WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1920, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

NEW MEMBERS IN HOUSE.

(Our Special' Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, July 7

When tho House resumed yesterday after the week-und adjournment, the debate on o the Addross-in-RepJy uoconiidonce motion was materially enlivened by the contributions of a succession of new members. One happens to be member for Wellington North as veil as mayor of tho City, was the only old member to obtrude himself, upon the beginners’ field day and his somewhat parochial outlook upon national affairs served rather as a foil to the high llights of the more daring of the other speakers. Mr E. J. Howard, who' succeeds Mr IT. G. Ell :n tho representation of Christchurch south, prove dhimself' tho most cheery “Red” that has yet entered the House and created a favourable impression by his broad treatment of a number of questions which most members of his creed are prone to view from a. narrow stand-point. OF THE OLD SCHOOL. *

Mr John Edie, whom the “Dominion” described quite properly as “a country member from Otago”, also enjoys the distinction of having run Sir James Allen very close for the Bruce seat at the General Election, and of having stepped into bis vacant shoes at the byelection, is a Liberal of the old type, perhaps a little behind Die revised policy of the party, but still burning for effort and achievement. He has something to learn about the ways and prejudices of the House, but lie is of the stuff from which useful politicians are made and has a view beyond .the back door of liis own constituency. Mr A. D. McLeod on the Reform side is much where Mr Edic is on the Liberal fsidb, jiijst a- little .too much of a partisan for these days, but this is n tendency which will pass with experi-snc-e. A FORCEFUL YOUNG MAN. The star performer of the evening sitting was Mr R. Masters, the member for' Stratford, who enters the House with the kudos of having won two hard fights at the- polls against a Minister f>( the Crown with all the resources of a victorious party behind him. Mr Masters is distinctly a forceful young man. He has ideas of his own, courage,’ judgment and a lie]]) belief in himself and bis cause. Thirty years ago lie would have been described as a dangerous revolutionary, bad it been possible at all for a politician of liis type to get into Parliament, and even to-day lie is far more of a socialist than are nine-tenths of the people who masquerade under that title." His savin"- graces are the qualities which made him in the days of liis earlier youth a brilliant footballer and which to-day arc shaping his political course along the lines of the greatest .good for the greatest number. , DURATION OF THE DEBATE.

It looked when the House rose last night that the debate might continue for another fortnight. There still are quite a number of members who like to say a word to their constituents and who realise they may have no opportunity to say it when the House settles down seriously to work. But practically everything depends upon the wishes of the Prime Minister, who can bring the talking to a close pretty well when he pleases, and to-day there is a rumour that the division will be taken tonight or to-morrow night. Mr Masse.v has been able to turn the “waster! time” to very good account during the last fortnight, but he is now ready to go on with the work of the session and it is only necessary to mention the possibility of Parliament sitting over Christmas to bring members to heel.