WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

TDK NO-COXFIDF.NCK DEBATE. NO OBSTRUCTION. [Special To The Guardian.] WELLINGTON, June 20. The Hoii'O of Representative., adjourned on Friday night without any indication from cither -ide as to how long the debate on the Addros.s-in-.Re-ply and on the various amendments by which it lias been intercepted will continue. The curious thing about the proceedings so far has been t’lie teadi-iio.-s of tiie Reform members to join in the time-wasting talk. If they have not been encouraged bv the party whips to speak, they certainly have not been restrained. In these eircnnistunes it is not surprising that all sorts of stories are alloat concerning Mr Massey's tactics and their purpose. There is the old suggestion, of course, that the House is being allowed to squander time now in order that ii may he driven at ;i break-nock speed during the last week or two of tile shortened session. Then there is a tale that the Govrnntent’s “iio-confidcnce majority’’ is not so secure as it was at the last trial of strength between the parties, and a third that negotiations between Mr Massey and a section of the Liberals

are in progress that may make it unlie: e.-sarv for the Prime Minister to insist upon the prorogation before he h-a\cs for London. I’LISLIC FEELING. Whatever the truth of the mutter may he. it is plain that while the Reformers in the House continue to join in the “wearisome iteration’’ ot the debate they must hear their full share of responsibility for the waste of time that is going on. Nor can the Prime Minister himself he held blameless in the matter. He has the members of his party far ton well in hand to allow them to prolong a debate lie wishes to shorten. But all this apart, there can he no reasonable doubt that the’ great weight of public opinion here favours Mr Massey going to London as the representative of the Dominion at the approaching Imperial Coiilerenec. 'l'llis is not merely because he happens to he the Prime Minister of the country ai the present time, hilt more particularly because he lias made himself a figure in Imperial politics and has uou the confidence as well as the personal goodwill of the authorities at Home. Tile Labour members of the House may demand that he shall go •'as a delegate and not as a dictator” and the Liberals limy declare that he mi longer represents a unijuiriy ol the electors, hut everyone knows perlectly well that there is no cue else so well qualified to express the mind ol New Zealand on Imperial affairs. There is every reason why the urgent work ol Parliament should he completed before his departure, hut there is none why mult essfirv eh-tacles should ho placed in his way.

THK NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. The loc.ll pa pel s on Saturday published a I'm tlicr contribution from Sir Joseph Ward to the controversy going on between the Prime Minister and himself in regard to the linanees ol the country in which he explains lniw he came to withdraw from the National Cabinet on hi, return with Mr MasM .y from the Peace (Vuictvme in LHPd. It stems that Sir Joseph was bent upon keeping intact the surpluses he had accii inula led as Minister 1 1 finance ilu-

M 1,., the w ■' i | mod and Upon i- mug 11 emit debentures for such land

ns it might lie necessary to purchase for soldier settlement. By (his means lie hoped to keen the sixteen rr seventeen millions le had in tlm Treasury ;e. a jkihle for imairsirt ihe < mini r\

unite land for the soldiers without in11,Him.: price - t-i the dis"dvanlage of both the eoiinUv and the men ihcm,elves. Dm this plan did not meet with the approval of Mr Ala-soy and his Refill in colleague-, and as Sir Jo•epli .is insi-t.'iit he and the other Liberal Minislets had no alternative le reli'.ing ficm the ( ahinet. Air Alas -ey’s version of the st. ry still It. - in he heard and it will he awaited with much iiiteic-t by ! cuple who have lollowcil the I lilti ro cr-y bet ■'■ecu the two party leaders. •j.oRD Massey." Sir Thomas MacKenz.ie is shaping the Prime .Minister's destiny along lines which probably never have entered the head of the right liuiiourahie gentleman I:itti-ol(. Sir Tin nia.- would have All Massey go Home as the representative of New Zealand at the Iml dial Cott|'e' cnee and at the coiiel ii-ioii of the labours of that cugu-l e-.-.-mhly would have him accept the \ ecrage, the King would gladly bestow upon him. and remain in I uglaiid as the It' nuuk u s mouthpiece in the House ol Lords. S-r Thomas is quite serious in his suggestion. indeed lie puls it I'mwarl in the til in belief that nothing could, serve

than its diiect repi eseitlatic.n in the Legislature of the Lmj.'ke; hut Air Alassey regards the idea a.s a huge joke. and. with the greatest regard Inf the liuie-imuciirei! instill.lions cl the .Motherland, is nut fevetislily cxeiled at the prospect of exchanging his present position lor a m‘»l in Gte House of Lords. It I- quite sate to rs-nnio that had the Prime .Minister's ambitions leant in the direction of titular distinction they would have boon gratified long ago.