WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1932, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

BECOMNG A JEST.

(From a Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, June 15

It might geem to the casual reader of the newspapers that the representation of New Zealand at the Ottawa Conference is becoming more or less a jest. When farewelling, on behalf of tlie Government the Olympic team which left for Leg Angeles yesterday, the Hon. Robert Mattel’s, the Minister of Education, and perhape the most virile of members of the Coalition C abinet, had his little joke concerning the Government’s team to the great national gathering. “It is only a little team,” he said.“ We .suggested at first that we .should put three m the team, but right from one end of New Zealand to the other there were complaints. However, I do hope, we all do— that our little Ottawa team will he as successful as the team at Los Angeles.” Of course the jest of the Minister in the circumstances was quite permissible, as .was the laughter of his audience, but it should be followed quickly by the announcement of the personnel of the Government’s team.

STILL IN SUSPENSE.

Beyond tiie statement made by the Prime Minister in Christchurch the other day nothing lias been heard of the • intentions of the Right Hen. J. G. Coates in regard to the Ottawa trip. All the information Mr Forbes ims furnished in regard to the matter is that if his colleague goes to the Ottawa Conference “after all”, as one of the New Zealand Ministerial delegates, his portfolio of Employment will probably be taken over by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. A. Hamilton. “No word on the subject of his going has yet been received from Mr Coates, who is taking every aspect of the question into consideration,” said Mr Forbes on Monday. “The change of the portfolio to MrHamilton would be convenient to the Government, as the Employment and Labour Departments are now controlled by one head.” This statement might easily be construed into a suggestion that the relation between the Prime Minister and bis first lieutenant, were strained, but there is no ground for such an assumption.

THE WHOLE HOG.

If examples of wild speech were required they were supplied in full measure by Mr R. McKeen, the member for Wellington South, when addressing his. constituents last night. “You have nothing to expect as wa.g(. ; earners from the Ottawa Conference,’' he told his _eager aadienge..- ‘‘Nor "have the secondary industries anything to expect. It is purely and simply -a scramble of \csted interests.” Having relieved himself ol thi 6 tirade he turned his attention to the occupants of the Treasury Benches. Mr Forbes, he said, had been compelled to retire from the Canadian jaunt by the forte of public opinion, and he hoped public opinion would cvmipel, Mr Coates to do likewise. Air Dow nit Stewart was “the most over ratoc man in New Zealand” just how am why was not explained. Finally the audience was told that it had nothing to expect from. London or Ottawa op New York, and that its salvation lay; 1 only in Labour, which once give’" charge of the. public affairs woul banish the ills besetting the DomS

LABOUR’S OPPORTUNITIES

The time, as it happened, was not a particularly appropriate occasion for the exultation of Labour. It if only seven or eight month lS ago that the Labour Party in the Britisi House of Commons, occupying tli Treasury benches with 287 members, dwindled down to o!z, and became tin .nmllest party of any consequence in Hie Mother of Parliaments. Then just the other day the Labour Party in New South Wales, which twe years before had polled approximate!' 6/0,000 votes found itself with nc more than 496,000 votes and only 24 r.eats in the new Parliament comma red with 65 seat,? hold by the United Parties. It is true that Labour in Queensland did better than Labour in New South Wales did, returning to office with a majority of four scats. But the workers of the northern State have profited by exerience and have been .-pared the burden of a Lang and of other passing inflictions of the same kind. May they he long free from such 'burdens.