WELLINGTON TOPIC

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPIC

PARTY LEADERS. I’OL'U.ICAL AND SPORT. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON. J;ni 22. .Mr .Massey. Sir .Joseph Ward and Mr Wiliord all were in the Stewards’ stand at Trentham on Saturday enjoying the sport provided by the Wellington Raving Club a>: best they could in the oireiimstancus. Sir Joseph obviously was the least, care-worn of the three. If he had any regrets at being out of Parliament just now he managed to hide them extraordinarily well, lie jested lightly with the politicians and their friends over the troubles besetting them and offered them much humorous advice. Discussing the situation in a more serious vein later oil. he said he thought another elect ion should lie avoided if at all possible. hut hi' did not see Low an agreement could be reached without xiibsiauj iai conccs mods being made from boih sides, J Inj bargaining between individual' could J not bring about permaiien! ly good re- : suits, and in any ease would he regard,ed with suspicion hv the electors. II I would not presume to oiler ad\ ice to I any of the parties, but he would like to see them getting together in some way that: would afford an opportunity for an exchange of views without prejudicing the position of any of them. THE LIBERAL PARTY. Mr Wiliord had just returned from his triumphant progress through the Taranaki district, where lit* had the satisfaction of contemplating a larger liberal representation than has been seem along lb" West Coast ot the North Island for many a long year. ■Rut still the Liberal leader is not satislied. 1 1 is policy lor the time being is min ,>f the stinti-'t reticence. He iprepared to listen to whatever hifriends or his opponents may have G sa.v concerning the position, but he i-. not in he templed into expressing his own views just vet. 01 course this ithe proper constitutional altitude of a party loader who lias reason to believe that a proposition will he submitted to him from the other side. So far he has no means of knowing, whether the recolution adopted by the Reform Pailv signifying its readiness to negotiate with its opponents is an imitation to individuals or to parlies, lie can .-peak only when this point has boon cleared up and then only after having consulted the members of bis party. That is all lie has to say for piihlit atinn just now and any attempt to extrai t, more from him is pointedly di scorn iged THE PRIME MINISTER. Mr Massey is frankly a little holed with racing. Imt ho likes to meet people in an informal way from all parts ef the country, and there ale few better places than Tn-ntb.-mi for lb■'•rat ilir ai ion of ln\ taste in (bis dirtetion. Just now lie is not so anxious for advice on the unravelline of the party tangle its he is for news on the > auditions and prospects of the (omiiry di- Iricts. But he is uni so reticent ill lie Gird to polilies as Mr Wilfnrd is and be apparently is perfectly sincere wln l r* 1 be -ays be would like 1!a uucslo.iis in dispute s.uibi! a- speedily as can be arranged. Po-siblv. as tin* limn in tlio si reef says is the case, be has ilrcaeis of outstripping Mr l-k-dd m's long term of olf'iee and of going Home once again as the Dominim's rcproseiilative at an Inmcrial Con!”<*rc m e : but if.li. really is obe'sod by a-piratioiis oi Ibis description be lias given t uriously little itidica tien of tlu'ir existence. ’I be one tiling certain about bis future itliai be will not bang on to the Treasury Renebes by lie grace of one or two mu erl ain votes. A- mueli as tbat lie lllaibe plain between races on SatiirT!! r: SO CL OF I A BOER. fa fill Labour lias its eve v< ry i-lnelv lived upon what i. living done by Labour forces in oilier parts of fig. world. It set’s in the present mov.-m--nls in Australia and the Mother Country the symptoms of returning simile among (■be ext-omi-Ts who in g--od faith and with lit*! : understanding luiv.- been seeking abort and perilous cuts to the I demneratic millennium. It was not altogether the necessity «‘f r --assuring I tiin if 1 folk on their own -id. of polities that led Mr Holland and hi- ...I- j leagues to luuterially mod:, ;bci.- d- | mauds just before the at gem r. election. They realised thill lb- la hour world was re- ov .ring from it-. ban- b of Royobil ionary Socialism am ill;:t it was awakening to the need f , rii i • 11 : 1 1 and weli-oi (bu-cd progress. It is predicted that win u Parliament meets the strengthened Labour Parly will lie found not only increased in numbers hut also substantially h tier -n-lowad with common sense. If that -. tin- cis" the party situation will he•ome all the more inti resting. ‘I he sibour Part'- will take i:s tp-ope.-■lace in the direction of the alfairs o