WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1919, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

•ftttlf, EFFICIENCY BOARD. RELATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT. (Sgecial Correspondent) Wellington, Jan. 24. Tlits statement made by Mr J. AI'Vostick in Cliristchurck yesterday to the effect that the Efficiency Board would i>e on of a job iu the course of a wei or two has given some sort of color to the stories alleging strained relations between the board and the Government that have been current here for several months past. The board, as might have been expected from its, constitution. has displayed the utmost independence from the very first day of its appointment. It has broken away from many of the old musty traditions and lijs insisted upon speaking its mind quite plainly. Naturally this has proved, on occasions, a little t.nibartussing to Ministers and has tended now and again to produce a certain amount of irritation.

THE BOARD'S GOOD WORK. But notwithstanding all this Mr Massey and his colleagues have repeatedly borne witness to the good ;-,-ork done by the board- They have to thank its members for having provided them with a convenient way of escape from the perils that were threatening them in connection with the liquor question and for several other notable services. But they obviously do not wish to extend the Board's activities indefinitely. ft has been suggested that it might bo very advantageously employed in overhauling the public service, which during 1 th« war has growr! in some departments to unwieldy dimensions, but Ministers are giving no encouragement to the development of the idea. Nor are they looking for other work for the fthavd. It MC-ms likely, therefore, that Mr Frostick's prediction will be realised in the near future.

TRAIN SERVICES. Tijie Minister of Railways is Being in-und-ited with, applications' lor the restoration, of train services that were discontinued during the course of the war. His replies, judging from his own statement, art ol the usual sterotyped order, but not intended to quench all hope in the hearts of the suppliants The most weighty appeals are being made on behali: of the through expresses in both islands, but it is not at all certain these will be the firet -service* iestored. The suburban wains really uerve a. larger number of people mid affect Important interests that are not concerned 'in long distance travelling In any case the armistice has not yet released a large number of railway worker.! and the coal shortage is still a delaying factor. ■Normal condition-, may „ot be leached for another five or six months.

THE REPATRIATION BOARD, The Dominion this morning warmly supports the Returned Soldiers' Association in its protest against the constitution of th,e Repatriation Board and linds ready to hand a striking example of how ministerial control of the board is likely to work. "At present." it <sxys "the Hon. V. H. Herries, who is chairman of the Board, is in the Bay of Plenty region. One of his colleagues, Mr MacDonaM, is at Napier. Another member of the Board, Mr Guthrie left la=t night for tin? South Island. ' The remaining member, Atr Hariaie, is in Wellington, but it is expected thai at ;ui early date he will depart ou a visit of some length tr> Australia." In justice to the absent Ministers if miist bs stated that they are away from Wei lingtou on the business of "their departments and that in the ease of Mr MacDonald and Mr Guthrie, at any rate, the business is .lot •.incotrnevted vvith soldiers' .settlement. At the .jame time it really does look as if the -.iiembera ot the Board have enough work on hand without taking up this additional burden