WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 20 November 1916, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

(Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Nov 17. "What struck everyone privileged to •witness the proceedings at the first ballot held under the Military Service Act was the intense care taken by the responsible officers to prevent any possi bility of error. The "favouritism" which some people had predicted and others feared was simply out of the question. The work commenced at 9 -a.m., .yesterday,, and continued till 6.30 p.m., by which time about half the names required had been drawn, and it is being completed to-day. The process is so elaborate, and is subject to so many checks and rechecks that the con--1 trivance of a score of people who have not communication with one another would be needed to divert the turn of fortune by even a hairsbreadth. v In these circumstances the drawing was necessarily slow and tedious, but the army of trained assistants were kept at strict attention the whole day long, with brief intervals for -rest and refreshment, and the supervision of Mr S. E. McCarthy was not relaxed for a moment. It is expected that the names of the me n drawn for service will be published on Monday or Tuesday next Then they will undergo a medical examination and have an opportunity to claim exemption. ' 'REQUISITIONED WOOL. The price to be paid for the wool reuisitioncd by the Imperial Government is still a subject of discussion between the Hon W. D. S. McDonald, Acting-Minister of Industries arid Commerce, and the representatives of the growers, the brokers and the freezing companies. The price suggested by the Imperial authorities is an advance of 45 per cent, upon the average rates prevailing in 1913-14, the year before the war, but the representatives of . the

growers* and brokers have submitted — it is understood by a small majority—that the prices ruling last year would be a fairer basis of settlement. The matter has now been referred to the Priem Minister, who will have an opportunity to confer in London with Sir Joseph Ward and th. 3 British Board of •Trade, and his reply is expected to reach here to-morrow. A large number of farmers outside the conference have expressed their readiness to accept the price suggested by the Imperial authorities, but the business people who handle the wool after it leaves the growers' hands are less compliant and are holding out for a higher price. Their position is admittedly a difficult one owing to the higher prices having been anticipated in their dealings with the farmers, but it is hoped that some way short of insisting upon the last penny in value may be found towards an agreement without seriously prejudicing the interests of anyone concerned. THE ARBITRATION SYSTEM. Mr Harold Beauchamp, 'the chairman of th e Board of Directors of the Bank of New Zealand, is an observant and communicative traveller, and when he goes aboard the men flock to hmi for information and opinions. During his recent visit to America he was consulted by one of these men about the operation of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act in this country, and spoke rather disparagingly of the measure, holding that it was proving of less value than was expected on account of the impossibility of enforcing penalties incurred J>J offending workers. Somehow his remarks escaped the notice of labour representatives at the time and were allowed to pass without comment by the local newspapers. Now, however, Mr F. W. Rowley, the secrc- , tary of the Labour Department, has ! protested against the sweeping assumptions. He says bluntly that Mr Beauchamp "did not know what he was talking about" and to show that from the inception of the arbitration system down to March 31 his department had collected 95 per cent, of the penalties inflicted upon employers, and 81J per cent, of those inflicted upon the workers. Remembering that the workers include in their ranks a certain number of irresponsible men without means, in no way typical of the morals of their class, this does not seem at all a bad record. WOMEN WORKERS. The question of the municipality employing women workers was brought before the Wellington City Council last night by a letter from the W r omen 's National Reserve addressed to the Reserves Committee, offering to supply women to relieve men of military age who ari now employed about the city gardens and plantations. The offer did not receive a very favourable reception from the Council, which had been advised by the committee that there was plenty of male labour available, but the National Reserve is not discouraged, and it is allowing no avenue of employment to remain unexplored. It is not seeking to put any man out of his job, but it wishes to satisfy the authorities there are plenty of women ready to undertake any class of work suited to their sex and their strength. The women do not place narrow limits upon themselves in this respect. They would not plough or shovel from choice, but they woulJ do any ordinary work about a farm and drive horses in the <-ity or in the country if they had a chance. What they want is work, at wages representing their worth, while ihe men arc fighting at the front.