NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1916, Page 4

NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES' COXFER ■ E\"CE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Feb. U, The Patriotic Societies' Conference, bold in Wellington yesterday and to-day, ended more, hopefully than it Jjegnu. Some of the delegates made it obvious at the outset that they regarded, the proceedings with suspicion and that they were prepared to defend their fund* against a raid by the Minister j»t:,lnternal Affairs. They hastened to indicate that they wore not willing to aUudon the smallest part of their full !*cal control. But the Minister handled tU conference tactfully, and the decision* that were reached ought to assist luatcrially to develop anil systematise the work of the various patriotic societies. The formation of a federation will he S& important step towards securing tiie exchange of information and the uniformity of procedure that aro generally regarded a* desirable. The conierenco made it quite clear that the fe.eiltig iu favor of full local control of the funds' is desired by tiie great majority of the societies, but it showed also the urgent need for a clearer, understanding as to where the work of tiie Government ends and that of the societies begins.

WAR PENSION'S. During the conference the Minister foi Internal Affairs quoted some important figures regarding the probable cost o! war pensions. He based his calculations on the fact that in a year of war tho Xew Zealand Forces suffered 12 per cent. of deaths and 20.0 of disablements (partial or total), a total casualty list o:' nearly .18 per cent. The figures am very startling, and it is comforting to know that in the opinion of the military experts they do not furnish a reliable basis of calculation for the future. It is considered highly improbable that the New Zealand troops will have to fight again under the extraordinary conditions that prevailed nt Oallipoli, where the casualty fate was very much higher than on any other of the Empire's fighting fronts. The question of the separation allowance paid to the wives of privates and non-commissioned officers of the Expeditionary Forces is now under consideration by the Government, and it may be assumed fairly confidently that an increase will he made. The Xew Zpg. land allowance is the lowest paid by any dominion of the Empire. The pXtanee of Is a day provided by this dominion to the wife of the man who is wearing khaki in.the service of the nation compares very badly with the allowance of £1 a week paid by Canada, South Africa has a graduated scale, lining from Its "d per week to th« »!fe of a private without children to :tl lfts per week to the wife with four children. Australia allows (he wife U 5d per dav. with -Hid per day for each child. 'The Minister for Defence »aid the other day that New Zealand did uoi; want to hold out special inducements to ' the married men at the present stage, but it is obvious that a certain proportion of mavried men are wanted to enlist, and they should not be penalised in the way suggested by the Minister.

THE PHILOMEL'S GOOD WORK. Xew Zealand's warship, the Philomel' is still doing good work in water* f»i removed from this country. This cruisei was regarded a? nearly obsolete befow the war begun, but she Inn stood tin strain of constant cruising and ft tertaic amount of lighting uncommoiily well Captain Hall Thompson, formerly New Zealand's naval advisor, writes enthusiastically of the performance of the ship and crew alike. People in this country are apt to forget that the Philomel is *till a responsibility of the New Zealand Government. The cruiser i-. being maintained by the dominion, and when the story of her cruises comes to he told the'.New Zealand public will realise Hint they have had very good value for their money. PRISONERS IX TURKEY. Tlie arrangements made by the O?fence Department in connection with Xew Zealand prisoners of war now in the hands of the Turks are described in a memorandum prepared by the Minister for Defence (Hon. .T. Allen) for presentation to the conference of patriotic societies. On dime 18 last Mr. Allen cabled to the Colonial Secretary asking that the Xew Zea landers should be placed on the same footing as British troops in the matter of pay, which w«» being forwarded through neutral channels to the prisoners of war. >- Other phases of the matter were mentioned in subsequent messages, and on October 18 last Mr. Allen authorised the High Commissioner to send n sum of £W, through the Foreign Office, to the United States Ambassador at Constantinople, In be used on behalf of the New Zealanders. The memorandum describes the arrangements made for the forwarding of parcels, money and letters to the prisoners, as already published. l 't propr.se to send a further telegram to the iligh Commissioner asking him to make special inquiries as to the needs of the prisoners of war adds tit* Minister, "and to sflrply them with what may be necessary/ ■"'.''