WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 11 December 1916, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MILITARY SERVICE. ENFORCING THE LAW. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Dec. S. The Hon. Jas. Allen and the Hon. A. L. Herdman, in tlicir respective capacities as Minister of Defence and At-torney-General, liavc issued statements in regard to the Administration of the Military Service Act and the purpose of the new war regulations which evidently are intended to arouse the public to a further appreciation of the fact that the Empire is engaged in a war that is not yet won. Mr Allen is being criticised in some quarters for reiterating his determination to enforce the system of compulsory service approved by Parliament, on the ground, it may be assumed, that he is protesting too much; but really in view, of the rumours that are flying about the country if is important that the public should understand quite clearly the Government- is not going to trifle with this matter, either by attempting to conciliate this section of the community or that, or by permitting avoidable delays. The Attorney-General’s statement is characteristic of its author. The only excuse Mr Herdman offers for the new regulations, and probably he would rather call this an explanation, is that they arc necessary towards winning the war, and it may be taken for granted lie will sec they are made effective. CLAIMS FOE EXEMPTION The few disinterested persons who have been watching the proceedings at the first sitting of the Military Service Boards, for the Wellington District are emphatic in their praise of the ready tact and marked impartiality of the chairman and his colleagues. It is excusable to record this fact, because the two lay members of the Board represent opposite sections of the community whose political and industrial interests are popularly supposed to be in sharp conflict. Some of the cases presented features of unusual interest. In one of those Mr Ernest Short, the wellknown stockbreeder, a generous promoter of patriotic movements, whose chief regret seemed to be that he could not get away to the war himself, appeared in support of an appeal of his two sons for exemption. The ground for appeal on behalf of the elder sou was that he had been discharged from the Forces on account of ill-health, and in respect to the younger son that his special ability wag indispensable to the success of his father’s farming operations. The case was the subject of a most exhaustive enquiry, and finally it was decided that thjj older son should ; go into camp in January, and that the younger, who had been called up under Clause 35, should remain in his present occupation subject to the operation of the ordinary ballot. The case is quoted as an example of the spirit in which the Board is doing its work.

WAITING A PRECEDENT If a general election in the midst of the war should be the ultimate outcome of the present political crisis at Home, a,s appears possible, and even probable, at the time of writing, the New Zealand Government would find itself confronted by a much more ‘independent” Parliament next year than the one it had to deal with last session. No one concerned for the credit anj welfare of the country can wisli to sec it plunged into a general (flection at such u time a s this, but there is nothing to bo gained by blinking at the fact that the little group of restless spirits that made itself heard and felt in the House of Representatives last session has gained both in numbers and in public approval during the recess. Rightly or wrongly there is a feeling abroad that the Cabinet has not done all it might have done to keep down the cost of living, and that in its entirely commendable efforts to discharge the country’s obligations to the Empire it has neglected some of its domestic interests. It is an open secret that a number of members who were docile partisans' last scsiou, ready to stand by their respective party leaders without demur, arc now' resolved to give expression to their own opinions in the House, and to make them effective when they can. If the Mother of Parliaments went to the constituencies at such a juncture those gentlemen would not lack a precedent for the adoption of a similar course by one of the youngest of her daughters'.

HOME RULE. Naturally Irishmen in this part of the world, having only the brief cabled reports of what is happening in the Old Country, will look with some suspicion upon the scheme propounded by Sir Edward Carson for the settlement o? the Home Rule controversy; but a gentleman in Wellington who has taken a keen interest in the subject for many years declares that the Ulster leaden’s proposals, assuming they are not put forward merely a a recruiting bait, offers the best practicable solution of the problem yet submitted to the. Irish people. During a recent visit to Ireland, just before the outbreak of war, he was surprised to find among his

Catholic friends a growng respect for Sir Edward Carson, and a firm belief in big sincerity and good intentions. This certainly is not what other people in New Zealand, from their reading of the newspapers would have expected, hut the gentleman who makes the statement is himself a Catholic and a warm sympathiser with the aspirations! of his Irish frienss. It would be strange, but none the less gratifying on that account, if among the consolations everyone hopes the Empire may obtain for the war, the final settlement of the Irish question at the hands of a strongman, who had seemed to clothe it with many of its diffirulties, should be numbered.