WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

CROWN AND CONSTITUTION. MR. MASSEY'S VI FAY SI’WIAI. TO OUAIUIIAN. WKI.IAN'GTON. October 12. Til a I’riiii. Minister was nnt particularly happy in the linns,, mi Wednesday night in his further allusion to tl' l ' Killy’s place in the Coiistitntimi. In the course nf the speech he made when laying the report of the Imperial Conference on the table ho hail stated that Kiiif' Ceorye ruled as well As rciyncd and that the Empire was all the better for his active participation m polity's. Mr Malcolm. th« member for Clntlia, took exception to this view, protestinp; that the hal’d won liberties of the people would lie imperilled if the sovereign were allowed to in-

torfere in any way with the prerogatives of Parliament. Replying at tin' conclusion of the debate Mi’ Massey insisted upon his .point with emphasis “Tile King discusses every detail of a proposal,” lie said, describing His Ala jesty’s methods. ‘‘l have been there and 1 know. Sometimes when he takes a different view from Ministers he is able to induce even the Cabinet to change its view to some extent bet us make no mistake about it. The King takes a very active part in the Government of the Umpire.” Returning to (lie subject at a later stage in bis speech he declared tin- King bad tremendous power. fNELPEXCK NOT ROWER

Mad this declaration been made onr|er in the debate doubtless a number of members would have bad something to say on the very important eonslitntjionul problem involved. As it was formed the subject of animated discussions in tin* lobbies, where the general opinion appeared to be that AM- Massey bad returned from the Imperial Conference just a little dazzled by the personal charm and social service of the distorted picture of His Majesty. “When Mr Massey remarked,” it says, "that the King has great power, what be obviously meant was influence and it is unfortuiintee that at the moment lie did not see lit to accept the correction which was at once supplied. It was Mr Malcolm, by the way. that offered the correction. Rut the Minister spurned the friendly service and so impels the ‘Dominion”

to remind him that the King acts only with “the advice and consent of his .Ministers” and to pay him the poor compliment of being sure lie did not mean what he said. MAH KKTIXG [)((MINION'S PRODUCTS. The introduction of an Imprest Supply I’.ill yesterday gave members of the House an opportunity to talk at ; large on any and every subject under j the sun, and .Mr T. M. Wilford, the leader of the Liberal Opposition turned it to account by declaring, in effect , that the present financial difficulties of the Dominion were largely due to the inefficient and careless manlier in i .hich its. products were marketed at Holm'. Ihe producers, he insisted V. ere not getting fair treatment. The Don. \V. Xosworthv assumed that Air \Y i I I’o i d W2IS f'l'l'illir nnlv rn

operations of the war period and contended that what was done during the “commandeer” was the affairs of the Imperial Government alone. Hut the 1 lime Minister, with refreshing candour, admitt. d that all was not well itii the Dominion’s system of marketing even to-day. Without being in any nay disloyal to the Dominion’s representative in London, he suggested :i would he a very good thing if the stall ot the High Commissioner's office were recruited from >V.v /calami

and !■-(■;. t in miirli ..loser Lome, with "'hat was going on here. This is the view that has been expressed again and again without, it- seems, producing ally results. TOTA LISA TOR PKH.M'ITS. i lie ini induction in the House yesl Tilav of the (laming Amendment Rill which is to clear the way for Parliament to deal with the Haeing Commission's repo l l, produced ;l preliminary sui: misli between .Mr Massey and some of the prominent opponents of tlm total,isator. The Prime Minister, though obviously approving of the Commission's report, is placed in a difficult position by the dissent of some of his colleagues—probably the Minister of Internal Affairs himself among them and the outcome may he a very confused division of parties v hell the final decision is reaele-d The main bme of contention is the retention of the permits the Commission has recommended for withdrawal and on this (piestinn. no good a sportsman aKir George Hunter may be found voting vitb the malcontents. Altogether a very unseemly .scramble is threatened and at the moment it looks as if the Prime Minister would rei|iiire all bis ta-1 and driving force to roach a satisfactory conclusion.