WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON NOTES.

RAILWAYS AND WAR. AIINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (Our Special Correspondent) WELLINGTON, June 1. The Deputation which waited upon tho Hon W. 11. Herries yesterday to urge that provision should be made for late train communication between Lyttelton and Christchurch gave the Alinister of Railways another opportunity to explain the efforts that are being made by his Department to release men for services at the front. The Minister made it plainer than ever that his “economies,” as the reduction of the train services had been styled, aro going to cost the country a lot of money. He frankly admitted the department was cutting out a largo part of its most remunerative business, but he insisted the “monetary position” was of no consequence. Taxation, he said would remedy that. .But he did not make lit, plain to the members of the deputation how playing ducks and drakes with the railway revenue was going to assist in -winning the war He believed tho public would approve of what he was doing and he left the rest to the Alinister of Finance THE LAYMAN’S VIEWS.

Tho Minister’s airy disregard of the financial results of his patriotic administration of the railway service is' bcginnng to provoke a good deal of adverse comment in commercial and other circles Of cours.c, everyone realises tho importance of the Dominion discharging promptly and fully its obligations to the Empire. “On that point there can be only ono opinion and one desire”, said a prominent business man to-day, “but for the sake of releasing four or five hundred men who aro no better qualified for military service than are four or five thousand additional men who could bo obtained without inconveniencing anyone, tho Alinister chooses to disorganise the whole system of transport and communication and to throw away at least a quarter of a million of money which will have to be recovered by taxation.” Hundreds of people with the greatest goodwill towards flic National Government are talking in .this strain, and hundreds more are saying all the men required could have been spared without any sacrifice of service or revenue by the introduction of better methods and more cffectivo organisation. RETURNED -SOLDIERS

There is a very large volume of public opinion behind the demand which is being made by the Returned Soldiers’ Association for the appointment of a Minister to look after the interests of the men coming back from the front. Under the existing arrangements the soldier who arrives in the Dominion with a burning desire to re-establish, himself in civilian life as speedily as possible may be positively embarassed by the kindly intentions of five or six Ministers. The Minister of Defence, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Lands, each has a' particular service he would render the country’s hero. Sir James Allen will give him bis discharge; Air. Herdman will find him employment, if he wants it; Sir Francis 801 l will provide him with a section of land; Mr. Hanan will teach him liow to farm it, and Air. Russell will nurse him back to health. The Returned Soldiers’ Association wishes all these functions entrusted to one sympathetic heart and the Acting Prime Alinister has oneouraged it- to hope its wish will bo gratified. THE -SHEARERS. The refusal of tho Shecpowners’ Af>soeiation to confer with the representatives of the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers’ Union on the question of shearers’ pay and conditions came as a genuine surprise to tho men, who had assumed the employers wore anxious to reach an agreement-well in advance of the opening of the season. The unexpected development is not likely, however, to load to any more serious consequence than a firm demand by the men for 27s 6d a hundred for shearing and corresponding pay for shed hands. They got their way last year and they were confident of getting it this year. The employers have taken up tho stand that the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers’ Union is- not entitled to speak for the shearers as a body and has recommended • the men to submit their claims to the employers’ organisations in ,their respective districts. This leaves then free to deal in their own way with any difficulty that may a T iso later on, but is not thought likely any grave trouble will arise from the absence of a formal Dominion agreement .