WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE QPAjOLFK! ISLAMDS. XEE TRADE COMMISSIONER'S Riowmx. (Special iQorreapondeiit.) Wellingtajj, June 14. The cablegram from London, published yesterday indicating the nature of the [report supplied 'by Mr. W- Dalton, the British Trade Commissioner resident in Wellington, concerning the trade of tlie Pacific Islands, proves that the Colonial Office is much more alert in these days than it was a few years ago. It proves, too, that Mr. Dalton has not been allowing the grass to grow under his feet during the last month or two. It is only a few days ago that lie returned from his Island trip and yet Mr Walter Long, the Colonial Secretary, is already in possession of hU report, which must bave been prepared on the spot, and apparently is taking steps to give effect to its recommendations. "In view of Mr. Dalton's report," the messages states, "Mr. Long will inevitalbly acquiesce in the chums of the 'Dominions that German influence shall foe eliminated from the South Pacific." As evidence of Mr. Dalton's versatility it perhaps is worth while mentioning that since hi s return from his 'history-making mission he has been devoting himself with characteristic enthusiasm to the arrangement of a Britistj manufactures exhibit at the "National Dairy Show at Palmerston. NEW ZEALAND A2W SAMOA. It is interesting to recall that so long ago as 1883 the New Zealand (Parliament passed an Annexation Act with a view to bringing Samoa under the administraI tion of the Government of this country. The measure was vetoed by the Imperial authorities, but it marked the beginning of an agitation for the extension* of British influence in the Pacific which has varied in intensity but continued to grow in volume and purpose. It was Mr John Lundon who first brought the persistent aggression of the Germans under the notice of the public by defying their insolent assumption of authority, and it was mainly through his efforts as agent of the Samoan Parliament constituted by Kin® Maliotoa that the Annexation Act came into existence. When the late Mr. Seddon succeeded to the leadership of the New Zaeland Government he at once revived interest in the subject toy mentioning it in the Governor's Speech and making strong representations to the Imperial Govern, ment as to the importance of having the Islands definitely under British control. The parliamentary records show that he continued his representations right uj> to the completion of the unfortunate arrangement with Germany and that he never lost hope of this arrangement (being reviewed.

THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. The correspondence passing between the Minister of (Defence and the Executive of the Second Division League continues to furnish entertaining reading even to those who are not personally concerned in the issues to which the contending parties are devoting themselves. They 'both are generating a little warmth by constant friction. "I leave the public to judge," the Minister says in a letter published this morning, "as to the sincerity of the reasons put forth by the executive in withdrawing its representative from the Soldiers' Financial Assistance 'Board " "The executive reBents the suggestion contained in this paragraph," the secretary of the League retorts, "and desire 9 to say in reply that as you have been the first to raise the question of sincerity the League in Its turn will leave the public to judge as to your sincerity in hastening to secure the reappointment." Of more immediate interest to the public than thig little exchange of courtesies is the League's estimate of the minimum expenditure of a soldier's wife with Ofe, child It puts food down at £1 Is 9d a week, household 14s Gd. medicinal Is and clothing 15s 3d, a total of .-£*2 12s Gd to be drawn from an income of £2 12s 6d without taking rent or insurance into account. THE LICENSING CAMPAIGN The leaders of the prohibition movement who have been conferring in Wellington for some days have concluded their deliberations without taking the public into their confidence. They have had interviews of an informal character with the Acting Prime Minister and several other members of the Cabinet and express themselves as generally satisfied with the results. They are hoping that a licensing poll will he held at the end of the current year, whether there Is a general election or not, and they are confident that if this should be the case there would be a very large increase in the no-license vote. They reject the compromise of State Control as emphatically as ever and stake all I their cards on national prohibition.