WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1930, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

A NOVICE IN POLITICS

WANTS TWO PARTY SYSTEM

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, March 6

Mr H. R. Jenkins, the member for Parnell in the present House of Representatives, who is now deploring that Jjo sought election under the banner of the United Party instead of under the banner of the Reform Party, is too 'immature a politician to be taken very seriously. Addressing a crowded meeting within his constituency last night he said he had not climbed into Parliament on the backs of the United Party,” and had “ regretted ever since that he had helped to put Reform out.” One would have thought that in these circumstances he would have resigned his seat in the House forthwith, as he was invited to do, but Inwas not prepared to release the bird in hand until he was assured of another in the bush. He would be prepared to support Mr Coates if he were satisfied the people of the country would do =o, but he thought they would not. All the same he believed Mr Coates was the ablest man’ iti Parliament, apart from Sir Joseph AVard.

“ TWO PARTY NEEDED.”

Under this heading, with no particular application beyond'Mr Jenkins’s desire to concentrate nil the other political forces against Labour, the “Dominion” represents the member for Parnell as saying that he intended to "-it as an Independent until a two par-jv system were evolved,” j. and that be “would support Mr Coates in-bringing such a suystem into force.” If Mr Jenkins imagines that a ‘‘two party system would remove, or even ameliorate, any of the defects which beset the present parliamentary routine of He country lie must he a much more simole individual than a member of parliament is expected to he. To begin with there is no possible means of reducing the number of parties m 0 e House of Representatives to two. Mr Jenkins himself has 'joined a four'll the Independents, and there is no rule or regulation to prevent ten or twenty or eightvi the full strength of ti e House, being created. Apparently Mr Jenkins’s dream is that United mid Reform shcuild nmagamate for the purpose of obstructing Labour. 'What then ?

THE AFTERMATH

In the Lower Hutt Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Mr Walter Smith, the publisher of the “Hutt News,” appeared to answer' a charge of 'having “ published an untrue statement defamatory of Mr Walter Nash,” the successful candidate in the recent Hutt by-election.- The leisured people about the Courthouse, however, were deprived of their expected entertainment. Mr Nash’s solicitor-- explained . that since the proceedings were instituted the defendant had made an ampb apology and that the question of costs had been arranged between the parties. The Magistrate consented to the withdrawal and congratulated the parties upon their good sense. The essence of the defamatory statement was to the effect that Mr Nash was “seeking to establish a Soviet-like form of Government in New Zealand,” a charge that was particularly offensive in the case of the plaintiff since he had explained from hhe platform during the election campaign that he had no Sympathy with revolutionary methods and no intention of overthrowing the British Constitution. People off different shades of politics predict that he will make a very happy acquisition to Parliament.

"WOMEN AND LIQUOR

Inquiries following upon a message from Auckland this morning, stating that dunking by women in hotels is very pi:\uient in the northern city, have no: disclosed any very alarming developments of this kind in "Wellington. For years past many of the hotels here have provided facilities for .women obtaining refreshments of a more potent nature than those available in the adjoining tea-rooms; but there are, according to the statements made by reliable people, only rare instances in which these facilities have been flagrantly abused. The idea of introducing legislation, as the New Zealand Alliance has proposed, to prevent women purchasing liquor at a licensed hotel for consumption on the premises, does not appear to meet with much approval locally, quite a nuiftber of people protesting against those of the gentler sex being placed in the same category as prohibited people and undesirables. The local police, so far, seem to have had no occasion to interfere in the matter and it is unilikely Parliament would proceed to legislate on the delinquencies of Auckland alone.