WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THREE-ISSUE BALLOT. j A SHAM FIGHT. (Special to “ Guardian j WELLINGTON, Aug. -1. The local newspapers still are being loaded with correspondence from the '• Moderate ” professional advocates on one side and the “ Prohibition ” professional advocates on the othei. The Moderates persist in asserting that a compact was made between the loaders of Continuance ” and the leaders ol " No-License ” by which the threefourths majority was to be exchanged for the three-issue ballot paper and the,. Prohihtionists persist in declaring that no such compact over was made or even | contemplated hy their side. So tai the weight of evidence sec-rns to lie with the ' Prohibitionists, who are aide to quote j Sir Francis Bell and Mr A. It. Atkinson. as wei'l as the late Rev. It. S. Gray and late Rev. John Dawson, in support of their contention ; hut it must be obvious to every one who has followed the controversy at all closely that both sides are playing for position and concerning themselves very little over tin* rights of the electors in the matter. The Moderates are seeking to divert votes from No-License to State Control and the Prohibitionists tire fearing to trust their cause to a preferential system of voting which would reflect as nearly as could he the considered wishes of the electors. So lar the Government has feared to solve the problem on its own account. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Bishop Cleary is proving himself a much more adroit controversialist than the Hon. L. M,. Isitt, and in his letter appearing in the “Dominion” this morning he takes oft the gloves quite frankly to the 'promoter of the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, and leaves that gentleman with a number of incongruities to explain. “Mr l*itt was till lately its out and out supporter,” lie says alter referring to the existing system of education. “In 19U he hailed ‘ with great gi'adness ’ and his vote 1 the decision of the F’.dtication Committee ’ which declared that the secular system gave the best- results ‘morally, socially and religiously.’ maintaining the system rigorously, and approving the Nelson system outside school hours. (Hansard, 1914’Session House: vol. 171, p. 593). In his pamphlet lie condemns the Nelson systen and in his letter he attacks the Catholii Church alone in this Dominion becaus* the votes of its only three adherent: in the Legislative Council' (added ti those of the much larger body ol Pro testnnt members) ‘ prevents the endin' of the secular system,’ his old love How long will tTic versatile Mr Isit ‘ lmil with gladness the new flame t which lie has turned so recently?’ Of course Mr Isitt had a perfect rigTi to change his mind, but he cannot com plain if his critics are commenting upo the fact that he delayed the proces until lie had sited his responsibilities t a constituency. DAYLIGHT SAYING. When the committee discussion < the Summer June Bill was interrupte alter breakfast this morning hy tl: news of the death of the lion. fl. I Bollard, the .Minister of Interni Affairs, Mr Sidey’s “ hnbv ” was mal ing only slow and tedious progre: towards the critical stage of its passaf towards the Statute Rook. Last evei i ing Mr Peter Fraser, on behalf of Y J H. E. Holland, the lender of the O] ■ position, obtained without a division postponement of the Legislate] Amendment Bill, in order to help i clearing the way for Mr Sidey’s inca lire; but when Air M. J. Savage pr posetl to hold over his Fair Rents Hi mm for the same purpose tlie anti-sunime timers insisted upon a vote and wei defeated by forty-three to twenty-on all the Ministers in the House votii with the “ Ayes.” This perhaps w: not such an auspicious beginning as appeared on paper, since a number i members would vote with the “ Ayes at this stage out of persona! regard fi the member for Dunedin South. Hoi ever the margin was large enough permit of some defections, and tn-ili: the ardent supporters of the Bill a hopeful of getting their way. With tl concessions Mr Side.v has made to vai oils objectors to the measure, the Bi should fare at least as well as it d on its last appearance in the House.

A MAN WITHOUT GUILE. It was truly said of Mr 11. F. Bollard in his life time that lie had all the virtues of u gentleman and none of the tricks of a politician. This estimate of his worth well might form his epitaph to-day. The late Minister of Internal Affairs entered Parliament in 1911, having captured (lie Raglan seat at the general election of that year which witnessed tho overthrow of the Liberal 1 Government after twenty years of continuous office. He was then on the verge of fifty years of age, with a good knowledge of local affairs, hut with no intimate acquaintance with politics, and for three or four sessions he enjoyed the distinction of being tho “silent member” of the House. His qualities, however, did not escape the attention of the new Government and after he had served first as junior and then as senior whip he was promoted to a seat in the Cabinet in 192.1. Here lie rendered good service to his party and to the State, in his frank, unassuming way, winning the warm regard of liis colleagues and the respect and confidence of his executive officers. He was in his office as late as ten days ago, attending to various matters that demanded his attention, hut tho illness that finally laid Turn aside progressed rapidly arid the news of his passing this morning was not wholly unexpect-,