph Ward, enabling local. bodies to go m for electrical schemes, the Government retaining the right to take over such schemes after ten years, allowing 5 per cent, on original cost and 10 per cent, after 20 years. The subject was dropped with the remark of the chairman, "We haveri't enough to keep the" roads open, let alone go m for electrical schemes."

Judging by tha- trend of a discussion at a meeting- of the Hawke's Bay County Council, it is not unlikely that a ; system of toll gates wiU soon be adopted. During the discussion it was recognised that a whole series of gates would follow the •erection of the first one, each riding naturally desiring to have equally good roads. The adoption of a scheme, was deferred, pending a report of the Public Works Department on ths Taupo road, an artery where the. first gate will probably make' its appearance. Au interesting case' came under the notice of Mr. ,W. A. Barton, S.M., yesterday afternoon, when James Perry, engineer, Gisborne (Mr. Burnard), laid a claim against Lazarus Wolfe. Balkind, moneylender, Christchurch (Mr. Coleman), on th.3 grounds that the rate of interest paid was excessive. Evidence was given by plaintiff that on June 2, 1917, he borrowed £10 to be paid m monthly instalments of £4 13s 2d, interest working out at about 200 per cent. After hearing the evidence legal argument was deferred till Monday at 11.30 a.m.

At the meeting of the Cook Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday a lengthy discussion m committee took glace consequent on a letter received *om the Health Inspector, drawing attention to the number of suspected cases of diphtheria sent to the hospital, and it was decided, oh the motion of Member Humphreys, that a committee, consisting of the BbaTd, Dr. Reeve, and the Board's architect, go into the- matter of ascertaining whether or not any portion of the old building would be suitable for the purposes of an observation ward for these. suspected cases.

The secretary of the Cook Hospital Board (Mr. E. Eenton) was recently called m the ballot, and at yesterday's meeting of the Board some discussion took place as to- whether the Board should appeal m order to retain his services m the institution. It was ultimately decided not to appeal, but definite action was held over pending his medical examination. The secretary stated that it -Was no wish of his that the Board should appeal on his behalf. He had already been m camp, and was rejected as unfit. He felt he was nowj fit, and had Yio desire to. be connected with the Appeal Bo&rd. '. As the' outcome of recent legislation affecting tramways generally it will be necessary to appoint a local Tramway Appeal Board under the presidency of Mr. W. A. Barton, with representatives appointed by the Borough Council and tramway employees respectively. The clerk of the court will be the clerk of the new board. The procedure appears somewhat superfluous, seeing that there are only three local tramway employees, and th v tit no. dispute has arisen. However, the machinery will be ready should the necessity arise, for , the parties concerned are to be called upon to appoint their representatives.

Somo discussion iJook pace at the meeting of the Cook County Qouncii this morning, .when the chairman announced that the overseer (Mr. J. J. Keane) had' be.ciii called to the colors. He said he felt- it was absolutely necessary to appeal ioi* this man on accoitnt of his knowledge of the d'strict and conditions generally. It wou'd be a difß.cult matter for anyorie to replace mm, He nio\»d m that direct^ii). Or. Boland seconded the motion, and' m doing so said the present byer: ccv knew tM'here to get suitable men- ard the class of work to which they were bai sirted. All the councillois present concurred, and the motiphi was carried unainiimoixsly. The 35th annual meeting of the Gisborne'Gas Company will be held this when the following report will Be submitted: ''An interim dividend was paid on September 30th, 1917, amounting to £1335 .Is, and the balance now available for distribution, less appropriations made at last general meeting of shareholders, is JG3166 10a 4d, out of which your directors recommend a payment of a, further dividend of 6d per share on 53,402 shares, amounting to £1335 Is. and to. carry the balance to general reserve. During the year the. directors regret to report the loss by death of their co-director, Mr. P. McLoughlin. Mr. W: H. Chrisp was appointed to fill the vacancy. The retiring directors are Messrs H. J. Bushnell, A. Cuthbert, and W. H. Chrisp. who! are eligible and offer themselves fcr reelection. The auditors, Messrs. J. H. Evans and H. M. Porter, alsb retire, and offer themselves for re-election." At yesterday's meeting of the Cook Hospital Board the following letter was' received from the Health Inspector (Mr. F. O. York) : "I wish to draw your attention ta the habitual overcrowding of amusement houses. The. manner m which the gangways are allowed to become blpoked by permitting extra seats to be , put down m them, and some people standing and sitting upon the floor m them, will some day lead to a very serious catastrophe should an alarm of fire be raised or .a panic be^; caused ; through an earthquake. It is a matter. : that directly concerns the Board only" so far v as tfiese houses are licensed, for seating a certain number, and the nnm ber, I take it, has been the* basis on which the architects calculated the' amount of ventilation rieeded to keep the air from becoming objectionable or injurious to the people using the house ; and it is from this point of view that I deemed it necessary to report the matter to you."— After soine discussion It. was decided to refer the mcittev to the Borough Council fop consideration.

