WELLINGTON NOTES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143765, 13 April 1912, Page 2

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THE WELLINGTON MAYORALTY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 13. There is every prospect of a keen contest for the mayoralty, as there are four candidates in the field. Two of them, Messrs. R. A. Wright and D. M'Laren, were members of the last Parliament. Mr. Wright was on the Opposition side of the House, and represented Wellington South. He was beaten at the general election by Mr. Hindmarsh, the Labour representative. He is a man of high integrity and purpose, and possessed of more than average ability. He favours a policy of "progression on sound financial lines. _ Mr. M'Laren was the sole representative of Labour in the last Parliament, but was beaten by Dr. Newman, the Opposition candidate, at the last ©lection. He is, of course,* a Socialist, but is not so revolutionary as some of the present Labour members. The other candidates are Messrs. John Smith and Mr. A. S. Biss. Mr. Smith, who is getting up in years, has been ActingMayor during Mr. Wilford’s illness and absence from New Zealand. He did ■ not show to great advantage during the recent tramway strike. Mr. A. S. Biss was formerly an efficient member of the council. An effort has been mad© to get two of the four candidates to stand down, so that there may be a clear-cut contest between the Labour and the Citizens’ League candidates. So far, the effort has ended in failure, and the chances of the Labour candidate (Mr. M'Laren) are thereby greatly improved.

COMPULSORY MILITARY TRAINING.

Supporters of the Government are talking about the attitude of different Ministers in regard to the deputations they have recently been, receiving, and Mr. Myers’ firmness is contrasted with Mr. Laurenson’s desire to please at all costs. Mr. Myers has certainly gained kudos for the manner in which he dealt with the defence deputations. It is surprising to find so many New Zealand labourites opposed to military training, while in Australia there is a Labour Government strongly in favour of it. , The difference is no doubt accounted for by the fact that Labour in Australia has shrewder and _ abler men at its head than is the case in the Dominion. The idea of discipline of any kind is, of course, repugnant to many youths, and especially to those of the larrikin class. An instance of the sort of argument that is served. up against the training scheme occurs in a letter sent by “Senior Cadet” to tonight’s Post. “ ‘Capitalistic press,’ and other phrases,” says that journal, “indicate the ruby colour of the correspondent’s ink. ’ Criticising tbs' deputation which interviewed the Minister of Defence yesterday, the "Senior Cadet” remarks: “There spoke forth from that deputation some of the most flattering jingo that I have ever read. An argument thrown forward by some of the jingoes is ‘fight for the-King and country. 1 In the first place, I say, let the King fight- for himself, or if he is too much of a' weakling, the sooner kings are off the throne the better for the nation. As regards the country, until a country. or the State can guarantee the working class a good living, and steady, employment and security when they get too old to work, the country’s not worth fighting for. New Zealand does not guarantee the workers that. Is it worth fighting for? Draw your own conclusion 1” NEW ZEALANDERS IN QUARANTINE. Several New Zealanders will be in quarantine for three weeks in Sydney, as the result of a case of smallpox on the P. and 0. steamer Malwa, among them being the Hon. 0. Johnston, M.L.C., and Mrs. Johnston, Mr. Harold Beauchamp and family.