WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

RACING COMMISSION’S RERORT. TOTAL I SAT OR PERM ITS. (Special to "Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, October J 9. The Crime .Minister seems to have ejfeetually broken up the ‘’unholy alliance” between the opponents of racing and the opponents of the Racing Commission’s report. Those two unities were approaching one another with the idea that by rejecting the report they could prevent an increase ui the number of totalisator permits and at the same time preserve to the clubs in peril of distinction, under the recommendation of the commission, the permits they already have. But Mr .Massey is not going to dlow these two questions to be decided by the one vote. .Members will lirst have to determine whether or not additional permits shall he issued and then the method of distribution, whatever tile number may be. The opponents ol racing, of course, w ill vote against the increase, hut the friends ol the threa-

tened clubs will not dare to assist in reducing-the number of permits available for distribution. The House will have the right to reduce, but not to increase the number of permits recommended by the Commission, and the distribution of the number decided upon will remain with the Minister ot Internal Alfairs. THE OUTCOME. The general o|fiuion in the lobbies is that the Government's method of attacking the problem has largely increased the chances of the (ommissioti’s recommendations obtaining the force of law. Mr McCombs, one of the strongest opponents of racing m the House implied yesterday that Mi Massey was taking an unfair advantage of the rules of procedure by splitting up the question in the wav. he had done, but Mr lsitt. another strong opponent of the sport, merely complained, amidst sumo laughter, that the Minister had succeeded in ''uniting till the racing men". Thai- really is the sum of Mr Massey’s oll'ence in the

eyes of Ids critics, but even the v have to admit that the best possible means of ascertaining the ultimate will of the House has been adopted. The alliance between the opponents of racing and the opponents of racing reform a" entirely unnatural one. without any kind of mutual sympathy, and probably would not have endured beyond the stage tit which they Imped to land the whole business into elmos. LMI’ERIAL affairs. Last night’s sitting of the House was devoted mainly to a discussion of Imperial all’airs. tlm tabling of the report (l f ilf Imperial Conference giving menils'is an opportunity to -talk at large mi a number of matters of more „i- 1,--- academic interest. Mr Malcolm the very loyal and sedate 'ic’mlr'r lot Clntha had quite a lot to say about tile perils attendant upon the glonitcati,„i ' „|‘ Crowns the true spirit of loyalty “We are putting our kings ill a position.” he said, '‘where it-

would be possible for a strong man to exercise solile of the authority that ~111- fnn-|'athois fought to take away Iront kings.” The spirit inspiring Mr .Malcolm Is the spirit that inspires every loyal Scotchman freedom under the freest enlist it uf ion in the world but his words seemed a little out ol harmony with his political ehiel's tcrVid appreciation of the sovereign s active participation in Imperial polities The House itself was somewhat surprised by their t-aiiilutir, and the Minister of Education who followed the memi'nr Clntha in the discussion, without dealing with the prerogatives of the (Vow n was careful to make it plain that Lite Government stood absolutely for legislative freedom. TU |- Pfltl.lC SERVICE.

'Hie long list of promotions in the fost and Telegraph Department appearing in the papers this morning is not so alarming as were the lists ot militate promotion which ve.v'd the civilian's soul during the cm rse of the war. It is understood that it represents til,* tilling of vacancies occasioned by the retirement of ottie'Ts on superannuation and that a tiumhei ol ee.iJtio tiles luue lieen eflertod in the process. Tlint these economies, ami inn tty more, are sadly needed ill the |K'|ia 1 1 ills'llL is as fully realised by the Minister ns it ii by Jiis critics The figures show that while thd> has bei'n an enormous ierrense ill the cost ol administering the Department during the lust yen r oi two ther,. has been n very large deerense in the business linin'. The money re<|uirciJ for the payment of inn eased hands and iniTcnscd salaries lias been obtained by increased elnirges. till New /.enlmid. at one time the lightest herd e.'d. is now on a fair way to liccoining tlm heaviest burdened part of the Kmpire ill this respect. Ilow tin's state of affairs came about still lias to be disclosed but. meanwhile the (lovernniciit seems to be repenting in earnest.