WELLINGTON TOPICS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13751, 26 April 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

ALLEGcD GERMAN MENACE. RUMOURS FROM AUSTRALIA, (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 24. The cablegram from Sydney yesterday hinting at a grave German mjnacv in the Pacific naturally has occasioned some uneasiness here and provoked a good deal of speculation. .Mr Ma-S'\ and Sir Joseph Waid assured inquirers there was no need for alarm, and deprecated thd circulation of wild stories for which there was not the slightest, foundation. The Government, they said, had taken every precaution against any danger that might arise, rvnd could he trusted to keep itself informed in regard to any new developments. The worst story being whispered about is that two German raiders are somewhere in the neighbourhood of the Australian coast waiting to pounce upon intercolonial shipping, and this may turn out to be a much exaggerated version of the facts on which the Sydney message rests. In the meantime, however, the authorities seem to have the position well in hand.

The Police Fores. A deputation from the Protestant Political Association which waited up. on the Hon. 1. i\l. Wilford yesterday found the Minister a little sceptical concerning a number of the charges it preferred against the police force. The Rev. Howard Elliott acted as spokesman and reiterated certain statements he had made from the platform in regard to the behaviour of constables at public meetings and in dealing with cases of rowdyism. .Mi- Wilford listened patiently and courteously and promised Air Elliott and his friends that their representations would have immediate attention. ' But he took the opportunity to remind the members of the deputation that in cases of rowdy, ism there might l>e faults on both sides. He was going to uphold law and order at public meetings, but the promoters of such meetings must remember there were limits to the endurance of casual audiences. Search for Shirkers-

The efforts made by the Minister of Justice at Awapuni during the progress of the Manawatu Racing Chin's meeting hist w.<ek to obtain some idea oi the number of "shirkers" who frequented siuli featherings confirmed the repented assurance of the Defence Department that few eligible men were succeeding in evading the long arm of the Wilitavy Service Act. Mr Wilford did the job thoroughly. He gave the public no hint of what was on tnp' board, and yet had a little army of military and civil police to conduct the investigation. On the first day 590 men were challenged and on tlie sec. ond 500, and of these fewer than a dozen were unable to produce satisfactory evidence that they were do ; ng their duty. The men included in this liny minority are being further examined, and it is probable all but one or two will he able to relieve themselves of the stigma of having placed their »»w n pleasure 'before the needs ol the Empire. The Women's Pari:. The Jead taken by the Auckland Women's National Reserve in urging the Government to give the women of the Dominion ? letter opportunity to prove their loyalty and devotion to the Em. rire is being warmly supported by a large number of women of all classes here. The complaint that women as well as men were no't " conscripted" by the recent legislation, however, is scarcely well founded. The law a* V, stands will enable women to be taken into any essential industry in which their services arc needed, and should the Government consider this course necessary thev will not find their value as a national asset disregarded. Already there are thousands of women doing voluntary service in spheres which before the war were eonfinrd almost entirely to men, and should the <:eeadon arise the Government will.not hesitate to encourage them to break Mrrough the conventional bonds that hitherto have hampered the members of their sex.