WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 December 1917, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

(Special Correspondent.)

MILITARY TRAINING.

EEPAIRING THE UNFIT,

WELLINGTON, December 5

There may be honest differences of opinion as to the moral influences of camp life, but there can be none among observant people as to the physical advantages of military training. The figures which have just been published concerning the re-examination of C2 men, the reservists, that is, who for minor defects or disabilties were rejected by the Medical Boards, are simply a confirmation of the reports the me,n have been giving of themselves to their friends. Of the 2,457 “rejects” re-examined up to the end of November 1,42 S have received orders to proceed to camp. Of these 264 are classed as fit, for active service beyond the seas, 4S as fit after under-going-specified treatment and 1,116 as likely to become fit after special training. These men represent so much repaired humanity restored, to the full enjoyment of life and to the man power of the Empire. MEDICAL TESTIMONY.

A Wellington medical man, one of the few members of his profession in the Dominion remaining entirely unconnected with the Defence Department, hopes the successful treatment of these unfits will lead to the institution of some national system of healthbuilding that will add enormously to the efficiency of the race both in times of peace and in times of'war. These men, he says, would have gone through life as weaklings and invalids had not the State, under the stress of war, realised, the potential value of their services. Plain, wholesome food, plen ty of exercise, cleanliness and discipline have corrected the errors of years and, in a large proportion of cases, have removed the worst of their effects. "Then surely," this authority exclaims, ‘‘ we are not after the war going to relapse into our old callous indifference as to the stamina of the race.” PARTY DISCIPLINE. Judging from the small attendance at a meeting held last night in the heart of the electorate to consider the future representation of Wellington North in Parliament, the impending resignation of the Hon. A. L. Herdman is not creating such a sur as the letters appearing in the local newspapers might lead one to suppose.. The meeting had been called by circulars and the majority of those present were evidently Reformers with,a very warm regard for the sitting member only an indifferent opinion of the gentleman who was supposed to have been officially nominated as his successor. Several motions were proposed naming candidates who were thought capable of filling Mr. Herdman’s shoes with some measure of credit, but finally they all were withdrawn in favour of one appointing a strong committee to wait upon Mr Massey and urge him to consult the electors before selecting a candidate they might not be able to support. A REBELLOUS ELECTOR. The belligerent note of the meeting was struck by a well known and highly esteemed medical man who did not hesitate to imperil his position in the array, as he put it, by taking part in a political meeting and speaking his mind quite plainly. He was all for Mr. Herdman. The Attorney-General, he declared, should be consulted over a matter of this sort. Ho was the most capable and most conscientious man in the Ministry, as all his constituents knew, and yet his advice and his judgment were flouted by his colleagues on every possible occasion. The Government was being run from the office of a form of solicitors in the city and it would be a further insult to Mr, Herdman to select a member of that firm as his successor in the House. The "hears, hears," applause and appreciative laughter which punctuated this spirited tirade showed it was not wholly unacceptable to the audience. But, after all, the present indications are that Mr Massey’s nominee, whoever he may be, will secure the seat for the National Government.

At Wanganui (writes the Auckland Star correspondent) a £SO note vanished very mysteriously from a registered letter that had been placed in the letterrack of a juvenile school, and though thorough investigations were made by the police no trace of the missing note could be found. A few days ago several of the boys of the school were birdnesting, and one of them trod on a tin which h© picked up and opened. To his astonishment he discovered the missing £SO note, which was then handed over to the master. The only solution to the problem is that someone took the registered letter, and upon opening it saw the £SO note. Being afraid to use it, he placed it in a tin, and threw it aw r ay, where it has remained for many months.