WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 14 July 1916, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

THE COAL FAMINE,

(Our Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, July 12,

The presentation of the annual report upon the public buildings of the Dominion opened the flood-gates yesterday afternoon to a desultory discussion in the House on public buildings in particular, which blocked the. wap of the Finance B'ill for a couple of hours. After Mr Ell had reiterated his complaints about the buildings in Christchurch, and Mr CTaigie had demanded a new post office for Timaru, Mr An derson protested against members being herded year after year in the insanitary chamber they were now occupying while the new parliamentary buildings were proceeding at less than a snail’s pace. Mere logical grievances were speedily discounted in face of this national scandal, ihe denunciations of the methods of the Public Works Department were so “frequent and free" that Mr Statham was constrained to raise his voice against “the political attacks being made upon the Minister,” and was promptly reminded by Mr Isitt that no attack was being made upon Mr Fraser. “Were it not for the well-deserved personal popularity of the Minister,” rapped out the member for Christchurch North, “a great many hard things might be said about the administration of hig department. But we are not saying them. We are protesting against this ‘Government stroke’ which is making us the laughing stock of the whole, community.” The Minister’s explanation was along the lines of previous explanations. The contractors had been disappointed in the supply of marble through no fault of their own, and the delay was unavoidable. COAL SUPPLY. Deputations from the West Coast are usually regarded by the old hands about the House as a sign of the early appearance of the public works estimates, but the members of the deputation fnom Westport which waited upon the Minister of Mines yesterday indignantly resent the suggestion that there is any connection between their visit to Wellington and what is colloquially known as the annual distribution of loaves and fishes They. maintain, indeed, that their purpose in seeing Mr. W. D. S, McDonald, who made a mo§t f avourable impression, qppn jthe good people of the West Coast during his run through' their district diming the recess, was to put him in the way of

relieving tile coal fainino that is threatening '1 ho eoniitry "It seems thatwhen the late Government stopped operations at the Scddphvilie State Mine* arid transferred its activities to Point Elizabeth,' it 1 tab'andoneit many thousands of tons of coal actually in sight to open up country which had' not been sufficiently explored, and which already is visibly failing in. its supplies. Put briefly, according to the members of the Wesport deputation, who at least speak with the advantage of local knowledge, the coal famine is largely due to the late Government having been in too much haste to improve upon the dispositions of the previous Government. The Minister courteously refuses to be drawn on the subject, but he admits there is plenty of coal at Seddonville, certainly a million tons, and probably two millions, and hints at the possibility of work being resumed there. In the meantime fuel is being doled out by the retailers in hundredweight lots at prices that have not been known for many a long \n.ar. LEGISLATIVE HEFORM. The resolution adopted at a meeting held under the auspices of th c new Labour Party thc other night, protesting against the proposal to prolong the life of the present Parliament in the event of the war continuing beyond thc present year has set people talking afresh about the understanding between the parties in this respect. Members of the House, speaking generally, are inclined to look with some tolerance upon any scheme for postponing their appearance before their constituents, and some of them are urging with a good deal of reason that it will be quite impossible for a general election to take place while the necessity for a National Cabinet remains. But the Labour Party are untrammelled by any understanding between the other parties and some of its members outside the House are declaring it would be a grievous wrong to the electors and a disaster to the country to prolong the life of Parliament beyond the statutory term Among other things this course would involve the further suspension of the Legislative t ouncil Am, and it is feared in some quarters this might result in the abandonment of the elective principle altogether, and the restoration of the present nominative system. All that can bo got out of the Ministers to-day is that they are considering the matter, and will submit proposals to Parliament before the conclusion of the session. For this pious resolution they need lie gi\ en no 'vast amount of crcuir. 11 lather they ,-onsider the matter or not—and it must be confessed they .occasionally .do things without consideration —the whole business must be settled before members are sent to their homes

FINANCE BILL. Sir Joseph Ward is being as good as his word in employing no “driving’* tactics in gifting the Finance Bill through the JRouse In the Mr Massey *nd several of his other colleagues through the prevalent influenza—which many members by he way attribute to the insanitary condition of the chamber—Sir Joseph has the front Treasury benches practically all to himself, where he sits as a veritable monument of patience and endurance. By way of saving time he gives members information concerning the Bill as the debate proceeds, but he shows no disposition to stay the course of criticism, nor to discouuage the offers of suggestions. The flat 5 per cent, added to the income tax, in defiance, it would seem, of the accepted principle of graduation, is still regarded by many members as tire chief defect of the Minister’s proposals, but here and there strong exceptions are taken to the substitution of debentures in place of cash in the compulsory acquisition of land. Mn. Nosworthy emphasised this point in one of the most lugubrious speeches that has yet been delivered in the bebate. The member for Ashburton, takwide depression would follow upon the ing the pessimistic view that worldconclusion of the war, implied thai"financial stringency amounting almo.-li.to bankruptcy would be the country’s reward for its heroic sac ref ices. Happily, the subsequent speakers were in a less doleful mood, and the Minister was able to assure the House the prospect was not quite so gloomy ns it had been painted