WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1931, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED POLITICIANS. LABOUR LEADER’S PROPOSAL. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Marco 18. In the House of Representatives the other day, Mr H. E. Holland, the very alert and capable leader of the Labour Party, suggested that a Select Committee of the House should be set up “immediately” to report upon tne best methods of dealing with the many problems arising out ol the earthquake in llawkes Bay. 'there can he no doubt about the earnestness of Mr Holland in a matter of this kind. He- has displayed again and again his readiness to make sacrifices on helm 1 1 of distressed humanity, particularly so in cases where Labour is likely to figure conspicuously in the undertaking. But it is difficult to understand what- further light live or ten or twenty members ol Parliament could thrown upon the wrecked and -devastated earthquake area.' The Government at no stage has been tardy in its ellorts to ameliorate the conditions ol the unfortunate sufierers and to put them 011 the way of re-establishing themselves in their 'former homes. In any case it looks as if members o U Parliament will Imve their hands fairly lull, during the next five or six months, to say nothing of’the general; election which already is well o er the hoiv.mi and likely to arouse mor 0 than ordinary interest.

THE PARTIES. the “Evening Post” which months ago was urging lusion between the l nited Party ami the Reform Party as tile rational way of securing stable Government in the Dominion, is now reminding Mr Coates and bis followers that with their opportunity lost they must siand by the Lmi teds in the present financial crisis. “Reform must

honestly face the position,” it insists. “Government expenditure cannot be brought down, and taxation cannot he kept near to its present level without cither the dismissal of great numbers of Public Servants or a general reduction of pay. The Government has chosen the latter course as imposing the lesser hardship. Reform cannot suggest other means of attaining economy which will not be productive of greater hardship. The Party has urged economy upon the Government, and now it is the duty ol Reform to give the measures its straightforward unqualified support--without seeking > political advantage from the emergency.” That; Reform will play the ■c-inie in the position that lias anse-n nay he taken for granted ; but it is *-. it wholly improbable that members of the Opposition will think themselves justified in voting against the “salary cut” with a view to introducing other means of balancing the Budget. CO-OPERATION.

Tile “Dominion” this morning deals appropriately with the tacts and the needs of the situation revealed by the Prime Minister last evening in moving the second read ilia of the Finance Bill. “Air Forbes’s figures,” ii says,

“comprise a warning to ‘Stop. Look/ Listen ’ a call to members to see their duty and do it, not on behalf of a single class or faction but of all the ncop'e. When New Zeiilaiid’s__crediti is at stake .it is time to sink all minor differences and concentrate on assisting the Government to take the mesures 'appropriate in th 0 c ire uni-* stamens. An obligation also rests on

Ihe Prime Minister to ensure that cooperation which is essential by inviting the Opposition Leaders to meet him, by disclosing the position and his. plans for meeting it with the utmost frankness, awl by giving due consfd" oration to any suggestions that may lie offered to facilitate the conduct of Parliament’s business.” Tf Mr Follies has not already invited the Opposition, leaders to meet him and discuss the

position, the suggestion of the morning paper is not likely to be ignored. The situation is of sufficient gravity to receive the earnest attention of all the parties. LABOUR GOSSIP.

The members of’ the Labour Party in Parliament still are entertaining t hem selves with*’ stories of things which have happened or are about to other or both of the political parties. \mong the latest of these is a can* ard to the effect that the Government is attempting to prolong the life of Llie present Parliament. Of course, with tile fusion of the two Conservative elements, Mr Holland said yesterdap, the Government might survive a little longer, hut even this would be an improvement upon the present position. The two Conservative parties would hold th e Treasury Benches and La hour would constitute the Opposition. bringing the emancipation of the mass of the people nearer and nearer. If the present Government faced the consituendes at th<. proper time, as by e\ery sense of propriety it should do, it would go out of office never to return during the life of the present generation. As a matter of fact bis intimate friends know full well that Mr Forbes would warmly welcome any honourable ejection from office. His job just now is not an attractive one.