WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1922, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE TARIFF AGREEMENT

SPIRIT OF RECIPROCITY

SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, July 31. The general impression among politicians and business men here is that the Tariff agreement between the Commonwealth and the Dominion has been conceived in a genuinely reciprocal spirit and framed with a mutual regard for the interests of both countries. Much credit is being given to the Hon W. Downie Stewart, the Minister of Customs, for the tact and understanding with which he conducted the negotiations, and it appears to be thoroughly deserved. The Minister stated quite frankly in the House on Friday that the revision of the tariff in Dec inher, which included Australia on the foreign list, without any of the concessions extended to other British countries, was intended, to place New Zealand in a better position to negotiate with the Commonwealth than it otherwise would have been. This coercion did not seem particularly neighbourly at the time, and was condemned by -sonic of the Government’s critics on that account, both hero and in Australia, but it appears t> have helped the Minister very materially in bis bargaining on the other side. The agreement still has to be ratified by the two Parliaments concerned, but it is ex--1 pcoted that this will be only a matter of form.

LICENSING.' Though the report of the Parliamentary Committee on the licensing question is not to be followed by legislation this session, it is being made the subject of eager discussion among people who take more than a casual interest in the destiny of the liquor trade. Apparently the Committee has succeeded in displeasing the extremists on bo*h sides. The Prohibitionists object strongly to the proposal to prolong the existent" of the Trade for four years after a majority of the electors have voted for its extinction, and the Moderates protest loudly against the suggested additions to the licensees’ obligations. Perhaps the Prohibitionists are a little more sincere in their displeasure than are the Moderates m theirs, since the extension of four years’ grace to the Trade wruld ’*.'ca.i that first they would have to fight a licensing poll and then, three \ei:s Inter, to fight a general election. As it is, licensing legislation is bound to enter very largely into the approaching election campaign and to divert a certain amount of attrition from the other great issues at stake. The (pinion that tlie two polls should not be held at the same time continues to grow.

PARTIES. .Mr Holland’s “revelations” do not appear to have seriously estranged the Liberal and Labour parties. Mr Millord’s following still likes to be known as the Like to 1-Labour party and the other sections of the Opposition are not actively averse to its enjoyment of the title. There are rumours about, indeed, to the. effect that the prospects of an “understanding” between the various groups sitting to the left of the Speaker have been in no way impaired by what happened at the Labour Conference in Auckland a little while ago. The story runs that some of Mr Massey’s followers in their eagerness to prove an “unholy alliance” lietween the Liberals and the “Red Feds” betrayed the tact that this was the one development in the readjustmnt of the parties they feared, and so set the various Labour forces nnassooiated with the Social-Democrats thinking. No one during the discussion of Mr Holland’s “revelations ventured to say there was any inherent impropriety in an ••understanding” between two or more sections of a 'progressive party when-their main objective in effect was the same. ELECTORAL REFORM.

A warm sympathiser with the progressive side'of polities, unconnected with any party organisation, discussing this subject to-day. held strongly that the first duty of the members of the UIK-ral and Labour parties was to devote all their energies towards securing swell a measure of electoral reform as would make Parliament really representative of the people qualified to vote. He would not mind a great deal whether their object was proportional representation or preferential voting. He would prefer the former, with its broad fit* basis* imt for the present be would be content with the latter. Personally be would K've bis vote to Mr .Massey unhesitatingly if it would help in bringing about preferential voting and would leave the Parliament truly representative of the majority to give the country proportional representation. His view, therefore, was that all the progressive forces should get together for the sole purpose of bringing about electoral reform and so making New Zealand a democratic country in actual tact and not merely in the inflated language of party romance. This enthusiast, it may be well to repeat, is unattached and speaks for himself alone.