WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1917, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

. NOTICES REVOKED. ENEMY FIRMS IN TEE U.NTITED STATES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, May 9. A Gazette Extraordinary issued last night revokes the notices that have been issued previously under the War Regulations declaring certain companies, firms and persons in Porto Rico, tho Philippine Islands, and the United States of America to be enemies. Tho restrictions that were imposed on trading with these companies, firms, and persons are removed. The revocation of the notices follows upon the declaration of war between the United States and Germany. It now becomes the duty of the United States Government to see that ADj.erican subjects do not trade with the enemy, and the British "black list," therefore, is no longer required as far as American business is concerned. AFTER THE WAR; THE DISBANDED ARMY. In a carefully prepared "interview'' published in the local papers thia morning the Hon. A. L. Herdman, the Minister controlling the Discharged Soldiers' Department, sets out in considerable detail the arrangements it is proposed to mako for the re-absorption of the Dominion's army into civilian life after the war. The main purpose of the AttorneyGeneral, in framing his scheme hag been to make the way of the returned soldier to congenial and profitable employment sure and easy, and to avoid the congestion in the labor market which inevitably would occur if men were dumped down in their thousands without adequate preparations being made for their reception. Of course, the Minister is looking a long way ahead, but a problem of this magnitude cannot ibe attacked too early.

MAKCHING HOME. When and how the men will return no one can say. Everything will depend upon the duration of the war and the transport facilities available. But Mr. Herdman, recognising one of the great difficulties of his task,, suggests that the men should be sent back gradually and by drafts at regular intervals. Quite probably this method will be forced upon the authorities, whether they like it or ncft, by the scarcity of tonnage. When peace is declared shipping will be required for a ihundred urgent purposes, and a year or more will ibe occupied in repatriating the colonial troops even if they arc freed from their active military duties. Still, some such encouragement as the MThister has suggested would be highly desirable, and the Mother Country can be trusted to consult the wishes of the Dominions. | LABOR ITOTREST. There still are critics who look with' strong disfavor upon the "compact" made between the Government and the West Coast miners in regard to the "go-slow" .strikers, but events appear to be justifying the policy, of the authorities and bringing the great majority of the workers to a better frame of mind. Probably the result of the Federal elections has had sqmething to do with the latter manifestation. Some of the more restless spirits, whose capacity for deceiving themselves is simply colossal, had counted on the Australian electors declasing against the Labor-Liberal coalition, tout in view of the irreconeilabfos' defeat they are assuming a very submissive air. They even fear the "calamity'' of conscription may overtake the Commonwealth. THE COAL TROUBLE. The acting-Prime Minister is again trying to make is clear to the public that apart from any difficulty arising out of the miners' vagaries, it is of importance to exercise economy in the use of coal. The demands of the railways, the transports, and the ordinary shipping are so great and the stocks in hand so low that very real inconvenience might be occasioned by waste or extravagance. Sir James Allen, who long ago ceased to be the pessimist of the Ministry, does not expect any further trouble with the miners, but he is fearful lest the public, seeing all the mines at work, should imagine tho need for prudence and preparation had disappeared.

THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. "The -National Government is the creation of the country," said the Hon. W. H. Hemes, Minister for Railways, at the annual dinner of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to-day. "That fact ought to be remembered in connection with the flood of adverse criticism that is poured \ipon its members. The people of the Dominion desired that the two political paities should sink their differences and form a National Government. The Government was formed for a particular purpose. It was not expected to devise social reform?, to evolve new legislation or to undertake great public works. Its duty was to carry on New Zealand's share of the war and to assist the statesmen of the Mother Country as far as possible by the development of the military resources of New Zealand, the training and dispatch of troops, and the shipping of foodstuffs and products. It was the duty of the- Government to watch the welfare of the soldiers, provide adequate pensions and allowances, and make the resources of the Dominion available as far as might be necessary for war purposes. You must not look for the result of the National Government's work in New Zealand. You must look in Egvpt and in France, in London and on the seas. Tins members of the Government aie 'content to be judged by results. "People out in this country are apt to forget sometimes that they are engaged in a war. Ihe man who finds that his train has heen stopped, or the man who finds that his taxation has been increased, forgets the cause and blames the National Government. Every nun who suffers some little inconvenience or has some fad to push is ready to condemn the National Government But the members* of the Ministry have a right to be judged by events in the major fields of war, not by minor incidents in this couiitrv. . '• Wo are deeply indebted in -ninny ways to the commercial people of New" Zealand. We looked to them for assistance, as we had a right to do, and we received it. We have taken expert advice from business men in very many matters during the war, and the advice has always been given willingly and promptly." The Minister mentioned specially the work of the members of the National Efficiency Board and of • the.sdS' Bol * *<"nmittces wtoek *»*. heen.

connected with various branches of the Government's war work:. '"The National Government was • brought into existence to do work that no mere party Government could have i done," added Mr. Hemes. "It is our I business and your business to see that j the work is carried to a proper conclu- j sion, That must he the object of our i efforts. I hope to be ablo to say when the war is over that the National Government has done good work. I hope, too, that the National Government will be continued in office when the war is over in order that it may tackle the post-war problems, which are in some aspects greater and more complicated that the problems of. the war itself. I think that if we can maintain the same absence of party feeling, the same single idea to promote the best interests of tho whole country, New Zealand will bo well satisfied with the result of the' experiment of forming a National Gov- , eminent."