WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

RAILWAYS AND THE WAR. MINISTERI.U STA?EMEXT. (Special Corrosponlsnt.') Wellington, Juno 1. The deputation which waited upon the Hon. W. 11. Hemes yesterday to urge that .provision should be made for late train communication between Lyttclton and Christchureh gave the Minister of Railways another opportunity to explain the efforts that are being made by his department to release men for service at the front.. The Minister made it plainer than ever that his "economies," fls the reduction of the train services has been styled, are going to cost the country a lot of money. He frankly admitted that the department was cutting out a large part of its most remunerative business, but he insisted the "monetary position*' was of no consequence. Taxation', he said, would remedy that. But he did not make it clear to the members of the deputation how playing ducks and drakes with the railway revenue was .going to assist in winning the war. He believed the public would approve of what he was doing, and he left the rest to the Minister of Finance. THE LAYMAN'S VIEW. The Minister's airy disregard of the financial results of his patriotic administration of the railway service is beginning to provoke a good deal of adverse comment in commercial and o'ther cireles. Of course, everyone realises the importance of the Dominion discharging promptly and fully its obligations to the Empire. "On that -point there can be only one opinion and one desire," said a prominent business man to-day; "but for the sake of releasing four or five hundred men who are no better qualified for military service than are four or five thousand additional men who could he obtained without inconveniencing anyone, the Minister chooses to disorganise the whole system of transport and communication and to throw away at least a quarter of a million of money which will have to be recovered by taxation." Hundreds of' people with the greatest goodwill towards the National Government are talking in this strain, and hundreds more are saying all the men required could (have been spared without any sacrifice of service or revcnue.by the introduction, of better methods and more effective organisation. RETURNED SOLDIERS. There is a very large volume of public opinion behind the demand which is being made by the Returned Soldiers' Association for the appointment of a Minister to look after the interests of men coming back from the front. Under the existing arrangements the soldier who arrives in the Dominion with a burning desire to re-establish himself in civilian life as speedily as possible may be positively embarrassed by the kindly attentions of five or six Ministers. The Minister of Defence, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Lands, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Health, each has a particular service lie would render the country's hero. Sir James Allen will' give him his discharge; Mr. Herdman will find him employment, if he wants it; Sir Francis Bell will provide him with a section of land; Mr. Hanan will teach him how to farm it; and Mr. Russell will nurse him back to heatlh. The Returned Soldiers' Association wishes all tliMo functions entrusted to one sympathetic heart, and the Acting-Prime Minister has encouraged it to hope its wish will be gratified. THE SHEARERS. The refusal of the Sheepowners' Association to confer with the representatives of the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union on the question of shearers' pay and conditions came as a genuine surprise to the men. who had assumed the employers were anxious to reach an agreement well in advance of the opening of the season. The unexpected development is not likely, however, to lead to any more serious consequence than a firm demand by the men for 27s fid a hundred for shearing and corresponding pay for shed hands, They got their way last year and they are confident of getting it this year. The employers 'have taken up the stand that .the Agricultural and Pastoral Union is not entitled to speak for the shearers as a body, and has recommended the men to submit their claims to the employers' organisations in their respective districts. This leaves them free to deal in their own way with any difficulty that may arise later on, but it is not thought likely any grave trouble will arise from the .absence of a formal Dominion agreement.