WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1917, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

* SIX O’CLOCK CLOSING. THE OTHER SIDE. • (Our- Special Correspondent) Wki,i.in-i;ton', July 23 The “ six o’clockers are making light of Ihe ease of the deputation representing the liquor trade interests which waited* upon the Dime Minister and the Attorney-General on Saturday with an offer to close the bars an hour earlier in return for the withdrawal of the regulation against, shoutitig: They declare that the proposed compromise does not represent as much ns they are certain of obtaining from Parliaiiietit by a direct Vote and that the ahti-shonting legislation should he considered altogether apart front the question of early closing. v . i Oil ihe first point they probably are speaking by the book. At least half-a-dozen members of the . House who would not vote for . closing the bars at (1 o’clock would support a proposal for closing them at 8 o clock and it will not be surprising if this hour is decided upon. The offer of the Trade to give up an hour is being interpreted in many quarters as an indication of its readiness to surrender another in order to reach finality foi’ the period ot the war, PARTY. While the selection of. the sessional committees Was in 1 progress in the House the party spirit, which was to have died with the formation of the National Cabinet, came perilously near to re-asserting itself. The trouble began with a protest from Mr W. A. Veitch against the composition of the Lands Committee. The member for Wanganui has been'singularly punctilious in his observance of the spirit of the “ truce,” occasionally to his obvious personal disadvantage, but he did not approve of a majority of land-owners, - and Reform land-owners at that, being placed upon a committee which should be specially-looking after tlie interests of the landless people. . Sir John Findlay followed in a similar strain, urging that the sooner the Honse freed itself entirely fpotti the trammels of party 4hebetter it would be for the public and the country. Dr Thacker and Mr Pay no were more direct in their criticism of the composition of tn 6 committees and drew one or two pointed retorts from the Treasury benches, but the Prime Minister refused to take them seriously and in the end consented only to the appointment; of Mr W. T. Jennings, - the member for Taumarunui, to the Lands Committee as a concession to the views expressed by Mr Veitch and Sir John Findlay. • STATK COXTROii. The Priirje Minister’s allusion to State control of the liquor traffic Vilen addressing the representatives of the “Trade” on Saturday was strictly non-committal, but ihc,re are a. good many people hoping Mr Masse}' will Ultimately accept this solution of the eternal problem. First of all there are (he people honestly believing in the righteousness of “ Continuance ” who think they see in the addition of State control to the ballot paper a certain means of breaking up the solidarity of the prohibition vote. Then there ai e the people intimately interested in the traffic who would like to have their capital more securely invested and finally there are Hie people wlio fire convinced the extinction of the proprietary interest is the only road to safety. But these three elements are so widely apart in their views and their aspirations that a precise Ministerial statement of what was contemplated by State control probably would throw two of them into opposition side by side with the official prohibitionists. So far no one in authority has ventured to say what he would have the reform really mean. Mr Massey is not likely to break the silence. THE SESSION. c. The general opinion in the lobbies is that the debate on the Address-in-Repiy wilt bo kept going till the end of the week unless Ministers see some gOod reason for Hiring ing it to a conclusion earlier. The matter rests, of course, entirely in their hands. It ( is probable the Budget, which we all continue to call the Financial Statement, will ihake its appearance shortly after the Address in-Reply is out.'of tli& \Vtiy, hut here again the convenience‘of the party leaders will be the deciding factor. The document is being awaited with unusual interest and curiosity, ns the signs and portents have suggested it will contain some drastic taxation proposals and indicate some . new lines of policy.

A large number of private members are urging heroic measures for the promotion ot national efficiency and it is not, unlikely the Budget will afford some idea how far their views are io be expressed in legislation. The phrase “ equality of sacrifice” is on everyone’s lips and is being associated in the popular mind with the conscription ol wealth simultaneously with tlie conscription of men. If the Government decides upon a big effort in this direction, basing it on sound- and equitable principles, it will find the House ready and eager to follow its lead.