WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special Correspondent). THE HOLIDAYS. A BRIGHTENED CHRISTMAS. WELLINGTON, Dec. 29

Wellington is celebrating the Christmas festival with all the joyous irresponsibility of the pre-war days. Not that it did less than justice to the traditions of the season when the tragedy of conflicting civilisations was saddening the whole world. But it is different now, the clouds of uncertainty have passed away and the work of reparation and reconstruction has begun. One can rejoice without haunting fears for tlie future, and without apologies for throwing off the cankering cares of every day life for a time. The bettered conditions are reflected in the cheery spirit that is abroad, in the crowded trams and trains and steamers, in the tradesmen’s takings and in the atmosphere of friendliness and goodwill that prevails everywhere. It is the old peace time back again, with a people chastened by anxiety and sorrow and inspired by new hopes and high resolves. Christmas this year is a festival of very special significance. A DISCORDANT NOTE.

But folk who read their newspapers this morning found just one discordant note had been struck amidst all this rejoicing. Mr H. E. Holland, the leader of the Official Labour Party, gathered around him on Christmas Sunday in one of the city theatres, what » reliable witness describes as a “ somewhat sparse audience ” and poured out for its delectation all the accumulated party bitterness of the election campaign, which wholesome men and! women of all shades of opinion had laid aside with their work-a-day clothes for the season. Of course, his tirade was directed mainly against Sir Joseph Wal’d, whom he committed to dishonoured obscurity for the rest of his days, but it did not spare Mr Massey, nor any other politician, past, present of to come, who might not see eye to eye with the little party of extremists that stands for the narrowest interpretation of the democratic creed.

THE LICENSING POLL. | With political controversies set aside j for the holiday season, the public is losing count of the licensing poll. There is one point in connection with the figures, however, which may he mentioned without offending against the Christmas truce. The “ New Zealand Times” this morning announces that the figures up to date, show a majority of 2218 for continuance. It gets at this result by adding the 234,352 votes for continuance and the 31,110 votes for State control together, and then deducting the 263,244 votes for prohibition. This, very truly, leaves a balance of 2218 prohibition. But that is not the way the votes are counted. They are to be added together, and if any of the three issues receives more than half the total it will be carried. The total at present is 528,706. The half of this is 264,353, and as prohibition has received 263,244 votes, it is only 1110 behind the required majority.

ELECTORAL REFORM. Electoral reform, though its importance has been brought into renewed prominence by the result of the recent appeal to the constituencies, is very properly being discussed as a non-party question by politicians of all shades of opinion. Mr Massey already has committed himself to the application of proportional representation in the election of members of members of the Legislative Council, and though the measure he passed through Parliament towards this end was field in suspense during the continuance of the party truce, it is expected it will now be brought into operation. This will not satisfy the reformers who have been calling out for the application of the system to the House of Representatives, but it it will discharge the only promise Mr Massey has made on the subject, and with this- the reformers probably will have to be satisfied for the present. A number of Mr Massey’s own supporters, however, are favourable to an extension of the system to the Lower House, and they may force the hand of their leader.