WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THU BUDGET DEBATE. PREMIER'S SPEECH HELD UP. KI'EOUI. 10 GU AltmAN. WELLINGTON. Nov. 18 ( Tlie galleries of the House were troweled last night in expectation of the “important speech” with which the Prime .Minister, according to thopapeis and the prophets, was to close the Budget debate. But the responsible Ministers propose and the irresponsible private members dispose. Mr Massey was in his seat when the Speaker took the chair, surrounded by all the material necessary for an exposition ot the financial position of the Dominion and with his secretaries in attendance; but Lis time was not yet. First one private member and then another was seized with a belated desire to get into Hansard and so the debate ran on till past 11 o’clock, when Mr Massey, naturally more anxious to get into the morning papers than into Hansard, gathered up his material and deferred the delivery of his speech to another occasion. The galleries were disappointed, hut not altogether without consolation. Mr llawkcn, the mendier for Egmont, pronounced a eulogy upon -Mr Massey as the poor man’s friend. Mr Kellett, the member for Dunedin North, provided some delightful unconscious humour and Mr P. Fraser, the member for Wellington South, talked tem[ieratcly of the aspirations ot Labour. Between them they made the evening distinctly entertaining. THE REVISED TARIFF.

Members, almost without exception, continue to receive many protests against the incidence ot the new ( ustoms tariff, and are passing them oil to Ministers and to the House at large as opportunity offers. The duty on kerosene, which, id' course, already is being collected in anticipation of the approval of Parliament., is threatening at the moment to produce something like a nisis. It was stated in the’ lobbies last night that a score or so ol bis own supporters bad represented to Mr Massey that their duty to their constituents would not allow them to support this imposition and it is not improbable that a large majority iff the Opixisition will he troubled with similar conscientious scruples. The Liberal and Labour parties are very jealous tor the welfare of the workers and the small settlers and these, they contend, are the sections of the community that would sulfer most I tom a |>ormanrnl rise in the price of I lie household oil. There is a stoiy in circulation to-dn.\ that Mr Massey lias determined to spare the jK,or man’s light and foci, but so far I here is no definite indication of bis intention and be is not given to precipitately abandoning bis proposals.

A COUNTRY PARTY

In the course of bis s|ieech in tin# Bodge, deflate last night Mi Robeit Masters, the member for Stratford, had something to say about the Country Party which lately lias np|>cnrcd on the political horizon. The representative of a rural constituency himself, be saw a good deal of significance in the fact that the new party put in the forefront of its platform a demand for the hotter representation and the more considerate treatment of the farmers. Mere, he maintained, was proof positive that many of the producers of the country were beginning to realise that tlie Government was not sincere, or at any rate, out wise in its devotion to the interests of the men on the land. Befoimers w ho had followed Mr Massey through long years of adversity, even Beformers who had served under him in Parliament, were now starting out on a campaign for sounder legislation and more enpable administration than he had given them. No one in the House, save Mr Masters himself, seemed to know much about the now party, lint there evidently was a disposition mi the part of a number of momliers to take it seriously. Mr Massey is now so desperately overburdened it is impossible for him to give the personal attention to details be formerly did and perhaps his own organisation has grown a little slack in consequence.

RAILWAY RETURNS.

Tin 1 inilway returns for the period bet ween April I ami Octnhci Id, published this morning, tell the smile old story of iilinosl stationary revenue ami hugely lncrensed expi'iulil are. The revenue I'm the six months compiired v. it.|i tlistt for the corresponding |K-riod ni In si yen r sliov.ed nil inereiise from C:t,,T,l!i, I 111 In C.'i. 17*1, mill, and the e:<peitili llll e mi ineiense fioni L'J.SII 1,01111 h> LTt.-T.'t 1 the expenditure thus exceeding the revenue hy LT>o.P7S us against the hnlnnee nl C0.'10.1l I , oil the oilier side ol the ledger lust year. 3he North I sin ml lines showed nil exeess ol revenue over expenditure ol CI I 7,7211, nod the South Island lines till excess ol expenditure orer revenue of Cl ".‘1,707. All this smell menus tliiit the policy ol restricted services has tailed, hut cvnienl ]roliticiiins and httsiuoss men ate predict ing that the authorities will apply still more rest net ion. That, they say, is the way of the Railway Department in these days.