ANSWER TO A CORRESPONDENT.

Southland Times, Issue 18077, 2 May 1919, Page 4

ANSWER TO A CORRESPONDENT.

“Enquiry.”—The chairman of a public meeting or a public body has both a deliberative and a casting vote.—Ed. S.T.

Mails which left New Zealand on March 22 arrived in London on April 29. The Australians’ war trophies claimed include 640 guns, 3200 machine guns, 350 mortars, 133 vehicles, and five aeroplanes. The British Food Ministry is opening national restaurants in the London parks, reducing the prices and ousting inefficient caterers. The Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that the peace treaty’ is being franked to newspapers by cable, has agreed also to frank it' to newspapers throughout the Dominion. Judging by returns furnished to the secretary of the Sawmill Workers’ Union, high wages are being paid at some of the mills in this district. Cases of sawyers receiving £3O per month are on record. The average wage for bushmen is £1 per day, youths are receiving 14s, loco, drivers £2O per month, and tailere out 16s per day. The Sawmill Workers’ Union has presented a demand to the employers embodying requests for an all-round increase in the minimum wage. Other clauses ask that the wages be paid fortnightly, instead of monthly as at present, and that, where a man has to travel more than a mile from the mill to work he should travel one way in the employer’s time. The workers state that the present minimum rate of wages is anomalous as in many actual cases it is being overpaid by 100 per cent.

It is understood that some forged Bank of New Zealand 10/- notes have been circulated in Dunedin. —Press Association. At the inquest on the boy named Riddle at Dunedin, the evidence showed that death was due to diabetes, which was stated to be very unusual in the case of one so young.—Press Association. The Post Office authorities have been advised that vessels carrying troops to New Zealand will in future bring mails in cases In which a better despatch can be made than by the Vancouver route. Three applications have been received by the Lands Department for the property known as Ardlussa, which was acquired by the Government some time ago, and the Board will deal with the matter at its next meeting. a Advice was received in Invercargill that a small dwellinghousc at Makarewa, owned by a Mr Waldron, was destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon. The property was occupied before the fire by Mr Munro, who left it either on Wednesday or yesterday morning. It is not known if the house was insured. The impression had evidently got about yesterday that a large draft of soldiers was returning, consequently there was a goodlysized crowd in the station precincts when the express' arrived. Only three men came on however, having belonged to drafts that arrived a few days ago. The Regimental Band turned out to welcome one of their comrades. When scrutinising the votes cast at the municipal elections those engaged on the work yesterday came across 23 apparent duplications. These cases are at present being fully investigated, and, although they cannot possibly affect any of the results, the official returns cannot be published until they are cleared up. At the Police Court yesterday morning, before Messrs J. Ward and W. A. Ott, J’s.P., Walter Yelds was charged with the theft of £1 and a gold chain valued at £5. Senior-Sergeant Eccles prosecuted and asked that the accused be remanded until May 7. The application was granted and bail was allowed on the payment of £25 by the accused and in one surety of £25. The shortage of women workers for factories in Wellington was mentioned at a recent meeting ot the Wellington Industrial Association. The opinion was expressed that when the soldiers all came back and girls were released from Government positions the dearth of women labour would be to some extent overcome. It was added, however, that the surroundings of many of the factories would have to be made more congenial.

The fact that no nominations were received for borough seats on the Thames Hospitals Board is described by the Mayor of Thames (states the Auckland Star) as a protest against the attitude of the Minister and Department of Health in regard to the influenza epidemic. Everyone had risen to the occasion, said the Mayor, except the department. The Hospital Board worked night and day for about eight weeks, and the Board of Health voted £SO. The Minister refused to sanction this grant unless given a detailed statement of personal expenditure. Before the Industries Commission at Palmerston North on Tuesday, says a Press Association telegram, Mr J. A- Nash gave evidence as to the value of by-products obtained from wood. He stated • that from one cord of rata wood £56 worth of acid, 16/- worth of oil, 15/- worth of tar and £lO worth of charcoal could be obtained. Any wood could be used, even sawdust. A company was being formed to carry on the work here. He produced samples of petrol, oil and potash produced from wood, and asked that plant should be admitted duty free. Captain Preece stated that dyes could be obtained from native woods, and had been used by the Maoris for dyeing flax mats. He suggested that the Government should make experiments and conduct a scientific investigation.

