The Waipawa Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1917. CURRENT TOPICS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7911, 26 July 1917, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1917. CURRENT TOPICS.

Otane Patriotic Funds. In Tuesday’s issue of the “Tribune’ ’ there appeared a screed from its Otane correspondent declaring that considerable disgust had been expressed by the members of thePatriotic League at the “uncalled for and untruthful criticism of the League” appearing in the “Mail.” We have good reason to believe that the disgust is confined to two or three members who have an aversion to criticism of any kind. The main purport of the corespondent’s whine is that the “Mail” asserted that the League was withholding its funds instead of handing them over to the War Relief Association for administration. Will the chairman or the secretary of the League (jve prefer that it should be official instead of coming through the channel of an anonymous correspondent) inform the public what portion of the League’s funds has already been passed on to the parent Association since it was resolved in public meeting to affiliate? Further, what did the League propose to do with the money in hand providing the chairman’s motion for secession had gone to the vote and been carried? There was no suggestion in our criticism that the League is doing anything that it should not do beyond the fact that he money now in the bank should long ago have been paid over to the parent body. When the Otane League decided to affiliate with the War Relief Association it ceased to become an administrative body and became a collecting body, and has no power to spend any of the money in hand except for working expenses. But quite apart from the general

question, at issue, if is a pity to see a small community divided on a matter of such momentous importance as the disposal of patriotic funds, the very nature of which should make'for unity of action. '' _ . ’ Japanese in Petrograd. The Japanese delegates to the Rome Allied Commercial Conference had an exciting experience whilst passing through Russia. Viscount Masatochi Okochi described the adventures of the party to a “Central News” representative. In Siberia they found food plentiful and very cheap; but when they entered Russia in Europe they found it very difficult to obtain food, particularly bread. When they Reached Petrograd they found the people simply starving, there being an entire absence of bread and fuel. They heard of a revolutiqn whilst en route for the capital, and when a few miles from Petrograd their train was stopped by soldiers and civilians wearing red bands round their arms, and carrying the red flag. These searched the train for soldiers, and particularly for Russian officers. Five officers were immediately taken out, and revolvers pointed at their heads. The question was put: ‘ ‘ Are you with the people or the Czar?” Apparently the officers were with the people, for they were given red bands. Arriving at Pe.trograd they found the station in the hands of the revolutionaries, who were parading the platform singing and cheering. There were no porters or cabs, but some people crowded round them and asked to be allowed to carry their luggage. “That was the last we saw of it,” added the Viscount, with a smile. “At the hotel outside the station, where we had previously arranged to stay, we found all the windows broken and the walls riddled with bullets, and all the servants had disappeared. We decided to stay there until our Embassy could assist us. ! Every courtesy was shown to us by the people. It was six days before we could leave Petrograd. and during that time we witnessed a wonderful change. Everybody had resumed working, and there were abundant supplies of foodstuffs coming into the capital. ’ ’ Untimely Proposal. A public meeting at Christchurch last week decided to take steps towards the raising of funds for a presentation to Sir James Allen in recognition of the manner in which he had carried out his administrative duties during the absence from the Dominion of the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward. Quite apart from the consideration as to whether the proposed 1 reward is merited, we submit that the time is decidedly inopportune for any movement of the kind. Sir James has no doubt discharged his duties to the best of his ability, but he has been ' well paid for it, and while Ministers and members are talking so volubly 1 of the need for sacrifice, “to the last , man and the last shilling,” it would certainly be out of place to launch a , presentation scheme such as that suggested. Every fair-minded man and I woman likes to see merit get its due reward, but if the promoters of this ill-timed presentation movement are wise they will shelve their proposal.