WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

INDEPENDENT THOUGHT. j PARTY DISCIPLINE. ! [ (Special to ” Guardian ! WELLINGTON., July 11. The lone drawn-out debate on the Address-in-Reply. in the House of Representative. which easily might have been concluded la-t week, had the Government. been of that mind, and which doubtless will come to the accustomed end to-morrow, reave the recently proclaimed “ Independent " members of the Reform Party an opportunity to explain the character and the significance o! their independence. Mr \Y. S. Glenn, by rca-on ol the lact. that he had laid down the ofiicc o| Junior Whip in Older that he might say what he thought when he spoke either inside or outside the House, was the most conspicuous of the trio that had found party discipline irksome. In explaining his position the member for I’aitgitikei was more trunk and explicit than was either of his companions in revolt. He declared that lie had no personal quarrel with the .Ministry or with any of its members, hut that in future measures would count with him more than men and that the interests of his constituents anti the country would have his lirst consideration. An attempt, had been made, he said, to i reate capital out ol his dillcrem e with the Government in regard to the Agricultural College; hut this was unfair both to himself and to the Government. The question was one of individual opinion and he accepted the decision of the majority.

■ OTHER CASES."’ : But while accepting in a sporting spirit the decision of the majority in regard to the Agricultural College site. Mr Glenn made it, plain that he was. not going to return to his old eolVoagues unconditionally. "There were other eases,” he said, alter referring to the agricultural college incident, “in which I could not see eye to eye with the Government, hut my apprenticeship as far as the party platform was concern- 1 ed was over a considerable period. I felt 1 had rendered generous service to my party and constituency, and f

thought the time was due when I should have a little more freedom. . . J I have always looked on this party as being the champions of the farmer; hut since about 192(5 my views have somewhat altered, and whether it was perhaps the trend of the legislation or a lack of interest in the affairs ol that particular branch of (lie community that deserves all the help it can pos-

sibly get from this and every side of the House. I think the Government missed the opportunity of showing statesmanship with regard to the interests of the farming class and the Dominion generally. If members cast their minds hack they will realise that the danger signal was fairly plain in ; 15:2(5.” None of this can he very re-j assuring to Ministers and the conclud- | ing sentence recalls a period ol grave anxiety to them. I LABOUR AND lIEEORM. I

Mr A. Hitt vis, the member for Waite-, ni"ta. though, perhaps, not quite so robust as the member for Rangitikei in his. professions of independence, also talked of principles and obligations with delightful candour. "I have been accused of being disloyal.” lie explain- .

ed. “ I am not disloyal. I statin absolutely loyal by the principles of the Reform Party. I wish we could say the same of some leaders ot the Parly.

. . I may lie disloyal to the bauiterearrier-. but not the banner it.-cll. By tile principles of Reform i intend to stand.” .Mr Harris insisted that had it not been for the unholy alliance between the ’Labour Party and the Government the Motor Omnibus Traliic Bill never would have passed through Lite House. Scarcely any members ot the Reform Party .supported the measure, in debate: hut they voted for it because they thought their loyalty demanded they should do so. “Tile Prime .Minister had very little to do with it.” Mr Harris retorted to an interjection from the member for Eden that it was the vote that counted. " The whole armoury of the extreme Labour Party was I roughl to hear to g.-t the Bill through Parliament and on to the -tatute Boo]-:.” Roth Mr (Menu and Mr Harris seem as firmly attached to Reform principles as ever they have been, lint in the passage of time to have developed ideas of their own as to imw those principles should l e applied. A VETERAN'S VIEW. ’ :-”r Joseph Ward, who returned from ust rali;t a fortnight ago with a troublesome fold and does not expect iiis doctor to allow him to take his seat in the House before Eriday next, has read the confessions of the critical Reformers with much interest. A big majority in Parliament, lie said in the course of a chat at his residence today, always creates trouble for a party lender. It is the leader with a majority of four or live or lon at most, he commented, as if thinking of instances, that can maintain discipline and get things done. It may not lie altogether

desirable, iron] his own personal point of view, to lnive such a narrow margin; ljiit the need for unity, unquestioned and unchallenged, between leader and led makes for harmony and stability. Mr Seddon was the only New Zealand Prime Minister that ever had held a big majority' together successfully, increasing it year by year. Mr Massey, with all his personal popularity, and ins concessions to -pubi'ic opinion, led only.one Parliament thatcould he said to have given him a strong working majority, and yet, but for his death would have eclipsed Mr Seddon’s long record of office. 'Hie present Prime Minister, Sir Joseph observed in conclusion, bad fared much better than had most other lenders who had been in dieted with an overwhelming majorii y •