WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 19 January 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

NATIONAL ORGANISATION. FOR WINNING THE AVAR. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Jan. 17. The agitation for national organisation towards winning the war, if as a spoken word here and there and an occasional letter in the newspapers can be called an agitation,, seems at last to be gathering some force and obtainng some concrete expression. The National Cabinet, moved, perhaps, "by what is happening at Home and by the reported shortage of labour, has been discussing the subject since the holidays, and though it has made no definite announcement of its intentions it is evident from the statements of individual Ministers that it recognises the need for making more effective and more economical use of the Dominion's resources. The "Acting Prime Minister himself has admitted that '' something'' ought to be done in this direction, and it is presumed that the discussion of the subject by the Cabinet is preliminary to submitting a scheme to Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward for their approval. Judging from the reports of the party leaders' public utterances during the last week or two they would be by no means averse to New Zealand making a greater effort on behalf of the Empire. THE PARLIAMENTARY TOUR. The southern contingent for the Parliamentary Tour under the guidance of the North Auckland Development Board was not so large as the promoters of the tour had expected, but private telegrams received from Warkwortk to-day indicate that the first stage of the 600-mile journey had been thoroughly .enjoyed by the guests. Only politicians and pressmen are given prominence in the newspaper accounts of the tour, but there is a fair sprinkling of business men and farmers in the company, and the Development Board is relying upon these men pronouncing a verdict upon the Far North which will finally dissipate the popular delusion that where it is not a huge waste of sand dunes it is a hopeless tangle of kauri forest. As a matter of fact there are few parts of the Dominion so well adapted for close settlement, and probably none where the life of the small producer could be made more attractive. LABOUR UNREST.

The delay in arranging a conference between the ;reprefte,fotat]!(Ves of the ■waterside workers and shipping companies is occasioning a certain amount of anxiety and unrest, but there are no visible signs of any approaching labour trouble. The position, in short, is much the same as it was tins time last year. The labour leaders, who, of course, may be dissembling, laugh at the idea of a strike. "We have finished with strikes," one of them said this morning. "We have found a better way than that of righting our wrongs, and we are not going to waste our strength in fighting hopeless battles." 'Apparently his mind was fixed on the ballot box, which many of the workers expect to sec called into requisition before the end of next year. The employers, on their part, are keeping their counsel closer than usual, and will pronounce no opinion upon the situation for publication, but, speaking generally, it is safe to say they are as anxious as the men profess to be to avoid a conflict during the Avar. They recognise, too, that after the war economic problems of far-reach'ing importance will have to be faced. MILITARY ACTIVITY. Th e {appljlesfyion of eprnpulston ,to military" service certainly has not had the effect of making the lot of the soldier less enviable. The Minister of Defence, with the cordial assistance of his colleagues, is busier than ever looking after the comfort of the men in camp, and the welfare of those at the front. New regulations have been gazetted making provision for recruits Avho require financial assistance or extended leave to attend to their private affairs, and further efforts are beingmade to help the sick and Avounded, and to facilitate the return of men coming back from the front to civilian occupations. But perhaps the most significant feature of the revived activity is the desire of the authorities to prevent any distinction being made between the ballotted recruit and the volunteer recruit in camp or on active service. The Commandant at Trenthani is most insistant upon this, and the men themselves are giving effect to their officers' wishes in an admirable spirit.