WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1017, 20 November 1917, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

CABINET CHANGES. MR HKKI)MAN~PvKT]REMEXT. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Nov. 10. It is again being "understood," "reported," ;md "rumoured" that, the: lion. A. L. Herdman, the AttorncyGioiicrnl, is about to retire from the Cabinet for the purpose of taking Sir John Dennislon's place on the Supremo. Court Roneh. The story, of course, is i very old one, it having boon stated. >n what seemed to be good authority, more than two years ago, at the time ii the formation* of the National Cabinet, that Sir John Denniston would shortly retire, and that Mr Herdman would be his successor. But for one reason and another tlie change has been :lelayed much longer than was expected, and even now it is not likely to take place till after the New Year. Thero lias been some difficulty over the adjustment of the retiring judge's pension, and some little controversy over the appointment oi hi.s successor, but these matters now seem to bo happily settled, and it is fairly safe to predict that Mr Ilerdman will take tin; his judicial duties niter the long vacation. THE NEW MINISTER. Mr I). 11. Guthrie, the member for Oroua, is being confidently made by the quid mines as the successor to Mr Herdman in the Cabinet, and as the appointment will rest with Mr Massej', as leader of the Reform Party, his Senior Whip cannot be overlooked. Hut one of the portfolios to be laid down by Mr Ilerdman is that of Attorney-General, and as this cannot be taken up by Mr Guthrie, who is not a lawyer, it may not be easy for the. Prime .Minister to gratify his personal wish. Probably, however, the difficulty will be overcome by Sir Francis Roll, who is now provided with a salary, taking the position of Attorney-General in addition 10 the leadership of the LegisI a Live Council, which in these days is not a very onerous office. Mr K. P. Lee. the member for Oaiharu, would be in the running were not the choice confined to a Reformer representing a North Island constituency, but with this limitation Mr Guthrie appears to have, the best chance of appointment. GAMBLING. The betting case which occupied the attention of the Supreme Court here last week has provoker] a good deal of comment upon the lax ad.ministration if the gaming law. The matter was the subject of two or three brief discussions in Parliament last, session, several members referring in the strongest terms t-> the apathy of the police and the indifference of the Post Office officials; but the .Ministers immediately :oncerned declared that everything possible was being done to put a stop to illegal betting and to Icing the offenders to justice. The revelations in Court., however, suggested that Ministers knew very little of what was going on. It was proved that the bookmaker* in Wellington were conducting theii business almost as openly as were tin grocers and the butchers, and that everyone but the police, and the Past Office officials knew of their methods. ■ Now there i> a demand for a much mo:drastic law against professional gam bling, and it is reported that Ministers are by no means disinclined to im.vi towards that end. TEACHERS AND THE WAR. The.depletion ol the teaching proies sion by voluntary and compulsory em listment is assuming such a serious aspect throughout the country that tin Minister of Education is preparing :i statement on tho subject for submissijn to the Defence Department. At tin commencement of the war many young teachers were attracted towards tin great adventure, and the authorities s< far iiom putting any obstacle in th< way of their joining the Forces, actual ly encouraged them to do so by giviii;. them special privileges in tiio way ol payment and. allowances. Now, however, the drain upon the profession i< placing some of the Education Board. 1 in an extremely awkward position, th< number of retired teachers who have re turned to the service being wholly insufficient to fill the vacancies, and it is not at all unlikely the Minister will claim exemption for members of tic Second Division employed by his Department when the reservists villi children are submitted to the hallo;.