News of the French

The view from the Pulpit Rock, Silverpeaks, looking north. — Otago Witness, 17.7.1918.
The view from the Pulpit Rock, Silverpeaks, looking north. — Otago Witness, 17.7.1918.
A french communique states: Between the Aisne and the Marne, overcoming the resistance of the enemy, who had brought up fresh reserves, we yesterday evening advanced appreciably and took more prisoners.

The battle continues. West of Rheims we delivered lively attacks yesterday. South of the Marne we have retaken Montvoison and Thurow. The enemy are now back to eastern outskirts of Osuilly. North of the river we progressed in the Bois du Roi and Bois de Courton, between Lapoterne and Courcy, and carried our lines a kilometre westwards. At a point further north the Italians carried the Ardre Mill and captured ground in the regions of Bouilly. We took 400 prisoners and captured four guns and 30 machine guns in the actions. Mr Gerald Campbell states: "The blow fell like a flash of lightning. In the whole course of the war there has been no surprise so complete. As the advance proceeded Germans were found sleeping or peacefully gardening or harvesting crops. At first the enemy officers taken prisoners could not credit the offensive, declaring that Foch had not the necessary troops. The spectacle of the advance was glorious and inspiring. The French were unrestrainable."

Maori compensation scheme

Old Maoris had a system of "compensation for accidents" exactly the opposite of the present statutory scheme. Instead of the individual obtaining compensation from the community, the community took toll from the individual. The Maoris believed in the Socialist lines — "an injury to one is an injury to all", and the "right to work". If a man, by his own or another’s fault, injured himself, and thus reduced or checked his "right to work" for the community, he was punished by the custom of muru (a plunder raid). The whole of his portable property, even growing crops might be carried off by his neighbours. "For example," said Mr Elsdon Best in a lecture at Wellington, "if a man’s wife decamped with some man, the hapless bereaved husband might be plundered of his property. If a man met with an accident, thus depriving the group of his services for a period, he was robbed. If a man came  and took your daughter as a wife, rob him down to the ground-line; he has deprived you of a worker in the field and cook-shed."

Horseplay on trams

The Tramway Committee’s report states that a considerable amount of trouble and annoyance has been experienced by conductors, and passengers, too, owing to the horseplay and rowdyism of High School boys when travelling on the cars. On a recent occasion a number of boys made themselves most objectionable, and as a  lesson to the offenders, the committee has instructed that two of their number be refused a concession ticket for next month, and that the offence be reported to the High School rector.

Self-service shop

America has evolved a shop without a salesman. Down the centre of the store is a railway dividing it into two aisles, lined with goods for sale. Customers enter by one door and leave by another. Every article is plainly marked with its price. Next the door is the cashier. He inspects what has been taken, calls the amount due, and the shopping is over. Customers bring their own basket and may pay cash. — ODT, 22.7.1918

 

• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ

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