WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1929, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

BUSINESS' OF PARLIAMENT. MUST BE ACCELERATED. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 23. . Quite a number of the members of the House 'of Representatives were in a talkative mood on Monday morning and after they had spent a couple of hours in discussing the Estimates of the Police Department the Prime. Minister reminded them gently that they were doing the country but j a poor service in delaying the progress ol business. A little discussion between the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, the leader of the Opposition, and Sir Joseph Ward as to the origin of certain liabilities dealt with by the Esti- > . mates ,did not expedite matters and on the House resuming after the luncheon adjournment Sir Joseph implied that the sitting would be extended as provided by the Standing Orders . if there were any further deliberate ' waste of time. The threat had the deeffect and members applied themselves so assiduously to the business in hand that Sir Joseph was able to move the adjournment of the House until. Tuesday five minutes before the y allotted time. SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE. • i" ‘ . A . /»»;-• • • A special article published by the “Post” evidently . written by some one acquainted with the potentialities of the South Island Trunk Railway, bears warm testimony to the value of this undertaking. “ Few people.” the author, says, “ who traverse the \ road route would realise that there are fertile valleys hidden from ; the road, where three 'sawmills are operating. Immense quantities of firewood are waiting to be turned into money. Some beautiful dairying country and excellent pastoral land abound along the route. Should the line be completed, the trade of Wellington should .receive an impetus, for the distance .is short, even from Kaikoura ; ,to Wellington. Three hours’ rail and thrge ' hours across the Strhit will brjng people to the capital of the Dominion. • The railway vote should soon be reached, and all eyes from Picton to the Bluff will be,.centred on the question.” 'There seems to be little doubt that in this respect the good people between Picton and Bluff will be gratified. BLANK FIRE.-J; 1 ( ■. The opponents of the Government in general and of its leader in particular have fared rather badly lately in their efforts to discredit the United Party in the eyes of the public. Last weekend they "obtained some days start with an implication to 'the effect that Mr J. 8. Fletcher, the member for Grey Lynn, had renounced the , party lock, stock and barrel and was -'about to “cross the floor o-f the House” to throw in hjs lot with the Reformers. Mr Fletcher, without withdrawing any of the good advice he had given his own party, took the earliest opportunity to contradict in emphatic' terms the assumptions of the gentlemen on the other side of the House. This week-end the versatile critics put it about that Sir Joseph Ward after renouncing his intention to. ..withdraw certain, grants from the , Highway Fund had “climbed down” in fear and trembling. As a matter 1 of fact the Government followed exactly the course its good sense suggested. • •< THE-SESSION ' fThe Prime Minister has stated more than once since the disposal of the Budget debate that he hopes to .bring the present session of Parliament to a conclusion by the middle;, of next month. If he accomplishes this feat he will deserve well of the public. The present House of Representatives 1 contains an unusually large number of new members who naturally want to make their voices heard by their constituents, and n considerable, sprinkling of old members who dp not wish to be outdone by the newcomers. ' The revised standing orders may make it a little easier than it was before their arrival to restrain garrulous talkers, but already there are signs of a revolt against this further interference with “free speech.” Sir Joseph Ward, however, has a happy knack of getting his own way without making much fuss, and if he can persuade the House to concentrate upon matters of consequence and meanwhile leave-the rest alone, he will get his own way. "•