WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1918, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE tVAE CENSORSHIP. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJBCTOSS. (Special Correspondent). Wellington, June 10. More or less circumstantial stories have been in circulation for weeks past in regard to the treatment of military prisoners in the special gaol at Wanguimi, and the local newspapers have received many letters on the subject 'which have not reached the length of publication. Some of the allegations are of the most serious nature and one or two are supported by a wealth o£ what purports to be corroborative evidence that cannot be brushed lightly aside. A letter signed by six of the prisoners, describing cases of the roughest handling, to put it very mildly, has been seen by responsible ' psople and' it is understood its contents have been brought under the notice of the Minister of Defence. Sir James Allen and General Henderson discredit the stories, but the Minister has promised to have them investigated and to deal promptly with any abuses that may be discovered. COST OF LIVING. The excessive cost of living is always a grievance with the people of Wellington and the complaint of the Nelson civil servants has brought it into prominence again. According to the official statistics, however, the good folk of Nelson, who do not enjoy the best of communication with the outside world, are not nearly so badly off in thij* respect as are those of the capital city, which, of course, prides itself upon being the chief centre of distribution in the Dominion. The Government Statistician shows that while the cost of commodities and rent taken together have advanced, 41 per cent m Wellington compared with the average during the five years before the war, they have advanced only 23 per cent in Nelson. In Auckland the advance has been 25 per cent, in Christchurcli 18 per cent, in Dunedin 21 per cent, in Hamilton 24 per cent, in Gisborne 28 per cent, in New Plymouth 24 per cent, in Wanganni 25 per cent, in Taihape 3G per cent, in Palmerston North 22 per cent, in Blenheim 16 per cent, in Greymoutli 15 per cent, in Oainaru 19 per cent, and in Invercargill 18 per cent. The truth of the whole matter seems to bq that Wellington, where rents, in spite of legislation, have increased 33 per cent, is the only place where the cost of living has grown beyond all the reasons and excuses provided by the war, A WAR HISTORY. The appeal that is being made by Sir James Allen for war documents, in the form of soldiers' letters, etc., does not mean that a start is to be made at once with the compilation of the promised history of New Zealand's share of the war The official historian has yet to be appointed and it is likely that the work will stand over until the end of the war. But the Government wishes in tho meantime to collect some of the "raw materials" to be used by the historian There are valuable personal records contained in soldiers'' letters and the request now made is that Base Records shall have an opportunity to make extracts from such letters. The choice of the official historian is a matter that has received some attention from Ministers, but no definite step has been taken. It is felt that the man entrusted with the compilation of the history should be a soldier with experience of literary work. It seems desirable that ho should be an officer with considerable, field experience, since he would have to sift evidence on problems of military importance. The Expeditionary Force is thought to corf-, tain several men who could do the work well. DRAWING OF CLASS C. The drawing of 10,000 names from Class C of the Second Division (man with two children) is expected to be completed to-morrow morning, and the Gazette containing the names will probably bo published next Tuesday. A great deal of interest is being taken in this ballot, for Class C includes many prominent business and professional men. But no feeling of excitement penetrates ' the room wbere the actual drawing takes place, Twenty-one girls are seated at tables, each girl having before her four boxes filled with numbered cards Another girl turns to box from which the Government Statistician draws the marbles under the eyes of the. presiding magistrate. A policeman guards the door, and the girls read or knit as they wait for the magistrate to collect the cards that have been turned up after a number has been called. Tho system is very familiar to the worker's now, and there are no delay* and no hitches. The drawing Is a quiet anil monotonous business.