INDISCBEET SIMS.

Southland Times, Issue 19249, 13 June 1921, Page 4

INDISCBEET SIMS.

Throughout his life. Vice-Admiral Sim« has been indiscreet. When he was a young man, before he attained flag rank, he attacked the gunnery of the United States navy and basing his criticism on the information he had gained in company with Sir Percy Scott, showed that the shooting of the Americans was hopelessly amateurish. He revealed to the public the fact that the Atlantic squadron in its battle practice had failed to find the targets once and for that indiscretion he was called before the president to show cause why he should not be dismissed the service. Luckily for him the President happened to be Theodore Roosevelt, and Sims was able to show good cause why he should be retained to look after the shooting of the fleet. Some few years later his next gigantic indiscretion came. This was in a speech in London, in 1911, when he announced that the United States Navy was looking forward to the day when it would fight alongside the British Navy against the latter’s enemy. His remarks, uttered at a moment when the European position was delicately poised, struck right across to Berlin. It was a terrible display of frankness on the part of an active naval officer, and Sims was recalled. When the war came and the United States finally entered the conflict, Sims was remembered, and the United States Navy Department acted wisely in sending him to London. Unfortunately the admiral when the war was over was sufficiently indiscreet to write a book. In that work he did what other level headed Americans in other departments of life have done: confessed that the American people did not put all their allies in the shade by the magnificence of their war work. As a matter of fact, Admiral Sims confessed that compared with the naval achievements of Britain, America did little on the sea. This, of course, was regarded by some of the fiercely anti-firitish sections of the United States as rank sedition. But in addition, Sims criticised the United States Navy Department and its head, Mr Josephus Daniels and added some severe crittekm of the Irish people and their behaviour to the American sailors based on Queenstown. He was also guilty of some sarcastic references to the jingoistic attitude of some American pressmen, who were anxious to belittle everything British. Admiral Sims came into conflict with Mr Daniels with the noisiest sections of the American Press, and was condemned as a “Britisher.” His latest mistake seems to have been a repetition, with possibly some additions, of the remarks he made in his book about the Irish situation. ViceAdmiral Sims is not active at sea, but until a little while ago, at any rate, he was in an important shore post, and if he was still on the active list his descent into politics was undoubtedly an indiscretion; but American ideas of discipline are not the same as our own. The fact that he has criticised the Irish severely will doubtless stir up some of the members of Congress who have large Irish votes behind them, but it is not likely that Admiral Sims will suffer the extreme penalties that some of his opponents have prescribed for him. All along he has been an utterer of unpalatable truths, and this has been the chief element in his indiscretions, but he has done his country great sendee by these “mistakes” and his countrymen should not let the politicians on the Hearst press make them forget that fact.

The year ended March 31 last was a record one for the Government Tourist Bureau in Auckland, over 29,000 tourists passing through.

The Board of Trade has fixed the price for winter milk in Auckland at Is 8d per gallon. The vendors announce that the increased of 9d per quart begins forthwith.

J. M. Worthington, Sergeant-at-Arms in the Victorian Parliament, was committed for trial on a charge of corruptly receiving money, says a Melbourne Press Association cable.

The liquor trade employees threaten to withdraw’ affiliation to the Labour Council in consequence of the latter’s decision in favour of prohibition, says a Sydney Press Association.

A Delhi Press Association message states that the shareholders in the Tata Bank finally passed the accounts of the Indian section. They denied racial prejudice against the English directors, but claimed that Indians must fill the responsible positions.

A Melbourne Press Association message states that at the request of the Federated Seamen’s Union, the Federal Arbitration Court has convened a compulsory conference of representatives of the ship-owners and the seamen for June 16, with a view to reaching finality on the question of seamen’s claims.

A post and telegraph office has been opened at Ohai under the control of Mrs F. E. Taylor as postmin tress. Mails will circulate via Nightcaps thrice weekly.

The New Zealand brass band contest is to be held in Wellington in February next. Dates have been secured at the Town Hall from February 13 to 21 (inclusive). Sitting in Chambers at Dunedin on Saturday Mr Justice Sim declared the Magistrate’s conviction of Eric Hansson bad, and made an order for his immediate release. This was the application for a writ of habeas corpus w’hich was heard on Thursday.

