WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1930, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS APPRECIATION FROM LABOUR. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, March 31. Mr William Lee Martin, now twice elected Labour member for Raglan, a seat long regarded as a secure stronghold of Reform, has been throwing significant bouquets at the Hon. E. Ransom, the Minister of Public Works, who does things without making miich fuss about them. As a physiognomist:* ithe successor to the Hon. R. F. s Bollard in the representation of. Raglan sees in Mr Ransom's physique stffeiigtli and in his face character, * and is ready at any tiim to v/elcdp|e|>;him into the ranks ol Labour, to his subject, and dreaming dreams and seeing visions Mr Martin predicted that Mr Ransom was going to ‘‘leave his mark upon the Dominion,’’ not only as Minister of Public Works but also iu some higher capacity. Mr Ransom expresses surprise at the distinction that is awaiting him, never having contemplated such a development, and for the time being he finds his hands sufficiently full without the addition of any further responsibilities. v-it- ' . U ; ;cAßiNErrs work. ’■. ■ - It lyiii.left to the Hon. P. A. de la Perrejleii.the Minister of Internal Affairs/i'to; .make .something like an adequate-; jirotest against the personal eriticisrti'difeeted against members of the Cabinet. Speaking at a civic reception accorded him in , Blenheim during the week-end he assured his hosts that every member of the Cabinet was carrying cut his duties to the best of his, ability, and - that lie was doing so-'untrammelled by. any interference .that would prejudice the interests of the public. He suggested that the hasty critics of the Government should produce more facts and scatter,,About fewer innuendoes. Ihe measures for the approaching session were well ahead; 1 and had been framed with a desire to promote’’the best interests of the Dominion .and its' people, but there was no precedent' for the distribution of Bills’throe or lour months before the meeting of Parliament. The Minister was .accorded a very hearty reception. THERE AND HERE. Mr Lloyd’George;: the leader of the Liberal fParty in: the House of Commons at Home is making better use of his opportunities than Mr H. E. Holland; the. leader of - the Laibour Party in; the. House of Representatives here is making of his. Both these gentlemen, occupy commanding positions. Mr Lloyd George may wreck the Labour Party in the House of Commons; Mr Holland may wreck the United Party in the House of Representatives. The leader.of the Liberal Party at ..Home has exacted his conditions, as. was announced last week, by securing from Mr Ramsay MacDonald promise of an Electoral Bill during the life of , the present Parliament; Mr Holland has hesitated in making , a similar demand and apparently is coquetting with a section of his-, party which prefers the system of election which leaves ; the result of the polling largely to chance. The average politician, it .seems,', always clings to the system of election / that has helped him best.

EIGHT MONTHS NEGOTIATIONS. It was as long ago as July last that Mr Ramsay MacDonald, under pressure from Mr Lloyd George, submitted to the Conservative and the Liberal leaders his proposed terras of reference for an inquiry into electoral reform. These terms provided for, <1) the abolition or retention of the present limited system of plural voting; (2) methods of voting, including the alternative vote, the second ballot and proportional representation, and (3) the use of party funds for the purpose of election caippaigns, Jhe third point obviously was a suggestion by Mr MacDonald which should not have been introduced and certainly would not be discussed by the two other leaders. It is fairly safe to assume that during the interval the whole, position has been considered by the party leaders and that Mr Lloyd George has secured a large measure of his demand. If this is so even the New . Zealand electors may be moved to demand their rights. For bay fever, bronchitis, asthma, coughs, r.ifos, and all such ailments of the throat and lungs use ” iNazol ”-~ the powerful, penetrating and neverfailing remedy. GO doses for Is 6d.— Advt.