WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 86, 10 April 1916, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

COMPULSORY SERVICE,

COLLARING THE INCREMENT,

(Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, April 7. Now it lias been definitely announced that Parliament will meet on May 9th people are beginnin gto take a closer interest in the business it is likely to transact. The party leaders still profess to see no reason why the session should not be a brief one, or rather, has Sir Joseph Ward put it to-day, why it should be a long one; but private members, who may be taking a ivider view of the pcsiton, are expecting to be kept at work till the end of July or the middle of August. Probably the most contentious measure included in the Government’s programme will be the amendment of the Defense Act providing for the institution of compulsory military service but the criticism here will be directed not so much against the principle of compulsion as against the administration of the Defence Department. If the Government is able to give an assurance that the men pressed 'into service will receive adequate pay and that the pensions system will be revised in a generous spirit there will be no obstinate opposition to the proposal. So far the Government has given no indication of its intentions in this respect, but the little straws that show the way the wind is blowing suggest that both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance will approach the subject in a more conciliatory mood than Sir Joseph Ward’s predecessor did last July. Of course, there will be opportunities to air the soldiers’ other grievances during the session and plenty of members ready to take advantage of them, but the public is now so impressed with the ; importance of winning the war and winning it at the earliest possible moment that it will encourage no factious discussion of such measures as Ministers may dqfem necesary towards that end. ■

URGENT BUSINESS. If Ministers are flattering themselves they will be able to confine the business of the session solely to matters appertaining to the war they are doomed to disappointment. Even tin newspapers which a few weeks ago were advocating this course are new pointing out other subjects crying for attention. The provision of land for returnee soldiers, which was touched only in a perfunctory fashion last session, must be taken in hand seriously and made a reality instead ■of a rather cruel pretence. Then the various questions that hjave been given

prominence by recent Labour happen- ! ings cannot be postponed till after the War. Members of 'Parliament, and particularly Ministers of the Crown, who connived at indefinite delay in dealing with /thejse questions Jwctfld find themselves in anything but a comfortable position at the next general election. Again the legislation which created the Board of Trade will have to be radically amended to make the efforts of that body really effective. The private member, at any rate, will realise that his constituents will not be content to allow these matters to stand over till the Germans lay down their arras and with the probability of there being only one other session during the life of the present Parliament he will be just as sensitive about the views of his constituents as he would have been in a time of profound peace. Ministers may have personal reasons for wishing to make the session a short o§e ; and members up to a certain point will be ready to consult their wishes, but there are very good public reasons why the session should be just as long as may be necessary to deal with all the country’s urgent business.

THE COST OF LIVING. Li its leading columns tills morning the “New Zealand Times” mentions an incident that has a very intimate bearing upon the cost of living problem;. Lately the City Council / has added to its very excellent tramway system a new route to Lyall Bay, a very popular holiday and week-end resort, by way of the southern part of the city. The residents along the route naturally have been looking forward to the running of the trams with much gratification and dreaming of various advantages they would en ; oy. But many of them have had a rude awakening. They have received notices from their landlords that their rents are to be increasd by from 10 to So per cent. The rates for snail cottags will go up from 20/- a week to 25'- and for larger houses in proportion. The landlords have paid nothing towards the cost of the tram : way, nor even made themselves liable to a i fecial rate, but they realise that the line is a convenience to then' tenants and they are going to charge them accordingly. It is their right,

so they say, and it certainly 13 the r might. But the (Wellington landlords must luve very nearly reached the limit of their exactions vh'cii already exceed the exactions of their kind in any other part of the dominion and are seriously retarding the development of the city. The “Times” commends this latest instance of extortion to the consideration of the social reformers, but the social reformers can do 'nothing till they become activej aggressive politicians and that seems to be the very last role they are disposed to assume. Were it

otherwise the Government would not look on complacently ,Vith folded hands while such‘things happened.