WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

LICENSING AFFAIRS. PROPRIETY OF PLEDGES. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, Jan. 23. In a lengthy letter “ published by arrangement ” in tbe local papers—doubtless appearing in all tbe other papers in the Dominion—tbe president of tbe National Council of the Licensed Trade of New Zealand, saddles the New Zealand Alliance with tbe blame for having prevented the passage of the Prime .Minister’s Licensing Bill last session, and with having, incidentally, “ placed prohibition before all other political questions, affecting the welfare and progress of the country.” The indictment, no doubt, is true, and the Alliance is not at all likely to be ashamed of its achievement, though, of course, it will regret its inability to get rid of the third issue on the ballot paper. Tbe interesting features of tbe president's letter, however, are statements to the effect that the Alliance had extracted from fifty-two of the eighty members of toe House of Representatives pledges to give their support to its “ particular objectives in licensing matters ” and that it had refused to release from their obligations “ many members ” who had repented the surrender of their independence. These statements have provoked a good deal of comment, chiefly condemnatory of the practice of pledged members in this fashion, and it is promised they will form the subject of some entertaining discussions in the House next session. GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE.

The Prime Minister returned to town from Ins well earned holiday in the Far North, spent principally in his own constituency, in time to present tbe trophy which accompanied the stake in the Wellington Cup Handicap at Trentliam on Saturday, and be performed the ceremony with all the happy sangfroid that conies to him on such occasions as readily as it does in Parliament. It was not the time nor the occasion to worry the poor man with problems of State and trifles of administration, but it scarcely needed his assurance that he had enjoyed his few weeks “ off tbe chain ” and, all in all, had found farming a more congenial occupation than governing. He has not brought troubles back with him, but he found them awaiting him here in abundance. Tbe granting of a subsidy to encourage the export of pork.

for instance, was quite an easy proceeding, and was expected to be greeted with approval by the whole farming community, but its distribution is proving quite a different matter, and even the .Minister of Agriculture has half confessed that had he anticipated the difficulties in which he and his chief would be involved in satisfying all parties lie never would have ventured upon the experiment. PREFERENTIAL VOTING.

The lion. A. D. McLeod, the Minister of Lands, who spent a large part ol the holiday season in making himself better acquainted with the outlying portions of the Dominion, devoted a part of One of his touring speeches to a whole-hearted denunciation of preferential voting, in view, it may be assumed, of the proclaimed intention of the Labour Party to introduce a Bill applying this system to the licensing question. Mr McLeod is recognised as the lighting member of the Cabinet, and he combines with a vast amount of courage a very considerable measure of tact. Addressing a country audience the other day. however, he did not trouble to explain that there was a considerable difference,between the np plication of preferential voting to the licensing question and to tile election rf Members of Parliament, and recited Australia's rather clumsy use of the system as a reason why New Zealand should peremptorily refuse to have anything to do wilh il in any shape. No one knows better than does Mr McLeod that preferential voting is the only means of voting on the licensing question by which the view of a clear majority of the electors can be recorded on a three-issue ballot paper. To drag in the experience of Australia to create a different impression is a proceeding scarcely worthy of a Minister of the Crown whose personal popularity rests mainly on his habit of “ playing the game.”

DEPARTAI EXTA L COSTS. After more than a quarter of century spent on the Supreme Court Honcli as Chief .Justice of the Dominion. Sir Robert Stout, at the ripe age of eightythroe. has returned to polities as eager as lie was at thirty to he of material service to his country. Ilis indictment of the (lopartmeni.il expenditure of tin Ccvoriimont, .studiously avoiding tin exaggeration of the partisan, is a considered appeal for a national stock taking in the interests of the present gen (■ration and of the generations to come. " The Legislative Council ” he recalls in reviewing his new experiences in the nominated Chamber, " has refused to ask the Covermnent to give details of expenditure, or to have a comparison made of the present and past, years ol Government management, and no member of the House of Representatives has asked for any information on the subject. . . The remedy for both of these tilings must conic from the people themselves.” Sir Robert cannot he expected to take the platform himself t urge upon the electors their duty to themselves and to posterity in this respect, hut surely one of the new parties that appear to lie springing up as mushrooms throughout the country will tiiid some inspiration from ins words.