WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

WAR LOANS, COMPULSORY LENDING, (From Our Owii Correspondent.) Wellington, April 29. Sir Joseph Ward has issued a statement in regard to the compulsory clauses of the Finance Act, which makes the obligation of the people who have omitted to subscribe to the war loans according to their means perfectly clear. It is not the wish of the Minister that people with moderate incomes, who usually require all ttielr earnings for the maintenance of their families, should be harassed bv the law, hut he is determined that people who are, well able to help New Zealand and the Empire ia the present crisis shall do their duty. Under the Act they may be required to subscribe six times the average amount of their land and income tax during the financial years 1915-10, 1910-17, and 1017-18, and thovgn the Minister may not. demand as much as this in all cases, lie is reminding "the "absent-minded" capitalists that it will be much better for them to subscribe, voluntarily, even at this late hour, than wait for the Department. to assess the amount of their contribution.

THE GREY SEATThe adjournment of the House of Representatives till. Monday next, when it will be formally prorogued, has deprived Mr. P. C. Webb of any chance of obtaining the leave of aDsence that would have enabled him to retain his scat at least till the next sitting of Parliament. Hie Grey seat already is practically vacant, and when the eustouiaray routine has beeen observed another election will take place. The question as to whether or not Mr. Webb will be eligible to again contest the seat is still being discusssed in lay circles, but it s understood tlio Crown law officers have advised the Government in the negative. In any cas« it is doubtful if Mr. Webb would seek to disfranchise his constituents during the two years of liis compulsory absence. Mr. Robert Semple is being mentioned as the probable Labor candidate at the forthcoming election, and if lie should be acceptable to the local people he probably would encounter no opposition from either of the other parties.

THE COAL SUPPLY. The coal shortage in Wellington has reached a very acute stage. At a meeting of dealers held yesterday it was reported that the great majority of the .yards were absolutely empty, and that the whole stock in the retailers' hands did not exceed ten tons. The Hon, A. M. Myers, the Minister of Munitions and ha• been watching the position closely with a view to ensuring a fair distribution--of supplies, and it is largely due to his efforts and organisation that a crisis has not been_reachcd much earlier. The dealers recognise this fact, but their appreciation of the Minister's good work does not fill tinyards, and many of them lia>» scraped up the last scuttleful under their control- Shipments are expected next week, and the Minister has promised to use them as far as possible in ensuring the domestic demand, but many essential industries and public institutions are working en short commons, and the production of coal will have to be materially speeded up ibefore the housewife's anxiety can be entirely removed.

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE,

The evidence given before the Defence Expenditure Commission yesterday by the clerk in charge of the correspondence at the Base Records well may have set people thinking afresh of the waste and extravagance alleged to be running through the whole administration of the country's military system. This witness gave information concerning the expenditure of his department, admittedly one of the best-conducted in the service, that was positively startling. One instance will suffice. A man was receiving £3 a week in a draper's shop. He now holds tlifc rank of regimental sergeant-major and receives 9s a day, 4s messing allowance, Is for his wife, and 2s 3d for tliree children, bringing liis pay and allowances up to lGs 3d a day, or £'297 a year, without taking many privileges he enjoys, including cheap supplies, into account at a "- Hun dreds of similar cases are being quoted about the streets, and much additional interest is being imparted to the proceedings of the Commission.