WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1918, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC, DISLOCATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE:! ' ! {From Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Nov. 11. The influenza epidemic, not in the most virulent form, but still serious enough, is spreading like wildfire through the city and vsuburbs. There is scarcely Si home in wnich there are net one or more sufferers, and every public department is crippled. Schools are being closed and entertainments postponed or abandoned, while there is a proposal to prohibit picture shows and public gatherings of every kind. The public (hospital is full and emergency hospitals are crowded as quickly as they are provided. Tlu; inhalation chambers, which at first were regarded as an excess of official zeal, are now heing largely patronised, and people who have passed through them frequently certainly seem to enjoy pome measure of immunity from the worst attacks of the disease. The municipal and health authorities are fully alive to the gravity of the position and are sparing no effort that may alleviate the trouble.

PEACE EXPECTATIONS. Wellington went mad on Friday over the premature announcement of the signing of the armistice by Germany, and is still decorated with flags and streamers in expectation of the good news being confirmed at any moment. Meanwhile nothing else —save the influenza —seems to matter to the community very much, and business and pleasure are being carried on in a halfhearted fashion. The idea that tho Government has information it is reserving for disclosure at some psychologies'' moment still persists, but t'he Prime Minister declares he has no further information than the public already possesses, and there is no reason to doubt tliis is actually the case. It is known, however, that Mr. Massey has been invited to London, and this must mean the end is certain and very near. THE LIQUOR ISSUE.

Tihe deputation from tlio Moderate League which waited upon Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward did not extract a great deal of information from the Ministers concerning their intentions in regard to the liquor issue. The one point upon which the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance were empliatie was that there must be reform of some sort, All parties had expressed dissatisfaction with the existing licensing system, and it was the duty of the Government to provide the means by which the electors might get something better. Sir Joseph Ward urged it was most important that the country should have an opportunity to express an opinion upon the Efficiency Board's proposal, national prohibition,' but he did not accept this as the only alternative to national continuance. He evidently had in his mind that State control should be made a third issue on the ballot paper, and there is a growing feeling that a majority of ibis colleagues are with hiin on this point. PARLIAMENT.

Under existing Parliament is finding it difficult to take'itself or its business very seriously. Members who came to Wellington determined to make a fuss about this or that or the other thing are accepting the inevitable with the utmost composure. Even the Labor members are feeling that while the future of the whole world is in the melting pot in Europe it is impossible to give serious attention to the comparatively petty affairs of this outlying portion of the ' Empire. Everyone realises there are great things to be done here—things affecting the destiny of a young nation—but for the moment they are held in suspense by common consent. But important measures will have to be discussed before Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward leave for London, and it is quite possible their discussion may throw some light on the political events of the immediate future.