WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1919, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

LIQUOR AND SPORT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, April 30. The liquor question appeared in another phase before the Htitt Licensing Committee yesterday afternoon when an application was made for a temporary license to operate at the races at Trentham on Thursday and Friday. During the war the Wellington Racing Club, at the request of the military authorities, countenanced no publican's Dar on its course. But with the altered conditions it proposed to go back to the old order of things and assumed the Licensing Committee would readily grant the necessary permit. The committee, however, by a majority of three to two, refused the application and Trentham will remain "dry" for the forthcoming meeting at least. There was no sugigestion that liquor had been abused on the course, but apparently a majority of the committee thought abstinence imposed upon race-goers in war time would j be good for them in time of peace, PATRIOTIC FUNDS. The Hon. G. W. Russell, the Minister of Internal Affaire, is not ignoring the protests of the various branches of the Returned Soldiers' Association against his refusal to allow patriotic funds intended, as he contends, for the assistance of soldiers and their dependants, to be diverted to the construction of club buildings, hilt he is standing firmly to his guns. In a statement he madß this morning he implied that a good deal of the money subscribed by the public had not been turned to the best advantage, and that' the statement of accounts he shortly would issue would show this to Ite the case, "He was most anxious to give effect to the wishes of the soldiers as far as possible, but this would have to be done with a proper regard for the views of the subscribers and the permanent welfare of the soldiers themselves

THE ABSENT MINISTERS, I It is being generally assumed here that Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward will be able to leave London early in June and that they will reach New Zealand about the'end of July. Theiiv.passages by a steamer booked to leave Vancouver on June 21 remain ''pencilled" 'and'sti far there is no indication that tlvey wil" not sail by this vessel. Should they adhere to this Arrangement ■would be nothing to' prevent the. next session of Parliament opening eavly in August even if their presence atvti'is function were deemed to be absolutely necessary, and • the dissolution being taken a couple of months later. There is no authoritative hint that this will be the programme, but, people who are putting two and two together, are counting upon the general election being held earlier than the usual time in December.