WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. MR MASSEY PRESSED TO ATTEND s [Special To The Guardian.] I c. WELLINGTON, May 10. 1 The Prime -Minister announced yesr terday that he had received a further ’ pressing invitation from Mr Bonar Law to attend the forthcoming Imperial _ Conference in London and that lie had i decided to call Parliament together at !• an earlier date than usual in order > that it might determine the nature of his reply. There is no reason to | assume that Mr Massey is particularly anxious to make the trip himself, but he feels strongly that the Dominion ; should he adequately represented at the Empire Parliament. He said as much as this during the short session and he has repeated his statement more than once since. In the absence of the Prime Minister, probably Sir James Allen, the High Commissioner, would he asked to represent New Zealand, but Sir James would he unable to speak with the same authority as Mr Massey would, or even with the same knowledge. M hen seen this morning M,r Milford had little to say on the subject. He joined with Mr Massey ill thinking it desirable the Dominion should be adequately represented at the Conference, but lie would like to bear ; what the Prime Minister had to say ; on the matter before expressing an t opinion as to the method of representution. 1

TI IE SESSION. It is expected that Parliament will ho called together for the middle of June and he prorouged in time to allow Mr Massey to get, away early in September. ft is not anticipated that there 'Will be any serious objection to Hie Prime Minister leaving the Dominion to the tender mercies of his colleagues and the forbearance of the Opposition for four or five months, but certain members of the House are sure to insist upon a full measure of business being put through before Mr Massey’s release. The country lias been promised a reduction of two millions In taxation, an undertaking which will provoke much discussion from various points of view, ami a new railway policy, providing service as well as revenue, on which every member will want to have a word or two. Then there are producers’ pools, soldiers’ land settlements, hydro-electric scheme." and a score of other urgent matters calling for attention, to say nothing o! Mr' Yfacpherson’s demand that the £BO,OOO promised to Oamani during the recent bv-oleotion campaign shall he actually expended. Mr Mnophorson's demand is ihe current jest in poli-

tieal circles here, and Mr Massey 4- seems to enjoy its humour ns much as *’• do his political enemies. THE CABINET. Tile illness of the lion D. If. Guth--1(j rie, who has been ill a private hospital u_ for some weeks past, has proved morr le serious than it was at first supposed lu ic he, and it is unlikely the Minister will r ' he able to take any active part in the work of the approaching session. He is reported to-day to he progressing , satisfactorily, but very slowly, and l e when medical men qualify their satisfaction in tin's way convalescence is usually a tedious business. For the present the portfolio of Lands is being administered by Sir Francis llcll and i„ the Prime Minister himself lias charge 3 of Railways; but some more convenient . arrangement than this must he made in the near future. The House has a y rooted objection to the Minister ot - Lands sitting in the other Chamber ( , and everyone realises that Mr Massey has far too much on hand just now to 5 give the necessary detailed attention to , the most difficult Department of the Public Service. I here has been some 1 talk, by the way, of Mr E. P. Lee, the t hue member lor Oamani, being called . io the Upper House and given charge . of his former Departments, Justice and , External Affairs. There would he no groat objection to this from a party , point of view, hut so far it has had no authoritative countenance. MEAT PRODUCERS’ BOARD. There have been many demands lately for the production of a balance sheet by the Meat Producers’ Board and ill the “Dominion” this morning Mr David Jones, the chairman of the hoard, explains that in accordance with the gazetted regulations, the report and balance sheet of the hoard’s operations for the period ended June 30, will be issued early in July. “Meanwhile,” Mr Jones states, “I would add that the -Meat Control Act requires that ‘the accounts of the board shall’ he subject to audit in the same manner in all respects ns if the moneys of the board were public moneys.’ A continuous preaudit in accordance with these requirements is being carried out by the Government Controller and Auditor Gen- ( oral.” If the accounts got past the Controller and Auditor-General without j a “tag” the public may be satisfied that the board has kept within its legislative authority, but it still will remain to he seen if the constitution | of the board was the cheapest and best method by which the results for which <r Mr .Tones and his colleagues are taking credit could have been achieved.