TOURIST AND TRAVELLER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1501, 30 January 1919, Page 40

TOURIST AND TRAVELLER.

Mr. T. Craig, of the Auckland shipowning firm of J. J. Craig and Co., returned to New Zealand by the Moana from a visit to Papeete.

In connection with the recent inquiry made by the New South Wales Board of Trade regarding the life, conditions and wages of women workers in the State, Miss May Matthews, speaking as a member of the committee appointed to prepare evidence by the Labour Council, makes the the following comment: “With regard to Judge Heydon’s remark tha; a woman’s work was 'only an episode in her life’ —that scarcely fits in with daily experience. I should say, rather, that it was a series of monotonous episodes from sunrise to sun set, which pursue women from the cradle to the grave. Of course, I understand that the Judge was dealing exclusively with the wage-earning woman, but often the married woman goe§ back into the labour market, and she finds that the monotonous

episode is a continuous drudgery. The point to emphasise is the inherent independence and right to work which every woman possesses, and this is recognised by Queen Mary, who, in her recent message, to the women of the Empire, summed *the question up in a nutshell, when she said: 'To-day, more than ever, the Empire needs her daughters, for, in the larger world of public and industrial work, women are daily taking a more important place’.’’

The members of the French Mission, headed by General Pau, returned to Auckland after a tour of the south, and stayed at the Grand Hotel until their departure by the Niagara. A public reception was held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Friday morning, the Mayor (Mr. J. H. Gunson) presiding, and in the afternoon General Pau received French residents of the city at the Grand Hotel. On Saturday the guests were taken by the City Council for a motor tour of Waitakere.

On the question of the frozen meat trade, M. Corbiere, speaking in Dunedin, said that to such an extent had the flocks and herds in France been depleted that they might want imported meat for some years, and they would, of course, do their trading through England. The wool from the dominions would always be required. In the past there had been an export of.stock to Germany, but there would be no more of that. He did not consider that there would be any necessity to import live stock to re-stock France.

A French soldier expressing his views in reference to conscription stated: “There was no need to worry. Either you were conscripted or not conscripted. If you were not conscripted, you had no occasion to worry. If you were conscripted, you were either sent to the frofit or kept in reserve: if in reserve, there was no need to worry. If sent to the front, you were either in the front trenches or in the back; if in the back trenches, you had no occasion to worry. If in the front trenches, you were either in safety or wounded; if in safety, there was no need to worry. If wounded, you were either only slightly wounded or seriously wounded; if only slightly wounded, there was still no need to worry. If seriously wounded, you were either mortally wounded or only badly wounded, and if only badly wounded

you would recover, and there was no occasion to worry. And if mortally wounded, well —you absolutely could not worry.”

Members of the French Mission at present visiting New Zealand met members of the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association, Wellington, one day last week. Mr. Q. W. Rushbrook presided. Dr. Siegfried emphasised the advantages to be reaped by increased trade with France, and promised fair treatment and that goods would be “up to sample.” If New Zealand wanted to come into touch with the French they would find that they were in touch with people who already knew something of them. The Mission desired to thank New Zealand for the great part she had taken in the war, and at the same time to endeavour to establish closer commercial relations between the two countries.

Reuter’s correspondent at Capetown reports that it is authoritatively stated that the Spanish influenza epidemic in South Africa resulted in a financial loss, to the insurance companies of £1,500,000 sterling. A leading manager states that the few weeks of the epidemic cost the companies considerably more than the whole war. The heaviest claims were paid out in the Cape Province and Orange River Colony.

According to Mr. A. C. Henderson, ranger for the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society, the Raetihi bush fires had a bad effect on the trout in the Makotuku, Makara and Orautoha streams. The potash from the burnt logs had been carried by recent rains into these streams, and it is presumed that this has killed the trout off, for the three streams in question are practically depleted. The two larger streams in the Raetihi district, viz., the Mangawhero and Manganui-o-te-ao, were not so badly affected by the potash, and the fishing has been fairly good. The streams in the Taumarunui district are all moderately well stocked, and the fishing reports are favourable.

The total losses of the world’s shipping suffered up till October 30 (12 days before the armistice) was 15,053,786 tons. New construction replaced 10,849,527 tons, and enemy shipping captured added 2,392,675, so that on that date the net loss stood at only 1,811,584 tons. The figures for the British mercantile marine were: Losses, 9,031,828 tons; gains, new construction in United Kingdom, 4 342,296 tons; purchased abroad, 530,000 tons; enemy tonnage captured, 716,620 tons; net loss, 3,443,012 tons.

France is now the most cosmopolitan country in the world; the men of all nations are to be found in its streets, as they are to be found in no other land. Races of ail colours are at work in its ports; and there are camped upon its soil the most varied congregation of soldiers the world has ever seen. All the neutral nations have their colonies cf labourers scattered here and there. In short, the conditions are favourable for the development of an epidemic, quite apart from the special possibilities of an outbreak in the battle area. It is therefore not a matter for surprise that France has suffered so much, but that France has suffered so little. It is stated —it is not a fact for which I can vouch — that France has had fewer cases than any other country in Western Europe. If so, a miracle has been accomplished. It is at least certain that Paris —crowded to excess, perhaps the most thickly populated city — has hitherto been comparatively fortunate. —“Westminster Gazette.”

Colonel H. J. McLean, of the New Zealand Medical Corps, who was made a Commander of the. Order of the British Empire, is a son of Dr. McLean, well-known in Timaru. He did excellent work in Gallipoli and Egypt before going to Europe, and was very popular with all ranks. In former years he was a member of the Wellington Football Club’s first fifteen, and he also took a great interest in yachting. Miss McLean principal of the Wellington Girls! College, and (Nurse Agnes McLean are his sisters.