WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 13 November 1916, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

AN IDLE RUMOUR. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Nov 10 The rumour recorded in a cablegram from Loudon regarding the High Commissiouership need not bo taken seriously. The political gossips have been busy appointing successors to Sir T. Mackenzie for many months past, and they have used Sir Joseph Ward ’s freely. “It is understood,’’ says the London correspondent, “that Sir Joseph Ward is likely to succeed Sir T. Mackenzie, who will ultimately return to New Zealand and re-enter politics.’’ A rumour in this form was in circulation long before the Dominion Ministers left for London, and the Liberal leader mentioned the matter at a conference of Libera} members prior to his departure. He said then emphatically that he intended to return to New

Zealand, and hoped to load the Liberal / 7 party at the next general election. He had not the least intention,, he assured his friends, of remaining in the United Kingdom in any capacity. • The future, of course, is a sealed book, and it would be rash to predict what may or may not happen when Imperial affairs are being adjusted after the conclusion of peace. But for the present it may be said confidently that Sir Joseph Ward’s friends expect him back in the Dominion with Mr Massey in January or February. A REHEARSAL. A few Wellington people had an opportunity this afternoon to witness a trial of the hallotting system devised under the Military Service Act. The officers who are to undertake the actual operations next week were all at their stations, and the whole machinery appeared to run smoothly and effectively. The method of conducting' the ballot should ensure absolute fairness. Every member; of the Expeditionary Force Reserve (unless a few men who have contrived so far to evade registration) is represented in the register by a card, numbered and indexed. These cards are arranged in boxes, and the clerks 1 , mostly women, have to lift the corresponding cards when a numbered marble is drawn from the barrel by the magistrate. There seems to be no possibility of fraud or error at any stage, since every operation is checked and clerks cannot see the names upon the cards when they are drawing them. The Defence authorities have realised tne importance of providing no ground for even the

least suspicion of unfairness, and the precautions taken ought to satisfy even the most distrustful Reservist. When an actual ballot is in progress representatives cf four Wellington papers, the “Dominion,” the “New Zealand Times,” the “Evening Post,” and the “Maoriland Worker” are to be permitted to be present as spectators. THE HOSPITAL SHIP. The hospital ship Marama, after, refitting at Port Chalmers and taking aboard a new staff, is leaving Wellington this afternoon on her return voyage to the war zoue. The authorities have not succeeded in making it at all clear why the Marama, like the Maheuo before her, came right round the world for her repairs and renovations. The official statement is that the use of a hospital ship is necessary in the transport of some severely wounded men to this country, but, as a matter of fact, the ship did not brin§ more tnau a handful of serious cot cases. In fact there seems no reason to doubt that ail the men who returned to New Zealand on the Marama could have travelled with safety and comfort on an ordinary transport or liner. The relief of the old staff, after, a period of strenuous labour, admittedly was desirable, but the change could have been effected without taking the vessel away from European waters for four months or so, during the period of the big offensive on the West front. The fact seems to be that the Marama was commissioned for a fixed period in the first instance, and was brought back to NcW Zealand at the close of that commission merely because the official mind works in grooves. SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON. Sir Ernest Shackleton has cabled to

a friend in Wellington that he expeers to reach the Dominion, on November 29, from San Francisco. The situation with regard to. the Aurora remains, in the meantime, a trifle peiplexing. Sir Ernest is still owner and master •of the ship which must leave Port Chalmers during December in order ro relieve the explorers at present on the Antractic Coasct. The Government which have appointed Captain J. K. Davis to command the ship, appear to have power to seize the Aurora, since much public money has been spent or refitting -her and preparing for the re lief voyage. But they have not ye* taken this extreme step. Captain Davis has gone to Australia to select some members of his crew, but it is likely that he will take the opportunity t ■ tell the Commonwealth Ministers that he objects to being placed in a false position. He accepted the com mar *d of the Aurora at the direction of the Federal authorities, but he certainly win not enter into a quarrel with his old leader and colleague. It appears on the face of it that the Governments have put themselves in

a foolish situation by appointing Captain Davis without first consulting Sir Ernest Shackleton. Why should any attempt have been made to find a new master for the Aurora before Sir Ernest Shackleton had indicated whetner or not he intended to go South -himself?