There is still little prospect of an immediate settlement of the trouble which has arisen between the employers and the Green Island miners, says the O.D. Times. A largely attended meeting of the Union was held at Fairfield on Wednesday night, when the position was fully discussed. As a result it was decided by the men that they would take no further action until an open conference had been held with the employers to discuss the three points at issue between the parties—namely, trucking, the filling of one kind -of coal at the face, and the wages of shift men. It is understood that a number of the younger men, who formerly worked in the mines, are seeking other avenues of employment, particularly in the way of harvesting. There is also a favourable inclination, wo understand, on the part of one or two of the employers to have the trouble settled as soon as possible.

The hatpin epidemic seems to have made its reappearance in Dunedin, says the O.D. Times. The regulation as to a protector being used on the point of the hatpin has been ignored by nearly all the ladies, with the result that the male physiognomy has, in one case at least, been seripusly disfigured. Fortunately ,the injury was confined to a severe and lengthy scratch—it is described by an eye witness as a gash—just below the eye. Half an inch higher and a loss of sight would probably have resulted. The luckless man is a tram conductor, whose tongue remained silent under the infliction, while his face bore an injured appearance. To the observant it is plain that one of this barbarous class of hat fastener does not suffice. Two and sometimes three ore necessary, and in most instances these stick out “like quills upon the fretful porcupine.”

“A permanent Soldiers’ Club is now in sight,” reported the treasurer at the annual meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association. After mentioning that the site had been given by the City Council for a rental of 1/- a year, he stated that a commencement would be made with the new building within two or three weeks. It was to be a residential club with from 60 to 80 bedrooms. The women of Auckland, who had always stood by them, had donated £14,000 towards the club. He suggested that in view of the fact that the association had a substantial credit balance, they give a donation of £IOOO to the fund. It was doubtful if the club could be run at a profit, but the Patriotic Association had guaranteed a certain sum for maintaining the place, possibly between £7OO and £IOOO per annum. After some discussion it was decided to refer the matter to the committee for a report, to be presented at a subsequent meeting. Members generally appeared to be in favour of the suggestion but it was considered hardly fairto the new committee to vote that sum until they had had an opportunity of going into the financial position.

Lecturing in New York on March 23, General Sir F. Maurice told an anecdote about Marshal Foch which explained the French leader’s strategy. He said that a certain English statesman was at French General Headquarters ’ one day while the whole world was worrying about the expected German offensive. The statesman asked the Frenchman what plans he had for stopping it. General Maurice explained that while Marshal Foch was noted for his reserve, especially where his military plans were concerned, yet the Comamnder-in-Chief had all the faculty of his nation for gestures. His answer to the English statesman consisted in four striking gestures ,and General Maurice illustrated them himself. They were a punch straight from the shoulder with the left arm, another from the right, yet another from the left, and the series followed by a tremendous kick. “That was what Foch did,” said General Maurice,’ “and his subsequent tactics follow that analogy’ better than anything I can ’ explain. He riieant by the punches, the blows, telling, but not vital, by which he wore the Germans down; and the great kick whs the push, in the Fall (autumn), before the force of which the Teutonic resistance was finally crushed. If you can remember this, you can remember Foch’s strategy —three blows and a great kick.”

The extent to which pilfering of cargo is practised is illustrated by the recent experience of a Dunedin shoe store proprietor. A case containing 35- pairs of boots was shipped to him by a Wellington firm. When the case, which presented no external evidence of having been tampered with, was opened, no fewer than 11 pairs of boots were missing. The thieves had considerately left in the case the empty cardboard boxes.

