WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1921, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REP I A’. I>ABO UR’S ISOLATION. (Our Special Correspondent;. WELLINGTON, March 18 The debate on the Address-in-Reply in the House of Representatives concluded in the early hours of this morning by the defeat of the Labour Party’s wordy amendment by an overwhelming •majority. This result, of course, was inevitable from the first, but Mr H. E. Holland and liis associates would have their say and at intervals in a long flow of extravagant talk the more temperate members of the Party gave expression to views which both Reformers and Liberals would have been able to endorse. Ministers took no part in the discussion, beyond occasional interjections, and the presentation of the other side was left mainly to indignant Liberals anxious to dissociate themselves from the party Dial Had voted with them on Mr Wilford’s amendment Mr L. M. Isitt spoke briefly, but very mueli to the point, and Mr V. H. Potter, a veritable fire-brand himself when Labour provokes him beyond his self-control, denounced the “Red Foils” with characteristic sound and fervous. - LABOUR’S DELUSION. The purpose of the Labour amendment, no doubt, was to provide tlie party with ammunition for use in the constituencies. Mr Holland and his friends cling tenaciously to the belief that there has been a great revulsion of public opinion in their favour. They argue that the Liberal Party is prac-

tically “down and out,” having lost? all

hope of resuscitation at the last- genenorl election, and tlicy take Mr Masseys’s tolerance of their excesses as an admission of their growing importance in the party game. Mr Holland himself is curiously lacking in the senses of humour and proportion and lie honestly believes that the Prime Minister's conciliatory attitude towards Labour is due to a tear of its ascendancy in the political arena. To everyone else it is plain that the activities of (lie capitalists entrench tlie Reform leader more firmly than ever in possession of the Treasury benches. THE PARTIES.

The division on Air Wilford’s amend-

ment, which was defeated by thirty-

nine votes to twenty-live gives m a rough and ready fashion some idea of the voting strength of the parties in the House, as between the Government and Hie Opposition. But'while showing again that Mr Massey’s position is perfectly secure during the life, of the present Parliament, it suggests that the ranks of the Reformers are, not entirely free from the distingrating influences that always are at work in political combinations. The majority included Mr James Craigie and Mr Vig nr Brown, two life-long Liberals, who separated themselves from their old

party for reasons that seemed to them sufficient and the minority, the Independents, Ah' C. E. Statham and Air G. Mitchell, whose sympathies previously had inclined towards the Reformers. Afore significant still, Afr A. S. .Malcolm. Air J. AL Dickson, Mr V. H. Reed, pledged Reformers, and Mr H. Roland, a pledged Liberal, did not record their votes at all. Obviously they were not anxious to bo involved in the party strife. THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER In view of the objections raised during the debate on the Address-in-Reply to Sir Francis Bell being installed in the office of Acting Prime. Minister during Air Afassoy’s absence from the Dominion, it seems only fair to state

iat none of them was based on per-

sona] grounds. Their authors, without exception, wished merely to maintain tlie democratic principle that the Leader of the. Government should occupy a scat in tlie elected branch of the Legislature. As a matter of fact Sir Francis is one of the most popular members of the Cabinet, as he is one of the most experienced ancl capable. Had he gone to the Imperial Conference as it was originally intended he should, ho would have carried with him the entire confidence of the members of both

TI otises and the public. Scholarly, cultured, possessed of high ideals and a distinguished* personality, he would have made an ideal representative. In the not less important local role these qualities will stand him in good stead.