WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

MORE MEN. THE PRIME MINISTER’S ATTITUDE.

(Our Special Corresvondent) WELLINGTON April 8.

Speaking at the unveiling of an Honours JJoard in one of the city suburbs onl Friday evening, the Prime Minister gave the first definite public indication of the Government’s attittule towards Lloyd George’s appeal for more men. Sir James Allen’s allusions to the subject implying as they did that the Dominion had done its full share in the great struggle and could not be expected to increase its effort, had created an unpleasant feeling in the community' and the local newspapers had taken tlio Minister of Defence severely to task for what they conceived to be his lack of sympathy and enthusiasm. But Mr Massey, coining straight from a prolonged Cabinet meeting and having it may be assumed the full approval of his colleagues speedily dissipated any doubts that may have been entertained as to the Government’s determination to place all the resources of the Dominion at the disposal of the Empire in the hour of its peril. THE LAST MAN AND THE LAST SHILLING. The Prime Minister of course, was speaking to a larger audience than the one that had assembled to witness the immediate ceremony' in which lie was engaged. “The Imperial Government in the hour of common peril,” he said, “has asked New Zealand ■

tlie other States of the Empire to give all their assistance. We have done it already and we are going to do it again.” This was the lcey-note of an inspiring appeal in which the Dominion’s pledge of “the last man and the last shilling,” sanctified by the sacrifice of blood of its sons, was received and confirmed. Just what shape New Zealand’s further effort will take Mr Massey was unable to say. Certain proposals have been made to the Imper in 1 Authorities and if they are approved they will he put into effect at the earliest possible moment. They probably will entail calling up Reinforcements rather earlier than was anticipated and perhaps a shortening of the period of training here. The latter is a step which had been under consideration before tlip need for haste arose. THE SHORT SESSION. Whilo the call for men necessitates during the (short session the introduction of certain meaui'es which other wise would not have been required. It is pretty sure to exercise a restraining influence upon those disgruntled members who have been credited with an intention to .seize the opportunity to air their grievances against the administration of : the Defence Department in particular. There would be little publie sympathy with a member who attempted to hold up the business of Parliament with personalities and trivialities when the very existence of the Empire is hanging in the balance and public sympathy woul bo as necessary to the success of a Parliamentary •strike as it is to an industrial strike. Mr Massey declares that all the House has to do ought to bo done in a week and that any prolongation of the session beyond that period will be quite inexcusable. Sir Joseph Ward as Minister of Finance, will have the bulk of work to do and his methods encourage neither futile delay nor factious obstruction. MTLITA R Y EXPENDITURE.

It will not lie very surprising, however, nor very reprehensible if mention is made, during the sesssion of some of the recent- disclosures in regard to the expenditure of the Defence Department. Of course, the proper time for the discussion of this subject will be when the report of +-1>» War Expenditure Commission is presented to the House, and that is not likely to be during the short session, but some of the waste and extravagance is so flagrant' and so notorious that even the least aggressive member with no personal grievance to air may find it dif ficult to withhold the criticism which would be his boundeu duty, in different circumstances. When the Commission's report does conn? down there will be much to say on this subject and at the regular session towards the end of the year it will have to he said, but at the present moment there are many reasons why the debate should be post poned.