WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

ANOTHER MINISTER, SIR R. HEATON RHODES. (Our Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, July 14. The portfolio of Defence at last has found a safe resting place in the hands of Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, the member for Ellesmere, and for the iirst time for many a long year Canterbury has two representatives in the Cabinet, a fitting reward, the scoffers are saying, for its renunciation at the last general election of thirty years almost exclusive devotion to Liberalism. Sir Heaton, as the now Minister will be generally known, is one of the most delightful personalities in the House, and his return to the Cabinet after his retirement to facilitate the formation of the National Government will he viewed with general satisfaction. He is an enthusiastic soldier, though by no means a militarist, and a most careful and conscientious administrator. GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND. The member for Grey, whose best friends must sometimes be grieved by his hick of tact, is annoyed because the Speaker has ruled out of order his notice of motion referring to “the tragical situation in Ireland as a direct outcome of the denial of self-government to the Irish people, and recording “unequalified condemnation' of the military occupation of Ireland.” Of course the mm tion had it been submitted to the House would have been rejected by an overwhelming majority, not because members would deny Ireland a large measure of self-government but because they properly regard Home Rule as a domestic affiair of the Mother Country, in jj-hieii they have no right to interfere. Hut Mr Holland hates being deprived of any opportunity to gibe at the things loyal people hold sacred. NORTH V. SOUTH. Mr V. H. Potter, who brings to the House the loudest voice among the new members and the intention, it would seem, to make it heard far beyond the walls of the Chamber, is drawing odious comparisons between the amount of railway expenditure in the South Island and the amount of railway expenditure in the North Island. This, of course, is an old story, but the member for Roskill is giving it a new turn by suggesting that the North Island should be compensated for past neglect by the difference in the earnings between the two sections being set aside, for payment of interest and sinking fund on a loan of nine millions required to place the northern mileage on a equality with the southern. It would be a fair adjustment of the position he alleges, and few of his northern colleagues dissent.