WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1917, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Recruiting

The Ballotted Men(Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, March 30 Now that the machinery for the ■working of the eompalsory olnuses of the Military Service Act is in fall operation the authorities are able to take a much more confident view of the future of recruiting than they were a few months ago. They began on the assumption that one-third of the men drawn in the ballots would be available for service and at first their expectation seemed unlikely to be realised ; but the latest figures show that their conservative estimate was rather below than above the mark and that any anxiety that may have been entertained in regard to filling future Reinforcements may be dismissed. The ballotted men, with very few exceptions, are going into camp, readily and evfen those that have unsuccessfully appealed for exemption are accepting the decision of the Military Service Boa* d philosophically and very soon becoming undistinguishable from their voluntary comrades. THE NEW BRIGADE For the most part the formation of a farther New Zealand Brigade at the front from the reserves that bad accumnlated behind the firing line is regarded here as a matter for congratulation, but some of the oritics, not altogether unnaturally, are urging that advantage should have been taken of the presence of superfluous troops to relieve those men who have been in the trenohes practically since the beginning of tbe war. The Minister’s answer to this is, of course, that New Zealand is not increasidg its obligations by the formation of tbe now Brigade. Its contributions to the Imperial forces w'll be in no way increased. The Reinforcements will he sent away in their regular order at just the same strength as was arranged in the first instance. As for tbe Jong service men, they certainly are entitled to very special consideration, but it is doubtful if any large number of them would care to be withdrawn at tbe present time. ELECTORAL REFORM. The announcement that the Imperial Government will introduce into the House of Commons a Bill to give effect to the recommendations of the Speaker’s Conference in regard to electoral reform in the Mother Country is eausing some fittle jubilation among the Social Democrats here who have been trying for years past to promote a similar movement New Zealand. Of course, most of the reforms being

sought at Home have been already efEeoted in the Dominion, but the one the ultra- ptogressives oonsider the most important of all never has been seriously attempted. They are hoping that Mr Massey’s and Sir Joseph Ward’s support of proportional representation —piebald in one case, they say, and half-hearted in the other— will bo concentrated and quickened by what they see and hear in London and that they w 11 return to New Zealand determined this country shall no longer be without what Mr Asquith calls a truly national Parliament.

THE ABSENT MINISTERS

The statements couceruing the business of the Empire Council Cabinet attributed to Mr Massey and Sir Joseph -Ward in the cablegrams from London this morning are held by many people jo give colour to the persistent rumour that Mr Massey auc * Sir Joseph Ward have made arrangements for considerably prolonging their stay in London. Mr Massey talks of the possibility of a lengthy investigatory visit to Ireland in connection with the Home Rul« question and S<r Joseph Ward deol&res the subject cannot be even discussed by the Conference till the end of April. With these engagements in view the Ministers canncfc expect to leave before the end of May and this would bs too late to enable them to reach the Dominion m time for the opening of Parliament in tbs following month. The Ministers in town profess to have no farther information on the subjects.