WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

TIJK LICENSING BILL DROPPED. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, September 8. The somewhat farcical career of the Licensing Amendment Bill, which was finally removed from the Order Paper yesterday, at least served the useful purpose of showing that the liquor problem is just as far from amicable solution as it was when a weary Government handed over the whole tiresome business to a popular referendum. ft is stated that the Prime Minister had an understanding with a large body of organised electors that in the event of his return to ofliee he would submit to Parliament at the earliest possible moment proposals for extending the period between the licensing polls and affording owners and licensees some security of tenure. If this really was the purport of the understanding then, of course, the Bill just withdrawn fell very far short of the .Minister’s share of the contract. Hut as far ns can he gathered from available reports of bis electioneering speeches Mr Coates never went further than to promise that i-lie electors would he given an opportunity to decide the questions for themselves. This pledge he sought to redeem at the earliest possible moment, and but for the Imperial Conference intervening he would have done so. His mistake seems to have been in attempting the impossible. HASTY LEGISLATION. Never before in the history of the Do minion's Parliament has legislation been rushed through both branches of the Legislature at such a pace as that maintained during the last week or two. The work of a week is being compressed into a day and even the Government's best friends are beginning to fear what the result mnv be. “ P

is unfortunate." says the '‘Dominion,” referring to the farmers’ finance bills, "that those proposals should come before Parliament at so late a stage of the session. It is not so much that there i< any strong ground for exception to cither of them. On the contrary. they may both lie regarded as useful measures, which may assist the

primary producers of the country in n very material degree. But it is regrettable that insufficient time has been afforded for a full discussion of flic very important problems associated with the financing of the farming industry.” The " Post.” as is its wotit. expresses itself iu much more emphatic terms. Referring to the shape iu which the Native Land Amendment Bill was sent up from tlm Mouse to the Council, for instance, it prays that the nominated chamber will not as grossly disregard the public interests as did the representative chamber. “ Rush legislation.” if declares, has shaken to its very foundations the land transfer svstem of tile Dominion. THE MISSING LEADER. Gossips are Imsv with the change that has come over the Legislative Council since the guiding hand of Sir Eraneis Bell was withdrawn and a comparative novice ser up iu its placeFor the lirst time iu many years party and. personal dissensions; have marked the progress of business and even invaded the lobbies. Peeling ran so high during the discussion ol the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill ilia 1 , pairs were refused in the crucial division on the measure and members passed one another in the passages and in the streets without reeognit f :n. Blame for ibis deplorable state o‘ affairs is laid largely on the shoulders of one or two of the new “ Lords,” who, it is said, bate brought up from “ the other place ” methods and manners which have been unknown in the revising chamber for many years. The Summer Time Bill appears to have been nearly as great a bone of contention by certain members as was the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, ard if was the refusal of pairs to absent supporters of the measure that brought about its rejection. When one remembers the happy relations between councillors maintained under Sir Francis Bell’s sway the change seems almost i”;rotlible, but the facts are notorious and indisputable. OKl*' SIDE.

The, discussion on tin; second rending of the Motor Omnibus Traffic Mill in the House Inst night brought about a little breeze between the Minister of finance and Mr A. Harris, the member for Waitemata. Air Harris implied that in framing; the Bill the Government had been improperly influenced by people interested in the issue, for the present. M.r Downie Stewart’s retort will sufficiently indicate the position. “ I do not question the right of the member for Waitemata to criticise the Mill or the Government or the action of the special committee,” the Alinister said, “ hut f do question his right to attack the commercial morality of the Government and to suggest that in their action and legislation they are prompted by the desire to put money into the pockets of one of their friends. 1 say quite frankly and freely that if the honourable gentleman, takes the liberty of saying what he has said to-night, mu! what he has said on previous occasions, that this Government is subject to the pull of private interest and that it has subordinated the public welfare to private financial interests, then T invite him to consider his position; because if lie wishes to be ofl'-side, he should stay off-side. Afav T say that while I am only temporary lender of this part,y. and. while the honourable gentleman can make his peace with | my lender. I won’t tolerate a member of this party imputing a want of commercial morality or integrity to tiro | Government. 1 ask him, therefore, if he determines to pursue this course, to consider his position and decide on what course he is going to adopt. If his convictions are genuine ns to what he says, it is impossible to see how .lie is going to maintain his present position, and remain in the party.” Further developments are awaited with tense interest.