WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1929, Page 16

WELLINGTON TOPICS

MILITARY TRAINING. THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS EXEMPT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 18. The Government’s concession to theological students in 'the matter of military training is by no means meeting with general approval here. Apart altogether from the protests made in the House of Representatives, which may have been prompted to some extent by party differences on other subjects, there have been many expressions of dissent in other quarters. It is almost safe to say that a majority of the people about town, had the matter been submitted to them, would have insisted upon the theological students, of whom, of course, there are only a mere handful, making the same sacrifices as are demanded from their contemporaries in different walks of life. As a sturdy minister of the Gospel stated to-day, military training and association with the other young men passing through the course would be an admirable preparation for their life’s work, if they really were fitted for the service of the church. Their attitude towards war could be adjusted later on.

POLITICAL MORE THAN RELIGIOUS

The Evening Post, in discussing the position, while readily ■ admitting that -'a statesman with so splendid, a record of patriotic Imperialism” as Sir Joseph Ward has established “would not wittingly lend himself to an attempt to

break down our system of defence,” is not quite sure he has taken the. right course in this instance. “The agitation now proceeding,” it says, “is not wholly religious or wholly based upon conscience, either in its origin or in the support drawn to it. ‘We are going to bust .the Defence Act,’ the Minister of Defence quoted Richards as saying. Richard’s objection, he held, were political rather than religious. The refusal to accept alternative service unless it were offered in a certain way certainly supports this conclusion.” The attitude of Labour towards the Defence Act and its association with the protesting students suggest hat conscientious objection to military trailing has less to do with the present agitation han has a desire to create political confusion. A FOURTH PARTY. The promoters of a fourth political party have reached the length of compiling a list of names that look on paper distinctly impressive. Whether all the owners of the names are aware of the distinction awaiting them is not quite clear. One or two of those that have been congratulated upon their, entrance into public life have disclaimed all knowledge of the movement. That, however, is often the way of the budding politician. The idea of the . promoters seems to be that with the eighty members of the present House of Representatives divided into three parties, and none of these parties having, the remotest chance of securing an independent majority, the time is opportune to form a party outside Parliament that ultimately will draw' the best men of the other parties into one fold in

anticipation of the dissolution which, they say, must take place within twelve months. The scheme' seems simple enough. It requires only the cordial cooperation of the three present leaders. The presentation of the annual report of the Cook Islands Department in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon produced quite an interesting little discussion concerning the Dominion’s responsibilities in the Pacific. Mr. Coates opened the proceedings by urging the Government to maintain a service between the islands and the Dominion. He was unable to say whether the Maui Pomare was a success or not, but he knew she had been an extremely troublesome boat. Replying, Sir Joseph Ward said he was not blaming anyone for what had happened, but he was satisfied the Maui Pomare was unsuited for the island trade. That was proved beyond dispute. The Government would do what it could in the matter, but it could not accept responsibility for what had happened in the past. Mr. Coates’s plea was supported by several of the Labour members, Mr. E. J. Howard urging that the Maui Pomare should not bo condemned without further inquiry. Ultimately the whole question of the vessel’s existence was. referred to the Industries and Commerce Committee