WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1915, Page 5

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

IS MR. MASSEY GOING HOME? OUR HOSPITAL SHIPS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Oct. 22. The Prime Minister stated this afternoon, in answer to a question on the subject, that communications were passing between the New Zealand Government and the Imperial authorities with regard to the suggestion that the Dominion 'Prime Ministers should proceed to London for the purpose of getting into touch with the Imperial Cabinet and the Army Council. He added that there was a certain amount of local business that must be dealt with before he could consjder the other proposal, but indicated that he might have a further statement to make within a week or a fortnight. It seems safe to assume that Mr. Massey will go Home. The local business must be of very small importance compared with the matters that require the attention of an Imperial Conference, forma] or otherwise, in London. The only question is whether or not Sir Joseph Ward will accompany the Prime Minister, thus making the representation of the National Cabinet complete. If Sir Joseph stays, presumably it will be as aeting-Prime Minister. It may be news to some people that the provision of elaiborate and eostly hospital ships by the Dominion is being criticised adversely in communications from men holding responsible positions in Egypt. Noobdy denies that the Maheno is one of the best (and most expensive), hospital ships in the world, and that the Marama is going to be a worthy sister. But the men on tlie spot ask if it is reasonable to spend enormous sums of •money on quarters that the wounded will occupy for a few days at most while the hospitals in which the men will spend weeks and months are in need of money and cannot provide such good accommodation. This may be an argument merely for spending more money on the hospitals, But the opinion of some of the men most directly concerned is that the conditions of the fighting in the Mediterranean zone do not render necessary the sort of hospital ships that might be used in connection with a fleet at sea, where the sick and wounded would remain afloat for prolonged periods.