WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

AFTER THE BY-ELECTION. LABOUR’S VIEW. (Our Special Correspondent) Wellington, March 4 There was some “tall” talk at the Labour meetings held here on Sunday night. The crowd was so great at the King's Theatre that an overflow meeting had to he held at the Alexandra Hall and at both places the speakers let themselves “go ” to their hearts content. They would not regard the result of the Wellington North election ‘as a set back -to their party. On the contrary, they claimed it as a great moral victory presaging a sweeping triumph at the general election. Their hardest words were reserved for the Prime Minister, who, they said, had thrown the dignity of his high office to the winds,, and the most scathing for the hostile press which had been foremost in a campaign, of “ misrepresentation, lies and dirt.” That the speakers had the sympathy of a vast majority of their audience goes withont saying; that they gave point to the old story of the kettle reproaching the pot on account, of its colour was also plain.

WINNING THE WAR. But for Mg W. Maddison, the president of the Wellington Labour Representation Committee, who spoke in the King’s Theatre, it must be said be did not allow bis vehemence to run away altogether with his coherency. “It we are to deal successfully with government by Orders-in-Council,” lie said, “ with the high cost of living, with the menace of trusts and monopolies, we can do so only by political action, aud, if the workers are refused proper political representation, the country need not be surprised if they resort to industrial action.” If the workers had made some sahe and sustained effort to improve the electoral machinery upon whjck all the parties are dependent for their representation, Mr Maddison’s protest would have carried some weight, particularly as hitherto he has deprecated industrial action, but their neglect of this all important question . depi’ives it of more than half its’force.

THE GERMAN COLONIES. The statement of the German Colonial Secretary of the determination of the Kaiser’s Government to regain possession of its lost colonies in the South Pacific has not led the Prime Minister to modify his views upon this question in the slightest degree. It was not likely it would. But for his desire to put the position forcibly before the Imperial authorities, probably Mr Massey would no; have made the trip to London this year, though of course there were difficulties in the way of his appointing a delegate to voice his opinion at the meeting of the War Cabinet. For one thing Sir James Allen, wlio is next in precedence to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, resolutely refused to leave the Dominion except on conditions that might not have been altos ether agreeable to other people concerned. Minor difficulties might ha ve been overcome, but this one was insuperable.

THE SHORT SESSION, Now that the Wellington North by-election is safely over and a fnlly pledged supporter of the National Government has been returned to fill the seat vacated by the Hon A. L. Herdman to take his place on the Supreme Court Bench, the short session preliminary to the departure of the Dominion’s delegates to the meeting o£ the War Cabinet is not expected to last more than a couple of weeks or so—if, as Mr Massey remarks, members are disposed to give their attention to the necessary business. Dr Thacker’s “Young New Zealand Party ” still consists only of its founder, and though it is possible for one member with an intimate acquaintance with the forms of the House to create a. good deal of obstruction and delay, it is doubtful if Mr Poison’s leader in the recent campaign is yet sufficiently well equipped to make a very brave display in any attempt of the kind.