WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1917, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THE IMPERIAL CABINET. j I NEW ZEALAND’S REPRE. 1 SENTATIVES. i | (Our Special Correspondent) j Wellington, Dec 12. J The story'that Sir James Allen i i Avill accompany Sir Joseph Ward to ; London as one ot the Dominion’s 1 representatives at the “ Imperial Cabinet,” which is expected to meet in April next, and will afterwards succeed Sir Thomas Mackenzie as the High Commissioner’s Office is . being accepted with some reserva- j tion by Sir James’ immediate ; friends. The Prime Minister hav- j ing announced his determination not to lea\m the country again for a ! time, it seems quite likely the Min'- I ister of Defence Avill be Sir Joseph Ward’s colleague on this occasion. | The machinery of the Defence j Department is now running so smoothly he could be away for three or four mouths without having any real cause for anxiet}'. The change of scene and the comparative rest would be the nearest approach to a holiday he could be persuaded to allow himself in war time. But more than once he has expressed, his disinclination to take up his residence in London while there is j work for him to do at this end of j the world, and nothing has uap- j pe'ned lately to induce him to change his attitude m this respect. DEFENCE COMMISSION. It is fairly certain that the gentlemen mentioned in a press message from Dunedin this morning—Mr J ustice Stringer, Mr Peter Barr, of Dunedin, and Mr Charles Rhodes, of Auckland —will constitute the Royal Commission promised last session to enquire into the expenditure of the Defence Department. The publication of the names has given some colour to the rumour that it is not so much the constitution of the Commission as it is the order of reference that has occasioned delay. It could not have taken a month to ascertain if the services of Mr J ustice Stringer and his two colleagues were available. . The man in the street has it that there is a wide difference of opinion as to the scope of the enquiry.

Mr Massey, so it is alleged, wishes the whole field thrown open to the Commission, while Sir James Allen wants the dignity and integrity of his responsible officers respected. It is scarcely necessary to say that in this case public feeling, as represented by the man in the street, is certainly with the Prime Minister. RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION. The outline of the Dominion’s finances communicated to the newspapers by Sir Joseph Ward has not tended to modify the criticism that has been levelled against the administration of the Railway Department during the last month or two. The Minister of Railways, without, of course, commenting on the fact, has shown that the Department is well on the way to a big deficit for the financial year aud the critics are attributing the unpromising outlook to the vagaries of the management. It is obvious to ever}' traveller who is compelled to make use of the trains whatever the cost may be that the increased fares are reducing the traffic at a rate that must further lessen the revenue. This is no longer merely a race-goer’s grievance, as it was, to a large extent, when excursion trains and excursion fares avere the main things in question, but is now affecting more or less directly every member of the community and it will be surprising if there is not a very loud protest during the holiday season.

soldiers’ settlement. ; During his northern tour Mr Massey is giving what personal attention he can to soldiers’ settlement, inspecting not only land that has been offered to the Government for this purpose, but also land that is already occupied by returned men, and it is hoped considerable impetus will be given to the scheme by his efforts. During the early stages of the movement there was a disposition on the part of the authorities to settle men on large areas where considerable capital and much labour were required before any tangible results could be obtained. But the number of men sufficiently well equipped to tackle undertakings of this kind were lew and far between and those who tackled them without the necessary equipment were foredoomed to failure. But now the policy of the Department is to settle the men on small areas of good land from which they can with reasonable assistance from the State make a living for themselves without any heartbreaking delay. It is towards this end Mr Massey’s efforts are beingdirected.