WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1918, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MISHAP TO HOSPITAL SHIP. (ifSpecial Correspondent^ Wellington, Oct. 1. A familiar rumor of disaster has been in circulation during the last day or two concerning a hospital ship at present on the water. It appears to have had its origin in the fact that the ship in question has 'been delayed slightly on its voyage to New Zealand by a machanical trouble that could not be repaired conveniently en route. *

THE FURLOUGH 'SCHEME. A question Las been asked regarding the three years' servieo that qualifies a New Zealand soldier to share the 'benefits of the furlough scheme. Where does the three years begin ? The answer is that the three years have to bo calculated from the date when fho men went on "active service," usually just prior to departure from New Zealand. It may be noted in this connection that three years' service men are not at all likely to get furlough in the near future unless tluiy can show special domestic or business reasons. There" are enough men at the front with 3% and 4 years' service to fill tha furlough drafts 'for a long time to come, and the Main Body men will get first consideration, subject to the conditions already laid down. Only 50 men a month are to get furlough, and at that rate the scheme will not keep pace with, the growth of the number of three years' service men i~ the New Zealand Division.

THE TRAMWAY DISPUTE. The dispute between the Wellington City Council and the tramway has made no progress towards settlement, and in the meantime the Government is being inconvenienced very seriously The cars are continuing to run slow and behind time, though there has been some improvement in this respect. The services are curtailed and a minimum twopenny fnTe has been imposed in the inner area during rush hours. The men will not work overtime and an unduly large proportion of them have gone off sick, thus increasing the dislocation of the traffic. The inspectors have reported some of the men for deliberately wasting time and delaying the services, but the City Councillors apparently have not deemed it wise to take action on these reports. The dismissal of the offending men would bring about a general stoppage, and there is no knowing how far the trouble would spread. It seems certain, however, that a crisis will be reached presently The men. in the meantime, are losing much pay, the municipality is losing revenue and the citizens are suffering great inconvenience with increasing impatience.

THE ALLIES' SUCCESS PUBLIC REJOICING. Wellington, Oct. 3. Though Wellington did not ring its hells nor blow its whistles quite so noisily yesterday in response to the Mayor's invitation to celebrate the Allies' success in the Balkans, as it did a few weeks ago when it rejoiced over the turn of the tide on the Western front, it evidently realjggd the significance of the good news and went about its business and its pleasure with a lighter heart than it has home for many a long month At „the gathering i% the Council Chamber of the Town Hall. Sir James Allen and Sir Robert Stout struck just, the right notes, inspiring the confidence and determination proper to the occasion and yet emphasising the need for continued patience and effort. Both the Minister of Defence and the Chief justice touched upon the perils of a premature peace, and urged that New Zealand should bear her share of the national burden till the cause of justice and freedom had been vindicated in the eyes of the whole iivllised world.

MINISTERIAL APPEALS. Both the Acting-Prime Minister and the acting-leaders of the Liberal Party are appealing to their political friends to give their hearty support to Mr Ilildreth in todayis contest. Sir James Allen asks all the electors in Wellington Central who have been supporters of the Reform section of the National Cabinet to go to the poll "without fail and record their votes in favor of Mr- Hildreth," while the Hon. W. D. S MacDonald, in addition to commending the Government candidate as "a straightforward, honoraible man who will work honestly and conscientiously for the commonweal," makes a spirited retort to the criticism that has been levelled against the National Government in connection with the cost of living and the burden of taxation- He shows plainly enough that New Zealand has suffered less than any other country has from the increase in prwiees and that an imrnest effort has been made to place the additional taxation on the shouldaw best able to bear it,

THE TRAMWAY TROUBLE. As was foreshadowed in these note* itlie other daj, the Government has intervened in tha tramway trouble to '■Cat length of iwiting the p«rties to a conference under the presidency of the Conciliation Cmmiasioner for the district. oil James Allen, writing to the Mayor, on behalf of the Minister of Labor, bas pointed out that Jhe rise in the cost of living since the agreement between thd City Council and the men was made justifies a review of the situation, and has intimated to the Tramway Union that, pending the result of the conference, the men must resume observance of the conditions of the existing Agreement. Tt is assume* that the Mayor has sought the intervention of the Government, and that the meft will not tte to placing their c?.s« kefor* tfc* Commissioner In these oircumstMtes, tbere sliould be no great difficulty m reaching a settlement satisfactory tr, the parties isnme l dintely concerned and to the sorelyinconvenienced public.