WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1916, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MISREPRESENTATION OF LABOR. A PROTEST. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, October 28. The publication of the manifesto of the National Executive of the Labpr Party of tXew Zealand, stating that "tlio organised workers of '.New Zealand are opposed to conscription" and encouraging'• the anti-compulsionists in Australia to persist in their opposition to the 'Federal Government's proposals, lias occasioned a good deal of surprise and not a little indignation here. Numbers of unionists, as well as non-union-ists, are protesting that the National Executive of the. Labor Party, as it falls itselt, has no right to speak on behalf of more than a mere fraction of the workers, and no right to commit even that fraction to an endorsement of the disloyal attitude of the anti-com-pulsionists in the Commonwealth. The serious part of the business is that the manifesto is signed by responsible men like the Hon. J. T. Paul, Mr. ,1. McCombs and Mr. A. Walker who by tl.envery position in Parliament will gain a bearing they never would obtain., without that distinction. These legislators have not even suggested any. alternative to conscription by which Australia's contributions to the Imperial Forces could be maintained, and apparently rather than accept a disagreeable measure under the stress of circumstances they would allow Australia and -New Zealand to incur the shame of failing in their obligations to the Mother Country. THE WORKERS' ATTITUDE. That, at any rate, is the interpretation the same workers arc puttinc upon this latest indiscretion of the "politicians who are emulating the three tailors of Tooley Street by presuming to speak on behalf of the organised workers of New Zealand, What the great majority of tho workers think of their presumption may be judged from some remarks made by an old hand on the water-front this morning. "Don't you worry," was iiis comforting counsel, "IPaul and McCombs are simply advertising themselves—badly, of course, but till advertising. They think that because, the workers don't like war and | high prices.' and Bill Massey they'll do anything to embarrass this Government or any other Government. But that's not how the iellows here, the great bulk of them, are feeling. They want to get the war over as quickly as possible, by winning it, and when that's dene they'll settle their account with the politicians. If rich and poor are given a square deal under conscription it's the best way, and even if it wasn't wt couldn't ask the Germans to stop shooting till we found another.'' That tersely expresses the views of ninety per cent, of the workers one encounters on the wharves and in the streets. They want no domestic broils while a common enemy is at the gate, and so long ag_ they get that square deal they are going to do nothing to provoke ti'em. MEIT PRICES. Tlie news, cabled from London that Mr. Massey bus arranged for the payment by the Imperial authorities of tin increased price for New Zealand meat, which, it is estimated, will amount to as much as a million a year, has been received with unfeigned satisfaction by tho producers and their representatives, but 'with some reservation by the great body of consumers.' When the Prima Minister promised in Parliament to look into this matter when lie reached Home it was understood that his chief concern would be to ascertain what becama of the meat not required for national purposes. The farmers were not clamoring for a higher price for their product, but were protesting againil meat not needed for the Army being passed on to speculators who were making huge profits out of the British public. The suggestion was that they did riot mind making sacrifices for the Empire, but were distinctly averse to assisting the machinations of jobbing imtchcrs and American meat rings. Now Mr. Massey seems to have got a' higher price, but to have failed to repair the leakage of which the farmers specially complained. Fuller information may place the matter in a more satisfactory aspect. • ■ . .

COMPULSORY SERVICE. It appears probable now that'no ballot under tlie compulsory clauses of.the Military Service Act will be taken this month; The Minister of Defence hopes that with the assistance, of clause 35 of the Act, ■which provides that shirking families of brothers may be called np .summarily, he will be able to satisfy his immediate requirements, and so leave .the Government Statistician with more time to complete his records and the military authorities with better opportunities to constitute the Medical Boards. It is expected that about 500 men will be obtained under the clause, and with this number available the Minister will be able to carry on for another month without resorting to compulsion. Mr. Allen wishes 'it tj be stated again that there is r.till time for 1111:1 affected by the clause to put themselves outside its operation by coming forward as volunteers. Those liable for service are members of families belonging to the first division (unmarried, widowers without children or married smco May, 1016) where there are two or more sons who have not yet enlisted. The object of the clause is, of course, to secure equality of sacrifice as between families, and though the Minister is enforcing it very reluctantlv he is determined to leave no loop-hole for escape. In this he has public op;r.ion behind his authority, and he certainly cannot be fairly charged with administering the law hastily or harshly.