WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THE LIQUOR REFERENDUM THE SOLDIERS. (Our Special Correspondent) WELLINGTON, Dec. 23. The Acting Prime -Minister received ;i Saturday what described itself as an . nofficial deputation from the Returnl Soldiers’ Association and the Second ijvision League, consisting 'of the two residents of these bodies to urge that (mv Zealand soldiers abroad should live the fullest facilities for voting in lie liquor referendum. They suggest[l that every soldier should have post(l to him a voting paper and an «>xianatory leaflet and that the .posscssju of a pay-book should entitle him to ote. The .Minister did not commit imself to the adoption of the deputa- l ion’s suggestions, but he promised Imt every elfort would be made to ruble the soldiers to exercise their rights s electors. It might not be possible to each every man in the Expeditionary ’orce, but that would be the goal at •Inch the authorities would aim. THE ALLIANCE VIEW. The officials of the New Zealand Aliance declare themselves to be just as nxiotis as the presidents of the Return ■d Soldiers’ Association and the Second )ivision League and to see every absent oldier recording bis vote. This is not i question of advantage to one side or he other, they say, but a question of •iglit and justice. They have taken it ■or granted, however, that the Miniser would take every possible measure o ensure the facilities lor voting. Fbcy also have presumed that active irupagaiula work and the distribution if parfcv literature at the front would tot be allowed by the military autlmritie s slid they arc quite content that- the soldiers'should vote without interference from either side. T HE PARTY TRUCE. Several” southern members of Parliament spending their Christmas holidays in Wellington have expressed themselves strongly of opinion that the “pai t> truce” should he renounced and the Nation Cabinet dissolved as speedily as possible after the return of the party leaders to the Dominion. The original agreement was that the truce should continue till the end of the war and ill the ordinary course it would expire automatically on the signing of the treaty of peace : but the party caucuses prolonged the term to cover the absence ■nf Mr. .Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, presuming this would extend beyond

the official declaration of the cessation of hostilities. The southern members representing both sides of polities, insist there can be no further extension without entering into a fresh compact, : 111 ( | to this they are unanimously opposed. ST ATE MONOPOLIES. Members of tbo Labour Party are very jubilant over tile {foil. 0. W. Russell’s statement in Christchurch to the effect that the State should assume a monopoly of the sale of certain commodities, such as tobacco and petrol, and while supplying them to the consumers and users at lower prices than are being paid now make a substantial profit itself. They profess to regard this as an admission by the Minister that all they have been saying in regard to the excessive cost of living is correct and that their remedy for the evil is the only one lie can see. Mr. Russell, who returned to Wellington yesterday, is not perturbed by the jubilation of the critics of the Government. He lias been preaching the gospel of State co-operation for years, he says, and lias nothing lie ever has said on the subject to retreat.