WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE. HIE ROYAL COMMISSION. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Feb. 8. The War Expenditure Commission was formally opened yesterday, when the secretary read the warrant of Its appointment and the chairman explained its methods ot procedure. Before tile commissioners take evidence they will make themselves acquainted with the activities of the Defence Department by visiting a number of centres outside Wellington, inspecting the various camps and getting a general idea of the system of account keeping. Public interest in the commission has waned to some extent since its appointment was first announced, but no doubt it will revive with tlie progress ot the inquiry. Sir Robert Anderson made a very favorable impression upon those present at the opening ceremony yesterday by his businesslike exposition of the scope and purpose of the inquiry, and high hopes are entertained of the Commission doing good work under his presidency. WELLINGTON NORTH.

So far the retirement of Mr. M. Myerg from the Wellington North contest in favor of Mr. A. de B. Brandon has not materially cleared the atmosphere. Mr. Brandon is a little more emphatically 'Reform than flie gentleman who has made way for him, and he does not hint at a young New Zealand party supplanting Mr Massey and his friends after the war, "but he is standing in opposition to the wishes of the National Cabinet and will go to the poll, if lie gets so far, with the reproacli of imperilling the great issue at stake Should there be anything like an equal division of votes between the official and the unofficial supporters of the Government, the Labor candidate would have a very good chance of success. Possibly the realisation of this peri! will ultimately bring about the retirement of the superfluous candidates, but at the moment there is no indication of this happy escape from a disquieting situation. THE LIQUOR PROBLEM., It is obvious to everyone on the spot (hat the opposition Mr. J. P. Luke by a number of supporters of the former member is chiefly occasioned by his \iows on the liquor question and Ws disapproval of racing and some other frivolous forms of amusement. They will not accept even his excellent war work'as a sufficient set-off against what they call his "wowser" prdelivities. But in his opening address on Wednesday evening the Mayor reiterated his continued adhesion to the principle of State control, and as this remedy for the evils of the drink traffic is now finding some favor with the supporters of the Trade, it is hoped flic disgruntled Reformers will not persist in their refusal to be conciliated. In any case, with the imprimatur of the National Cabinet upon him, and with the win-the-war sentiment dominating everything else, it seems fairly certain Mr Luke will be returned. PARLIAMENT. Ministers appear confident of the short session of Parliament which must be held before the departure of the Dominion's delegates to the Imperial War Cabinet passing off without any untoward developments. They are reticent as to thcij intentions in regard to the further prolongation of the lif;) of the present House, but there are signs and portends suggesting that legislation dealing with tin's question will be introduced during the session. The fact that Mr. .Massey is not averse to a general election being held at the end of the year has not strengthened the clamor | for a dissolution, but the New Zealand jTimes still insists that the constitutional right of the people to review the ' actions of their representatives should be maintained. Heads have been counted, however, and it is tolerably safe to predict that whatever the Government may propose in this direction will be carried by a substantial majority.