WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 227, 25 September 1929, Page 9

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

TALKATIVE M.P'S.

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY,

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, September 23,

The Primo Minister has stated more than onco since the disposal of the Budget debate that ho hopes to bring tho present session of Parliament to a conclusion by the middle of next month. If he accomplishes this feat he will deserve well of the public. The present House of Representatives contains an unusually large number of new members, who naturally want to make their voices heard by their constituents, and a considerable sprinkling of old members who do not wish to be outdone by the newcomers. The revised standing orders may make it a little easier than it was before their arrival to restrain garrulous talkers, but already there are signs of a revolt against this further interference with "free speech." Sir Joseph Ward, however, has a happy knack of getting his own way without making much fuss, and if he can persuade the House to concentrate upon matters of conscquenceand meanwhile leave the rest alone he will get his own way. Blank Fire. The opponents of the Government in general and of its leaders in particular have fared rather badly lately in their efforts to discredit the United party in the eyes of the public. Last week-end they obtained some days' start with an implication to the effect that Mr. J. S. Fletcher, the member for Grey Lynn, had renounced the party lock, stock and barrel, and was about to "cross the ■floor of the House" to throw in his lot with the Reformers. Mr. Fletcher, without withdrawing any of the good advice he had given his own party, took the earliest opportunity to contradict in emphatic terms the assumptions of the gentlemen on the other side of the House.

This week-end the versatile critics put it about that Sir Joseph, after announcing his intention to withdraw certain grants from the Highway Fund, had "climbed down" in fear and trembling. As a matter of fact the Government followed exactly the course its good sense suggested. South Island Trunk Line. A special article published by the "Post"' evidently written by someone acquainted with the potentialities of the South Island Trunk railway, bears warm testimony to the value of this undertaking. "Few people," the author says, '•who' traverse the road route would realise that there arc fertile valleys hidden from tho road, where three sawmills are operating. Immense quantities of firewood are waiting to be turned into money. Sonic beautiful dairying country and excellent pastoral land abound along the ror.tr. Should the line be completed, the trade of Wellington should receive an impetus, for the distance, is short, even from Kaikoura to Wellington. Three hours' rail and three hours across the Strait will bring people to the capital of the Dominion. The railway vote should soon be reached, and all eyes from Picton to the Bluff will be centred on the question."

There seems to be little doubt that in this respect the good people between Picton and. Bluff will be gratified.