WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1917, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE ABSENT MINISTERS. THEIR RETURN. (Special Correspondent). Wellington, April 27. People who flatter themselves they can put two and two together with infallible precision are now quite certain both Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward will return to the Dominion at least a couple of weeks 'before the opening of Parliament at the end of June. The j deductive process is simple enough. The War Conference is sitting long hours in order to get through its business within the next week or ten days. Its haste, of course, is due to its desire to release the New 'Zealand representatives. Then ftddressing a deputation the other day Mr. Herries spoke authoritatively of the Prime Minister being here "very soon" and implied lie would have an opportunity of consulting him before the beginning of the session. 'Finally the ActingMinister of Finance, who ia a man of deeds rather than of words, has the staff of the Treasury working at high pressure in the preparation of material that must he presented to the House by Sir Joseph Ward himself at the earliest possible moment. The case is complete. The absent Ministers will be here about the middle of June.. i

CHANGED RELATIONS. It is surmised that tho travellers will return by way of America and that they Will find an opportunity while passing through the States to say the proper thing to President Wilson and his advisers upon the entrance of the great republic into the company of nations that is upholding the cause of liberty and righteousness against the unspeakable forces by which it is being assailed. The relations between Great Britain and America have vastly changed since Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward were travelling only a few months ago in the opposite direction and the change may 'be of special importance to New Zealand altogether apart from the invaluable assistance it will give the Allies in winning the war. Business men here are predicting that the new America will look further afield tban tlie old America did and that the reciprocal development of its Pacific trade will be one of the chief commercial aims of its more discerning statesmen. j

THE SESSION. Though Ministers are assiduously enfcouraging tho idea that the approaching session of Parliament should 'be devoted entirely to war business, including, of course, the provision of money, there is a growing disposition outside their own circle to demand the Government's attention to a number of domestio matters of more or less importance. .Judging from the allegations made to the Acting Minister of Labor by a deputation from the Agricultural and Pastoral Union that waited upon him last ivneek the revision of the law dealing with shearers' accommodation is one of these that should "be included in the first category. Several of the allegations concerning the quarters provided: by certain employers wero of the gravest character and the Minister laid the blame for the unsatisfactory accommodation upon the inadequacy of the existing legislation. Assuming the statements of the men to he correct this surely is not a matter that should be postponed till tho Allies have 'finished smashing the Germans. Tim STRIKE. It is extremely unfortunate that the Riunanga miners should have chosen this inopportune moment to raise further trouble in connection with the coal industry.! The triviality of their new grievance makes their action all the more exasperating. There were peopty here, as there doubtless were elsewliora, who found fault with the settlement effected toy the Ministers directly its conditions wero announced. They declared it was a surrender to the men, that the I Government was compounding a felony ana that moro serious difficulties were bound to follow. These people are now claiming that their prediction has been realised and the time of the Ministers and the patience of the country have been wasted. This, however, is obviously absurd. The Kunanga miners represent a very small proportion of the men and probably they already are back at work. The results of the jnunicipal elections are not likely to encourage them in factious opposition to the law.