WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

ALLEGED GERMAN MENACE

RUMOURS FROM AUSTRALIA

(Our Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, April 24

The cablegram from Sydney yest'cidav hinting at-a grave German menace in the Pacific naturally has occasioned some uneasiness, here and provoked a •mod deal of speculation. Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward assured inquirers there was no need for alarm, and deprecated the circulation of wild stories for which there was not the slightest foundation. The Government, they said had taken every .precaution against any danger that might arise, and could be trusted to keep itseli informed in regard to any new developments. The worst story being whispered about is that two German raiders are somewhere in the neighbourhood of the Australian coast ’waiting to pounce upon intercolonial shipping, and this may turn out to he a much exaggerated version of the facts on which tlie Sydney message rests. In the meantime/ however, the authorities seem to have the position well in hand. THE POLICE FORCE. A deputation from the Prostestant Political Association which waited upon the Hon. T. Wilford yesterday, found the Minister a little spectical concerning a number of the charges it preferred against the police force. The R e v. Howard Elliott acted as spokesman and reiterated certain statements he had made from the platform in rc : gard to the behaviour of constables at public meetings and in dealing with cases of rowdyism. Mr. Wilford listened patiently and courteously and promised Mr. Eliott and his friends that their representations would have immediate attention. But he took the opportunity to remind the members oi the deputation that in cases of rowdyism here might be faults on both sides. He was going to uphold law and order at public meetings, hut the promoters of such meetings must remember there were limits to the endurance of casual audiences. SEARCH FOR SHIRKERS. The efforts made by the Minister of Justice .at Awapuni during the progress of the Manawatu Racing Clum's meeting last week to obtain some idea of the number of “shirkers” who irequented such gatherings, confirmed the repeated assurance of the Defence Department that few eligible men w e re succeeding in evading the long arm of the Military Service Act. Mr. "Wilford did the job thoroughly. He gave the public no hint of what was on the board and yet had a little army of military and civil police to conduct the investigation. On the first day S9O men were challenged and on the second 000, and of these fewer than a dozen were unable to produce satisfactory evidence that they were doing their duty, The men included in this tiny minority are ,being further examined and it is* probable all but one or two will bo able to relieve themselves of the stigma of having placed their own pleasure before the needs of the Empire. THE WOMEN’S VIEW.

The lead taken by the Auckland Momen’s National Reserve in urging the Government to give the women of the Dominion a better opportunity to pp ve their loyalty and devotion to the Empire, is being warmly supported by a large number of women of all classes here. The complaint that women ns .well as meii were not “conscripted” by the recent legislation, however, is scarcely, well founded. The law as* it stands 'will enable women to be taken into any essential, industry in which their services are needed," and should the Government consider this _ course necessary they will not find their value as a national asset 'disregarded. Already there are thousands of women doing voluntary service in splires which before the war were confined" almost entirely to men, and should the occasion arise the Government will not hesitate to encourage theip. to break through the conventional bonds that hitherto have hampered the members of their s e x.. THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT MORE KICKS THAN COMPLIMENTS. Wellington, April 26 At the luncheon preceding the annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance made speeches which were intended for others than the business meiyto whom they were immediately addressed. Both the Ministers had something’ to say about the criticism that had been directed against the National Government, and they said it. in a half-humorous vein entirely appropriate to the occasion. Mr Massey protested that lie and his colleagues had received raorei kicks than compliments, hut.he was satisfied that when the public understood all they had clone, and the reason for doing it. the compliments would “come along” right enough. Simply the Government had been tod modest, a mistake it meant, to avoid in the future. The syily evoked a burst of merriment which the Minister accepted as an etidorsemenfc ot his view.

THE TREASURER'S EXTRAVAGANCES.

Sir Joseph Ward took his cue from his chief and before dealing- with more serious matters alluded to some of the extravagances that had been laid to his charge. He had been accused of taking a party of ladies to the theatre and spending 50/ on chocolates for his guests. He had not spent a single shilling. A certain newspaper had declaied the furniture in his office had cost £IO,OOO. He recently had had it - valued by an expert and had been told it was worth £IOO. But these were the sort of things that gave zest and variety to public life and helped a Minister who was doing his best to believe his real delinquencies were not so dreadful and flagrant after all. Surely if Mr Massey and he had committed any grave misdemeanour it would not be necessary to count the number of chocolates their lady friends ate, nor to question their right to use chairs and tables in their services to the country. THE MISSION HOME. . Speaking in a more serious strain the Ministers touched upon some of the big post-war problems that lay before the Dominion. They were not going home on a pleasure jaunt; but upon a great Imperial mission, to represent the views of New Zealand, as far as they might,\ on a number of questions that closely concerned every man and >' woman in the country. Party of course, were 'debarred, but -Mr Massey emphasised the need for vastly increased produe-

i tioP and Sir Joseph the importance of making the Empire self-sustaining by the rapid and effective development of all its resources. An interjection gave the Minister of Finance an opportunity to digress for a moment and to express an optimistic view of the futnre relations between capital ancl LabourN Capital would do its part and Labonr would do its part, with better understanding and higher aspirations, and the Empire would be strengthened at every point by their frank ancl friendly co-operation. j CLASS Ji RESERVISTS, The ballot for ten thousand Class B Reservists, married men with one child, has brought the war very near to many homes and numbers of commercial houses. As far as one can gather during the twenty-four hours following upon the publication of the list, there will be a cheerful and in many cases an eager response from the great majority of the men called to the colours. Hundreds of R-sorv\~ts included in this class have been waiting their turn, not through any reluctance to serve, bat through a desire to make the best*-, possible provision for their families. They have welcomed compulsory service because it placed upon the State the responsibility of saying' just when they were required. The business: houses are in a rather different position, some ot them having to face the loss of a arge proportion of their men, and unless returned soldiers come forward in increasing numbers there will be a much increased demand for women labonr.