WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 24 August 1917, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

' THE MILITARY AGE. (Spcial Correspondent). : v WELLINGTON. August 22. ~ 1 Minister was subjected to wie good humoured heckaug in the House yesterday in regard to the Ingestion that the military age should he lowered to nineteen. Mr P. C. Webb, the member for Grey, set the ball' rolling by ashing Mr Massey whether his own statement that “the matter has never been considered by Cabinet,” or Six James Allen ”s statement that “the Government has had the matter under consideration” was the correct one, ahd the Minister s reply was punctuated by numerous interjectments and frequent derisive laughter Nr. Massey admitted that the two statements “ appear conflicting,” but insisted “they really are not so.” Then Mr Witty wanted to know if a Bill embodying the suggestion Had been drafted and Mr Massey in complaining of leakage from the Printing Office, rather “gave the show away/’ as one of the members taking part in th Minister-baiting put it.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED.. The whole truth of the matter seems to be, as previously indicated in these notes, that the military authorises, holding that well-matured, healthy lads of nineteen offered the very best raw material for the manufacture of efficient soldiers, recommended the lowering of the age and and that bir •Tames 'Allen submitted ihe recommendation to the Cabinea with a more or less favourable endorsement. The Cabs intt was divided on the question and the suggestion was being held in suspense when the outcry from the public began. Mr. Witty did not get his information concerning the matter from the Printing Office, but there is little doubt his inference represents fairly closely what actually happened. The outcome of it all probably will be. an amendment of the law allowing lads of nineteen to go into camp and undergo the usual course of training. THE CANDID FRIEND. The “Dominion” which has made ample amends since the commencement of the war for any excess of partisanship it may have shown in the piping times of peace, speaks out quite plainly upon the Ministers’ lack of candour in this matter. “The fact cannot be covered up that Ministers have been lacking in candour on this question,” it says. “ . . It is a most discreditable thing that Ministers should Shuffle - and evade on a matter of this nature. The sentimjenft of the coun-

}Aiy is entirely opposed to the idea, aiid there is not one person in ten who has given the subject any thought who does not believe that the Government is actuated in the 4»atter by the lowest possible motive —tbit is, the shirking of the financial cost of making adequate provision for the dependants of members of Second Division. Plain speaking of this kind from 'lips of a friend materially help Mr. Massey and Sir James Allen is making up their minds. THE EFFICIENCY BOARD.

The statement made by the Prime Minister yesterday in reply to a question put to him by Mr. L. M. Isitt in reference to the position of the Efficiency Board ,did not throw much light upon a matter which is keenly exercising the public mind, just now. Mr. Massey said the the resignation of the Board was not in his hands, but was being held by the Minister of Defence, pending a meeting of the Cabinet at which the whole position would be reviewed. The decision of the Cabinet w r ould be communicated to the members of the Board and then it would be for them to say, whether they would continue to hold office or not. In the meantime resolutions urging the v rgtcntion of the services of the Board pouring in upon the Government from all parts of the Dominion and many members of the House are receiving representations from their constituencies to the same effect. The general opinion is that the Board will refuse to be conciliated. GENERAL GODLEY.

The sweeping attack upon General Godley by Mr. C. J. Parr, the member for Eden, has brought, as was inevitable, a very spirited reply from the Minister of Defence. Speaking in the House last night Sir James Allen consideration for his men and finding ing to the tittle-tattle of disappointed and disgruntled people and quoted the very highest testimony to G>ene,ral Godley’s ability as a soldier, an administrator and as a commander. Ho read an extract from a letter he has received from General Birdwood in which that distinguished officer wrote in the warmest terms of General Godley’s service, specially emphasising his consideration for his mes and finding, fault only with his disregard to his own personal safety. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes followed the Minister -of Defence with a warm eulogy of the General, with whom he had spent days in the trenches; an'd an expression of regret that he should have been so maligned.. The impression left "npon the House’was that far too much credence had been given to the stories set in circulation'by some of the Comansndant’s less generous critics.