WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE SESSION. POLITICIANS GO CUPLESS. (Our Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Nov. 5. All prospect, of the session ending tonight in time to allow members to get , away to tiie New Zealand Cup, vanished early in the week. Mr Massey him-' self realised that lie bad crowded rather too much into the last week and that it would he impossible to keep to Ins schedule with any measure of decency. The Liberal and Independent sections" of the Opposition were ready to assist him, within reason, hut tin. Labour section positively refused to be hurried. The members of the part.f seemed bent upfm giving theii constituencies full time, if not full value, for their increased pay and it 1 must he admitted there was a good deal of reason in their attitude. J'oi tho usual reasons, which .may he good,, bad or indifferent, the Government had reserved much of its important legislation for the expiring days of the session and it would have been quite impossible for the rank and file of any of , the parties to have given it studied attention bad the Prime Minister had his way. ! TOO MUCH LEGISLATION. | The position is giving point to the revived complaint, coming froiri both sides of the House, that the countiy is inflicted with too much legislation. One of the oldest members of the House and one of the most capable and observant, whose leanings, with a large measure of independence, are towards tiie Reform party, referring to this subject to-day said that Mr Massey was no greater offender in this respect than Mr Seddon and Sir Joseph Ward, bad been. Mr Seddon and Sir Joseph Ward appeared to be obsessed by the idea that the electors’ ultimate estimate of the quality of the Govprfnnent would be formed on the size of the Statute Book they produced. Mr Massey, not to be outdone by his predecessors, went on multiplying and amending Acts of Parliament with the prospect of making New Zealand the most be-lnwed country hi the world. This critic bolds that with half as many laws tho country would be much better governed, and that with less hill-making Parliament would have time to attend to the tilings that matter. A CHIVALROUS OPPONENT. That chivalry among political opponents is not yet dead was very happily demonstrated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday night. The Native “Washing-up” Bill was under discussion and it Jrad been hinted during the course of the debate that its author, Sir William Hemes, might find it necessary to lay down the portfolio of Native Affairs. The Hon A. T. Ngata, the member foi; the Eastern Maori district, speaking with obvious feeling, expressed a warm hope that this would not he the case. Sir William, he said, had tempered justice, with mercy in his dealings with the Natives and had won their sincere regard and entire confidence. “If anything should happen to make the honourable member give up his portfolio,’ he added, “I should he one of the first „u behalf of my race—not of my party to regret his decision. I hope he may see fit to retain bis present position and to devote himself to a service in which he has done so much for both races and for the country.” It was a high tribute paid hv a chivalrous gentleman. THE DAYS OF GRACE EXPIRE. The bookmakers, who had been carrying on their business merrily, in spite of the new gaming law designed for their extinction, were brought up with a round turn on Wednesday. The police had received instructions from the Minister in Charge of their Department to give effect to the will of Parliament and forthwith the easy means of communication between the bookmakers and their clients were cut off. It is too early yet to say that the law has finally established its majesty, hut during the last forty-eight hours it has been impossible to transact business with any of the bookmakers without running risks no respectable meinber of the community would care to incur. The ultimate outcome depends upon the responsible Minister. If he insists upon the police doing tlieir duty, the days of the bookmaker are not simply numbered, they are actually gone.