WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

AIR MASSEY TO ATTEND

(Our Special Correspondent). J

WELLINGTON, Fob 9. ; Mr Massey’s hopes of being excused from attendance at the Imperial Conference this year have been dissipated by an urgent request from Mr Lloyd George that if at all possible he will be present when the delegates assemble in London next June. The Prime Minis- . ter does not regard this as a personal 1 compliment- to himself, but as an indi- 1 cation of the vital importance to the j Dominions and to the Empire as a , whole of the questions to be considered j and determined at the forthcoming : meeting of Imperial statesmen. Parliament is to be summoned for March 10, nominally to give its approval to j Mr Massey’s absence and to the post- | ponement of the regular business session to September or October, but act-

ually to make provision for carrying on the government of the country till tho Minister’s return. There is not likely to be any difficulty or delay in making the necessary arrangements and Mr Massey may count upon leaving with the cordial goodwill of * political

friends and political opponents alike. THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER. Mr Massey lias announced well in advance that the Attorney-General, Sir Francis Roll, will be his locum ienens during his absence, and though it is many” years since the Government of the day was led by a member of the nominated Chamber no one can think of any better arrangement in the circumstances than the one the I rime Minister has decided upon. His personal popularity, unfailing tact, wide experience and mature knowledge qualify Sir Francis in a very degree for the position and even if any of his colleagues in the other chamber had been half as well equipped Mr Massey could scarcely have made a different choice. Parliament will not reassemble till after Mr Massey’s return, so that nnv r.l.melion to the temporary leader

sitting in ‘The other place” can be only a sentimennl one. It is impossible to disguise the fact, however, that if Sir Francis Bell had not been available the Prime Minister would have had very grave difficulty in getting away. DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIOS' It is understood that before his departure, probably soon after his return from his southern trip, Air Massey will announce tho appointment of a new Minister. Sir William Herrics, who is now on his way to England, is remaining a member of the Executive, hut he has laid down the portfolios of Customs, Labour and Marine and these cannot be taken up permanently by any of his present colleagues. It is being whispered about that Air Downio Stewart is to he the new member of iho Cabinet and his appointment would he acceptable to the Liberal and Taibottr members of the House as well as to a majority of the members oi his own party, hut locally there is some leeling outside Parliament th’at the new Alinister should he particularly representative of what Wellington people like to call the Central district, meaning, of course, their own province. Unfortunately this district has not returned a super-abundance of the material from which Ministers are made. CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES. The Department Committee, consist-

ing of the Public Service Commissioner, the General- Manager of Railways and the Permanent Head of the Post and

Telegraph Department, set up by the Government last year to consider the salaries paid to members of the Public Service, has selected what seems a rather inopportune moment to report that another review of salaries is desirable. The committee docs not indicate whether in its opinion the salaries should be increased or decreased, but the local papers take it for granted that another increase is in contemplation. There are signs, however, that the prices of many commodities in daily use have a downward rather than an upward tendency, and people who have not departmental committees to raise their wages are protesting that the Gov eminent should await the developments of the next few months before making another large addition to the public expenditure. There appears to he some reason in their point of view.