WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1929, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE COUNTRY’S LEGISLATORS. THEIR CRITICS. (Special Correspondent.) V WELLINGTON, July 30. Though the Address-in-Reply debate closed last-week, without a formal challenge of the . United Party’s right to occupy the Treasury Benches, the Government did not escape a good deal <;tf pointed criticism from its more bellicose opponents. The most incisive of the critics were Air D. Jones, the member for Mid-Canterbury,-Mr R. Wright, the' member for Wellington Suburbs, and Mr A. M. Samuel, the member for Thames, while, perhaps, Air J. G. Coates, the late Prime Minister, and Air W. D. Stewart, the late Minister of Finance, were the most dignified, and, consequently, the most effective. On the whole, however, it may be said without bais that Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues had the best of the month’s talking. The only serious mistakes made on their side were in introducing Mr Coates’s correspondence and in quoting the Reform Party’s electioneering tactics of sixteen years ago. These were scores that would have been better unattempted. IMPATIENT REFORAIERS. That Mr David Jones and his allies made little impression upon the House or the galleries may be judged (from letters that have since appeared in .the newspapers. “Surely in so important an institution as a House of Legislature,” one correspondent writes, “facts only are wanted and not fiction.” “ I have listened to a number of debates in the English House of Commons,” another correspondent observes, “ but never have yet listened to a member using as his authority the ‘ man in the street’.” “That poor ' old chesnut about Sir Joseph Ward accepting an earldom,” says another, “is thirtyone years old, and a sorry specimen oi a jest at the expense of a gentleman who has done more for New Zealand than anyone living.” And so on and so on. 'Hie leaders of the-Reform' (Dpi/ position are quite content to see. Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues'.inoffice for a time, but their followers cannot, brook delay:

STRAY CORRESPONDENCE. , Sir Joseph! AVard has taken particular pains to let the public know , thathe committed no breach of politicaletiquette in reading to the House oi Representatives the letters Mr Coates had left behind- him- when retiring from office. “I would like to say,” he told the representatives of the press yesterday, ‘ 1 that I have, no access, to any private correspondence, addressed to my predecessor, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates. Naturally any .private correspondence he had he would have taken away with him. The . letter I referred to is .on the official-file’of the Public Works Department for the Roto-rua-Taupo line, and is not marked ‘private’ or ‘confidential.’ . If it had been, of course, no reference would have been .made to it by me.” Sir Joseph went on to say he . would be very glad at any time to show Mr Vaile the official file on which his letters and those of the retiring Minister reposed. BUSINESS .IN SIGHT.

At the time of writing it is expected that tlies. Budget will make its appearance in the House of Representatives on Friday, evening. The Government, however, has been treating the House very generously in the matter of the week-end recess and if the Budget can be conveniently squeezed into the proceedings on Thursday it may be taken then. Meanwhile the Rent Restriction Bill, which is designed to keep in operation the measure of the same character marked down for repeal ..last' session, is engaging the attention of the House. The existing legislative provision is due to expire to-morrow and to avoid a variety.-of complications the late of the new liTil will have to be decided at a single sitting. The Bill is in charge of Air Pete/ Fraser, Mr H. E. Holland’s first ' lieutenant, .and though it is not being made a party measure it is probable the Reformers will vote solidly against the revival olf arbitrary rent restriction.