WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hawke’s Bay Seat.

Dr McKab’s Successor.

(Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Feb 12 Tbe announcement that Sir John Findlay would be a candidate for the Hawke’s Bay seat in tbe House of Representatives, rendered vacant by tbo death of Dr McNab came as a surprise even to hia intimate personal friends. It was known that he continued to take a keen interest in public aff lira and that he was frequently conrulterl by his old friends remaining in Parliament, bur, it was never thought Le woald be persuaded to make tbe sacrifice entailed in his return to active politics at the present time. It is taken for granted that if he is accepted by the constituency—and on that point there appears to be little doubt—he will succeed toDrMcNab’s place in the Cabinet and be compelled to largely curtail his very lucrative practice at the bar. The Reformers, in accordance with the agreement made betweeo the parties when the National Government wai formed, will not contest the seat and it is understood that the great majority of the Liberals in the district are prepared to give Sir John their hearty support.

CABINET CHANGES Sir John Findlay’s readiness to return to politics and the prospect of tbe Hawke’s Bay constituency accepting bia services have revived in slightly altered form some old speculations concerning impending changes 1 in the National Cabinet. A month or two ago it was believed in many quarters that Sir Joseph Ward would remain in Lotidoa as H ; gh Commissioner and member of the Imperial Council and that the balance of paities in the Cabinet would be maintained by Mr Herd man taking a seat on the Supreme Court Bench. At that tim6 Dr MoNab was to be the new leader of the Liberal Party. Now the story is that Sir Joseph will come back to the Dominion a little in advance of Mr Massey, hand tha leadership of the Liberal PaDy over to Mr W. D. S, MacDonald, and return to London to fill the positions which have been assigned to him there. The distribution of his portfolios, nominally at any rate, would be the prerogative of tbe Prime Minister, aud it is suggested Finance ■would remain permanently with Mr Myers and Post and Telegraph go to Sir John Findlay, Thi9 would leave Mr McNab’s portfrlios to be allotted to the other Liberal members of the Ministry and Sir John Findlay free to accept the Attorney-Qereralsbip when Mr Herdman retired. STATE INTERFERENCE, The Government’s notice of its intention to take over the control of the Wellington wharvep, noloi-s tha ‘dispute between the employers and tbe waterside woikcrs is saibfactorily settled within the next twenty-four hours, is framed iu somewhat ob?care legal phraseology and it is impossible to ssy with any certainty exactly what it means.

Tbe men are hoping, however, that the Government intends to give effect to their own suggestion that the State should direct the work on the wharves just as it directs the work on the railways. They are ready to negotiate with the Government for all the labor required, but they positively refu«e to have anything to do with the Employers’, Farmers’, and Citizens’ Comrmtteo, a body which played a very prominent part in tho strike of 1913 without finding any favour with the watersiders. All sorts of rumours are afloat today, some of them of a disquieting nature, but tbe position is developing too quickly to allow their disoaadon here to be of any value. scarcity of labour. Though the scarcity of labour at sheariog aud harvest time proved leas acuta than was generally expected, there is throughout the an unsatisfied demand for experienced and capable farm hands. In the Taranaki milking districts the withdrawal of men for the Reinforcements is seri-

ously threatening the production of dairy products and in quite a number of instances farmers have been compelled to reduce their herds.

In one ease a man who is milking 50 cows with the assistance of his son and daughter is about to lose tho son by the operation of the ballot and is unable to find a man to take his place at any price, If tbe boy gos 3 into oatnp without leaving a substitute behind him, the farmer will have no alternative to getling rid of fifteen or twsnty of his cows, and this loss, be declares, will extinguish all ths profit he has been makit'g from his incessant labour. The case is typical of scores of others reported from the dairy districts.