LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7920, 18 August 1917, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Notice is given by the three hotelkeepers of Waipawa that the price of spirits will be raised to ninepence on Monday next.

The newly-formed Waipawa orchestra is swinging along in great style. A splendid practice was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall last evening, and good progress was made with some new music. Mr S. Bott was appointed librarian.

The Prime Minister, replying to Mr J. McCombs in the House of Representatives, said he was not prepared to say that the time had come when we must conscript labor, but the time may come when Parliament would have to pass legislation to discourage idleness. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to Mr A. Harris, said he had heard a good deal concerning the system of raising money by the means of premium bonds. He preferred, however, to await the result of investigation now going on in England on 'this subject before adopting the system. At a meeting of the Advisory Board of the Federation of New Zealand War Relief Societies the following motion, passed at the annual meeting of the Hawke’s Bay War Relief Association, was agreed to:—“That it be a recommendation to the Advisory Board that representations be made to the Government with a view to emphasising the necessity of establishing institutions for the benefit of returned soldiers prior to their discharge, who are suffering from shellshock or neurosis, and who are temporarily mentally incapable of carrying on any occupation for their own support. ’ ’

A Press wire from Wellington stater that the Minister of Defence has bepl advised of the safe arrival at their destination of the 26th Reinforcements, and also of the first portion of the 27ths.

The number of parcels packed by the Ladies’ Patriotic Committee last Thursday was 33. The following donations were received: —Shortbread Mesdames J. Tod (Otane), Baker, D. McLean, Brewer, W. Smith, W. Kit tow, E. Kittow, Misses Jull and Rathbone. Sugar: Mesdames H. Avison Ferguson, H. Collett, and Miss Wal drotn. f

Replying to Mr Hunter’s request that an officer of the Lands Depart ment should report on the prevention of river encroachment on the Lindsay Spring Hill, and Gwavas settlements Mr Massey said when an officer of tin Department was available, this woulu be done. Mr Hunter, speaking in tht House on the matter, said he was very glad that the Prime Minister had agreed to allow the inspection. H( wanted to urge upon the Prime Min ister that this was a very necessary and very important work. The set lers in occupation of those small hold ings were unable to do the work necessary to protect their property and th( property of the Crown. They found i hard to make ends meet. The posi tion was a very hard one, and he wa: glad to hear that the Prime Ministei understood their difficulties.

A vivid glimpse of the promptitud< and enterprise with which Y.M.C.A secretaries at the front pursue theii task of ministering to the comfort Of the men who are actually in the thick of it, is contained in a letter lately received from the front. The write) is a relative of Field Secretary Ray Baker, from Wellington, and the reference is to the recent big offensivt at Messines, in which the New Zen landers so brilliantly distinguished themselves. “Talking of Ray,” h« says: "I forgot to mention that tin ‘stunt’ started in the early morning and by eleven that morning the Y.M.C.A. had a tea-buffet going in one of the German dug-outs on Messines Hill.” And the writer comments. “Some affair, our N.Z. Y.M.C.A. T< follow the men so closely in such a terrible battle and to be in a position to help them in the very thick of if is certainly an achievement of which the Association may well be proud. ’ ’