WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1917, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE COST ,OP LIVING. CTH.L RISING. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, November 14. The aiiiiouncfineiit in the local newspapers this morning of a further rise of a half-penny per gallon in the price of milk has set Wellington people who are not directly interested in trading and shop-keeping, talking afresh of the persistent ri-:e in the cost of living. This latest impost, it is understood, is to cover the cost of a new system of inspection which the City Council has devised after many weeks and months and years of futile discussion, and if the inspection effects its purpose the consumers, no doubt, will speedily reconcile themselves and their purses to tlie additional tax. But Wellington peoplAhavc so long been the special and conspnriious victims of the grasping landlord and the exploiting trader and shop-keeper that they well may be pardoned for a passing grumble. WELLINGTON'S BURDEN. Already milk is substantially dearer in Wellington tliat it is in any of the other larger centres of population. In Auckland, according to the latest official figures available, the price is fid a quart, in Christchurch 4d. and in Dunedin oil, while in Wellington it is old. There may be some excuse in the cost of carriage and the difficulty of distribution for the high price in the capital city, but surely the local authority miglit have borne the expense of inspection without passing it on to tlie consumer. And milk is not the only "necessary" for which the Wellington housewife has to pay an outrageous price. Th-cad, per 21h loaf, is !>>{ in Auckland, 4Jd in Christchurch, 4d in Dunedin and f>|d in Wellington, while gas. either for lighting or cooking, is !>/■ per 1000 cubic feet in Auckland, fi/3 in Christchurch, 5/- in Dunedin and 7/fi in Wellington. There are scores of other article; showing the same disparity, always to tlie disadvantage of the Wellington consumer. A CITY OF SHOPKEEPERS. The Wellington traders and shopkeepers are doing well out of the war, owing to the enormous amount of additional trade brought to them by the soldiers in camp and their friends and relatives visiting the city, to say nothing of the supplies to the transports, that they seem able to ignore the needs of their ordinary customers with impunity. Groceries which were considerably cheaper in* Wellington before tlie war than they were in Christchurch are now fully 10 per cent dearer and cost more here than they do in such provincial towns as Hamilton. Taihape, Xew Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmcrston North, -Blenheim, Greymouth, Timani. Oamaru and Invercargill. As compared with the average prices during the five years before the war, groceries have advanced in Auckland by 23 per cent, in Christchurch by -28 per cent, and in Dunedin by 25 per cent, while in Wellington they have advanced by o9 per cent. A FREE HAND. Mr. T. M. Wilford quoted the bulk of these figures in one of his speeches during the dying hours of the session, but the Government seems quite content that the traders and shopkeepers should go on their exploiting way without any hindrance from those in authority. The Board of Trade has reported upon the matter more than once, and, of course, the Government has power under the legislation of three years ago to call upon the sellers to justify the advances they nave made upon the standard prices fixed by that legislation, but so far it appears to have done nothing to-" wards obtaining relief for the consumers. The truth probably lies in the fact that the municipal government of tlie capital city is the most timid and ineffective in the whole Dominion and while it makes no protest against, the existing state of affairs, Ministers are "not eager to bring a hornet's-nest of vested interests about their own ears.,

CABINET CHANGES. •MR. HERDMAN'S RETIREMENT. Tt is again being "understood," "reported" and "rumored" that the Hon. A. L. Herdman, the Attorney-Oneral, is about to retire from the Cabinet for the purpose of taking Sir John Dennislon's place on the Supreme Court Bench. The story of course is a very old one, It having been stated, on what seemed to be good authority, more than two years ago, at the time of the formation of the National Cabinet, that Sir John Denniston would shortly retire and that Mr. Herdman would be his successor. But for one reason or* another the change has been delayed much longer than was expected, and even now it is not likely to take, place till after the New Year. 'There has been some difficulty over the adjustment of the retiring judge's pension, and some little controversy over the appointment of his successor, but these matters now seem, (o be happily settled and it is fairly safe to predict that Mr. Herdman will take up his judicial duties after the long vacation.

THE NEW MINISTER. Mr. D. H. Guthrie, the, member for Oroua, is being confidently named by the quidnuncs as the successor to Mr. Herdman in the Cabinet, and as the appointment will rest with Mr. Massey, -.-.s leader of the Reform 'Party, his senior Whip and faithful supporter cannot be overlooked. But one of the portfolios to bo laid down by Mr. Herdman is that of Attorney-General, and as this cannot he taken up by Mr Guthrie, who is not a lawyer, it may not be cary for the Prime Minister to gratify his personal wish. Probably, however, the difficulty will be overcome by Sir Francis Bell, who is now provided with a salary, talcing the position of Attorney-General in addition to the leadership of the Legislative Council, which in these days is not a very onerous office, Mr. E. P. Lee, the member for Oamaru, would be in the running were not the choice confined to a Reformer representing a North Tsland constituency, hut with this limitation Mr. Guthrie appears to have the best chance of appointment. GAMBLING. The hotting case which occupied the attention of the Supreme Court here last, week has provoked a good deal of comment upon the lax administration of the gflming.lnw. The'matter was the subject of two or three brief discussions in Parliament last session, several members referring in the strongest terms to tho apathy of the 'Police and the in-* difference of the Post Office officials; but the Ministers knew very little of what

was going on. It was proved that the bookmakers in Wellington were conducting their business almost as openly as were the grocers and the butchers,' and | that everyone but tlie police and (he post office officials knew of their methods. Now there is a demand for a much more drastic law against professional gambling, and it is reported that Ministers are by no means disinclined Jo move towards that end. . TEACHERS AND THE WAR. The depletion of the teaching profes, sion by voluntary and compulsory enlistment is assuming such a serious as. pect throughout the' country lli.it tlie Minister of Education is preparing a statement on the subject for submission to the Defence Department. At the commencement of the war - many young teachers were attracted towards the great adventure, ami-the authorities, so far from placing any obstacle in the way of their joining .flip, forces, nthially encouraged them to do so by giving them special privileges in the way of payment and allowances. Now, however, the drain upon the profession is placing some Lof the Education Boards in an extremely awkward position,' the number of retired teachers who have returned to the service being wholly insufficient | () till the vacancies, and it is not at all unlikely the Minister will claim exemption for members of the Second Division employed by his department when the reservists with children are submitted to the ballot.