WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1918, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE AUSTRALIAN REFERENDUM. SLANDERING THE DOMINION. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, dan. 7. It is understood the Government lias referred the leaflet emanating from New Zealand and strongly denouncing com pulsory military service, which was widely distributed throughout Australia during the recent conscription campaign, to the Crown Law oflicers, with a view [to proceedings being taken against the author of the document. The leaflet is an atrocious slander upon New Zealand and upon the officials entrusted with the administration of the Military Service Act, but a* it was, not even technically "published" within the Dominion it is doubtful if any action would lie against the (person responsible for its preparation. A curious thing about the publication in Australia is that no steps appear to have been taken to authoritatively contradict the infamous statements contained in the leaflet till they had worked their purpose among the Commonwealth electors., There are plenty of newspapers in Australia, most of them professing the warmest sympathy with the Federal Government's service proposals, and New Zealand is represented there by officers who ought to have known the facts, tout almost up to the day of the polling the "Noes" were allowed to grossly distort the experience of this country without being challenged bv anyone in authority.

"THE HORRID EXAMPbIi." j An officer in the New Zealand Bon- ] foreements. who has just returned from holiday leave, in Australia, where ibis parents reside, comments in the most scathing terms upon the apathy of the newspapers and the indifference of the Dominion's representatives in Sydney and Melbourne towards this matter. He did not reach Sydney till two or three days after the polling, and therefore could do nothing, however humble, on his own account to stem the tide of deluded public opinion: but 'he found the "Noes" still congratulating themselves upon having got in their New Zealand bomb without drawing any effective retort from the other side. Only one of the newspapers, as .tar as the visitor could discover, had taker, the trouble to contradict the impudent stories that had been sent over from Wollingon, and evidently the Dominion's agents thought it no business of theirs to meddle with the controversy. The result was a very general tendency on the part-of the electors, who had no reliable sources of information, to accept the contention that New Zealand by adopting compulsory service had landed itself into a position it was bitterly regi'«tting. A MUNIFICENT GIFT.

Mr. Oorge Hunter's munificent gift of 2i535 acres of his Porangahau estate, valued at about £30,000, for soldier settlement, is not by any means the only patriotic service of the member for -Waipawa since the commencement of the war, but it represents a nuvticularly sane and practical effort to turn 'bounty of this kind to the very best account. The gift is not intended to relieve the State of any of is obligations to the men who are fighting the Empire's battles, nor merely to assist a few favored individuals in any special district. The cost of preparing the land f?r settlement has beui east upon the Government, as well as tlie responsibility of sub-division and balloting. The rents will be fixed by valuation in the Ordinary way, and ths revenue, after reimbursing tlie State for its share of the expenditure, will be applied towards assisting soldiers and their dependents who? may have fallen upon evil days. The details of the scheme, which have been carefully thought out by the donor with a view to obtaining the greatest good for the greatest number, will be finally settled by the Minister of Lands and Mr. Hjmter. and it '»' hoped the fine example of the owner of Porangahau estate will he followed by many other great land-holders. THE DAY OF PRAYER.

There were large congregations at most of the city places of worship yesterday on the occasion of the special intercessory services, and the proceedings genjerally were of an impressive character. (The Minister of Defence and (he princiipnl officers of his Department attended the morning service at the pro-Cathedral, and a large sprinkling of soldiers in uniform could be seen in all the churches. The sermons generally were of a hopeful, inspiring character, though some of the preaehers dwelt upon the sins of the nation and urged their congregations to repentance. The Eev. Dr. Gibb, preaching at St. John's Presbyterian Church, said the history of flic war up to the present time had been a history of disappointed hopes, of defeated antioipations. of checks and counter-checks, and he could not conceal his conviction that victory was'delayed by the tardiness of the nation in returning to God. At tlie Wcsleyan Church the Eev. J. G. Chapman delivered a very vigorous, practical sermon, urging that there must be hard fighting as well as Irani praying; and at all the Catholic churches there were large congregations which joined very earnestly in the supplications for victory and peace.