WELLINGTON TOPICS

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14253, 2 January 1920, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE HIGH COMNUSSIONERSHIP. AN IMPENDING CHANGE. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Hon. J. B. Hine, is the only Minister in town to-day, and he having lost his seat in Parliament at the recent election, naturally is hot inclined to discuss the latest rumour in connection with the impending change at the High Commissioner's Office. It is generally expected here, however, that Sir James Allen will be Sir.. Thomas Mackenzie's successor and ;'that, he ' will go Home early in the New'Year with somewhat extended representative statue and authority. Mr'. Massey's statement in Auckland contains no hint to this effect, but the Prime Minister's reticence is taken to mean only that the time is not ripe for the announcement. Sir Thomas Mackenzie has held the office under a four-monthly tenure—at his own request, it is authoritatively stated—and obviously: he .should be the first to learn of the determination of the Government.. ■■■■ Tho Ministers. Probably another reason for the delay in making the Government's intention in this matter known is the necessity of accompanying the announcement with some indication of the constitution of the reconstructed Cabinet. At is happens the Reform Party is not strong in financial talent, none of its' members, with the exceptio'n of Mr Massey and Sir James Allen, ; having specialised in this department of administration, and it is quite likely the Prime Minister will take charge of the Treasury himself.. There are several supporters of the Government in the Upper House with the necessary qualifications, notably Sir Francis Bell; but there is no recent precedent for the portfolio being held in that chamber. The suggestion put forward in certain quarters that Sir Joseph Ward again should be called to the rescue is regarded as a clumsy ami untimely jest. Education ReforTis. In her presidential address at the annual conference of the Women Teachers' Association held here yesterday, Miss Chaplin of Christchurch, made one of th e most stirring appeals for reform that have; been put forth for a very long \ time. " Miss Chaplin spoke with the very highest credentials, having obtained a signal measure of success in her profession, and she made her special appeal for the "handicapped children," the little mites unhappily born and cast upon the world with the poorest possible equipment. Her address, no doubt, will be printed end. widely distributed, but one fact she emphasised should be iterated and reiterated everywhere. Fifty per cent, of the children who had left a city school without' passing the fourth standard had been traced as unemployable, under police surveillance, or in refuge homes or training farms. With facts like this staring her in the face, Miss Chaplin could not regard the education system as discharging half the duty the present generation owed to the children arid to posterity. The Licensing Poll.

Though the Prohibitionists are entertaining no sanguine expectations of the licensing poll turning in their favour, they have not lost all hope. At present the Prohibition vote is 922 behind the bare majority that is required to turn the whole country "dry"; but there still are some 12,000 votes to be counted. These comprise absentees' votes, sailors' votes and soldiers' votes, and ttiough'the majority of the soldiers' votes are sure to go for Continuance or State Control, it is just possible the absentees' votes and the sailors' votes may be sufficient to tip the scale in favour of Prohibition. At former polls the sailors' votes have been fairly evenly divided, and assuming the absentee voters follow the lead of the resident voters, a small majority will be on the side of Prohibition. Whatever the first result a recount is prettycertain to be demanded.