Entering a motor garage at Balclutha a motorist inquired: “Do you buy and sell cars here?” says the Otago Daily Times. On receiving a reply in the affirmative the motorist said: "Then buy mine.” After the sale was effected the motorist explained his reason for disposing of his car. He stated: "This car can’t jump a 90ft wide canal; it can’t run smooth on a lakeside road full of deep ruts, and it isn’t built like a jlough either, so it’s of no use to me at home. I live at Kaitangata."

Mr Tripp, chairman of the Wellington War Relief Association, has received from Mr A. V. Hewitt, executor of the will of the late Lieut. Foster Brooke Creuch, the sum of £IOO being payment on account of a legacy left to the Wellington War Relief Association by the late Lieut Crouch. The balance of the legacy, approximately £IOOO, will also be paifi to the Association as soon aa certain securities in England have been realised. The late Lieut. Crouch was attached to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and was killed in action in France on March 23, 1918. He was, prior to enlisting in England, in the employ of the New Zealand Government railway department. —Press Association.

"The New Zealanders are champion horsemen,” said Lieutenant-Colonel G. C. Powles. C.M.G., D.5.0., speaking in the Town Hall at Wellington last Friday night. "They said during the South African war that the colonial could ride but that he was no horse master. I can tell you that the colonial is the finest horseman in the world. We had English yeomanry, French and Indian cavalry in the Sinai-Palestine campaign, but none of them could last out the way the Australian and New Zealand boys did. There is no doubt that we did'look after our horses better than any of them, and that is what carried us through. We were never out of the firing line.” Earlier in his address Colonel Powles said the Anzac Mounted Division was only enabled to do what it did in Palestine and across the Jordan Valley by what the men discovered in the deserts of Sinai. It was there they learned the secret of the desert —how to look after their horses.

In a letter received in Wellington from a member of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles in Egypt is contained the news that of the number left there 150 have elected to take their discharge in England. That means that when they wish ultimately to return home to New Zealand they will have to pay their own fares. There is, so the letter infers, discontent among the men at this hardship, for they argue that by taking their discharge in England they save the New Zealand Government at least a month’s pay as well as other expenses (including that of the long voyage to New Zealand). They are therefore wroth that they should be asked to pay their own fares from England to New Zealand, and intended on their arrival in England to deputationise the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward on the subject. They consider a trip to “Blighty” little enough reward for what they have gone through during the past two years.

Attention is directed to an advertisement in connection with the John McGlaahan Boys’ College. This institution is situated in Dunedin and despite the fact that it is only of very recent birth it has already grown to an extent that makes it recognised as being one of the leading private education houses of the city. On Saturday last the official opening of a new dormitory called Balmacewan House took place in connection with the College. The gathering was widely representative of the Presbyterian and other churches, of the professions, and of educational' and other interests. The president of the Boat’d of Governors (Rev. G. H. Balfour) stated that the demands on the College • were so great that the Board was thinking of erecting a new building to meet the requirements of next year. He emphasised the statement that the College was not established to encourage any narrow, sectarian spirit, pupils of all denominations being welcomed. The Rev. W. Gray Dixon (Moderator of the General Assembly) offered up the prayer of dedication and opened the building with 3 golden key. Addressing a meeting of soldiers’ wives in Melbourne, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir James Barrett, a Melbourne doctor, said that it was not the fault of officialdom that there was not a terrible smash in Egypt after the landing at Gallipoli. Not a hint was given to the medical staff that terrific casualties were possible. It was owing to two officers that the smash was averted. General Birdwood told him that it was probable an effort would be made to land oh Gallipoli, and, if so, there would be fearful casualties. Lieutenant-Colonel Barrett told Surgeon-General Williams and General Selheim. General Selheim undertook the risk of giving permission for the expenditure of thousands of pounds upon stores against a possible need. He was willing to face the penalties of not referring to headquarters. First, the prevention of chaos was due to the General having the courage of his opinions, and not worrying about consequences. There were 5000 casualties brought in the first day and thereafter about 500 doily for about eight months.

