WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special Correspondent). THE LICENSING POLL. PROHIBITION MINORITY. WELLINGTON, January 9,

Both the official parties, the Moderate League and the New Zealand Alliance, profess to be satisfied, even gratified, by the result of the licensing poll, whioh to all intents and purposes is determined by the figures published this morning. There still are some 500 soldiers’ votes afloat, but as prohibition is 1485 short of the total required to give it an actual majority,' the disposition of these votes cannot materially alter the position. The probability is, of course, that the bulk of them will be cast for Contisuasce or State Purchase and Control, but even if they all were cast for Prohibition that issue still would be a long way short of the goal for which its advocates have been striking. There yet may be a demand: for* the investigation of certain alleged irregularities at the polls, but the rank; and file of the Prohibition party are accepting this morning’s figures as conclusive.

BOTH SIDES PLEASED. The Moderate League is comforting itself with the reflection that after a most strenuous campaign and with an exceptionally large poll Prohibition has been defeated by. 2968 votes. It gets at this total by adding the Continuance vote of 240,998 and the State Purchase and .Control vote of 32,148 together and pitting the total against the Prohibition vote* of 270,178. As its own policy was State Purchase with a preference for Continuance over Prohibition it is quite justified in regarding the figures from this point of view. But the New Zealand Alliance argues that the great majority of the votes cast for State Purchase were votes detached from Prohibition and that without this third issue on the ballot paper the Dominion would have been freed from the liquor traffic. And so both parties are happy. ELECTORAL REFORM.

The resolution of the Wanganui branch of the New Zealand Labour Party calling upon Mr Massey to reform the present electoral system . by instituting proportional representation, and to immediately thereafter appeal to the country under the new system is not likely to bo taken very seriously by the Prime Minister and his colleagues. But though Mr Massey has not committed himself to any definite statement on the subject, there is some ground for hoping that during the life of the new Parliament he will take steps to redeem the promises he made from the hustings so long ago as 1911. He did not on that occasion declare him self in favour of proportional representation but he undertook that after abolishing the second ballot he would provide something better in its place to secure the representation of majorities. AN UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANT. A good deal of stir has been occasioned here by the announcement that the Government has decided to deport a man named Moses Baritz, a recent arrival in the city, who has been lecturing under the auspices of the Marxian Society, and reproaching the New Zealand Labour Party with not being advanced enough. There is little local sympathy for Baritz and practically none for the doctrines he would disseminate, but in many quartei s there is a feeling that the legislation of last session, under which the Government is proceeding, is a little unBjritisli. Even the “Dominion” regrets that it should be necessary to “deport immigrants because of their political views ” and prays for the time when “ such persons will be frozen out automatically ” by the fruits of a system of education which will teach our children to think for themselves and not crowd them with a mass of undigested information.

THE HIGH OOMMISSIONERSHIP

A RE-ARRANGEMENT.

WELLINGTON, Jan. 12.

-It is stated to-day semi-officially as the saying goes that Sir James All en will be the new High Commissioner and that he will leave for London as soon as arrangements can be made for transferring his Ministerial duties here to other capable hands. It is believed in usually well-informed circles, however, that Sir James will go Home with a status that has not been accorded to previous High Commissioners. The suggestion is that he will fill the role of a residfent Minister, which has been discussed for some time past, and that Sir Thomas Mackenzie, relieved of his ambassadorial responsibilities will continue to look after the Dominion’s commercial interests in the heart of the Empire. Recent events and Sir Thomas’s own announcement of his intention to remain in London give colour to this suggestion and it probably will be found to bo something more than a mere speculation. CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.

The departure of Sir James Allen will very materially increase the difficulty of the task of Cabinet reconstruction with which Mr Massey is faced. Sir James is the only one of his colleagues with a proved reputation as a finanoier and if thie Prime Minister takes charge of the Treasury himself ho will have to unload the burden of several other port, folios he is bearing. Sir William Eras, er, elevated to the Upper House, is holding Public Works only temporarily, Sir William Herries lias expressed a desire to l>o relieved of office, and the Hon. J. B. Hine, though there is talh of a petititon, appears to have lost his seat in the House. It lacks, therefore, as if there would be four vacancies to fill. Mr Parr, who returned to the Reform fold last session after a brief demonstration of independence is mentioned as one of tho “probables” and it is expected Sir R. H. Rhodes will return to his old seat in thie Cabinet', while Mr G. J. Anderson is pretty sure to have the refusal of a place beside him.

THE LIBERALS r AND COALITION. A caucus of tho Liberal Party will bo liold next wdok, following upon tho meeting of tire leaders during the holidays, but so far no hint has been given of the nature of tho proposals it will

consider. It is understood that Sir Joseph Ward had bjeen invited to attend hut it is quite probable ho will prefer hid friends 'discussing the posL

tion. .unembarrassed by the- personal equation. Meanwhile some of Mr Massey’s friends are urging him to renew his proposals for the formation of a non-party Government, or at any rate, of one that will not rest on the old party lines.and the old party methods. The “Dominion” this morning implies that the result of the election has prepared the way for some further attempt towards establishing the ideal conditions proposed before the contest.

THE COAL POSITION. Among the other difficulties confronting the Government just now is the grave industrial position created by the miners’ “go-slow” policy. Five or gjx weeks ago the mine-owners informed the Prime Minister it was impossible to continue the unsatisfactory conditions prevailing at that time. Either the miners would have to resume tho normal rate of production or the mines would have to he closed down. Mr Massey asked that the matter might stand over till after the holidays, and the owners very reluctantly consented to this course. .The conditions have not since improved, indeed they have been very rnucb aggravated by broken time, and now the owners are insisting Upon a settlement one way or another. During tho next few days definite action' will he taken, and if the men remain obdurate a trial of strength between the parties in the near future wiU ho inevitable.