A Sydney Press Association cable states that the Board of Trade has commenced discussion of a scheme to control junior labour. The scheme proposes that no member under 14 be admitted to any occupation and that the number of apprentices be not more than will maintain a supply of mechanics.

The attention of boxers and instructors is called to the preliminary advertisement of the S.B.A. Annual Championship Tournament to be held on June 21 and 22. Entries plose with the secretary on Friday June 17, at 7.30 p.m. and as a large list is assured, competitors are requested to forward their entries as soon as possible.

One effect of the financial stringency will be that there will be less land broken in for pasturage in New Zealand this year than for many years past. Owing to the prevailing conditions, the winter contracts for scrub-cutting, bushfelling, and fencing will not be nearly so numerous as in normal years, which means that less new land will be sown in the early spring.

“Where the attendance of men at artificial limb factories for the purpose of repairs to artificial limbs is certified by the officer in charge of the artificial limb factory to extend over a part day, e.g., from June 1, 1921, to 10.30 a.m., June 5, 1921, an allowance will be paid for the part day, at the rate of 2/6 per meal required during the part day involved,” states a General Headquarters instruction just issued. This instruction validates payments made in this connection as from November 5, 1920. “The Age of Discovery” will be the title of a lecture to be delivered by Dr J. R. Elder, Professor of History, Otago University, in St. Paul’s Sunday School Hall, Dee Street, on Thursday evening under W.E.A. auspices. Professor Elder, who recently lectured here on “The Renaissance,” is a leading educationist, and his treatment of history as part of a general evolution, not merely a statement of dry-as-dust facts is right in line with that world movement in thought which holds that we are debtors to the glorious past of mankind.

A Christchurch Press Association telegram states that the Provincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union passed the following resolution : “This conference, having considered ths question of the formation of a farmers’ political party as referred to it by the last Dominion conference, is of opinion that the formation of another political party at present is inadvisable but feels there are many matters of great importance to the farming community, which urgently require attention, and that the Dominion executive be requested to prepare a statement of our requirements to be presented to the Government and to members supporting the Government.”

An amending regulation regarding fishing, published in last week’s Gazette, provides that no person shall take, kill, or have in his possession any salmon or trout during the spawning season—that is, during the close season from May 1 to September 30 in any year in every acclimatisation district, other than the Rotorua acclimatisation district, and in that district from June 1 to October 31 in any year. The regulation does not apply to fish taken by officers of the Government or of acclimatisation societies for the purposes of pisicicultare or as otherwise provided in the Act. The penalty for a breach of this regulation is a fine of not more than £5O.

A Christchurch Press Association telegram states that the Hon W. Nosworthy informed Mr CcCombs that the Government had communicated with the Imperial authorities in regard to the re-purchase of butter for consumption in New Zealand, and received a definite reply that it was not proposed to sell butter from the Imperial stock at a loss for local consumption. Mr Noeworthy points out that the contract for the sale to the Imperial Government wae for the exportable surplus, and the Imperial Government takes the view that if any butter taken into stock in New Zealand on its account is required for home consumption it cannot be regarded as the exportable surplus.

A Dunedin Press Association telegram states that the Dominion Conference of the R.S A. resolved that the incoming executive be instructed to intimate to the Government keen disappointment that by the Anzac Day Act, April 25 had been declared a statutory holiday without at the same time making it a close holiday; further, that the executive be instructed to take the necessary steps to secure an amendment of the Act in this direction. Another resolution congratulating returned soldiers and sailors and the Imperial League of Australia on the determined stand taken against disloyalists. It was decided to take no further action in the case in which a police officer made improper use of a soldier’s badge, the Commissioner of Police having promised that there would be no recurrence.

Application was made at the annual meeting of the Bay of Plenty Licensing Committee on Friday by E. Prentise for an accommodation license for the hotel at Maketu. This was a license allowed to lapse last year by non-payment of the license fee after being granted to enable an application to be made for a license at Matamata. The application was then refused, and the case led to legislation last session preventing attempts being made in this way to transfer a license. The application for the re-granting of the, license at Maketu was opposed by the New Zealand Alliance, and by the police on the ground of the unsatisfactory state of the building and the demoralising effect on the Natives; also that the total adult population of the settlement was under one hundred. Mr Hampson, of Rotorua, for the applicant, urged the issue on the grounds of the popularity of Maketu as a seaside resort. The owners had undertaken to effect substantial repairs. The committee, after a retirement of one hour, decided that it was impossible to grant a license for such premises.

