WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1917, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

• THE PARtA'TMciL . DIVERSE INTERPRE- ; TATIONS. 1 ■ ■ ' £ (Our -Special Correspondent); Wellington,-July 27 Even his intimate political friends ] were a little -surprised by the ■> warmth of Mr Massey’s retort to ( Mr Forbes’s suggestion that lie was .< lidt observing the spirit of the ; party truce. The circumstances j seemed scarcely to justify the ini- j piicatiou that “ strings ” were being , “pulled” nor theHkfeat that some- ; thing very unpleasant Would happen to members if they did not mend their ways. But it lias since transpired that an hour or twb before the Prime Minister’s outburst a meeting of members from both sides of the - House had been held to discuss the propriety of reviving in some shape or another a. constitutional opposition to systemise, as it Were, the criticisin' of the Government’s administration and legislation. There was a good deal of plain speaking at this meeting and probably some of it had been reported to Mr Massey with such embellishments as stories of tile kind always gather as thej' pass From lip to lip. , , NO DISUNION. & • ..." • “/ But plain as the speaking was, it breathed not a word of disloyalty to the party truce. One or two of the conspirators frankly confessed their disappointment with the National Government and one or two others suggested changes in the constitution of the Cabinet, but not one urged a return during the course ol the war to the old system of “ ins ” and “ outs ” and its inevitable accompaniment of bickering and strife. Men pleged to the trade up to the hilt felt no compunction in taking part in the proceedings. Their acceptance of the principle of non-party Government left them free to join in the demand for. a more effective voice in the management of the affairs of the country. . The new Opposition, if it ever takes shape, will not be a disgruntled party seeking office, but a body of earnest men anxious to exercise their constitutional rights to the profit and advantage of the coutPry. i BUT MUCH CRITICISM. The debate on the-AddreSs-in- : Reply showed conclusively enough 1 that the disposition to criticise the National Government is not confined to one set of politicians or to • one particular party. Reformers were as ready to find fault as ■ Liberals were, and Liberals as ; ready as Labourites. One day we 1 had the Liberal Whip throwing a 1 scathing indictment against the I Treasury Benches across the floor ' of the House and the next day the Reform Whip supporting him. ’ Members like Mr Isitt, Mr ; Veitcli, Mr Young, “Mr Statham and Mr Craigie, whose loyalty to the party truce could uot be questioned for a single moment, on occasions expressed in the plainest terms their disapproval of much the Government had dolie And of much it had left undone. Yet men of this type, whom no one could ; suspect of scheming to turn Mr t Massey and his colleagues out of - office, can never play their proper part in Parliament till Ministers : reconcile themselves to the idea of an organised friendly Opposition. POPULATION AND REPRESENTATION I I The revised census figures which were laid on the table of the House last week bear out ilffa remarkable way the predictions in regard to the growth and distribution of population which were made in these notes nearly a year ago. It was anticipated on the eve of the census that the population of the South Island would show an increase between 1911 and i9-r6 from 444,477 to 448,626 and the Actual figures for % igi6 have turned out to be 448,158, revealing a discrepancy oforily 467. or hardly more than ortC-thousandth per cent. The figures for the North Island were not so nearly anticipated, owing to the increAse of population in this portion of the Dominion between 1914 and ioi6 having been even more rapid than that of the previous three years which was taken as the basis of the estimate. But the distribution of the population was very closely estimated and the forecast that the North Island wouid take three seats in the House of Representatives from the South is pretty sure to be realised. THE DRIFT NORTHWARDS. The drift northwards, however it may affect the balance of political power between the two islands, will necessitate a very successful readjustment of the electoral boundaries in both divisions of the Dominion. The “ quota ” will be in the neighbourhood of 16,400, and • while Auckland and Wellington will about hold their Owii, Christchurch and Dunedin Will have to further “For this relief much thanks”— Shakespeare. Many people of, tins district are thankful for rapid relief from chesft and bronchial troubles through taking Baxter’s Lung Preserver. This popular preparation has be coiiib famous because of its efficiency in all, cases of coughs and colds, bron* chitig etc. It soothes the throat and bronchial passages, relieving coughing, and builds up health and strength.. Thousands of delightful users have benefited during the past fifty years. All chemists and stores sell and recommend “Baxterte” price 1/10,

eMetld tftfciir. bOUhdaries into^the suburban districts. lii the North the Ed'eii, Manukau, .Wellington Suburbs, Wellington North and Wellington South show large inefeases among the urban electorates Aiid \i T aikato, ■ 1 aliranga, Taumaramii aiid Hawke’s Ray among the rural districts. In the South, Christchurch North, Avon, Dunedin South, Invercargill and Nelson are the only constituencies tliat Show ailV considerable growth, while Westlaud, Huriinui and Wakatipu are the only three in tlie Dominion whose population has fallen below eleven tlious. and. These, of course, will require large additions from some source to reach the “ quota."’ _ v THE ADDRESS- IN- REPLY, The debate 011 the Address-in-Reply concluded early last evening, having occupied, more or less intermittently, just upon four weeks, and it may be assumed the serious business of the session will now begin. The interesting character of the debate was kept, up to the end, the member for Waikato and the member for Clutlia finding something fresh to say even in its expiring hours. . - Mr Youhgi replying to a characteristic interjection from Mr Vigor Brown very pertinently' declared that if the members of the House were earnest and persistent they would get what they and the coun - try wanted from the Government. 1 It was aii appropriate Affirmation : made at an opportune time. ,It now ■ remains for members to be earnest and persistent.