Daspit© the inclemency of the weather the Patvitahi Church fete, which was held In the hall yesterday, proved highly successful, the takings-amounting to between £50 and £60. Aftea< the evening session xt. Dutch auction was conducted by Mr. C MoQrannedan. The following ladies also assisted at the stalls, m addition to those M'hose names ap-peai-.ed ( m our issue yesterday: — Mesdames Lynch, Woodward, Dolman, and Wallace. The various competitions. y«= suited as follows :— Naildriving (married ladies), Mrs. G. Bruce ; singJo ladies, Misses Rawnsley and. t)unlop; cotton winding, Meßdiimes T. Sherratt, artd' Hast; single ladies, Misses, Pyke and Rawnsley. Three ladies-^-Mesdames Palmer and Lynch and Miss Williamstied for th>3 cake-estimating competition, One lady withdrew, and: the cake was divided between the other* two, Mr«. Redstone and Mrs. .Crawford tied for. the estimate/ of the weight til the ham, • and the priz^fcas 4Mded. In the newspaper compe^lon |liss Deyer proved the winner, J. ' . :'

On Thursday morning of last , Week 250 motor-cars passed over the ftaft&ia bridge, and' with one or two exceptions they werp "bound for the Ashburton races. The Asfhbiivtoii High School boys who helped the laiiiKu\s- m t.hn * Asnbmtbn County vejy materially with .their harvest, are now busily engaged on the [potato crops during the' holidays.. . ...;.... A recommendation has been made through Sir James Carroll to the Hon." H. D. Crtithrie, Minister for Lands, for the appointment of Messrs.. W* R Bobb, J. Dewer, and G. H. Ballard as members of the . Patntahi Cemetery Board. '■■ Them were 4345 acres of lariil opened up for selection by the Crown Lands Department during May, most of w'hioh v m. Auckland, Hawke's Bay, and bonfihland provinces. It i« notified that" there are also 4198' acres to be opened lor seleotiom m June, mainly in" NteMsotf and Cnntei-buiy provinces.

a^J* 5 JNrt'Peabie (writes "Agricola," bouth Island correspondeyat of , tho Farmers' Union, Advocate) Dhat CaHfoTnian thistle, gorse, sweetforiar, arid rabbits are oh the increase iflHng tti ; \tnei lack of labor to deal with them, so tW the war is causing niuoh rif our land \n deteriorate m. more ways tihari tine. ™- A imputation is to wait upon the Hdn W. D. S Mac Donald, acting-Postmas-ter-Greneral, to-morrow afternoon jto! represent the desirability of the Government reducing the charge' on soiaiers' parcels, many people finding it a iieavy tax to maintain a regular supply 4 of parcels to their soldier boys, yet feelinV that m view of the food shortage at Home it is most necessary, . iri the interests of the health arid . morale of > the lads, to keep them up. ■"'"'. - o

1 The children of the Church of England Sunday schools and Bible classes m the city and suburbs are invited to be -at the Parish Hall on 'Saturday at 2 pin sharp with their teachers; . Tickefe for the matinee of the Fisk Jubilee Sirarera M- ill be given free to all. This has beei> riiade possible by the generosity : of members of the congregation. The Vicar and the staff of teachers vviiil be la .charge andi parents may be assured that the little ones will be looked afterC' : ■

Questioned to-day regarding the repreV sentations made yesterday \respectinesfdldier- settlement m this district thl Hon. W. D, S. Mac Donald. said h4 had Mred' tothe Hon. H. D, Guthrie, Minister of Lands, informing him that aworig representations had) again been made respecting the purchase of land tor soldier settlement, and he considered tjhat he :(Mr ! . Guthrie). sh'oiild at 6hc4 visit tlie district to explain 'the jtesitioYi that ha)d arisen, and the reasons that had prevented! the acquisition of land m this district.

