WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1918, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

t THE CItEVT ELECTION (Special Correspondent.) ■Wellington, May 31. The result of the Grey election, so far as it represents a triumph for the iLttbor Party, was not unexpected here l)y peopip who liact impartially surveyed the prospecti of the contest. Since the removal of the strong controlling hand and understanding heart of Mr. Seddon, the West Coast constituencies have shown a disposition to drift away from constituted authority. Like the proverbial Irishmen they are temperamentally "agin" the Government. Then Mr. Holland's platform experience has made him, if one may use such a term in a strictly political sens®, master of every trick of the trade, and he was able to persuade many fervidly patriotic electors that his opposition to compulsory service tvas inspired solely by a desire to promote the best interests of the Empire and its people. The fact that his majority was 760 smaller than -Quit, obtained by .Mr. P. C. Webb at the-, general election against a better known opponent at least affords Mr. Coates and his supporters the satisfaction of knowing that public opinion in the constituency is turning their way. THE SECOND DFVTSION Sir James Allen's deferred reply to the demands of the Second Division League was communicated to the newspapers yesterday, and though it occupies two and a quarter columns of dose print its substance consists of no more than a polite refusal to accede to the League's proposals for increased allowance?, and a fair promise to carefully consider its repatriation scheme. Referring to the latter the Minister says it may take some time to evolve a i-atisfaetory scheme, but every effort will bo made "to remove the fear a soldier may have that on discharge lie will not he in a position to provide for himself, his wife arid dependents." With this, it seems, the members of the Second Division will have to be content meanwhile Of course the welfare of ilie dependent? of a married soldier during liis absence from the Dominion rests largely with the Financial Assistance Hoard. This body has most difficult and delicate duties to discharge, but Sir James has given, fresh assurances in regard to its administration which It [s hoped will lessen the anxiety of some of the men.

THE "LEAGUE'S ATTITUDE. Though the president of the Second Division League has had no opportunity to confer with his colleagues since the publication of the Minister's reply, the views he has expressed in the newspapers this morning concerning the powers and scape of tilt' Financial Assistance Board may be taken to represent the official attitude of the League. "We can only repeat," he says, "that the sum of £9O per annum, or £1 14s Od per weak, is not onouqli to keep a soldier's wife in food, clothing, other necessaries, comforts and accidental expenditure in these days of high prices, and after consulting with the various Leagues we will l espcetfully asfc you to receive further representations on this matter at a later date.'- It is known that the members of the League are not unanimous or this subject, <Dut probably a large majority of them are in favor of providing fcj statute what is now left to the di.<£ cretion of the Board. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. At a recent "public meeting" under the auspices of the National Council of Women held here certain statements concerning the treatment of conscientious objectors were made "in committee" with the intention, it would seem, of inflaming the minds of the ladies present against military service and the military authorities. It was alleged that mere lads who placed their conscience before their material comfort were being subject to "No 1 field punishment"' involving the most painful and degrading barbarities. Inevitably the statements got abroad and just as inevitably inquiries were instituted by the newspapers and by interested individuals. The result already is a mass of evidence showing that the lstat|ements are without a shred of foundation in their more serious aspectConscientious oibjectora, who refuse to be persuaded of their error, are sulbject to a short period of detention and then, if they still persist, to a longer term of imprisonment. They suffer no cruelty and no indignity, except of their own creation, and always have the door of repentance wide open to them.