WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 16 August 1917, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

A , WASTEFUL STRIKE. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 15 The local gas strike which has been settled by the capitulation of the men was foredoomed to failure from the first. The strikers seem to have been oblivious of the well-re-cognised fact that no good cause need be promoted by war on the community. Before they had been out a week every household in Wellington had decided definitely against them, and was siding with the City Council in the struggle. Then it became only a matter of time when they would surrender or to set about finding some other employment. The only point of interest to outsiders in the i matter is that another body of work-*-ers has returned to the wholesome protection of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act more experienced, and, it may be hoped, wiser men. OVER DOING IT The weakness of the criticism that is being levelled against the administration of the Defence Department by some of the more impetuous members of the House lies mainly in its vehemence. The late Mr T. E. Taylor used to excuse his violent attacks upon the late Mr Seddon by saying a little exaggeration was necessary to get at the truth. But Mr Taylor’s imitators in the * present Parliament are not endowed with his mastery of detail and nice sense of proportion. They over-play their parts and their tirades fall harmlessly to the ground in consequence. They crediT Sir Jas. Allen with attributes he does not possess and with .offences he does not commit, and after most of their assaults the Minister is left better entrenched behind a bulwark of facts. WITHHOLDING INFORMATION

The result of all this is that Sir James Allen escapes a good deal of critisism that woul be really useful to the country and, indeed, to himself. For some not very obvious reason he has persistently withheld in- ' formation concerning the position of ’the Reinforcements, and, of course, no one is at libetry to speculate- as to the actual position. There is no suggestion that the number of men required is not available, but there is a strong suspicion that they are not coming into camp as quickly as was originally prescribed. In some cases recruits are being sent away with only five or six weeks’ training, being put forward one or even two Reinforcements without the least appearance of compunction. People are asking the reason why. THE MILITARY AGE It is understood that on the conclusion .of the Financial Debate the Bill making provision for calling up the Second Division and dealing with other military matters will be submitted to the House. Probably it will be found the Cabinet as a whole has Dot approved of the suggestion of the military authorities that the age for service should be lowered to nineteen, but that, at the time of writing, is by no means certain. It is taken for granted Sir James Allen will side with his responsible officers, and it is thought the suggestion may commend

, itself to two or three of his colleagues it is believed the majority of the Ministers will prefer to follow what appears to be the drift of public opinion. The conscription of lads of nineteen would not be a strong election card.