WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1921, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE SESSION. PROLONGED OVER CHRISTMAS. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, Dec. 14 Though monikers of the House seemed ready to do their part in bringing the session to a close before Christinas, even if it involved late sittings and hasty legislation, the Prime Minister made up his mind during the week end not to attempt the task. Perhaps his readiness to discuss the question at nil was due rut her to a desire to clear the way for the passage ol the tariff proposals than to any serious intention of abandoning a considerable part of his programme, lie still hopes it will not lie necessary to keep members in Wellington for longer than two or three weeks alter their return from the holidays. hut the general opinion is that mice hack here members will ho less anxious than they have appeared to be during the last fortnight to got away again. However, the length ol the session depends mainly upon the will of the Government and in the present case the last word rests with the Prime Minister. AN IMPROBABLE RUMOUR. A rumour in circulation here, which has some slight hearing on the situation is to the clfcct that when Mr Massey gets Parliament to work after the holidays lie "ill insist upon it remaining in session till it has cleared up all the arrears of legislation with a view to a mm ii shorter session than usual next veal and an earlier appeal to the constituencies. til course this sounds highly improbable, since the (iovernincv would obtain it" '.orical advantage to going to the polls in July °r August instead oi in December, bid there are people b' to ..'an proioss to have had the :tot,' irom the highest authority. Ahoy suggest that Mr Massey, having'got hi--, reconstruction police through Parliament, will he anxious to have it endorsed as speedily its |Kissihlc by the coiinli". but even tbis argument is a little difficult to Inlluw unless R is assumed the iecoostructioli policy will not bear U’e ’ of experience. IJ< ENSIXG LAW COMMITTEE. The appointment of a select committee of the House last night to consider what amendments are required in (he present Licensing Act to ensure its satisfactorv working, drew forth a number of speeches that did not augur pnrycttla'rly well for t'be harmonious settlement of the various knotty problems involved in the inquiry. Mr 1 sit t Started the trouble by describing Mr ; Lysimr. Mr Mcl'allum and Mr "’tty as “the three chief champions of G |C liquor trade in the House." Mr Lvsmtr was not present, hut Mr McCallum ami Mr Witty retorted in kind, to such effect that' fir Milford, the leader oi the Liberal Opposition, expressed a warm hope that the sittings of the committee would he open to the Press and that the public would have an oppoi tunitv to oniny mlequntt* repot i .s oi its proceedings. The. Prime Minister claimed to have appointed no extremists to the committee, and the House smiled. NO MONEY. Finance occupied a good deal ol attention in the House last night, the Prime Minister having occasion to tell inquiring members more than once that he had no money even tor the urgent works tliev brought under his notice, lie was compelled to refuse advance's oven to returned soldiers, whom he knew to be ill a difficult position and whom he would like to assist. Disappointed members pressed inquiiios concerning various sums ol money the\ though', should lie available. Hut Mr Massey was obdurate. The half million of German reparation money had been i,l,sorbed by the War Expenses Account, and the repayment of the advance to tlie Southland Do ver Heard had gone into public "orks. I'm the time, he said in effect, local hodies and farmers would have to shift lor themselves. Meanwhile business houses arc complaining that while the Government is thrusting the care oi the farmers on to private enterprise it is extracting every penny it can from private enterill iso liv wry ot t;ixntiou.