WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1918, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE I j VIS W ■/. 10A LAN D'S RIiPRBSEN i "'ATIVJSS ! (Special Correspondent) Wellington, Jan. 23. Though there has been only one full meeting of the Cabinet since the beginning of the Christmas holidays, owing to one or more Ministers being absent from Wellington 011 business or pleasure : uent, the administrative wheels of <ihe Government machine have continued to go round, and during tile last week or j two the party leaders have been in almost daily council with their colleagues. 1 One of the subjects they have been discussing is the representative of the Dominion at what is popularly known as the Imperial Conference, but what probably will be styled in history the first meeting of the Imperial War Cabinet. Some months ago Mr. Massey let it be understood that he would not leave his post again this year, and that if it were necessary for two Ministers to attend. tiie impending gathering of Imperial statesmen Sir James Allen would accompany Sir Joseph Ward to London. But apparently Sir James had not been consulted "about this arrangement and was not so gratified as it was expected he would-be when he heard of 1 the tinction it was proposed to confer upon him. DECLINED WITHOUT THANKS. The Minister of Defence, indeed; took 110 pains to disguise his disinclination to exchange the role of a highly responsible administrator for that of a tinselled diplomat. Exactly what occurred when the suggestion was made to him of course only his party chief could tell, and in Mr. Massey's keeping the secret is perfectly safe. But the gossips have it that he bluntly refused even to consider the proposition unless he were assured of the status that would attach to the representative of the Prime Minister and of the main principles of his Defence ad- ' ministration being continued during his 1 absence. Be this as it may. it is fairly safe to predict now that Sir James will : not to go to London this year, and that Mr 1 Massey will. Quite apart from the stor--1 ies the gossips are telling, there is the ■ fact of Mr. Lloyd George temporising with the Pacific question to provide the 1 Prime Minister with an excuse for revis- ■ ing his determination. None of his col- ! leagues could put tlio case for keeping 1 the Germans at arm's length quite so authoritatively as he could, and none would have a better chance of making an impression upon the Imperial authorities. AN EARLV SESSION OF PARLIAMENT. In t/heir guarded allusions to the sub ject Ministers speak as if the Imperial Conference would he held early in the year and that a special session of Parliament would be necessary before New Zealand's representatives could leave for London. They are not, it may be taken for granted, particularly anxious to have the labor and worry of a. hurried session added to their other burdens, but the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance could scarcely go away even for four of five months without making extensive provisions for their absence. Moreover Mr. Massey will desire to be fortified with a fairly strong resolution from Parliament affirming in unmistakable language the attitude of the people of the Dominion towards the idea of allowing the Germans when peace comes to resume the possessions in this part of the world from which they were ejected by the efforts of Australia and New Zealand at the beginning of the war. There will have to be a session of Parliament and no one caii say how long it will last. RESTLESS POLITICIANS. Whether the session -comes early or late, at the usual time or not, Minister# will find the rank and file of both parties «ven more restless than they were last year. Mr. Wilford's succession to the vacant seat in the Cabinet has deprived the "friendly" Opposition that ia-growing up in the House of one of its sanest and most capable members, and there are bound to be several impetuous as« pirants for the occupation of his shoes. Already Dr. Thacker is in the field helping Mr. Poulson, an "Independent Liberal," contrary to the "party truce," in his candidature for the Wellington North seat with the express purpose of embarrassing the National Gpvernment, especially in regard to the administration of the Deface Department. Then numbers on both sides of the House are being pressed by their constituents to make a vigorous protest against the vagaries of the Railway Department, and with the possibility of an ea.rly general election many of them will be more concerned for their own seats than for the comfort of Ministers. Altogether it looks as if a special session would mean a lively time for the party leaders. WELLINGTON NORTH. A statement published locally is to the effect that the impending by-election in Wellington North has beeii delayed owing to the difficulty experienced by Mr Massey in selecting a Reform candidate to succeed the Hon. A. L. Herdman. This is not correct. The Reform candidate has been selected, in the person of Mr. ,1. P. Luke, Mayor of Wellington, and there is no likelihood of any change being made Bub the seat is not vacant It will not be vacant until Mr. Herdman resigns, and there are personal reasons of a special character why Mr. Herdman may not seek any change at the present time. Your correspondent would bo disposed to hazard a prediction that the by-election will be postponed for some time and that when it takes place Mr, Luke will be elected. NO DEADLOCK. A telegram from Christchurch states that a deadlock has occurred in connection with two reservists found guilty by court-martial of disobeying orders and refusing to submit to medical examination. The court-martial passed sentence, but the district commander 'cannot confirm it until satisfied by the medical authorities that the prisoners are fit to undergo punishment, and the men refuse to he examined." The case seems to be covered fully by a rule that has been enforced ever since the Military Service Act came into operation. If a reservist refuses to andergo medical examination, he is presumed to bo fit, ju=t as the man who refuses to give-infoi mation about himself is presumed to be immediately available for service. A -hian who does not prove that he has dependents is presumed to be without dependents, and so on. AWAPUNI CAM.P TO BE CLOSED. It is practically certain that tiie Awapuni camp will be closed in the near future, and that the ambulance recruits in training there will be transferred tu Featherston Camp. This is a natural result of the reduction in the reinforcement I auota. The Defence authority" required

to have over 10.000 men in camp at tlio same lime last year in o:v.or to send away each monthly reinforcement draft at tlio required strength. The number will 1,0 substantially smaller this jcar, ami therefore the- ambulance men can be accommodated at FeaU'erston. The closing of Awapuni will ollVct some economy, Htul economy is a word Iliac lias loomed rather large before tiie Defence authorities of late.