WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. ITERATION AND RE-ITERATION. (Special to " Guardian ”.) WELLINGTON, July, 0. The opening of the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives was not a very inspiring formality. The speech of Air F. Waite, the member for Clutha, was admirably prepared and quite well delivered, but the House has ceased to take an interest in, dress rehearsals and the galleries are a little bored by sham encounters. Some years ago, when the time of Parliament seemed to be more precious than it does to-day, there was talk of abolishing the “Speech from the Throne ” and saving all the wasted hours it entails, but custom and tradtion die hard and Governments aro glad to get rid of superfluous speeches as far as may bo at the beginning of the session. Itvstill appears to practical people, however, that the few thousands pounds spent upon the Ad-dress-in-Reply might be much hettei employed. Mr Holland’s contribution to the debate yesterday was a, little brighter than the speeches of the mover and seconder, but it was addressed rather to the constituencies than to the House. /

UNEMPLOYMENT ANP thrift. . In the Legislative Council, Sir Robert Stout,- commanding attention by his length of years and his service to the State, spoke frankly on the questions of unemployment and thrift. It was a hard gospel he preached and the worthy councillors exchanged furtive glances as Sir Robert proceeded. The increase of crime and the waste of resource's, he said, were largely due to drink. If the farmers wanted to protect their own interests they would stop this waste of money. There also was a great waste of money on sports and amusements, on theatres and picture houses. The thousands of young women who Socked to the picture houses would he much better employed in sewing at home. What the country required was to teach the young people the need for thrift and useful work. And so on and so on. It was a voice from the past, which missed the need for rest and recreation, but gave counsel which the whole community might hoed. IN LIGHTER VEIN.

Even if they serve no other useful purpose Mr H. E. Holland’s repeated " no confidence ” motions in the House of Representatives afford many opportunities to the humourists of the .Chamber to display their ready wit. Last night Mr Veitcl| was trying to peisuado the House that what the ‘ Ship of State” needed was a new captain, when Air D. Jones interrupted the member for Wanganui by exclaiming, “ Your party is all captain,” and had thrown back at him the retort, " Aye, they all are fi't to he captains.” The Prime Minister, joined in the exchange of pleasantries with an inquiry for the name of the new party and was told it was the “ Grand Old Liberal Party till the cuckoo came along and pushed it elf the nest.” Then the discarded names of the present Reform Party were recited, Mr H. Atpiore, the member for Nelson, winding up with “National Ass.” All thfs constituted, not a particularly edifying interlude, hut to the galleries a distinctly entertaining one. , LICENSING.

It is evident enough now that the Licensing Bill is going to attract a good deal more serious attention in Parliament this session than will either the Biblc-in-Schools Bill or the Sum-mer-time Hill. Rumour has it that quite a number of the members of ,tlio House of Representatives pledged to the New Zealand Alliance formula are urging the Alliance to accept a majority clause qf two or two and a-half per cent in order to secure the triennial polls and the tworissuo ballot. They profess, it is said, not to have gone back on the principle of ipjority rule, but to bo anxious to reach finality before the approaching general election. Official prohibition is not well disposed towards this concession, thinking, no doubt, the time is opportune for securing the whole loal ; but outsiders, with no sympathy for the trade, think the Alliance is making a mistake and imperilling the most promising opportunity it yet lias bad to achieve the material part- of its goal.