WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special Correspondent)

THE SAMOA TRIP

SIR JAMES ALLEN’S DEFENCE

WELLINGTON, Jan. 29,

Though many people are applying Tho familiar French proverb to Sir James Allen’s defence of the Samoa trip, holding the Minister’s excuses to justify the popular criticism of the “ Parliamentary jaunt,” the weight of sober public opinion inclines to the view that if the members of the two Houses apply themselves earnestly to the study of South Pacific problems during their absence Parliament will be much better qualified to deal with these problems when they come up for serious consideration than it is at present. This, at any . rate, is the view members themselves are taking, the two sections of the Labour Party being, proportionately, as largely represented as the Reform and Liberal Parties among tlie Ministerial guests. Mr W. D. S. MacDonald, the leader of the Liberal Party, has not declined the invitation to join the glad throng a s a mark of disapproval of the expenditure involved, hut as a very proper Conors,sion to the authority of his medical adviser.

THE LIBERAL LEADER. Mr MacDonald has not yet fully recovered from the accident which befell him during last session of Parliament, the very strenuous travelling he did during the election campaign, much of it on horse-back over extremely rough roads, having retarded the mending of his broken arm. But he is in daily attendance at his rooms in “ the Buildings,” and the business requiring his attention there has compelled him to defer the brief holiday on which lie intended starting this week. He has received a great number - of congratulations upon his appointment as Leader of the Party, some of them from liis political opponents—rather dubious compliments, as he says himself, upon which lie is placing the best possible interpretation. He is watching the course of events very keenly, and though he is not anxious to hurry into disputations he probably will have something to say 011 the political situation in the near future. THE COAL SHORTAGE.

The deputation that came from West, port this week mainly to urge the opening up of the great coal measures at Charleston as a model State Mine did not get a groat deal of satisfaction from the Prime Minister. Mr Massey was attentive and sympathetic, but the discussion speedily drifted away from the new coalfield to the attitude of the miners. The “go slow” policy was beyond the Minister's comprehension, particularly as the minors themselves were the chief sufferers from its operation, and he could not understand )vhy the men should deny thmeslves a further conference with the owners by insisting upon the recognition of the Alliance of Labour. He believed that without this demand an agreement satisfactory to both parties could be speedily reached. This drew the member for Buller into the discussion, and the main purpose of the deputation drifted out of sight. THE PRIME MINISTER TURNS. Addressing another deputation that waited upon him yesterday, Mr Massey protested, apparently with some reason, against the growing disposition of the public to lean on the Government. “Just now,” he said, “if'a, man wants a pound of sugar or a gallon of petroj he sends a telegram to the Prime Minister, and asks that it be sent to him by post. The same is being one about coal. I don’t think there need be any anxiety about the supply of coal for some time to come, and I have information which shows that the Sugar Company is turning out as much sugar today as it has at any previous time in its history.” This, of course, is one of the penalties a democratic Government suffers for entering upon trading enterprises, but if these enterprises were accompanied by more business like management they probably would prove very much less of a worry to the Prime Minister and his colleagues.