WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3461, 15 April 1920, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE N.EE.DS OF THE CAPITAL.

THOROUGHNESS.

(special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, April 14.

The conference held yesterday to consider the needs of Wellington and the neighbouring districts and to devise means of galvauising the Government into action was not a very 1m- ‘ pressiveassembly. Mr J. P. Luke, the Mayor, presided, -and was supported by four or five members of Parliamentp and -a score of gentlemen representing various local bodies. The outcome of the deli-beratiolT6f the delegates was a resolution urging the Government to push "on with the Mangahao electric power scheme, and another calling upon it to determine its policy in regard Q to railway deviation and road improvement as early as possible. These are old, old'istories. The Mayor warmly repudiateed the suggestion that it was the activity of Audkland that had ‘moved ‘Wellington to assert itself, but :other speakers fiaiiklypadmitteid the ‘greater vigilance and larger vision of the northern city. One of them went ‘to the length of declaring that what thing else was thoroughness. ‘ THE JOCKEY’S,/STRIKE. _ So far the “joc'key’s strike” is occasioning more comment than alarm among the people who take only a lspectatm-'.< interest in the doings of lthe young gentlcnien who are flouting lthe authorities of the Racing Conferience and the racing clubs and all the l traditions of their own profession_“’But the Wellington Club, whose autumn Inieeting opens to-morrow, and some of the provincial clubs would find them- ‘ selves in an extremely awkward if the "jockeys should insist on having their‘ ‘grievances remedied before they re_sume riding.- Their main grievance is W that the Racing Conference has not yet ofiicially recognised their association, ‘and if they should insist upon this being done before they return. to Work they would create an extremely embarl rasing position. V I DEFENCE AND I)EJ.*‘ENDER-S.

Even those without much knowledge of xnilitary methods will have gathered from the lists of appoiiitments, promotions, and transfers that have been gazetted since the armistice that a very considerable number of oificers remain in the service, and, ‘presumably, in the pay of the country. As a matter of fact, there are several hundred of them kicking their heels in various parts of the country waiting for the defence policy that may give them employment and a purpose in life. Some weeks ago Sir James Allen gave the public to_ understand that he was about to issue :3. policy, but presumably in View of his impending departure for London he thought better of the matter and decided to leave the task to his successor. Now it is

whispered about that if Mr Hine is

successful in the Stratford by—election he will -be the new Minister of Def-

fence, and will prepare the new policy.

Meanwhile the army of officers, paid and rrnpaid, continue to kick their heels; and Wait for something to turn up. PAPER SHORTAGE. _ Representatives of the metropolitan\ papers are here again to-day discussing the paper shortage, and seeking escape from an extremely difficult position." It already has been announced that some of the smaller journals may have to cease publication, and it is certain the larger ones will have to adopt drastic m_easures to conserve their supplies of paper. Locally big advertisements, and profitable ones, have been declined, and reading matter has been deduced by one-lrfird. Uniless the position improves during the {next week or two this will not be the 1 end of the economies, and it mav come lto pass, as one of the proprietors said at this meeting, that the I-zading dailies will revert. to their size of forty years ago. '