WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1916, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MILITARY SERVICE. > , . (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, Dec. 11. The Hon. James Allen and the Hon. A. L. Herdman, in their respeetive capa> cities of Minister of Defence and At-torney-General, have issued statements in regard to the administration of the Military Service Act, and the purpose of the new war regulations, which evidently are intended to arouse the public to a fuller appreciation of the fact that tlio Empire is engaged in a war that is not yet won. Mr. Allen is being criticised in some quarters for reiterating his determination to enforce the system of compulsory service approved by Parliament, on the ground, it mar be assumed, that he is protesting too much; but really, in view of the rumors that are flying about the country, it is important the public should understand quite clearly that the Government is not going to trifle with this matter, either by attempting to reconcile this section of the community or that or by permitting avoidable delays. The Attorney-General's statement is characteristic of its author. The only excuse Mr. Herdman offers for the new regulations, and probably he would rather ci<jl this an explanation, is that they are necessary towards winning the war, and it may be taken for granted that 'he will see they are made effective. CLAIMS TOR EXEMPTION.

The fow disinterested people been watching the proceedings it the first sitting of the Military Service Board for the Wellington district are emphatic in their praise of the ready tact and marked impartiality of the ahairman and his colleagues. It is excusable to record this fact, because the two lay members of the Board represent opposite sections of the community whose political and industrial interests are popularly supposed to be in sharp conflict. Some of the cases presented features of unusual interest. In one of these, Mr. Ernest Short, the wellknown stockbreeder, a generous promoter of (patriotic movements,. whoso chief regret seemed to be that he could not get away to the war himself, appeared in support of the appeal of his two sons for,, exemption. The ground for the appeal in respect to the elder son was that he had been discharged from the forces on account of ill-health, and in respect to the younger tliat his special ability was indispensable to the success of his father's farming operations. The case was the subject of a most exhaustive enquiry, and finally the Board decided that the elder son should go into camp in January, and that the younger, who had been called up under clause 3.), should remain In his present occupation, subject to the operation of the ordinary ballot. The case is quoted as an example of the spirit in which the Board is doing its work. WAITING A PRECEDENT. If a general election in the midst of the war should be the ultimate outcome pf the present political crisis at Home, as appears possible and even probable at the time of writing, the New Zealand Government would find itself confronted by a much more "independent 1 Parliament next year than the one it bad to deal with last session. No cjne concerned for the credit and welfare'o: the country can wish to see it plunged into a ganeral election at such a time as this, but there is nothing to be gained by blinking the fact that the little group of restless spirits th?.t made itself heard and felt in the House of Representatives last session has gained both in numbers and in public approval during the recess. Rightly or wrongly, there is a feeling abroad that the Cabinet has not done all it might have done to jceep down the cost of living, and that in its entirely commendable efforts to discharge t'ne country's obligations to the Empire it has neglected some of its domestic interests. It is an open secret that a number of members who were doiile partisans last session, ready to stand by their respective party leaders without demur, are now resolved to give expression to their own opinions in the House and to make them effective when they can. If the Mother of Parliaments went to the constituencies at such a juncture these gentlemen would not lack a precedent for the adoption of a similar course by one of the youngest of her daughters. THE 24th KEIMFGRCEMEXTS. One reason for the postponement of the mobilisation of the 24th Reinforcements until next month was the fact that the departure of the "20th Reinforcements was being delayed for certains reasons. Four Reinforcements — the bulk of the 20th, the 21st, the 22nd and the 23rd—are now in the camp?. The addition of another Reinforcement this month would mean overcrowding, 'and the medical authorities, who have been studying the camp sicknesses very closely during the last six months, are insistent that nothing of the kind must take place. A considerable amount of building has been in progress in the camps lately, and it is understood, in this connection, that the medical staff has made recommendations in view of the coming of another winter