WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1921, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE TOTALISATOH. HACI.VtI COMMISSION'S REPORT. SPECIAL TO GUAH 1)1 AX. WELLINOTON, Nov. 4. The discussion on the motion for the second reading of the (laming Amendment Pill, the measure by which the Prime .Minister hoped to pilot the |C. comiiiciidiHLni of the Pacing Commission nit In the Statute Hunk, was not j artii tilarlv edifying. Mr Massey having explained that if the Hill wore giyen its second reading nioml.ei-s would Lave another op-.uiriunity to discuss 'h i Commissiun's rep-art in detail iiiu* to vote upon the i arioits points it railed tlq. | louse settled down to the pro ■mine if debatin'! a question upon which not a silicic mend, r had an on ti mind when the division came duri,i.. I j„. carli hms of yesterday innrn- ' iitg the little primps of ini crested peo- ! pie lingering in tlie galleries were treaf- ! ( ~i (n tin- seeelreh- of inenihers holding se.-h divei-a views in raring ns Mr j .cotta rd lilt an I Mr Vigor Itn'vai do. eiialesi itt_ r for the purpose of killing tJic Hill. Lobbying had 1-een ' nine oil mi;,CO from the very beginning of H e se-sion sod its effect was seen in th,. unanimity ol" the opiosition ol tho Anekl.iUii m.'uihers and (he final rejeotion of tho measure by thirty-six to twenty-right. live nets nuking up the full strength of the House wflli t sj,„.-,ker in the Chair and the Auckland East, seat still waiting for its new m- ( IHRUIt . . THE. ECONOMY OAMPAK.V Tho businessmen's deputation that waited epon th,. Prime Minister yesterdav in furtheranee of the economy eam-tiai-m probably was the most represen.|„tjve asvoml-lv of d-le-ates that any Minister of th- (Town in this country has vet rivcivod. Sunn'ided by or-eani-at inn-- from line end of the i-nun-Hi-v to tho other, it spoke with an authority which wo inure nrnvineial body ,vas imnre-sed a- miu-h lay its candnur as by its friendly altitude. IHsp.msinir with lh- cos'aaiiuarv introduction lav a aiae’ii lie i* <if P I i-lin.»*ii'nt and with other frijis am' furbelows eomnton to such ;isi»”. . its sintdi' si.ol a.siiian iilnno;-.-il pi in-e into a frank and concise <-x----.u-c-dnn ,4 its -iews iipini a number of nil,.Pious Hint are rxi reisim: the mind nf Ihe I-osi a i sss a a nil 111 ii it il y as well ns Dll' mind of tin' (inveriiment al the nti-till lime. .Mr M.isspv had been in formed in advance of what the deputjifion! had t,a sav. and this very sensible iiinovat ion enabled him to make a re pi v which was mm It more interestin': ami informative than the Financial Statement which he delivered to n full House and crowded naileries, dtirins: (he evenin':. ctOMETI IFNH UVOMPI TfsTl ED_Mr Afassev look the deputation into his full i otifidenee. bandin': to t!i.-

the spnki’S’iiau. Mr T. Sbailer Weston, for perusal the summary of file report

of (he deonrtmental economy eomniit- (,,,. mid explaining wliat the Unverniiienl' all-end\- bad done to give effect to the Commit toe’s suggestions. Beginning by supplement in"- some of the infill-million rega riling the public accounts alrendv in the possession of Ihe depolai ion. le passed on to review what tin- (lovernnient had done Inwards economising and to indicate what it ho> i'd in do in Ihe near future. Several Ilf tit,, sicgesl ions of the deputation all of which wore nc, opted in good part. had been anticipated by ihe Oiavernmi'iit. Mr Massa'y said, and the others would he carefully considered. His desire was to distribute the luirih-n of sacrifice ns equitably as possible mil to inspire the wlioh' country with hope and confidence, lie was glad the deputation had struck the in to of optimism. The clouds already were lifting and the sun was shining beyond. Tt was the stout hearten! the unit oil efforts that were require,1 to restore the Dominion to its former state of prosperity. THE BUPriET.

The rending of the Financial Statement in the Hons,' at the evening sitting was a rather dreary proceeding compared with the exchange of views hot ween the business men’s deputation and »ho Prime Minister earlier in the day. The slat'-nmnt consisted mainly of figures, and though Mr Massey recited them with nil the animation and colour that, nniiM he imparted lit sur-h a. monotonous lask they romaim-d figures to the end and the House and galleries obviously wen' bored. 'The performance has revived as ils repetitinu always dun's, Ihe su?:gestioii that the Hod-et should he laid on the lahb' of the House for members to study al their leisure amt that the Minister of Finance should (ill in Ihe time now nccurii'd in its reading with a general survey of Ihe lioam ial position and the prospects abend. The Dominion has not vet prod need its (Ha.dst.ano. capable of making the delivery ol a Budget as enl In-ailing as a rnmanee. and until ho ni'-rives it would b,» well lo spare the House tin- ueary and purposeless reit(Sration of (lie dei-arttnental figures.