WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1928, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

FRUITS OF THE SESSION. AN IMPARTIAL SURVEY. (Special to “ Guardian ”.) WELLINGTON, October 11. The “Evening Post,’’ which up to the eve of a general election always may be regarded as an independent political critic, in reviewing ;,the v .fruits of the session of j^aylfhmehlf’';]dsf'V‘ , clpshd,icpnf gratulates^tlle’ rather upon what it jial’left undcAm than Upon what it has accomplished.' “Judged by the positive adhievehients of Parliament,’’ it says,s“tjie session now closed must be pronounced lone of the least note*!, worthy - -in; manv ; years; Only - of major imr portance.‘ , placed ?on - the Statute Book] ancl Mfe of the Legislature, agart from' those embodied in the laws, are negligible. Yet the session has not been so barren as would at first slight appear. It is more notable lor the things left undone than for these that were done.” The “Post” thinks that the postponement of the amendments to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act was a stroke of diplomacy reflecting credit on both the Prime Minister add his opponents, whom, it thinks, would have been rash indeed to attempt to untie the knot that had baffled the National Industrial Conference.

THE LICENSING FIASCO.

The evening journal offers no opinion of its own concerning the tactics by which the Licensing Bill was shelved; but it regrets the House did not approach the Liquor problem as a concern of the nation and and not merely as a concern of the disciplined factions “If Parliament could have approached the subject free from hobbling pledges” it declares, “It might have been removed from the political arena. But the pledges had been given, and no unprejudiced observer can deny that they stultified the Legislat.ure. jM, ..(Mates’s, proposals were a genuine and courageous endeavour to deal witlv this troublesome issue from the viewpoint of the moderate man' who iconsiders abolition too drastic and dangerpus, and' yet desires abuses to be removed and anomalies corrected.” All this is very admirable, in its way, but had Mr. 'Coates submitted a practical scheme for the equitable distribution; of those fifty-thousand odd votes foy'St’ate; Control he would. have gone fav 4 towards saving the dignity of Parliament^And demoting other obstac-’ les tlbit "stand: in the way of needed and effective reform.

IN LIGHTER VEIN

The valedictory speeches in the House and in the Council at the closing of the session were rather less impressive than usual. In the House the Prime Minister congratulated everyone associated with Parliament upon the manner in which he had discharged his duties—from the Speaker in high office, to the messenger in the most secluded corner of the i buildings. To the leader of the Opposition, as was right and proper, he was partieulary gracious, emphasising the assistance he had received from Mr. Holland in the work of the session, and expressing a hopp that Sir Joseph Ward would be blessed with the best of health and that he would see the approaching campaign through without worry or discomfort. In responding Mr. Holland, with a nice sense of humour, expressed a hope that every member who deserved to come back to the House would do so. and Sir Joseph Ward wished heartily good luck to the Prime Minister and his» colleagues. In the Legislative Council Sir Francois Bell said the right things with characterestic. tact and suavity;'

THE ELECTIONS

Tb.e ' general election was fixed a week' earlier than was generally expected when Parliament was prorougued; hut few members of the House seeking re election were caught napping • and ..the great majority of them, already ar.e.in their constituencies pre-paring-vfdr the fitly; The Prime Minister ii£!gayfn.g ; fbr.the, North torhight “if at Vail’ possiblektas he says——and the Hdn.;'jA. ; : D. McLeod, the Minister of Lands; -dlreadyis on his way towards his oivh constituency, with several speaking engagements en route. These will-be the Government’s principal speakers during the campaign, their seats being secure and their personal popularity wide-spread ; but the South Island will be left mainly to the Hon. W. I>. Stewart, the Minister of Finance, and the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, the Attorney-General • Mr. Holland anid Sir Joseph W T ard, both are confident of winning additional seats for their respective parties—the Labour leader counting upon twenty-six or twentyeight in the New House—but the popular ( “tip” is a European majority of six or eight for the Government with two Maori votes in reserve.