WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THE SESSION. ITS PROSPECTS. [Special To The Guardian.] WELLINGTON, June 13. The “Dominion” still is obsessed by the notion that tho Liberal and Labour members of the House of Representatives are bent upon so prolonging the approaching session that the Prime Minister will be unable to attend the Imperial Conference. It has been harping on this subject for weeks past, taking the evil intention of the Opposition parties for granted and threatening Mr Wiiford and .Mr Holland with it dissolution that will dissipate their aspirations to the Treasury benches to the four winds of Heaven. The “Post” is feverishly hacking up the efforts of its contemporary to put the Oppo-ition in the wrong and to frighten its members into respectful submission i-> the will of the Government. Interrogated oil the matter Mr Wiiford and Mr Holland smile complacently. They have no wish to prevent Mr Massey going to London: they think he should attend the Imperial Conference; they will he glad to assist as far as they can in facilitating tho business of the session. But they are not going to pledge them selves to rush important measures through the House without- adequate consideration nor to acquiesce in the indefinite postponement of legislation that ought- to be enneied now. THE REASONABLE SPIRIT.

Both Mr 'Wiiford and Mr Holland appear to be perfectly sincere in their protestations of a desire to maintain a reasonable spirit of compromise. They do not wish to stress the fact that the Government was in a minority at t’lte polls, without counting (In* two genuine Independents, Colonel 801 l and Air Statham, on either side: but they feel it establishes beyond al' question the right of Iho Opposition te he heard. While they admit that in the present House it would he praetie ally impossible for enter ol them It form a stable Government, they would not regard ti:;- prospect of a dissolution and a fresh election with the least alarm. They are satisfied, so they say, that they would increase their majority by lour or live. But their present business is to give expression and effect, as far as possible, to the views of thetr constituents by all legitimate ami recognised moans. They point out that had Mr Massey called Parliament togernor a month earlier, a- he might have done, the session could have run its usual length

vithoat interfering with his trip Home. Having neglected to do this lie cannot fairly lay llie blame for delay upon the shoulders of his opponents. THE REFORM VIEW. Mr .Mass-ev himself does not contemplate any serious difficulty in getting away in good tune. Ttie Opposition having recognised the desirability of his attending the Imperial Conference he cannot conceive of it wilfully placing obstacles in the was of his doing so. Tho necessary bust ness of the session is clear cut, ready for submission lo Hie House, and not tiecessarilv coin rot ersial from a party point of view. If members settle down to work at once and continue in an indii-trious tnoe.d there will he no reason why their iabours should not bo satisfactorily rom-lndod by the beginning of September. There arc a number of important matters that may be properly reserved till next year’s session. Electoral reform and licensing reform, which have been mentioned by the pripers, and which, of course, am among the most coni rnversial ol all siibjei-ls. will not he required for tun year- liettee and there would lie no advantage in troubling I’arlinnieni with them now. Both the Liberal si ml the Labour parties are bolding meetings 10-dav and no indication of the nature of their plaits of campaign are yel available, bill it Is expoeied that alter an ass’erlion of their importance in the counsels of the country they will settle down to strenuous work without offering any factious opposition. FINANCIAL CRITICISM'.

The Prime Minister's reply to Sir Joseph V,’aril’s recent criticism of the Government's finance appears in the .papers this morning anil is harked up by ibe -'Dominion” with a sweeping denunciation ol Liberal and I.about methods. "It is sheer humbug.” il

-ay-., ■•for cither Sir Joseph Ward. Mi Wiiford or Mr Holland lo criticise Ihe Government now for making these necessary increases in expenditure. At the time when Ihe increases wore- being made, these same critics were shoiil ing for, and demanding, an even heavier expenditure. . . Opposition criticism which ignores simple and familiar fuels bearing on tin- post-war increases in debt and other aspects of tho country’s financial pusilion i> very ohvioii-Jy insincere and bogus. It is criticism which takes no real account of national problems, but is inspired solely by a desire to gain some party advantage by distortion and misrepresentation.'-’ Mr Massey's conL-nrion

i- that of ihe sixty-eight millions added to the public debt since 1018, thi'-tvsix millions were raised for win purposes and iiiie- millions lor soldiers set I Ir-ine id s. ! lies leaves an awingannual increase Irom ordinary expenditure* of only four and a half millions, v.liit-h the Prime Minister _ and hifrieuds hold to bo a strictly moderate addition.