An act of a most despicable character was perpetrated in the Church of England and the Roman Catholic cemeteries, Barbadoes •street, Christchurch, on Monday evening or Tuesday morning. Thirty-three headstones were damaged in the former graveyard, and 15 in the latter. A visit to the cemetery by a representative of the Sun revealed the full extent of the damage. The sexton pointed out. three headstones which had been visited and damaged, including slabs stripped off, caps broken, and stones pushed over. Crosses were given the most attention, over a dozen being snapped off. Some of the stones are very old and the work of stripping the inscriptions off the face would not be a very difficult matter. A smoothsurfaced marble slab of generous dimensions could not be moved, and an unsuccessful attempt was made to efface the inscription. The vandals, who apparently were not pressed for time, even opened the tiny gates to fences round the graves. Having snapped off crosses they left the gates open. Some very old and beautiful headstones have been materially damaged. Cross headstones of Bishop Harper, the first Bishop of Christchurch, and Dean Jacobs, the first Dean of Christchurch, were both wantonly attacked. In the first case the cross was broken off, but in the second instance the foundation stone yielded to the pressure placed on the cross, the top of which became embedded in the soil, and did not break. Investigation of the soil about the despoiled graves showed several footprints which are obviously not those of a man and were made either by a boy or a woman. The pol.ue have the matter in hand.

Gerald Griffin, of Taihape, who died in the Otaki police cells last week, is reported to have been worth from £30,000 to £40,000.

Some acclimatisation districts pay royalties on shags’ feet and others on the heads. This anomaly allows unscrupulous appliants to obtain double royalties oy sending the feet to one district and the heads to another. Mr Wiffin mentioned at the meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society this week that the Government hac been recommended to make royalties payable only on heads or feet.

The dates of the New Zealand wool sales for July-August are not yet definitely fixed, but the following provisional timetable has been drawn up:—Wellington, July 4; Napier, July 8; Auckland, July 12; Wanganui, July 14; Christchurch, July 20; Dunedin, July 25; Invercargill, July 29; Timaru, August 2; Wellington, August 8.

The town had a very busy appearance on Saturday morning, and the shops enjoyed quite a rush until closing time at 12 o’clock. One business man, talking to a reporter, stated it as his opinion that if the time table for the country trains would permit of the farming community getting into town early, most of them w’ould take advantage of this to do their business rather than come into Invercargill on the Friday. In future officers of the New Zealand Territorial Force will receive a free issue of uniforms on first appointment. The free issue is conditional upon the officer undertaking to render four years’ efficient service. Should an officer’s appointment lapse, be cancelled, or be revoked, or if an officer resigns his cqpimission within two years of the date of bis first appointment, he will be required to return the uniform and refund 25 per cent, of its price.

The Nelson Girl’s College is at a standstill for want of accomodation. This year fifteen applications by intending boarders had to be refused. The Board of Governors is now seeking Government approval for the proposed purchase of a property In the vicinity, on which to erect a hostel for the accommodation of all boarding pupils, the present college building to be devoted to teaching purposes only. The owners of the property have agreed to accept £6,000.

All prize-winners in connection with the Scottish Fair and Clan Gathering may receive their prizes at Victoria Hall supperroom, when the secretary will be in attendance from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. to-day (Monday).— (Advt.)

A 14/6 Silk Georgette for 8/11 per yard. This is a special line on offer at THOMSON & BEATTIE’S. A magnificent range in practically every colour, including all the newest shades. For evening wear these lovely soft Silk Georgettes are unbeatable. —(Advt.)

There’s a new book out by the author of “The Butterfly Man”—and it is safe to predict that Peter Champneys, the central figure in “Purple Heights,” will win his way to the hearts of thousands of readers as did Slippy McGee. “Purple Heights” is cramfull of good things, of laughter and tears and the gripping intensity of a big story. Get “Purple Heights” to-day at Hyndman’s, Dee street.

