WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1926, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE AND PARLIAMENT. PRIME MINISTER’S DILEMMA. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, July (>. Even the Prime Ministers‘s own political friends are not taking seriously his suggestion that Parliament should hurry through the work of the session in order that he may leave for the Imperial Conference in seven or eight weeks time. There is among all the parties a warm personal regard for -Mr Coates and a desire to make his ministerial path as smooth as possible; but there also is a lively sense of humour pervading their ranks and this is obviously tickled by the (Minister’s suggestion. With an overwhelming majority in the House, with an Opposition divided against itself, with all the portfolios that really matter in other hands and with a general election more than two years away, Mr Coates should he able to leave, for London to-morrow as free from anxiety as lie would he from reproach. He may remember that Mr (Massey stipulated for the “ closing down ” of Parliament when ho left for the last Imperial Conference; but the. political conditions then were very different from those existing now. and no precedent for automatic application was established.” FOR A "WEEK OR TWO.

The “ Post ” touching upon the matter with becoming prudence and dignity suggests that it might be possible for the (Minister of Finance, with the great Reform majority at his back", to safeguard the interests of the party for a week or two after the Prime (Min-

ister’s departure. “It is expected,” it says, “ that the Prime (Minister will make a statement in the course of a few days as to when ho will leave for the imperial Conference. .. . The present feeling is that having got the Address-in-Reply out of the way the Government will make quick progress with its legislation, and it is rumoured that the session will he brought to a close before Mr Coates leaves for the Imperial Conference. The possibility of the business of Parliament being wound up in eight or nine weeks, however, is doubted in well-informed circles, where it is believed that the House of Representatives will remain sitting under the leadership of the Minister of Finance for at least a week or two after the Prime Minister’s departure.” No one doubts, of course, that the Hon Downie Stewart would make a very admirable locum tenens. LABOUR’S ATTITUDE.

The Labour Opposition does not expect to be consulted in regard to the Government’s arrangements for releasing the Prime Minister somewhere about the end of next month for his

“jaunt Home.” Nor does it complain of not being admitted to the confidence of the Cabinet in this respect. But it diusenfs entirely from the view that Mr Coates’s colleagues are not to be trusted with the guidance and direction of the business of Parliament during the absence of their leader. As a. matter of plain fact Labour looks with ‘tolerant approval upon the reconstruction of the Cabinet. It thinks that most of its younger members are capable of absorbing progressive ideals and that their appointment will hasten the final disappearance of the old Tory elements. But this apart, it would strongly resent the cessation of the functions of Parliament simply because the Prime "Minister "thinks it desirable he should ho in London on a particular date listening to other great men deciding the fate of the Empire. Labour, though it likes saying smart filings about Imperial Conferences, is not necessarily opposed to representative gatherings of the kind. Its code is offended when an Imperial Conference is given precedence of a Dominion Parliament.

THE DOMINION’S CHAMPION. In Wellington, :it any rate, more people are thinking about the failure of Randolph Rose to make good in his (irst great test on the running path at Home than are concerning themselves about the Prime Minister's impending departure for the Imperial Conference. The Amateur Athletic Council .sent a cheery message to Rose last night expressing satisfaction with his effort and urging him to “ carry on.” hut the champion himself, evidently is keenly disappointed. A well-known authority vouched for by the “ Dominion ” this morning, explains the whole matter: » We did not send Rose Home to run three and two mile races. We sent hint Home as our representative milcr, and if you are training for two or three-mile races you cannot train for a mile. Anyone who knows anything about specialisation in training knows that, and I was very surprised to see Rose start in any distances other than the mile. Tt was all wrong, and I believe that is the real reason why. the New Zealander made such a poor showing in the mile race on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. . . . You do not train a horse over a mile- and a half when he is to be entered for six-fur-long races. Tt can’t be done. Rose has been beaten on historic ground, through a misconception of the fundamental principle of training.” Other practical men express themselves to the same effect, and it seems likely that again skill lias triumphed oyer physical force.