I nreturning thanks at Gore on Wednesday night to' the large crowd of electors for his election to the Borough Council and reelection unopposed as representative on the Bluff Harbour Board, Mr A. H. Aitken said he wanted to see Gore grow industrially and commercially. With its central situation on the main South line, surrounded by scores of miles of rich agricultural country, with an abundance of minerals and other natural resources, it should become a large, important and solid distributing centre and a principal feeder and powerful factor in raising Invercargill to the status of a city, famous not only for the width of its streets, beautiful gardens and puny creek, but for the extent and productivity of its back country, and the magnitude of its trade and commerce. Further, it was an obligation upon the importers and exporters of the town and district to see to it that as far as possible their imports and exports should come and go by way of their natural and nearest port, the port of Bluff, which by the way was the only port that did not throughout the period of the war raise its harbour dues. He urged them, therefore, to be loyal to their own port and district by increasing the value and the volume of trade in that direction, and make the greatest possible use of the facilities at hand for expanding and extending our trade and business.

The confidential conversations which take place between police and other witnesses and the magistrate at the Wellington police court would be mildly amusing but for the fact that there are many people straining their ears to comprehend what is going on (complains the New Zealand Times). It is a cause for wonder that there is ever an audience of the general public at the back of the court, for situated there, it is only a remote chance that anything will be heard, except perhaps the remarks of the magistrate, for Mr F. V. Fraser, b.M., happens to possess a sonorous voice which he knows how to use. Were it nof for the courtesy of the magistrate and the court officials the reporters for the daily press would often be in a dilemma to provide adequate reports of the court’s proceedings. The Magistrate’s Court of Wellington is said to have the worst acoustics of any building throughout New Zealand. Yet many members of the police force in making a statement or giving evidence speak “solto voce” and apologetically. In view of the special disabilities of the court from the point of view of acoustics, the suggestion is made that it might be worth the while of the Police Commissioner considering whether constables should not, in addition to their other exercises, go through a course ef elocution.

) The Minister of Defence has been for some time preparing a handbook or “Guide” as it will be called, for returning soldiers. It is a fair sized booklet, and on the cover is an advice to the recipient to keep it, for the reason that it may be useful for some time to come. In the book are set out all the rights and privileges of a discharged soldier. There is a surprising number of them, and very many of them are known to but few among the soldiers. The book will be issued shortly. It is at present being held back until information can be furnished about the gratuities scheme yet to be adopted by the Government.

At the office of the Minister of Defence last week, in the presence of Ministers of the Crown and of Major-general Robin a blind pupil, who has had only eight weeks' instruction in anatomy under Dr Little, N.Z.M.C., gave a striking demonstration of what can be done in the direction of training blind soldiers for massage work. A skeleton being placed in his hands, he named the different bones and explained with astonishing accuracy the position and function of the various muscles. The pupil was not himself a returned soldier, but had been blind for 17 years past, and had received training at the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland. Before becoming blind he was a piano tuner, and bis sense of touch was particularly delicate and accurate. He was taught anatomy, it was explained, by demonstration, and by oral instruction dictated slowly so that he could record it by the Braille system and memorise it afterwards. There are in England 15 blind New Zealand soldiers, and two have already returned to the dominion. The majority of the practitioners of massage in Japan, it was explained, are blind, and it is thdught that sightless men, whose sense of touch becomes very delicate, are especially fitted for massage work.