Bargains of a very genuine order are being offered in PRICE & BULLEID’S, Ltd., Dress Department. The reductions are undoubtedly dr."Mic in the extreme in very many cases. Every yard of material is down to a meet-the-times price—Silks, Velvets, Cottons, Woollens—all being treated alike. Now is certainly the time to buy. —(Advt.) INFLUENZA PRECAUTIONS. An absolute safeguard against influenza is to keep the nasal and throat passages irrigated and disinfected twice daily by gargling and sniffing up “FLUENZOL.” 1/6 and 2/6. (Advt.) For a few days only Messrs H. W. Wilson & Co. are holding a sale of their large stock of Furs at the New Zealand Express Co.’s Sample Rooms.—(Advt.) “My heart is sair for somebody and something.” The something is a cigarette made from Red Jacket Tobacco.—(Advt.) Big Millinery Revel at THE “ECONOMIC,” Ladies’ Outfitters. Hundreds of beautiful Hats being sold at a fraction of the original cost. Hurry along!— (Advt.) On Thursday morning the senior girls attending the domestic science class at the Technical School inspected the display of art needlework of Messrs Hurdley & Co. at the Martin’s Sample Rooms, Don street. The scholars were most enthusiastic in their admiration of the many designs of fancy work and their teacher cordially thanked Mr Hurdley for his courtesy in allowing the girls the opportunity and thus giving them such a practical lesson which would be so helpful to them in their future lessons.—(Advt.)

Quality English Hate at Big Reductions. —UNDRILL’S, The Hatters, Dee street, opposite Post Office.—(Advt.) Enjoy your cigarette by making it yourself. You’ll get a freer, cooler smoke. But remember only Red Jacket Tobacco.— (Advt.)

Booking, bad debts, clerical ledgers, postages and collecting accounts is too expensive a luxury for retail buyers. Moral: Buy your Groceries for prompt cash from BAXTER’S.—(Advt.) Sale News —Special offer of 75 Ladies’ Costumes, 30 Coats, and 80 Jerseys at halt price for one week only at THE “ECONOMIC,” Ladies’ Outfitters, 60 Dee street— These astounding values will convince you we are after your trade. Come in and let us demonstrate our ability to serve you. Men’s strong Working Trousers, slump prices 10/6 to 25/-; Men’s Ready-to-wear Suits, slump prices 49/6, 59/6 to 95/-; Men’s Heavy Tweed Overcoats, slump prices 59/6 to 95/-; 100 dozen Men’s heavy 9oz Dungarees, slump prices 9/6; Jackets, heavy make, 7/6; 500 Boys’ heavy Tweed Suits, all sizes, slump prices 25/-, 35/-; Boys’ heavy Tweed Trousers, slump price 7/6. Over 100 dozen Men’s strong Shirts, slump prices 5/6, 7/6, 10/6. Boys’ heavy Shirts, slump prices 4/6, 5/6. 170 dozen Men’s and Boys’ Wide-end Silk Ties, slump price all 1/-. Best Silk Ties, wide-end, new designs, slump prices all 3/6. Piles of exceptional bargains in all departments at H. & J. SMITH, Ltd., The Progressive Stores, Tay street, Invercargill, and Main street, Gore.— (Advt.) PILES CURED, Mr J. C., Miramar, Wellington, writes; “I was a martyr for 15 years, laid up for weeks at a time, with Piles. I tried lots of so-called cures, without benefit. The doctor ordered an operation. Fortunately, a friend advised your Zann Double Absorption Treatment. The first application relieved and after a week’s treatment the Piles disappeared.”

Write, enclosing Postal Notes for 10/6 to The Zann Proprietary, Box 952, Wellington, for full course, in plain wrapper, of this wonderful remedy. If not satisfied after using first course, money will be refunded. (Advt.)

“Ask thy purse what thou shouldst buy,” and it will say Red Jacket Cigarette Tobacco.— (Advt.)

MASTERS, LTD., were the originators of the 10 per cent, discount to returned soldiers. Other storekeepers have copied us and we now go one better. We now invite all discharged soldiers and those writing discharge to have their military hats reblocked, free of all cost, by the only hatter in Southland. We still give alO per cent, reduction to all returned soldiers. MASTERS, Ltd., Dee street.—(Advt.)

FEATURES OF ELECTRIC LORRY. Amongst the features of the Electric Lorry are cleanliness in operation, ease of handling, long life of tyres, low repair bills. Necessarily the electric lorry provides & most efficient method of transporting goods. The highest type of electric lorry is the Britishmade “ORWELL.” Enquiry will reveal how rapid and economical it is. THE NEW ZEALAND EXPRESS CO., Ltd., Agents.—