The Waifeki Boys' High/ School ihaa > a splendid record as far as its old boys ' on active service are concerned. Alto- '■ gether 651 old boys have Joined tihe colors, of whom 95 have given their lives, and 151 have ' been wounded. Amongi the many distinctions gained > are one V.0.. two D.S.O.'b, 21 M.C.'s 11 M.M.'s 1 D.C.M., and 3 foreign decoratioiis, while 2* old boys hare been mentioned m despatches. *

!;■ Before A.r,., W. A. Barton, S.MV,. at the - [Magistrate's Court this morning- Eewiti >• IHahepa was charged with furiously riding a motor-cycle oh the Waifende *feea#i i ,on Sunday, February -10. It was stated . ! that accused was riding with a, passenger at an. excessive speed alorig the beach V and had knocked a child otfer. He had continued! on,, not stopping- to see if '■the'"" child .was hurt, but £or,Uinately no seri^ . - ous injuries were sustained.: ©efeindan.t '■ pleaded guilty, and was fined £2, costs ' >£1 4s 6d; m default seven days* iMi-"-priso^Lment. ■"-,..

r In , t *P eedh »t Liverpool, Admiral . Lord Jelhooe said .-^-"1 look upon the 't late Lieutenant-Commander W.**E Sbnd - • ers,' V.C., as one of the greai heroes of - the war from, the naval point of yievk ';• He came to me after he had 'earned his Y.G., and I had the pleasuVa -of stfalano- . hands with him. The story of his deed has yet to be written, but "Hie iria'n who •■• realised what his deed; was #5% his op- ', ponent, and I am not, giving, away an; w secrets whfcn I say his opponent "walfi German. (Applause). It was with the greatest possible grief that I heard later of Lieutenant-Commander Sanders hnving been killed m the. exercise of his.,'-' duty. He was a New Zealand officer, ! and I have had painted certain incident* of his exploit which I propose to send trt ' New Zealand after the war, as a tribute * to a very heroic deed. (Applause.)

The question of further "subsidising the Waerenga-o-kuri-Hangaroa mail 'service formed the subject of a deputation that to-day waited upon the Hon. W. D. S. MaoDoiiald, as acti-ngyPostmastrt?-' General. Messrs. H. deLautour and *&. ■ Orr, ' who formed^ the; deputation, explained that the, district only had-H>fre , mail a week right- from its inception. Recently it had been found necessary to get a second mail a week; but the local postmaster had not held out any hope of a subsidy. He hadv hoFev^,V allowed them tosubsidise the, mail, ;ow»- 1 tractoi*, whom the settlers were nq^f pay- . ing £5^ a year for the second service m the middle of the week, to Harris' comer. This had gone on for -tWo years, but now they were wondering why they should have to , pay thia amount, when other less, populated .dis- ' tricts were getting two 4naife a The present mail contract was £450 a year, and . the p'revidus contract ifis2O, so it was jxxit Costing the same. ;money for the twice a week servace*. The Minister said! he would Btjake enquiries, and! on receipt was willing to 'favorably consider the request. • '

