WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THE GERMAN COLONIES. ATTITUDE 5F MINISTERS. (Oar Special Correspondent) Wellington, Jan 25 The remarks attributed to the London “Spectator” in a cablegram published this morning epitomise very happily the views which have been expressed by Mr Massey and Ills colleagues in regard to the suggestion that the colonies wrested from the Germans should be restored after the war. Of course it is the fate of the Pacific colonies that immediately concerns New Zealand, but probably there would be some difficulty in differentiating between these and the others, and if the Prime Minister goes to the Imperial Conference it will be with a firm determination to oppose any proposal that may be made for the restoration of the conquered territory. He does not imagine that the representatives of the Dominions will be able to dictate to the Imperial Government on a question of this sort, but he believes that public opinion at Home is strongly in sympathy with the desire of the outlying portions of the. Empire to keep themselves free / from the menace of German neighbours.

WELLINGTON NORTH. Dr Thacker, whom the papers are describing as the man who backed Arnst for the scuffing championship, has carried his campaign in favour of Mi Poison’s can-di-dature for the Wellington North seat as far as Napier and is now extending it to Gisborne and Auckland. The doctor’s chief incentive towards breaking all the expressed and implied conditions of the party truce seems to be a consuming desire to air his accumulated grievances against the Miuister of Defence in particular and the high officers of his Department in genera l . Beyond promising that when Mr Poison gets into Parliament “the soldiers "and reservists will have the finest .man in the country to light for thejn ” he has nothing to say about his candidate’s qualifications, but he is denouncing Sir James Allen and his administration with unmeasured fervour. Meanwhile there is a rumour that the Wellington North seat will not be vacant for some months and a suggestion that the doctor has commenced his campaign a litt'le in advance of the probabilities.

SCARCITY OF TEACHERS. It scarcely required the application of the" Wellington Education Board for the exemption of its remaining male teacliersfrom military service to bring home to the public the fact that the national system of education is being very seriously impaired by the demand for soldiers. Since the beginning of the war the Board has given every facility to tlie members of its staff to go the front, and the teachers have shown themselves so ready to bear their part in the great struggle that it has be come impossible to fill the vacancies that are occurring except by makeshift appointments. .In some of the country districts it lias been necessary to put in charge of scfiools women or girls who have 11b certificates and no education beyond thesixth standard, with the result that children are growing up less than half taught in the mcst rudimentary subjects and barely knowing the meaning of discipline.

MI r.T TARY EXPENDITURE It-il expected that the War Expenditure Commission will commence its investigation almost immediately and that its report will be ready for presentation to Parliament even if there should be a session so early as the end of April. Whether or not it would be presented in that case is another question, but in the meantime the military authorities are betraying no disposition to withhold information concerning matters within the scope of the order of reference.

Journalists who have sought to brush up their acquaintance with the various branches of the Defence Department, in preparation for such developments as may occur later on, have found the officers in charge as frank and courteous as ever. If there has been any change it would seem rather to be in the direction of being more communicative than less. The general opinion remains, however, that the Commission will be able to suggest a large reduction 111 expenditure.