AGAIN THE HOSPITAL SHIPS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 17, 21 January 1916, Page 6

AGAIN THE HOSPITAL SHIPS

In a 6tatement to Jhe prejas the Prime Minister, after mentioning that the Marama is going from Egypt to England with sick and wounded, men, remarks:—"He cannot say whether the Marama will be sent back from England after arrival there. That is a matter over which the New Zealand authorities have no control." It is regrettable that the " New Zealand authoi-ities" have to fill such a pathetic rolo as being mere spectators, interested onlookers, while the "Imperial authorities"—that blessed, phrase which has the balm of Mesopotamia to some ears—do this and do that, or do not do this and do not do that, to the great wonderment o! .this Antipodean democracy. The people pay; it is their function "to pay; it is, as the Socialist extremists would gay, their "historic mission" to pay, and to put their trust in vague "authorities" near and far, "authorities" at home, and " authorities" overseas. Instead of the German motto,» "God with us," it ie, to.be "'Authorities' with us," and all will be well. But who are they? What are they? They do not speak definitely for public information. Something is stated, but when the words are sifted the people still see the veiled -figures of the mystic "authorities" of one kind or another, ready to expend, but not to expound. Events have proved that the local "authorities" made a deplorable mistake when, they handed the hospital ships over unreservedly to the other authorities." In various districts of New Zealand the Maheno's ; peculiar return is causing questions to be asked, and the signs are that when Parliament meets there will be a strong pressure for a production of all important correspondence relating to the hospital ships.