DOMINION WAR NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16356, 4 October 1917, Page 5

DOMINION WAR NEWS.

I NEW EFFICIENCY BOARD, METHOD OF WORKING. \ From Our Own Correspondent.; WELLINGTON, Oct. 3. Mr Massey stated to the House today that'the order of reference for the reconstituted Efficiency Board had not been altered, but the Board had not, as had been suggested, become a semipolitical body. The Board's usefulness had not been impaired. The five nonpolitical members of the Board would tmdertake whatever inquiries were considered necessary or desirable. The reports of the Board would be submitted; to himself and Sir Joseph Ward, and in the event of a Ministerial member not approving of the recommendations a full meeting of the Board would ba held to discuss points in dispute. In the event of the chairman and four nonpolitical members of the Board nob agreeing with Ministerial members, their report would be submitted to tiha Government. That arrangement, he thought, would obviate any of the difficulties that had been experienced in. the past. SCHOOL TEACHERS' WAR PAY. Mr Poland asked the Minister of Education whether the Government (tould not place school teachers who went away as privates or non-com-missioned officers on the same footing financially as officers. He pointed own that officers had* their pay made up to pay and a quarter, but privates and non-coms, were ignored. ' , Mr Hanan replied that this matter was before the Cabinet. "AIRING" TRENTHAM HUTS. Dr. Thaeker asked the Defence! Minister whether it was proposed to ""Dty Trentham camp during the , Christmas holidays and give it a spell and an airing. Sir James Allen replied that during . the Christmas holidays Trentham camp will be emptied of all except a mini-. mum staff and some 200 men of the junior draft mobilised early in December. These later will be accommodated in a canvas camp at Heretaunga. Therewill therefore be every opportunity to air the huts adequately. SEDITIOUS UTTERANCE TWO MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. (Per Press Association.) NELSON, Oct, 3. i At the Magistrate's Court to-day* Jan Pieterse, formerly a fireman on . the Port Kembla, was, charged under : the War Regulations of December 4, . 1916, that at Nelson on September 19 he published disloyal statements, viz., That he "loved the Kaiser"; That he "would fight his best for the Kaiser"; That he "would kiss the Kaiser"; and, imitating the act of spitting, that he "would do that to the English." A' further charge of seditious utterance was preferred. Accused gave evidence! on his own behalf, denying that he , held the sentiments expressed in the. t \ charge, and 'stating that he did nob . remember using the words alleged. He had served for fourteen years in the Dutch navy, and latterly in the Dutch . and British merchant services. The , bomb on the Port Kembla was intended for him as - much as for any- ,. one else. Dutchmen had no love for the Kaiser. ; Accused was sentenced to two [ months' imprisonment on the charge , of disloyal utterance. On the other charge he was convicted and discharged. _^^