WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

.MEETING OF PARLIAMENT

EARLIER. TITAN EXPECTED. SCECi.W, TO Of Allot AN. WELLINGTON, dan. 26 Tiic announccinent that Parliament will meet on Wednesday, February 7, took most people by surprise. In a telegram oi protest addressed to the Prime Minister. Mr 11. E. Holland, the leader of xlio Labour Party, had demanded that Parliament should be called logcllicr not later than the middle of next month, and Mr -Massey had replied in terms that. left many people with the impression that he had a later date in bis mind for the meeting. The ‘.'Evening Post” elaborates ihis point !>v recalling the story that Parliament would not men! till the elec-

tion petitions had been decided and by reminding Mr Massey than when such stories pass without challenge, • • <ifl• - cial aef|uieseeiice has much tin* same effect as omekd in •miration.” Pel whether the Oovonimonl vas anxious io expedite or to delay the meeting of Parliament, i- no longer c much con

sequence. It lias elected to meet tic House a fortnight hence and to invit" the Opposition to a trial of strength. Its fate. the "Post” outs it quip bluntly, will depend up n the metbo' in which the Liberals and the Independents interpret their pledges to their constituent'.

DECISION RESTS WITH LIBERALS. The “Dominion,” which in ife-o day.-, itced rot be regarded a.-, the inspire I organ of the Reform Parn, fvtink!> recognises that the ultimate deeisio.' rest- with tin Liberals. "The <; 11. - - 1 ii■:; to I” I is vein dcliniiclv to an issim

when the House meets." ii says, -i, ~f course, that of a working; arrangement bet v ecu t ile Reform and Hie Liberal Parties.” The morning journal, to its credit, obviously docs not approve of individual e>inp'o|- "With Parliament in se-Hoii," it insists,” there should be an end of temporising. The Prime .Minister, in our opinion, will make a serion- mistake if lie does not. iesi.-t upon one or two idler.'iafive. . Tb re s!:<>iih! either be a clear cut arrangement bid ween the parties which will give the Government an as.-ured position and permit ti e work of i’ai liameut to pro- cod, or another appeal io the i. if ii i” This is t lie view of manv t-• members oti both sale- of Hie limis-. The "Dominion” emphasises the requirements of the position by saying the Government is bound io seek an arrangement with the Liberals.” ami if needs by, to pro post an equitable re-ndiustmr-m of portfolios. THE'OPPOSITION. N. u s r -il the journals quoted at" compoPni to speak on behidl of the Opposition, and Mr Wiilord, ill!- leiub" of the Li* ,-ral Rem and Mr Holland, the leader of the Lab. nr Party, are not bn,'oning tlieir intent ions abroad „u t Loir can account. The "Dominion” (pparcutiy i- a little aggrieved by the so Jett c l * of tiic Liberal leader in regain : I Mr Ma.-scy's overtures. "The labai -, ' ii c iinplaiiis, "have not yet replied : a parly, and their leader. Mi V till id, though he ha - had ample i innin v b'"!i to con- 11 1i Id-, supporter', Isas net -q> ken to any purpose on iheir beha 11 . illy public iclei'elice be i'.as made to ihe problem of political adiu-tiuenl has amounted simply to play in .- with words." This i-- scarcely a lair presentaiieti of the ease. The resolution cPt' d h v Ihe h',-1 uriii i iiui us did 11 :>t make i* a! all (Tear whether the Government v, i- *,'f! to lie '.otiate v. ith lie I ib-cra! Party itself or with individual mem hers of il’.c nariy. Mr Wilde d has asked for this point to be made < i ■u oh', lotisiy the next move rests with Ibe Prime Minister. Mr Holland -till - hoping Par an arrangement between lie Liberals and the Reformers, tb.,i would mean the permanent extinction of the former ns party, lint nL llio moment. his aspirations seem io have little chanco of realisation. PREDICTIONS. X • .Massey does not attempt to dish e 1 1c dilticulties of bis position, but. i.c still thinks i: would be possible to form a stable Government without pn(-

ting the (ounlry to flic expense and fur.noil of a second appeal to the electors. He would not fear the result of such an appeal, as far as his own party was concerned, but be feels Inshould exhaust every legitimate mean o f adjustment before asking the Gove:no General for a dissolution. Both Mr Wi ft id and Afr Holland express the mine confidence in regard to another election, if that should seem the only solution of flic problem, and quite likely they would lose nothing by the ordeal. Rut many of Mr Wiilord’friends, both inside and outside of Parliament. hold strongly to the view that tiic Liberals could do a much better service to tlit* country by obtaining electoral reform from the Government, in iciurn for tlieir support during the-iir.-t working session of the new I’arli.v i"out. than by plunging the Dominion into the throes of another election with m. assurance that the party tangle would bo unravelled at the pells. .Mr Wiilord has called a meeting of Ids party for the Monday preceding the opening of ibe short session, and il is probable that Ibis question will !>o among those brought up for discussion.