WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

SUAIAIONING PARLIAMENT. ITS SIGNIFICANCE. [Special To The Guardian.] WELLINGTON, .May 23. The fact that Parliament has been summoned two weeks earlier than usual for its annual session is taken to mean that Air Massey lias made up his mind to got Home to the Imperial Conference if the temper of the House is at all propitious. Mr Wilford, the leader of the Liberal Opposition, still remains very reticent on this subject, as is only natural and proper on his part, hut it is not thought that his party will place j any unreasonable obstacle in the way of the Prime Minister’s departure. The attitude of the Labour Opposition is merely a matter of conjecture hut it is tolerably certain Mr Holland and lii.colleagues will insist upon what they regard as a fair amount of work being done before they assist in facilitating, I the Minister’s plans. If AJr Isitt, Air Wtty and Colonel Bell stand firmly by

the Government, the position will he simplified by the existence of a stable Reform majority and the business of the session- will lie materially speeded up. Air Alassev has hinted at no curtailed programme and there is little doubt that all the important measures during the recess will he attacked. THE EAIPIRE FIRST. The “New Zealand Times” in referring to the matter this morning commits itself to no particular policy, but strikes a high note of Imperialism. “Obviously,” it, says, “the first thing to determine is that the system of frankness inaugurated during the war, and .according to Air Hughes, since discarded, must be restored. Thus we re- I dueo the danger of the disturbance to

Imperial interests to the minimum. This strengthens tile reasons given by Air Dollar Law to our Prime Alinister for his presence at the Conference. The reasons are both personal and poli- I lien 1. About the first, we will say nothing against Mr Bonar Law’s appeal to Air Massey, for Air Alassev has borne the weight of Conference responsibility with a credit, readily, and widely acknowledged. The political side rests with the Now Zealand Parliament, which lias been summoned earlier Hum usual in order to facilitate the approaching Imperial Conference. The decision rests with that body, and just now the questions involved are not too manifest. When they become evident, we trust Parliament will know how to take equal care of Imperial and Dominion interests.” All this appears to mean that members should facilitate the Prmie Minister’s departure and undertake to behave themselves during

his absence. CABINET RECO.NSTR UCTIOX. The same journal which, of necessity views the position from iho wutsido, calls attention to the need for immediate Cabinet reconstruction. “Troubles have fallen rather thick upon the Reform Cabinet in the last six months,” it points out. “'l’lie election in December left Air Massey with a very narrow majority in the House, the re-contested election at Oaniaru has gone against his colleagues, and another colleague is too ill to continue Ministerial dutici. Air E. P. Lee, who was defeated for Oamaru, administered the departments of Industries and Commerce, External Adairs, Justice, Prison, and Police. Air Guthrie, who is ill in hospital, was Alinister for Lands and Railways.” Of course, it is incorrect to say that the election of December left Air Massey with a narrow majority. It loft him in an actual minority, both in the country’and in the House, if votes polled, and members returned counted for anything; hut the divisions among his opponents enabled him to hold office without any very wide spread of disapprov-. al by the electors. Tile general feeling here is I hat neither of the other partic.- having a majority in the House and a general election being the only ultimate alternative to tlie retention ol the Reform Government in office, it K better to leave things as they are for tlie present, than to plunge the country" into the turmoil of another appeal to

Clio constituencies. THK A\V A K !<:XIX CCO XSC! lIXC K. Ksclunv iii.U politics for the nonce. the ‘‘Humill?on” this morning, takinp; the horrors of tko Cooper on so os the text, Makes an elo<|Uent appeal for I lie hotter protection of infant life. “The case upon which a conclusion was reached yesterday.” it says, “may raise a i(in*sl ion as to whether the community has, in other respeets than the supervision ol private mnC'rnil.v cd nues.iinenis fully discharged its responsihilitirs to the unmarried mother and her child. An i >:ten-ion o! the provision now made Lv the hil.tie I O' UiawPiin rases, mid possibly the cm aid: diment ol die f.nimllitnj; luspitals, snjif'est themselves its worthy of consideration. "she unmarried mother very often is a vi~,im to he pitied rather than condemned. Her child oenainly i entitled to a lair start in life.” H is to he Imped that I!ii- authorities v. ill take heed and fellow it up with effective action.