WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MEETING OF PAH 1.1 AM EXT. ..... I WHA'r Wild. HAPPEN. Pl’i-XIAL JO Gl ARMAN. WELLINGTON, Feb. 2 J’eople here, aim hve ilie advantage of being in touch with with the framework ol the political machine, are not -u -ui** ol what us going to happen when Parliament meets tor its short .session a - i- Dr Thacker, tne late memicr lor ( nristehureli -North. “The evolution of the present Parliament,” the inepresiblo doctor told a Christchurch interviewer the other day, "will be to pass appropriations and imprest supply put proportional representation on the Statute Book ami have another general election." He went the length of predicting tluii the election would take place about .March 29. Of course there will lie no need for either appropriations or impressed supply a- the necessary authorities for expenditure up to .Juno -itl next already are in existence. Nor does the doctor explain how proportional representation is to be brought, about. It is just conceivable that the Liberals, Labourites and Independents may he unanimous in demanding this concession and that Air Massey, rather than risk defeat, may let them have their way. JJut such a den luement is highly improbable. The Prime Minister with a good grace might concede preferential voting to a determined Opposition, but without stultifying himself in the eyes of the country lie could not renounce Ills denunciation of tin* more far reaching reform. Till'. COXSTITITIOWI. COURSE. Local opinion scarcely takes this remote possibility into account at all. It inclines to the view that Mr Massey will meet the House next week with a sufficient number of pledges from Liberals am! Independents in his pocket to convert his minority of four ■>; the polls into a majority of two or three in a division on a no-contideiie • motion. It ha- been staled, indeed, in the aiith: nty of one of his closest political ,is-oi-, : ctos. that !v can command a eiai nity el four on ally vole olving ihe exisioino ol the Government ami ihai this majority will be "vaihbde no* ■* : vlv lor repelling di- ■ re* ! attack-- ;mm the Opposition Ijeurhe- . Bur - till are numbers (i '*. ■ support-Ts outside the House holding to the view that Mr Massey should resign and give Mr Wilford and Mr Holland an opportunity to dixphiv Ha ir ability to form a Government possessing tlie confidence of the House. Tin- liednuLicdlv would he the c-eri si .if nticmd course and in all prohahilii \ would lead to an arrangeiv.’iit f-i-t.vvi.il the Relormers and the 1 i'.erals Il at ■■-..•aid !v* satisfying to the e mniry ami disereditnbli* i • r. •' ! her part v. TDF FIMA!!*: MINISTFR'F PROTF-’T Me-mwliile Mr Massey is going about, his ministerial duties apparently little o-;-tin-bed |>y 11 *o party tangle. Yesterday lie occupied a column or -o of space ill the local newspapers til supplementing the protest of the High ( umi'ds-inner against the disparageu i•:r ■ f X ‘V. .uealr-nd’s n sources and '■•nidi? ions by tin* British Empire ExI'ihiiion Mission which toured the Doinirion last year. Fir .lames Allen lull left the Brim** Minister very lit >!o to say that Wits new, hut his old chief 1 ■ .*(!•■ one or two p infs rather more (ieet iv** than tliov had been mail*.' 1 ■ re. Ii" m 11*!.* si si*.-! the fact that vviieii the Ali'-i n was here the country was -iill'oring from an uiiparalie!*. ’ 'slump.” brought about mainly by a sudden dr* p in I lie prices of ils exnurtahle products. and that tliesi* • rice- • -.>* 1 1<i not la* fairly taken as a , basis for estimating the values ot tin* agrieiiltural and pastoral lauds ol the ■.•oniitrv. lb- aft ri I m t<*d the inferiority •>f New /calami railways l*i the narrowness of tie- tracks compared with those of other countries ami declared personally. he had found the . ■•age hotel in New Zealand a- enm•rtaide as some of the more preteuiioUs establishments in other conn- ; i:: s. His piotest *ii*l not leave the critic utterly demolished, hut it s.ug-j gested that ho had been more than a * iistle careless ill his assumptions. S 'l'll K LIBF.I! A 1.-LA I’OFR LEADER, j The eoniplitnentary social, as the, term goes, ('xtcmled to Mr T. At. \\ il-. ford. the leader of the Liberal Party. ; liy his const it non ts at the Liw.-r Iluti ! last night, was marked by very genu- ; 0,.* persona I and political .•ntli usi :i sm. Nolle of t ’ 1 e speakers Hirew mueli light . up n Ihe t>o!it:e-i! situation, lint Air: \Vill’<*)*< 1 in the concluding sentences of * a vorv excellent speech struck a note; that seemed to he entirely acceptable to . his large atidieneo. "I don’t believe; the leader of a pa~iy slaothl ael with-; out (■ dlective responsibility." he said. pv ici-l,- v. ill meet oil Monday a-d decide] after diseasing the resolutions of Du* Reform Party the course that we shall take. 1 util then. a least, my constituents and the Liberals , throughout New Zealand will be v. dli»: ■ to r nisi os and abide flu* result. We place our country first. * itr par l ' second, and oursel-es individually ih*, I. T’ a‘ is i'*e 1 iii<* oil which the Liberal-Labour party will proceed to discuss the re-hlttf inns submitted te • them next Monday." Earlier in the ■ evening Air Veiteh. the member foi Wanganui, poked fun at the persistent ; ninmurx of this or that member cross- ? joe the floor of the House. Ti;e Be- ! formers '.vis!,, he said, was father to the thought. But Mr Mb lord lelt the sul)it*ct severely alnnr*. |