The Woodside Auxiliary Hospital for Jaw Cases, situated at the comer of Cemetery road and Clyde street, was formally handed over to the Otago Hospital Board" on Monday afternoon, reports the Otago Daily Times. The chairman of the Board (Mr Knight), Mrs McFairiane, Drs Newlands and Falconer, and Messrs Talboys and Jacobs went on a visit of inspection to the hospital. They were met by representatives of the Otago Red Cross Society, those present being the Rev. Vincent King, Mrs Ferguson, Mrs Fitchett, and Miss Rattray. Mr King met the chairman of the board at the door and formally handed the key of the hospital over to him. Mr Knight accepted the key on behalf of the board, and in a brief address ■ thaqked the donors, and expressed the hope that the institution would be a valuable adjunct to the city as a means of curing the disabilities of the soldiers who returned with facial injuries received in the war. Forty-six jaw cases, he said, were returning by the Tainui, and the hospital had accommodation for 25 of these. He congratulated the society on the excellence of its work in equipping the hospital, and eulogised its efforts throughout the war in the interests of returned soldiers. The Y.M.C.A. Gymnasium Classes are commencing next Monday, May 5, and will run continuously three nights each week under the able supervision of competent instructors.—(Advt.) Prices down. The prices of Groceries as sold by J. S. BAXTER are down in price—if not quite, so low as pre-war prices still a strong tendency that way. You will get sterling value for every shilling's worth you buy at BAXTER’S for ready money.— (Advt.) There’s nothing to equal “NAZOL” for stopping coughs and colds, soothing son throats, and banishing influenza. Good for old and young.—(Advt.) The Ladies’ Underwear section at PRICE & BULLEID’S, Ltd., under the personal supervision of a thoroughly competent buyer is fully stocked with a complete range of good quality garments. The selection of Cambric and Woven Garments is a good one; plenty of variety to select from, and every article, is priced at the most moderate figure.* New stocks of up-to-date goods arriving at .short intervals trom the Home and Colonial markets keeps the selection always up-to-the-minute for variety and •value.— (Advt.) No bad after-effects with WADE’S WORM FIGS. Wonderful Worm Worriers. Price, 1/6.—(Advt.) Every husband who truly cares for faia wife’s comfort will not begrudge her the trifle to purchase "NO RUBBING” LaunHfy Help and “GOLDEN RULE” Soap—and so say all of us. Invercargill grocers.—(Advt.),

You cannot go wrong if you get your new Hat at THOMSON & BEATTIE’S. They are showing all the latest styles in Millinery in a great variety at the keenest of prices. Full-On Hats 13/6 to 16/6; Ready-to-wears 17/6 to 27/6. Velvet Hats 14/6 to 22/6. Semi-trimmed 25/6 to 27/6. Hatter’s Flush Ready-to-wears 39/6 and 42/-.—(Advt.J

It’s the best of commonseose to be prepared. Being prepared against sore throats means having the trouble half remedied. Taking BAXTER'S Lung Preserver means making the remedy complete. Baxter’s quickly gets to the seat of the affection. It soothes the harsh throat passages, heals the strained membranes and completely drives away all signs of son throat.

One bottle will convince anyone t*f “Baxter” superiority. You test it to-day. 2/6 buys big bottle from Chemist or Store. —(Advt.)

A word to mothers. This is a Man’s Department. Little men and big men, boys and their big brothers, grown-ups and fathers. As a prudent economical mother, the clothes your children or your men folk wear are of vital interest to the family purse. Here you can get Boys’ and Men’s Clothes that are the products of the best makes in the country; also the widest selection, and greatest values to be found in this town. Boys’ and Sports’ Suits from 19/6 to 45/-. Youths from 37/6 to 65/-. Varsity Suits from 19/6 to 25/-. Odd Knickers from 4/6 to 10/6. Boys’ Overcoats from 27/6 to 50/-. Men’s Suits from 65/- to 110/-. Men’s Overcoats from 45/to 140/-. Men’s Trousers 12/6 to 35/-. Odd Vests 7/6 to 12/6. Sweater Coats 25/-. Also Men’s and Boys’ Hats, Gaps, Collars, Ties, Shirts, Pyjamas, Golf Hose, Sox, Underwear, etc. A large variety to select from at H. & J. SMITH, Ltd., Men’s and Boys’ Outfitters, Tay street. 10 per cent, discount to all returned soldiers on all purchases.—■ (Advt.) Use “NAZOL” and you won’t keep » bad .cold or sore throat above a day or two. Acts like a charm. Get a bottle TO-DAY.—(Advt.) Got a cold? Don’t drug the stomach with mixtures. Let the soothing, healing properties of “NAZOL” give you relief. 1/6 buys 60 doses. —(Advt.)