WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1917, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special Correspondent.) Wki.uxgtGn'. Dec 17. NVrfT.r.rxGTON north. The selection of Mr H. 15. Holland as the Labour candidate at the impending by-election for the Wellington North seat has gone a long way towards allaying any fears the National Government may have had concerning the choice oi the constituency. The great bulk of the workers do not regard Mr Holland’s | particular brand of Socialism as a practicable proposition in these times. They are more set upon winning the war than they are upon tearing down the whole Social fabric with little prospect of finding anv better conditions on the other side. But Mr Holland’s ' definite entrance into the field may not reconcile all the Reformers to the nomination of Mr J. P. Luke as the Government candidate. The Mayor has views on the licensing question and some other questions which are abhorrent to the supporters of the Hon A. L. Herdman and however ready he may be to modify his party attachments he is not likely to abandon these views for the very doubtful advantage of sitting in Parliament. But Mr Massey will not flout the wishes of his retiring colleague and his friends and probably Mr Holland’s candidature will facilitate a compromise which will firmly consolidate the “ National ” vote. DKKKNCK EXPENDITURE. It is now understood that the personnel of the Commission appointed to inquire into Defence expenditure will not be officially 1 announced till Mr Masse}’ and Sir Joseph Ward return to Wellington at the end of the week; but in wellinformed circles it is believed the names already mentioned are those ' of the gentlemen who will constituIte the Commission. In any case | the inquiry cannot commence till after the holidays and in the meantime rumour continues busy with the disclosures that are to be made. The stories one hears in the street are not, of course, evidence, but some of them suggest there is very good ground for investigation. It is said for instance, on what seems to be reliable authority, that temporary majors in the medical and dental branches of the service, in accordance with an Imperial regulation, are not only receiving an allowance for a horse they never keep, but also the services of a second orderly to look after the animal that does not exist. This, it is asserted, represents an additional expenditure of or £5 a week upon each of these officers without any possible return in the way of service to the country.