WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1918, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THE SHORT SESSION. ENLARGED PROGRAMME. (Our Special Correspondent) W'KLLINOTON, A pt'il 5 A fortnight ago the Prime Minister was quite confident the short session, which opened on Tuesday (yesterday) would not extend beyond a couple of weeks, lint to-day he admits it may be prolonged for another week or so by the necessity for considering the suggestion for sending more men to the front. Mr Massey expected no serious opposition to the Government’s financial proposals for the period covering the absence of the party leaders from the Dominion. They merely will make provision for Supply up to the end of October and will not affect either taxtaion or expenditure. With a view to making the Address-in-Reply as short as possible the Governor’s speech will be an entirely (ontroversial formality, containing, no peys on which garrulous members may hang wearisome -addresses to their constituents. Custom suggests hat Mr J. P. Luke, the new member for Wellington North, will move the address and his selection at least would save the House from any orat.orial fireworks.

' doubtful Mats, It is semi-officially stated that the law precludes Mr P. C. Weblp from taking his sent in Parliament while serving a sentence of imprisonment for an offence against the Military Service Act, and if this is really the case the seat will become automatically vacant, unless the House grants the Member for Grey leave of absence: There are plenty of laymen ready to dispute this interpretation of the law, and it certainly seems a little absurd that a member should be confirmed in his scat by one statute and easted from it by anotln r, Ime no doubt the Minister to whom the statement is attributed fiad taken the advice of ,tlie Crown law officers ou the subject and spoke with their authority, it is just possible, however, that Air Webb himself will solve the difficulty by handing in his resignation anct leaving liis constituents free to elect another representative. Mr McCombs’ position, of course, depends upon the outcome of the bankruptcy proceedings now before the Supreme Court. MORE MK.V.

It is rumoured here tha t Sir James Allen's statement in Christchurch to the effect that the Dominion would have fulfilled its full duty in the war by maintaining its Division in the field at its original strength, does not by any means represent the view of the whole of the Cabinet. The Prime Minister lias talked much of “the last

shilling and the last, man,” with the hearty approval and approbation of a majority of his colleagues, aud naturally the public is a little surprised by the construction the Minister of Defence would place upon his words. Mr Massey is making no secret of his own idea of what ought to be done in response to the Mother Country’s appeal and in his determination to redeem the Dominion’s pledge in both letter and spirit he has the full sympathy of the great, mass of the community. The matter’will have to be discussed in Parliament, and it is so pregnant with political possibilities it is bound to be the most interesting business before the short session.

TITK COM. StIOKTAiiK. The lessening stocks of coal, due to the reduced imported from Newcastle stud--the strikes at Paparoa and at the State Mines, has brought the country face to face with the prospect of a fuel famine ou the very eve of the season of greatest. consumption. There is plenty of coal to be obtained at Newcastle, but few ships to bring it across the Tasman Sea, and the supply from this source is not likely to be materially increased during the winter months. But-the output from

the New Zealand mines could be easily increased by (iOOO tons a. week if the miners would stop wrangling between themselves and get to work in the interests of the community. Their meeting at Runanga on Wednesday having lapsed owing to the sparse attendance,, they have been given until to-morrow to make up tlieir minds to do the right thing. Failing this the Government will put the War Regulations into operation and the trouble will be brought to a head.