WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1922, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

NEW BLOOD IN PARLIAMENT. a Labour lord. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, July 14 Olio of the Lest speeches made in the Address-iii-Rcply debate, either in the Legislative Council or in the House of Representatives, is to the credit of the Mon W. M. Mclntyre, ; the new “Lahour lord” from Westport. Mr Mclntyre had been heard of in Parliament before he was called to a seat within the four walls of the nominated Chamber. His name was mentioned in the House last session as that of a Labour representative whose services would be of great value to the country. The announcement of liis appointment came a little later. That he is not going to be a subservient echo of the vieiys of the party that gave official recognition to his worth may be judged from the speech which confirmed the reports of iiis personality and ability that had preceded him. He hold firmly to the principles of trades unionism and warned his fellow members that any attempt to abolish preference to unionists would be “fought to the last ditch.” He refused to fall down an I worship the existing education system and roundly denounced the waste of labour and product at the coal mines. Talk of this kind is unusual in the Council and the somnolent Chamber was compelled to sit up and take notice.

OVERDONE. i. Speaking in the House the other day Mr George Forbes, the Liberal member for Flurunui, who can refer to the subject with less danger of being misunderstood than could some of the more militant members of the Opposition, protested mildly against the drift of Hag saluting towards an every day, casual common-place. ‘.‘l think that the saluting of the flag in schools and elsewhere can he overdone,” he said.

“We are loyal people. We have proved our loyally and we do not need to he reminding ourselves and others all the time that we are loyal. If a man continually talks to you about bis honesty you are apt to.watch the spoons.” Mr Forhes approves of saluting the ling on certain occasions, hut lie does not want it to he made a meaningless business to a lot. of ceremony satiated children. In this he seems to have the sympathy of a great number of parents and teanheis, who like the less courageous politicians, fear to protest lest their motives and their sentiments should bo in i sco n st rued. I'NDER SUSPICION.

Judging hv the proeecdin::s at the Racing Conlcreuce yesterday (bis high authority is determined to get at the bottom of the grave suspicions surrounding the constitutions of two of the Auckland suburban racing clubs. In his presidential address Sir George Clifford, after deploring the rejection of the Racing Commission’s report by Parliament, made a very frank allusion to the position ol these two clubs. “No attempt at vindication has been proffered,” lie said. “I have no pre-judgment to pronounce, but I do say that it is the duty of such fliths to clear themselves from these charges, if false, or wipe'away the inherent abuses resulting Irom them, if true. No club should rest silently under serious imputations. I here is a written and unwritten law in the realm of sport which cannot be safely disregard's!.” It will b" remembered that the evidence taken by the Racing Commission concerning these Iwo clubs \v;is suppressed and that Parliament subsequently look action that left them unsealehed. It now remains tor the Racing Conference to repair the puliisniiimit v of Parliament. COME OVER AND HELP US.

The •• Dominion” this morning describes thf sileech delivered hv Mr Massey in the Mouse last night as "the host he has given for some time past. 1 ’ This scarcely does justice to the Prime .Minister. Mr Massev has delivered many admirable speeches both in and out ol the Mouse during the past year which excelled in breadth and scope and eh>(|iience his eliort ot last night. Hut, of course, in matters of this hind opinions must lie a fleeted by the paint of view. In joining with Mr Holland in declaring the Liberals were down ami out and then inviting them to come over and help him against the extremists Mr Massey was not offending against the rules o! pnrtv warfare, hut he was exposing himself to a good deal of criticism and misconception. The Liberals, it has to lie remembered, at the last general election polled within a few thousand votes of the number polled by tbc Rpforms and in the country still remain as the chief bulwark against irresponsible Socialism.