WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1930, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS

VPl’t) INT 3: EXT (>F I,K( i ISLATI VK COUNCILLORS.

CRITIC FORGETS

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, June 23

(>1 course the Wellington Opposition paper was quite within its lights the other day in denouncing] the appointments made to the Legislative Council by the United Government, whether the steps were inspired by Sir Joseph Ward, by the Hon. G W. Forbes, or by anyone else who did not see eye to eye with the clarion of Reform. Jint it made a mistake when it set about- the exploration of ancient history without recognising its acts or understanding its significance. “There has not been such an obvious display ;of political patronage,” the local authority declared, •'since the had old days of the Sod-den/-Ward re, / me.” To this -Mr Nathan Seddo.ll made a vcrv prompt and appropriate reply. “Were not tlie Hon. Ji . M. Isitt and the Hon G. Witty,” he asked, “awarded liy the Reform Party for going hack on their own party and making secure the Reform Party in office after a general election at which that party had been defeated at the polls?” Attempthave been made to evade this .fuel but it never has been seriously disputed.

NOW AND THEN

Wlliilc on this subject it is onl\ fair to. the Bight [,on. J. G. Coates, who was confirmed in office by an over-whelming majority at the prills in 1925, to state that lie was merely giving .effect to a promise made by Mr .Massey when lie nominated Mr Isitt and Mr Witty to the Council. The Council from its very institution has been more or less a means of distributing “political patronage,” and to-day it seems very doubtful indeed if the limitation of its term from life to seven years has done anything to increase its efficiency or to facilitate the business of the country. Even a more strikiiv.l example of the Apolitical patronage” imentioneil ; bv Mr Nathan Serldon was the hardihood of Sir Harry Atkinson and half-a-dozen other early [’eformcn in nominating themselves to the Legislative Council early in 1890. after having been defeated at the general election in December of the previous year. Yet no one wrote of the “Bad old days of the Atkinson Government.” and the new Prime Minister, the big hearted Ballnme, deprecated any personal disparagement of his defeated opponents.

GETTING ALONG

The Minister of F.duea.tion. being the most ready and fluent member of the Cabinet, and ’ perhaps of the House, is expected by strangers to be also the most frequent speaker in Parliament, hut as a matter of fact he prefers in these days to listen rather than to he heard, unless he has something of real consequence to say. He opened his mouth to the members of the Teachers’ Federation at the week-end to some purpose, ’’o'vcver. winning warm approval and individual appreciation. “You probably are not aware,’’ he said, “that

since the beginning of February last teachers have been appointed with a view to the size of classes being reduced. T fully realise the necessity of 'this step, of the importance of the children being taught under the best possible conditions and with the best, possible results.” The difficulty ahead, the Minister went on to say, was one of finance; but a very grave responsibility lay in the hands of the State and it could not afford to disregard for a simile year the lot and the service which were the just toll of posterity. tht; opposition. The Right Hon. .7. G. Coates, the very frank and personally popular leader of the Reform Opposition, was at a disadvantage in his four of (ho West Coast of the North Island during, the week-end in not knowing quite definitely whether lie was criticising the policy of Sir Joseph Ward, the late Prime Minister, or the policy of the lion, (j, W. Forbes, the

present Prime Minister. In the circumstances lie determined to direct his artillery against ’/Sir Joseph Ward’s mythical seventy" million loan, a dead and buried fantasy for which ■Mr Forbes at any rate, never was responsible".' Happily , for bis own personal popularity sulH for his high po'itical reputation; the Opposition leader did not dwell at any length upon those exploded seventy millions, and adroitly passed on to a good resolution to see that the Government kept its word and maintained the best interests of the country. There is a sonorous quality about this farreaching undertaking worthy of the lewder of His Majesty’s Opposition, and acceptable, one would think, to all the parties. Perhaps the era of. higher politics Im,s actually begun.