WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

PARLIAMENTARY TACTICS. playing eor ‘Position. (Our Special Correspondent). _ WELLINGTON, June 30. Mr. Holland’s obvious purpose in intercepting the Imprest Supply Bill yesterday with a ‘‘want of confidence” motion rvas to embarrass the Liberal Baity and to magnify himself in the eyes of the country. The first lie succeeded in doing, to some extent. The Liberals of these days are not disciplined as were those of Mr Seddon s time, nor ns the Reformers always have been. The Labour Leader’s little surprise which should have been no surprise at all, found them differing widely as to the more politic course of procedure. There was no time for consultation and in the end they divided themselves into three sections, one walking chit- of the House another voting for the motion and a third going into the lobby with Mr. Massey and bis big battalion. The Independent’s all found their wav into the Government lobby, Colonel Mitchell alone, apparently, experiencing ally difficulty in making a choice, but to-day they are louder than evei in •protesting their freedom from party ties. THE- NEXT MOVE. There is now some speculation as to liow Mr MacDonald’s and Mr Statbam’s motions will fare. Of course, neither of them will be carried. That is quite out of the question. But 't will be interesting to see how Official Labour bears itself in the impending divisions. Mr Holland and his friends are no better disposed towards the Liberal Opposition than they ar« towards the Reform Government, and it would not be very astonishing if in retaliation for what happened yesterday they voted with Mr Massey whon his occupancy of the Treasury benches is next challenged. Mr Statham’a proposal, however, will place them in a more difficult position as it embodies a principle they have, endorsed themselves and it not merely an attack uptra the Government. The belief that the elective executive would jprqve a remedy for all the country’s legislative and administrative ills is less prevalent to-day than it was a few years ago, but Labour still clings to it with the conservative faith which so often leads it far from the democratic ideal. THE BURNING QUESTION. It is understood that Mr MacDonald’s indictment of the Government, like that of Mr Holland, will be based mainly upon its failure to discharge its promises concerning electoral reform. There was no mention of this subject in the Governor General’s Speech and it seems a fair assumption on the part of the Leader of the Liberal Opposition and the Chairman of the Official Labour Party, that Mr Massey 1 had ns intention of dealing with in during the life of the present Parliament. This leaves them with a very real grievance which might have been aired quite properly at an opportune time, but whether the present timo is an opportune one or not is a question on which there is room for two honest opinions. The fact that the Government holds office by the will of little more than two fifths of the electors has to be admitted, but all the parties are more or less responsible f*r this anomalous state of affairs.