WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

BUDGET debate. LABOUR’S SCORE, (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, July 10. The early termination of the Budget debate on Wednesday afforded the Labour Party , an opportunity to proclaim to the world at large that it had no intention of wasting the time and money of the country in useless talking. The other parties might do as they liked, the party said in effect in a statement it issued yesterday, but Labour was going to get about the country's business as speedily as possible and to gite it all the attention it needed. This profession of devotion to tin; interests of the public was opportune and impressive. In the past Labour has not been altogether blameless in the prolongation of debates. Its leaders multitude of “want of confidence ” motions during the life of the last Parliament were among the most wasteful of obstructive tactics. But Mr Holland, it must be said to his credit, has realised the responsibilities of I!is Majesty’s Opposition are a little more compelling than are the obligations that rest lightly on the shoulders of an unofficial and unattached group of members, lie has given practical effect to the reiterated professions of the leaders of the older parties, and to that extent lias scored off both Reformers and Nationalists. DAIRY CONTROL.

There was talk yesterday of a Reform caucus at which the dairy control question was being discussed with a view to reaching a party agreement before the introduction, of the amending legislation promised by the Prime Minister. It was officially stated in the evening, however, that no such discussion Imd taken place and that there was no information on the subjects for publication. From what can be gathered from various sources it seems that the members of the party still are widely divided on the question, and that the Prime Minister has not yet given them any definite lend. The lion W. Nosworthy, whose status in the Cabinet appears to have been fully restored, spoke confidently during the Budget debate of the early imposition of compulsion, and the Dairy Board itself is proceeding as if the matter wore definitely and finally settled. On the other hand, it is known that the Prime Minister is not best pleased at the prospect of such a travesty overtaking his “Less Government in business ” slogan, and that bis more recently appointed colleagues all are opposed to the Dairy Board’s proposal. Meanwhile Labour is looking on with an amused smile, welcoming compulsion and insisting upon a democratic vote. r FINANCIAL CRITICS.

Mr H. E. Holland, the leader of the Labour Party, and Mr W. Nosworthy. the stop-gap at the Treasury, were the star speakers, next to the Minister of Finance, in the Budget debate and the “ Post ” sums up their speeches with delightful candour. “ While the leader of tho Opposition did not revel in the extreme criticism to which members of his party are sometimes prone,” it says of Mr Holland. “ his speech upon the Budget was unfinished and unsatisfying. He stopped short in his criticism and failed entirely to indicate his remedies.

. . . If Air Holland has any proposal which is more acceptance than that of available lie should disclose it. . . A renewing the loans upon the best terms better policy would help the’ country.” Air Nosworthy is dealt with even more tersely. ”As the ex-Alinister of Finance responsible f ov the last year’s Budget and the control of the Treasury for over twelve months. Air Nosworthy,” the “ Post ” thinks, might have been expected to throw greater light than he did. upon the dim places in the Government’s financial policy. His speech, however, was vague in just those parts where something definite was looked for.” The truth of the matter is that finance is not the strong' point of the present Parliament. The attenuated debate made this fact abundantly clear.

DAYLIGHT SAYING. Mr T. K. Sitley’s Summer Time Rill recivod its first rending in the Legislative Council on AVednesday, and was set down as an Older of tlie Ray for Wednesday of next week. Tlfe Hill is in charge of the Hon J. Rarr in the Revising Chamber and could not be in better hands ; but the strong ministerial vote cast against it in the House is occasion ing its friends a good deal of trepidation. The Prime Minister’s attitude towards the deputation which waited upon him the other day to urge, the advantages of the Bill was by no means encouraging. Mr Coates, it would appear, had got it into his head that daylight saving was a ruse on the part of idle people and sportsmen generally to dodge strenuous work. Ho talked of the need for production, more production and still more production, more work and loss play, to carry the country over the difficult times that lay before it, and implied that putting the clock forward in summer time would disorganise the whole • economic round of theVDomiuion. The promoters of the Bill lmve taken care to have the facts placed before the Legislative Council, hut ministerial influence operates in that Chamber just as subtly ns it does in “the other place.”