Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1917. SHOULD MR WEBB RESIGN?

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10121, 31 October 1917, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1917. SHOULD MR WEBB RESIGN?

The member for Grey is adopting a very unfortunate attitude. . When it was intimated some weeks back that ho had been called up for service under the Military Service Act, Mr Webb intimated his intention of “consulting his constituents” upon his course of action. Without directly saying so, he left it to be inferred that, if they thought he should obey the call, lie would do so; if they didn’t—well, the public were left to conjecture what would happen. An appeal—decided on Monday against him —was entered on his behalf by Mr J. McCombs, M.P., who presented a petition from certain of Mr Webb’s constituents claiming his exemption from military service on the ground of public interest, ami it was stated that, “at the last election his constituents had expressed a wish that he should remain in the country to specially represent the mining interest.” On the evidence placed before them, the members of the Third Wellington Military Service Board were unable to find any valid reason why Mr Webb should be exempted, and, as Mr Webb himself failed to put in an appearance, the Board dismissed the appeal. Mr McCombs made it sutiiciently clear that Mr Webb was Hot personally appealing for exemption, and, under all the circumstances, the Board could not possibly have arrived at any other decision than it did. Mr Webb is a single man, reputedly strong and healthy, and probably more fit for service than a good many men who volunteered and arc now in the lighting line. The fact of his being a member of Parliament docs not relieve him of the obligations and duties of ordinary citizenship, and there is no reason why he should not retain his scat as member for Grey and still go to the front. There are reported to be considerably over a hundred members ot the British House of Commons in the fighting line. The Federal and State Parliaments of Australia, the Canadian House oi Commons, and other Legislatures also have their representatives, and our own Parliament has been honourably represented amongst the fighting men of the empire. since the day following the declaration of war, first by the late lamented Captain W. H. 1). Bell, member for Wellington Suburbs in the 1911-14 Parliament, and by Captains J. Gordon Coates and J. B. Mine, and Lieutenants T. Seddon and W. Downie Stewart, members of the present House ol llepresontatives. In no other case that we are aware of has it been considered necessary for a member of any of the Parliaments of the Empire to resign _ his scat before taking up military service, and there is no reason why Mr i Webb should do so. It is, wo think. , unfortunate that he has resigned it , will be more unfortunate still it his resignation is dictated by ulterioi mo- ( tives which may possibly bring him into ; conflict with the authorities later on. , It has been stated that the lion, gentle- < man intends to stand for re-election. , and that if he is again returned he will , accept it as an indication that the elec - i ors desire him to remain in the conntry. Should Mr Webb be acting on t tile assumption that his constituents can relieve him of the obligations the j law imposes upon him. he is likely to find that he is riding for a very had fall, \Vo hope and trust it may proto a to lie otherwise. ' t

the GOVERNMENT TREMBLES (?)

The National Government, is (or should be) tumbling in its shoes. Have not “electors of Palmerston North,” in the persons of Mr J. McGlono ami Mr R. Ross, spoken and, backed up by thoir mysterious “committee of twenty,” demanded that “the present Government resign office?” At first sight there may be no apparent connection between the “hole and corner” meeting held in Palmerston North on Monday evening and the abandonment of the Expeditionary Forces Amendment Bill by the Government last evening. But surely cause precedes effect, and who shall say what pained feelings of emotion surged through the breasts of Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, when they received the direful intelligence that Mr Rod. Boss was on the job again, and that he and his friends were preparing to present a loaded pistol at their heads, i pruned with cartridges filled with the must destructive sort of powder and shot, warranted to take immediate client upon the obdurate who failed to hoed the demand and 'Warning preceding their discharge, Can it be that, taken with a fit; of “cold shivers,” the Government incontinently abandoned the last ol dir James Allen’s legislative banthn.gs, and decided to close Parliamen.c immediately, so that Mr Massey might take refuge in the “way-hack” districts of Franklin, and Sir Joseph V ard entrench himself in the fastnesses of his beloved A warn a electorate? Any how Parliament is being hurried to its (dose, and at least one resignation is foreshadowed. But, alas! for the blighted hopes of Mr Rod. Ross and his friends. The resignation that is coming within a week or so, is that of the member for Grev—Mr P. C. Webb, M.P.. and oni' Wellington correspondents are unable to find any signs of other dislocations in the political life of the country. Mr Massey is reported this morning to lie wearing his usual smile, and our one and only “Sir Joseph” is just as ready to je.st with a triend or quietly make fun of his critics. The “electors of Palmerston North,” in the persons of Messrs Rod. Ross and Go., are evidently not cutting much ice, either in Wellington or locally. Like the pebble thrown into the water, they may havo caused just a momentary disturbance in the otherwise placid existence of the community, hut the rippling eddies caused by their action have already disappeared and the world moves on as usual.