WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1917, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

DR. McNAB'S SUCCESSOR. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The .popular assumption tliafc Sir John Findhvy's election to the Hawke's Bay seat in the House of Representatives would be followed by the new member's appointment to the National Cabinet hns not yet been justified by any official announcement, it is quite incredible, however, that both Mr. Masfey and Sir Joseph Ward would have been so eager to secure Sir John's return, or that Sir John would have been so ready'to make the personal sacrifices his election entails, if it were intended he shovild sit merely as a private member. Ministers decline to give any information on the subject and .Sir John is equally reticent, but it is still taken for granted by the public that the successor to Dr. McXab's seat will be also the successor to his ministerial responsibilities. The final decision, of course, will come from London, and possibly it will be delayed till sometime nearer the meeting of (Parliament..

A LESSON FOR LOCAL BODIES. The chairman of the Wcs,tport Harbor Board lias been in Wellington for some days in connection with a little trouble which has arisen between the Board and the Audit Department, and. which furnishes a useful lesson for local bodies generally. In the course of re-organis-ing its staff a year or so ago the Board relieved some of the officers that had gone gray in its servjee and paid them retiring allowances with the full approbation of its constituents. But instead of employing-the subterfuge of granting theni leave of absence on pay and ing other men to do their work, it frankly terminated their engagements, and now the Audit Department, 'in strict accordance with the law, is. holding the members personally liable for tlfe refund of the allowances. The chairman's tactful representations may be followed by some measure of relief," but meanwhile the law's preference for roundabout methods has to be vindicated.