WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

A DDR ESS-I X-Tt EPEY. ax rxixspiitixt; opkxixg.. la (Our Special Correspondent). n i WF.T.I.IXGTOX, Sept. 2*. p The speeches delivered in the House ( last night by the mover and soeonder of the Address-in-Roplv were not par- 01 tieiilarly inspiring. Both the honour- P able gentlemen made the common mis- v take of loading themselves with copious T notes on a inn 1 1 it ticlo of subjects which f) could not he dealt with effectively on , such an oecasion. The mover devoted himself largely to the manufacture of farmers and the seconder to the destruction of rabbits, important questions, of course, but not calculated to I hold the attention of the House or the galleries. The member for Paten spoke for his lull hour, making generous use of his notes; hut the member for To- ; iniikn, after running on lluently lor '■ twenty-live miiiules broke off abruptly mid left the I louse to adjourn shortly after 9 o'clock. Mr Dixon would have lirol'essors of agriculture at the university colleges, a large multiplication of agricultural dubs lor boys and girls and much greater inducements to brilliant students to undertake scientific and industrial research work. Mr Harnett would have the Government clear the rabbit infested districts, of the pest and make iierinanent provision lor their protection. KCOXOMY AXD RETRENCHMENT. j These demands, all involving a eon- s siilerahle expenditure of public money, j struck some menihebrs of the House as < being inconsistent with the s|)eakers j( insislenee upon drastic economy: hut , ( I,nth Mr Dixon and Mr Burnett took; tbroad view that money spent upon, increasing the national Health by "pro- r dilation, more jirodllet ion" and still t more production" was a sound and , desirable investment. That they were ( earnest enough in their appeals lor | ceonoinv and retrenchment they made abundantly dear. "We mast lie |ua<tieal and 'start with ourselves," Mi . Dixon deelareil. Mr Burnett expre-.s-, i eil a similar vi-ew with equal emphasis, f "We must begin at the top," lie said. ] 'l'li,.i'i> was a significant silence in the (| | louse ii lieu these sentiments "civ j uttered, hut there is a growing heliel that they represent the inclination ,1 - th,. ('abinet in this matter. 'I he re--1 ilenient of a few hundred civil scr- t vants. as members have been saving. is no; going to restore the equilibrium : , uf the public accounts, and il the desired results ate to lie obtained toIreiiehinent must lie brought to the aid 111 economy. This is the opinion al",ut ,1;,, lulihies til-day and many nieiiih rs a are making up tiieir minds to the in- , t evitalile. | v THK PHI.ME MINISTER. i), Ministers ate quite Irank in then' v admissions that the set ions business of ■ )( the session cannot proceed in the a l '- seme ol Air .Massey. Their chief eoni rrn just non is to keep 111' 1 lloiise oeeiipied till ihe Prime Aliuister’s re- ( turn. If the debate oil tile Addles-- 1, in-ReJilv by any mis limin' should ' ol- M lap-e they would he placed in a veil ;l eniharrassing quamlary. With t"o j amendments to the Address, which aie ' no, ud"l. it 1K,111.1 .""etu. to determine trela iii e s ll enul h ,‘I i lie I hr*'.' < .r I "Ur Oppositions. Mot In disturb the Governmem. t lie talking nul l he 1 1 listed to hi go ~n lor a 101 l night at least and l.v j that time All .Massey will have lesum- ! e.l e<.iil l ol. Aleanii bile il is a matter 111 i, I in min, 'in that both in the 11 and m the oitneil very high eulogies v, are heiit.. jiroiiouneeil upon the absent vi .Minister? The 11, m .1. P. Campl.ell and Sir John Sinclair set the example j mi Hie ( 'oitneil and All Dixon and Air j I'll rnet t lea,lily look up the note m ' the House. No one is grudging Mr j 1 Mussel- praise for the good v.ork In'; has done in I .ntulnii and all it 1 11 1•' j • hill in s a him in the lloii'e again. ! SUMMER SKTTI.MAI EXT. j lu the House yeslerday the 1101 ID. -pj 11. (i 111 line, the Al inistci of I .amis, quoted a liituiher of liglll'cs to shell that the soldier seltlenn ni seheine v.as ■ pro«iri*>siilj; veiv imic!i l>rtt«*r tlun some of lIS erilies w(IIIliI have the pub- Si ii, believe. The lelurn was not i|tiiie |> ll|>-I,lat»■. having been prenaied some j lii' le nine hrinre, hat 1,.i- all ptaeileal juirposes it I'rpreM'llteJ the aiiual position. The figures have l„ ell widely r<l |,((Misha,l an.! only those dealing wit], , aii, ars need he iceai.ii olati-d her.*. .gr These shell that arrears ol rent th nun,iiiiled o, L'l l.'t.nt!'. ri ini,or. t „,i ' f r , • unent aeciiint to L'-',',. I K>. ol uislal- j.j , cuts on farms t,, hI. , and instalnieiils on duelling' to (.'17,2,3, a , . total of CJAS.l'fll. The advames on ' I.unis am,muling t,, LS,‘i.VJ.2. I and ■ 1 those on duellings |,, 1_V.,.3.V‘. ! >. I tel ai real's ill each class ol investment ; slum hull milch harder i lie changed ia ,ui,mu,■ condition' have pressed upon the loan ell ill. land ili.iii upon I lie niaii m the eiiy. \\ H.it is behind all the misgivings nmecining the outcome ol soldier set 1 lenient. however, is the feeling Hull a hug.' proporl ii I the failuii's -till have in he brought to m ■ omul. The Al inisler ha * given onli the honk figures.