WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1919, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special Correspondent).

THE NAVY.

ADMIRAL JELLICOE’S REPORT WELLINGTON, Oct. 17.

Lord Jellicoe’s report upon naval defence, which was handed to the Govern-or-General just before his lordship’s departure from New Zealand and which is summarised in the newspapers this morning, is a very comprehensive document. Of course the whole of the report is not made public, there being portions of it that must be regarded as confidential, but sufficient details are available to make it plain that the Admiral proposes the Dominion should take up its fair share of the cost of maintaining the Pacific Fleet, beginning with an annual expenditure of £357,000 and advancing by rapid graduations to £1,166,100. This is a somewhat larger expenditure than the politicians on either side of politics have been contemplating, the contribution being one-fourth of that suggested for Australia, while the population of New Zealand is pnly one-fifth of that of the Commonwealth. The contributions, ■however, are calculated upon population and external trade together and probably public opinion in the Dominion will regard tliis ■ basis as sound THE POLITICAL ASPECT.

The “Dominion” insists that the Admiral’s proposal should put an end to the controversy between the advocates of contributing towards the cost of the Imperial Navy and the advocates of creating a “so-called local navy.” It does not state fully tire differences between the contending parties, hut it admits “both points of view have much to commend them” and claims “both are reasonably mot under Lord Jellicoe’s recommendations.” There this aspect of the question very well may be allowed to rest, but it is evident from what was said 'by the party leaders in the House yesterday there still is room for some differences of opinion. Sir Joseph Ward in asking that a day should bo set aside for the discussion of the report urged that every part of the. country was deeply interested in the subject and that while it was desirable it should be fully considered it was equally desirable it should be kept free from party politics. Mr Massey concurred with this view and promised that not less than an afternoon and possibly a whole day would be given to the discussion of the report. The scheme would not come into operation till 1920-21, so that its adoption would not affect" the year’s finance.

SUGAR SUPPLIES. House-wives who have been alarmed by the shortage of sugar during the last, few weeks will he reassured by a memorandum furnished to the Prime Minister by the Board of Trade yesterday. “The Colonial Sugar Company,” this memorandum runs, “state that the shortage of supplies in southern ports is due to the lack of shipping, and that the shortage in Auckland was due to a week’s wet weather preventing the loading and discharging of sugar. The company has, however, this Week shipped per s.s. Navua 240 tons to Oamaru, Timaru and Dunedin, per s.s. Mokoia 700 tons to Wellington, Lytelton and Dunedin, and 320 tons have been distributed in Auckland. This should relieve tlie pressure.” While writing in this encouraging way of the approaching relief the Board admits that “the position generally’ is not so favourable as it was last season. The lack of reserve stocks is due to the shortened output during the epidemic and to shipping difficulties, and the former positio cannot he restored for some time. THE ELECTIONS.

Though the business before Parliament and in view is sufficient to keep if, occupied for another two or three months, the Prime Minister is giving members to understand they will lie released not later than the first week in November. This will mean jettisoning a large amount of the matter now on the Order Paper, and putting the public works estimates through Committee at lightning speed, but the majority of the members are in the mood to assist the Government in this direction. They are growing very restless in face of a report that the election will ho held not later than the second week in December. For four years they have done little platform work in their constituencies and many of them are confronted with altered boundaries and unknown electors. The general opinion here is that the campaign will not he prolonged for more than five weeks after the end of the session and that an unusual number of fresh faces will appear in the new Parliament. Each of the three parties, of course, professes to believe the changes are going to he in its favour, hut as a matter of fact very little information can he obtained in Wellington concerning the temper of the constituencies and most of the predictions arc based upon the wish which is father to the thought.