WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1928, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

“TENSE SCENES IN HOUSE”

SHADOW. OF GENERAL ELECTION.

(Special to “Guardian”.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. The little exchange of pleasantries between tho Prime Minister and the members of tlm Labour Opposition in tho House of Representatives on Friday afternoon, which according to the .“Dominion,” produced “tense scenes,” was rather an election rehearsal than a party fray. Mr Coqtes seems to have thought it necessary to remind tho electors that a section of the local miners on the West Coast of the South Island had been guilty of the heinous offence of intimidation and that the Government was pledged to put down any such proceeding with ii high lmiid. The statement was in accordance with fact, hut the Minister lmd omitted to- make it plain that the dispute he took for his text had been amicably settled and that the intimidation, tor what it was worth, had been atoned. The omission no'doubt was an oversight, but it gave Mr Holland and bis followers an opportunity to retort in kind, and to bring the redoubtable member for Roskill to his feet with witticisms that earned a pointed rebuke from tho Speaker. This was the only tense moment of the proceedings. REFORM VIEW.

The “Dominion’s” view of the incident, however, may bo due to tjie other side. The fact that the trouble has oeen settled for tho time being,” the Reform journal says, “was used by Mr Holland as a justification for attacking the Prime Minister for making reference to the matter. The Leader of the Labour-Socialists is not so dull as he would endeavour to appear. He knows perfectly well that there is a big principle at stake and that intimidation of the nature practised could not he ignored. Co-operative work under fair conditions is recognised as a legitimate and in some eases the most advantageous form of.industrial enterprise for all concerned. It was the duty of the Government to make it clear that interference with the right of men to work in conditions which comply with the law would not he tolerated.” The “Dominion” thinks it would have been (very much wiser for Mr Holland and Ills followers to have kept silent in the circumstances, hut that would have been a forbearance that scarcely could bo expected from them.

LICENSING BILL. Tie week-end opinion is that the Licensing Bill, which is expected to make its re-appearance in the House of Representatives during the next-few days, will pass through much the same stages as it did last session, and finally he shelved until a more convenient season. “Except for a few slight modifications,” tho “Dominion” says this morning, “tho measure will be on tho lines of the Bill introduced Inst session. Its fate is still uncertain, but there is fairly general opinion that tlio Bill will follow much the same course as its predecessor with amendments in Committee, and further alterations in the Legislative Council, after which it may go lieforo a. committee of managers, who may be able to bring about a compromise between tho opposing parties.” This prediction is not very cheering from the Prohibitionists’ point of view. Tile present House probably contains more pledged supporters of the “bare majority” than has any of its predecessors and if this vital point were again submitted to the constituencies “No License” doubtless would lose ground. Compromise is in the air.

SUMMER, TIME. The request of the Committee to which Mr Sidov’s Local Summer Time Bill was referred for an extension of time does not augur well for the passage of the measure. The fact that the Railway {Department and 'the Rost and Telegraph Department arc to, lie excluded from the operation of the Bill in the event of it becoming law, was enough in itself to estrange a great.deal of interest from the “half loaf” ami no organised effort has been made to commend it to the general public. Mr Sidey has found himself so hedged around by conditions and limitations that lie never has thrown himself into the compromise with his accustomed enthusiasm and vigour. His hope lies in the anticipation of a big effort next year, when freed from Parliamentary obligations he may lie able to devote himself to tho bigger shome. As it is, there are many employers in, Wellington and in the suburban districts who have announced their intention of observing “summertime” as was the case last year’ and giving their support to any movement for its permanent institution.