. Mrs Cranney, ' \vlio recently lost herhusband, Corporal A. J. Cranney, is im receipt of the following letter from tm»' of his — 'Recently tHere hay© arrived a couple of parcels addressed to your husband. I feel sure you would like to knew what 'happened to 'them. Well, .they were handed to me, arid E Split them up amongst his mates of this jcompany. I -tvas witlh'hilm; wihan. he%as 'killed. I can assure you he 'was killed! iinataritl-ir and suffered n6 pain. -I a'iso helped to bury him thai higHt, We/all teel his loss, and I am .sure, to you^hfe wife, it must be very disliearteto&igi, iyoa beinpr so far apart. It might be^a little* cheering for you to kntfw that lie wisi always liked m his company; and >W© always found him a mostv.cheei'y -atbd very good-natured dhap, andl .we all miss him here. I aid sure y9U trill Jb'e iMad to hear his old pals shared his, parqelfs, and we aire ! only too . sorry that lie' W& not here to enjoy them hiriiself. Again, I ask you to accept our sincere sympathy. — I remain^ Mrs Cranney, one of your husband's mates, Corporal Limbttck." From Belgium; Jack RatclUjfe. : w<rite&.* "Seeing I was from Gisborne, bombing section Gus was vft command of I have the sad news to "tell you that he was killed yesterday at ■5.30 a.m. I -was -20 yards away at the time, so -I thought you would like to knowwparti€ul»»s . We bad each promised to fulfil this lifctfe act of friendship m case of. accidents. lam too full for many .words, seeing weVbavo been mates for the last • few. weeks; Wo were both marwe'd, so you will TOiderstand my feehngs. Cheer up, and, always remember this, you had a good man, ? ■ iux at was more > * -**»• -Jnani i He, taught me many lessons by ftis actions! here I have sextf. Ws badges to yowL Death was lnstainteufieoiis ; "he never knew anything, and. > I burlied him -decently, under th© conditions." . ' '1 v>

Messrs Samson Bros, nvilj sell a- piano and household furniture at tWir -'mart afe 11 a.m. to-morrow.

Mr Fred. Gray auctioneer, holds Ma Usual horso sale «t noon to-morrow^ . wick at 2 p.m. paltry, produce, furnittire and fiundvtW. .

Tq-4fl«nw, commencing at 11 a.m. Mr ji* J^ er boldis a sale of furniture and -linoleums, also general drai&rir 'iuifl costume soa-ges. In the aftfernoon,^^ h.p. 7-seater motor ear will be <&<**& WhoW© Agents W«tt o Rubbing »*' Expert •*dL u fif%..s&<s%!*

The term holidays m connection with the local public schools and the Gisborne High School commence to-morrow.

The following placers will represent Y.M.I" 1 , m their football match against. Huia to-morrow : Wi Paraire Rangihuna, S. te Paa. G. Harawira, Tapapa, Wi Pere Mataira, Panapa, Scott, Te Kanapu, Arthur, Bel), Paki Matene, Ben Nathan, Priestly, Sceats, Poihipi, Andy Linehan, Turuki Pere.

The staff of the Dominion hospital ships recently held a reunion at Featherston, after being m camp for .several months. These men have made several trips m the steamers, and have been doing work m the camps prior to sailing again. The first staff which is to aail- left for Awapuni, where a refresher course will precede their leaving for abroad.

Speaking recently in»London , Mr Lloyd CJeorgie, the British Premier, said : "My zeal 'has led to misunderstanding*! with, my friends, and' these 'have caused me more distress than J. can tell. I have terrible tasks on my shoulders ; when those are over I will have something, to sar -'but. meanwhile I have a task that is almost more than I can bear, and I ask you, m the' hour of the nations greatest perplexity, and whatever you may -think or feel, iov your- help, for yoiu* sympathy, aye, for your prayers."

"They have a bliearing place for German prisoners at ," says an extract from a letter by a resident from England, "and they^ are drafted from there to all parts of the country. Von Tirpitz's son, who was among one draft of prisoners, passed a sentry, aud m doing so spat at him. The sentry threyr down his rifle, weitt for him, and punched and pommelle/d him well. Of coarse he was had up, and given three days' C.8., not, he was told, because he had struck the German {because he, would . have been within. his r rights to bayonet him?), but because he had put down his rifle. The sentry told the men who told me the talei that he would have dona six days' C-.8. for the' pleasure it, gava him to thrash the German."

A startling announcement m respect, to the depredations of rabbits m parts of the King Country and Waikato v is contained m a remit drawn up by the Maihiihi branch of the Farmers' Union for consideration at the forthcoming annual provincial conference.' The remit, states that m the district under Teview the nuisance; has reached such a stage that if special legislation be not enacted to meet the trouble the rabbits will putmany farmers entirely out of business^ This' has been brought about by the large number of sections left vacant or neglected owing to war difficulties ba\v ing become breeding grounds for the vermin, and exaggerated a situation already, intolerable. As a means of combating the evil it is asked that Government ,be approached with a view to getting legislation passed, empowering local bodies to borrow money for the purpose of supplying settlers with the netting necessary to fence their sections, rating the sections to pay interest and sinking fund..