WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1917, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE GERMAN IuBUO IK!DIGi\ t ATj.uN. '.Special Correspondent). Wellington, Dec. 17. 'l'ne one topic that is being discussed in tiie city to-day is the escape of the Ocrman prisoners from Motujlii Island, Until the appearance of the morning papers containing a message from Auckland -giving further particulars of the incident it was generally assumed that tho escapees had displayed some extraordinary ingenuity and daring in getting away, hut now it seems they simply had to <ake advantage of the opportunity thrown into their iiand» by the officer •responsible for their safe custody. This officer having been suspended and u military court having been set up to inquire .mo the affair it would be improper to attempt.' just yet to apportion the blame, for what has happened, but it is reported that during his recent visit to the -aland the Minister of Defence commented upon the inadequacy of the provision made for the security of the prisoners and asked for a report from the commandant of the Forces on the subject. Probably this report was in course of preparation when the catastrophe occurred. That, at any rate, is the story going around town, and whether it is true or not jt is certain, even' from the meagre information supplied by the authorities, there, has been gross carelessness on somebody's part. A CANDID FRIEND. On Saturday morning the Dominion, which will lot be suspected of magnifying the shortcomings of the Government nor of wishing </•■ create unnecessary alarm, frankly recognised the irrnvity and significance jJ the occurrence,* ■ The event makes it painfully clear,'' it said "that iur authorities have been culpably slack in dealing with at least one aspect of the enemy alien problem, and certainly «iv.'s nr> ground for Mnfidcnee that oHicr measures for dealing with the enemv m our midst ; !iav<i proved effective.' 'j'liH, lE, may he observed, was written before the disquieting "official explanation" from Auckland was available. 'The serious responsibility resting on the officer in charge of the island," the Dominion went on to say, 'is shaved by ',.. ; superiors as well as his subordinates. It i.-* one-of the first demands of the situation that exemplary punishment should ;.tr inflicted upon those who permitted the prisoners to escape." This is only a mild expression of the indignation that is being voiced by the public today, and if popular opinion had the settle ment of the matter something very close to handing would be awaiting some one. I WELLINGTON" NORTH, The selection of Mr. H. E. Holland as the \abor candidate at the impending by-election for the Wellington North seat lias gone a long way towards allaying any fears the National (Government may have had concerning the choice of the constituency. The great bulk of the workers do not regard Mr. Holland's particular 'brand of Socialism as a practicable proposition in these times. They are more set upon winning the war than they are upon tearing down the whole social fabric with little prospect o' finding any hotter conditions on tTie other side. fiut Mr. Hplland's definite entrance into the field may not reconcile all the' Kcformers to the nomination of Mr. J. P. Luke as the Government candidate. The Mayor has views on the licensing question and some other questions which are abhorrent to the suppoi 1 - ers of the Hon. A. L. Hrrdnian and however ready he may be to modify his party attachments he is not like!-: to abandon these views for the vcrv doubtful advantage of sitting in flut Mr. Massey will not flout the wislu-s of his retiring Colleague and his friends and probably .Mr. Holland's candidature will facilitate a compromise which will firmly consolidate the "National" vol'. DEFENCE EXPENDITURE. It is now understood that the person-' nel of the commission appointed t:» inquire into Defence expendittire will not be '.officially Announced till Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward return to Wellington at the end of tlt« Wfek. l"Jt h. ve'l'informed circles it h believed the oam«s already mentioned an those ol the genllemen who will constitute th» commission. In any case the inquiry cannot commence till '.fter th<> l'o]id?'\j ''..'id >n the meantime rumor continues busy with the disclosures that .ire t-. '-e made. The stories'our hears in she. street: arc not, of course, evidence, but some of them suggest there is'very good grourd for investigation. It is' said, for Instance, on what =eems to lw .-elK:!'' authority" the temporary majors in the wodiee! >n\ dental branches of the service, ! r- <iecordance with an Imperial regulation, are not only receiying an allowance for a horse they never keep, but also the services of a second orderly to look after the animal that does not exist. This, ft is asserted, represents an additional expenditure of £4 or £5 a week upon each of those officers without any possible return in the w».y of rervice -to -the country.